Party Pics

A Party with a Legit Guacamole Bar

Our intrepid society columnist reports from Boston’s swankiest affairs, including the new Vivo Performing Arts party.

By Jonathan Soroff· 5/29/2026, 7:30 a.m.

Three people smiling and posing together in a warmly lit indoor setting. The person on the left is wearing a red one-shoulder dress and holding a copper mug with a straw. The person in the middle is wearing a colorful patterned shirt with a red beanie. The person on the right is wearing a black outfit with a bright pink scarf. The background shows blurred lights and other people.

Amy d’Ablemont Burnes, Ryan Edwards, and Beth Pinals. / Photo by Kristin Otharsson

Renaming yourself after 88 years is a bold maneuver, but the Celebrity Series of Boston, which has mounted some of the city’s most remarkable live performances over the past near-century, did just that, hosting a party at the trendy South End Mexican joint Cósmica to unveil its new identity.

Vivo Performing Arts, the organization’s zippy new name, was officially revealed (after a minor audio-visual glitch) to a crowd that included such arts boosters as Amy d’Ablemont Burnes; anti-poverty crusader Terri Groome and bespectacled hipster Paul Belanger; the perpetually impish Peter Wender; marketing guru Andrea Hoff; the Boch Center’s new communications head honcho Jesse Needleman; unfairly attractive artist Ryan Edwards; restaurateur Jack Bardy; board chair Joshua Boger; and so on and so forth.

It was a veritable Who’s Who of Boston’s performing arts scene, all of whom raised a glass when president and executive director Gary Dunning said, “Here’s to Vivo. Or translated to another language: l’chaim!”

Overheard by the bar:

“This is the best margarita I’ve had since the last time I was in Mexico. But I just got back yesterday.”

Judging by the speed with which the passed apps disappeared, they were tasty, and one guest said, “You gotta love a party with a legit guacamole bar.” However, not all appetites were focused on food.

Gesturing with his chin toward a powerfully attractive male couple, one attendee said, “Now that’s a sandwich I could get into.”

The moral of the story: If you get enough good-looking people in a room with Mexican food, you don’t even need a mariachi band.

Two women smiling and posing together indoors. The woman on the left has dark curly hair, is wearing a dark brown top and an orange patterned scarf. The woman on the right has long curly hair, is wearing a green top, and has a name tag on her chest. The background is softly lit with colorful lights.

Alana Borges Gordon and Jenny Oliver. / Photo by Kristin Otharsson

Two men are standing side by side indoors with colorful string lights in the background. The man on the left has medium-length dark hair, a trimmed beard, and is wearing a dark blue blazer over a light blue shirt. The man on the right has short, wavy hair, glasses, and is wearing a gray blazer over a white shirt with a name tag that reads "vivo John Stalman." Both are smiling.

Jesse Needleman and John Stanton. / Photo by Kristin Otharsson

Two men smiling and posing together in front of a pink and black backdrop. The man on the left is wearing a dark navy quarter-zip sweater with a name tag that reads "Ido Sagy." The man on the right is wearing a light blue blazer over a patterned shirt with a name tag that reads "Amir Tadmor.

Ido Sagi and Amir Tadmor. / Photo by Kristin Otharsson

A person wearing glasses and a white hat is holding up a purple tote bag with a blue square and the words "vivo PERFORMING ARTS" printed on it. The person is winking and standing in a crowded indoor setting with warm lighting.

Molly Stifler. / Photo by Kristin Otharsson

A man and a woman are engaged in conversation at an indoor event. The man, wearing a checkered blazer and black turtleneck, holds a skewer with food and has a name tag on his jacket. The woman, dressed in a dark outfit, holds a glass of white wine and a plate with food. The background features coats hanging on a rack and colorful string lights.

Peter Wender and Priscilla Douglas. / Photo by Kristin Otharsson

Young man with short dark hair and glasses, smiling, wearing a light blue patterned button-up shirt, standing in front of a pink and black background.

Harrison Lee. / Photo by Kristin Otharsson

Four people stand together smiling. From left to right: a man with glasses, gray hair, and a beard wearing a dark zip-up jacket and black pants; a man in a denim jacket and light jeans holding a microphone and an award; a woman with long blonde hair wearing a black long-sleeve dress; and a man with glasses, a beard, and tattoos on his right arm wearing a beige sweater with rolled-up sleeves and dark jeans. They are standing indoors against a plain background with part of a screen visible above.

James Nadeau, Harry Lighton, Beth Gilligan, and Mark Anastasio. / Photo by Iz Indelicato for the Coolidge Corner Theatre

Dress Code: Chaps and a Dog Collar

The beautifully reimagined Coolidge Corner Theatre presented its annual Coolidge Breakthrough Artist Award to filmmaker Harry Lighton, following a screening of his first full-length feature, Pillion, starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling. The sold-out crowd was treated to a Q & A moderated by James Nadeau, CEO of the Queer Film Institute, and it’s probably safe to say that it was the first time many of them had seen a gay BDSM biker movie.

Two men wearing black leather caps and jackets stand side by side. The man on the left has a red mustache and wears a sash that reads "NEW ENGLAND." The man on the right has a full beard, curled mustache, and a sash with the letters "E" and "J" visible. Both are smiling.

Eric the Red and Jeff Silver. / Photo by Iz Indelicato for the Coolidge Corner Theatre

A large audience seated in a theater with red cushioned chairs, attentively watching an event. Some people are wearing masks, and a few seats have "Reserved" signs. The crowd is diverse, with individuals of various ages and styles.

The sold-out crowd. / Photo by Iz Indelicato for the Coolidge Corner Theatre

Two men with gray hair and beards are smiling. The man on the left has short, curly hair and is wearing a brown houndstooth jacket over a patterned sweater. The man on the right has a neatly groomed mustache and beard and is dressed in a dark jacket over a black shirt. The background is dimly lit with blurred figures and lights.

Charles Haugland and Gregory Triana. / Photo by Iz Indelicato for the Coolidge Corner Theatre

Two middle-aged men wearing glasses are smiling. The man on the left is wearing a gray turtleneck sweater, and the man on the right is wearing a navy blue jacket over a light blue collared shirt, holding a can and a sandwich. A blurred person is visible in the background.

Pat Scanlon and Mike Mosbrooker. / Photo by Iz Indelicato for the Coolidge Corner Theatre

A woman passionately singing into a microphone, wearing a shiny silver fringed poncho over a dark long-sleeve top. She has curly hair and is adorned with a spiked silver headpiece and hoop earrings. Her eyes are closed, and her mouth is open wide as she performs. The background is dark with a large screen behind her.

Salyse. / Bash Pics

Elevated and Celebrated

The runway was alive with creativity when the Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge hosted Cosmic Roots: An Afrofuturism Hair & Fashion Show, featuring the work of such designers as the House of Nahdra, Sol Full Seams, Dhakye, and House of Blvck Ice. The evening also included original choreography by Tarikh Campbell and music by Salyse. The nonprofit promised “a stunning convergence of design, movement, and narrative,” and judging by the applause, they delivered.