Party Pics

Where the Crowd Skews Young—Or Maybe You’re Getting Old

Our intrepid society columnist reports from Boston’s swankiest affairs, including our annual Taste event and Find the Cause Breast Cancer Foundation’s 2025 Prevention Party.

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Four people stand closely together indoors at an event. From left to right: a woman with long dark hair wearing a fitted black dress with sheer sleeves; a man with glasses, short hair, and a beard wearing a dark suit and light checkered shirt; a woman with short blonde hair wearing a dark sequined top and matching pants, holding a small purse; and a woman with long hair tied back wearing a flowing dark blue dress with textured detailing. The background shows other attendees and tables with chairs.

Liz Kelleher, Michael Schlow, Kim Carrigan and Gretta Monahan. / Find the Cause Breast Cancer Foundation photos by Michael Blanchard and Shannon Powers

Unlike most cancer charities, Find the Cause Breast Cancer Foundation isn’t racing toward a cure—it’s trying to prevent the disease by determining the environmental factors that cause it. That mission drew a surprisingly robust and stylish Wednesday-night crowd to the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport for the 2025 Prevention Party.

The silent auction included items like a Gucci bag, fine wines, and a three-night stay at Wings Neck Lighthouse, and the lush floral tablescapes were worthy of Martha Stewart. Prominent among the the throng: honorary event committee members Katie Lee Biegel, Marcy Blum, and Brooke Burke; party cochairs Gretta Monahan and her husband Ricky Paull Goldin; honoree and environmental health expert David Sherr; board chair Peter Zschokke; award recipient and tech investor Tommy Wynn; ultra-glamazon Emma Pickard; hotel honchas Barbara Lootz and Jennifer McMahon; investment bigwig Dalia Nuwayhid; podcast host Kim Carrigan; and one woman who asked a friend, “Why haven’t I seen you?” To which the answer was: “We haven’t been on the same continent in six months.”

Looking around, another guest observed, “This crowd skews young,” to which a friend said, “Or maybe you’re just getting old.”

Meanwhile, when a photographer asked a woman, “Which is your best angle?” she responded, “It doesn’t matter. They all need Botox.”

The chicken Marbella was surpassingly delicious, and the speaking program blessedly brief. When it was finally time for the live auction (which included a Taylor Swift autographed guitar), one guest turned to the man next to him and asked, “Are you bidding on anything?”

“I’m bidding on being in bed by 10 p.m.,” he said—and given how perfectly the evening flowed, it’s a safe bet that it was lights out at 10 past.

A woman with long brown hair is smiling and looking to her right. She is wearing a black sequined top and large, sparkly bow-shaped earrings. In the foreground, there are blurred candles and colorful flowers, suggesting a formal or festive event. Other people are visible in the background, seated and dressed formally.

Renée Moran. / Find the Cause Breast Cancer Foundation photos by Michael Blanchard and Shannon Powers

Three people dressed in formal attire stand together, smiling. The man on the left wears a dark suit with a white shirt and a pink tie. The woman in the center wears a shiny gold dress and holds a clear glass award. The man on the right wears a dark blue plaid suit with a light-colored shirt. Behind them is a blurred background with flowers and a screen displaying text.

Tommy Wynn, who accepted the 2025 Corporate Partner Award for PSG, and his parents, Tricia, and Tom Wynn. / Find the Cause Breast Cancer Foundation photos by Michael Blanchard and Shannon Powers

A man and a woman standing close together indoors at an event. The man has white hair and a beard, wearing a light blue blazer over a white shirt. The woman has blonde hair, wearing a black dress and a silver necklace. The background shows tables with chairs and floral arrangements, with colorful draped curtains.

Paul and Sue Butka. / Find the Cause Breast Cancer Foundation photos by Michael Blanchard and Shannon Powers

Two women are sitting closely together at a table, smiling at the camera. The woman on the left has shoulder-length brown hair and is wearing a white blouse with a dark blue floral-patterned jacket. The woman on the right has short curly brown hair and is wearing a light gray knit sweater with dangling earrings. On the table in front of them are a white decorative object, a glass with a straw, a lit candle, and a bouquet of pink and purple flowers. The background shows a softly lit event space with tables, chairs, and floral arrangements.

Dru Lindgren with her mom, Sherie Philpott. / Find the Cause Breast Cancer Foundation photos by Michael Blanchard and Shannon Powers

A smiling man and woman sitting at a table during a formal event. The woman has long blonde hair and is wearing a strapless black dress, while the man is wearing a beige blazer over a light blue shirt. The table is covered with a light blue tablecloth and has several glasses of water and wine. Other people are visible in the blurred background.

Kelsey Philpott and Evan Tarbox. / Find the Cause Breast Cancer Foundation photos by Michael Blanchard and Shannon Powers

A man wearing a black tuxedo with a white shirt and black bow tie is smiling and engaging in conversation with two women. One woman on the left is wearing a black outfit, and the other woman on the right is wearing a white lace top and holding a glass of white wine. The background shows other people and a softly lit event setting.

2025 Prevention Partner Award honoree David Sherr. / Find the Cause Breast Cancer Foundation photos by Michael Blanchard and Shannon Powers

Three women posing together indoors at a party or event. The woman on the left is wearing a sparkly silver dress with a black leather jacket and white shoes, with her hair tied up. The woman in the middle is wearing a short, silver, sequined dress and silver high heels, with her dark hair down. The woman on the right is wearing a fitted black dress with a slit and a watch on her left wrist, with long dark hair. The background features a bar area with stools, silver balloons, and a white truck decorated with more silver balloons.

Mariah Gale, Kristina Tsipouras Miller, and Ifrah Akram. / Photos by Mariah Gale, Vail Fucci, and Stephanie Dozois

No Testosterone Needed

What started out as a grassroots women-centric business networking organization, Boston Business Women has grown into a behemoth with 53,000 members (more than a sold-out Fenway Park). To celebrate both its 10-year anniversary and its tremendous success, it hosted the Silver Soirée gala at Garage B, the funky event space at the Charles River Speedway in Brighton. Proud founder Kristina Tsipouras Miller was front and center, along with the likes of powerhouse Diana Vertus, the multi-talented Savannah Fitzgibbons-Bachand, and others of an equally high-octane ilk. More proof (if any was needed) of who runs the world.

Two women posing together indoors at an event. The woman on the left is wearing a white sleeveless dress with black speckles and has long braided hair. She is smiling broadly with her hand on her hip. The woman on the right is wearing a white shirt with a silver sequined overlay and has short hair. Behind them is a white vehicle with a white umbrella and a large cluster of metallic silver balloons. The background features large windows and purple lighting.

Claudia Thompson and Diana Vertus. / Photos by Mariah Gale, Vail Fucci, and Stephanie Dozois

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a black pinstripe blazer is drawing colorful flowers on a white piece of paper using a blue marker. She is seated at a reflective black table with a clear acrylic tray holding the paper. On the table, there is a white desk lamp, a container of silver glitter labeled "LEOBRO," and some additional markers. The background is dimly lit with several people and decorative elements visible.

Live painter Giovanna Chaisson. / Photos by Mariah Gale, Vail Fucci, and Stephanie Dozois

A smiling woman with wavy blonde hair wearing a bright pink blazer with feathered cuffs over a silver dress stands in front of a backdrop made of reflective silver tiles and large silver balloons, illuminated with purple lighting.

Elizabeth Pehota. / Photos by Mariah Gale, Vail Fucci, and Stephanie Dozois

Two women smiling and posing closely together at a festive indoor event. One woman has blonde hair, wears a black jacket, and holds a drink and a pink phone. The other woman has brown hair, wears a gray plaid blazer over a black top, and is smiling broadly. The background features decorative silver balloons, hanging lights, and other people dressed in party attire.

Lena Germand and Marianna Zaslavsky. / Photos by Mariah Gale, Vail Fucci, and Stephanie Dozois

Four men wearing matching dark blue shirts with the logo "mahaniyom" stand behind a table covered with a blue and red tablecloth. The man on the far left is smiling and making a finger heart gesture. On the table, there is a sign that reads "Mahaniyom" and describes "Smoked Duck Wraps" with spicy smoked duck salad on Boston lettuce. The background features colorful paintings and overhead lighting.

The crew from Mahaniyom. / Photos by Vail Fucci, MelOPhoto, and Gustavo Soto

Food, Glorious Food!

More than 800 people converged on the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter for Boston magazine’s lip-smacking event Taste, which featured delicious little tidbits from 30-plus restaurants featured in the November issue’s “Top 50 Restaurants.” As the crowd grazed, chefs like Mida’s Douglass Williams schmoozed with the guests, and DJ Mike Amado amped up the festivities. Everyone seemed to understand the assignment: Sip. Nibble. Repeat.

A smiling man wearing glasses, a brown backward cap, and a beige t-shirt holds a small ice cream cone with a scoop of white ice cream toward the camera.

Douglass Williams. / Photos by Vail Fucci, MelOPhoto, and Gustavo Soto

Two older adults wearing white chef jackets and colorful chef hats stand in front of a black backdrop with "Boston Magazine" logos. The person on the left wears a green hat and pants with sports-themed prints and holds a blue tote bag. The person on the right wears a red hat with a sports logo patch on the jacket. Both are smiling.

Lynne and Gary Smith. / Photos by Vail Fucci, MelOPhoto, and Gustavo Soto

A woman wearing a black dress with embellished straps, a "Miss Boston" sash, and a jeweled crown stands in front of a backdrop with repeated "Boston Magazine" logos. She has dark hair styled in an updo with loose curls framing her face and is smiling.

Miss Boston Tess O’Riordan. / Photos by Vail Fucci, MelOPhoto, and Gustavo Soto

This article was first published in the print edition of the February 2026 issue with the headline: “Flipping the Script.”

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