A note from Erica Corsano: Tim Brett is no stranger to the Boston social scene. In fact, he grew up watching his dad, photographer extraordinaire Bill Brett, snap pictures all over town. So when the two of us finally met at an event, we decided to hit the town together and blog about it. My birthday party at the Achilles Project was the perfect opportunity for our new guest blogger to show us his stuff, because a) there are limits to one’s self promotion, and b) I knew I’d be way too tipsy to remember any of it, anyway. Thanks for filling in, Timmy!
Tim Brett’s guest blog: Trying to describe Saturday night’s scene at Erica’s Studio 54 birthday extravaganza in a few paragraphs would never do it justice. The Boston social scene has its rare shining moments, and this was certainly one of them.
The movie 54 was playing on flat screens all over the Achilles Project, while Soul Clap spun a mix of disco and disco-inspired music and Erica’s 150 closest friends made every effort to replicate the real Studio 54. I was met at check-in by two drag queens, who couldn’t wait to dance the night away with local notables. They were in luck: the party quickly became a who’s who of the Boston social scene. Socialites, wannabe socialites, fashionistas, media professionals, and what seemed like every gay man in town piled in to celebrate.
Fashion was obviously one of the main topics of conversation for the evening. My first encounter was with two girls talking about how they had rushed to Saks Fifth Avenue that morning to get new outfits for the party. Erica Cashman actually bought a dress at the party.
I also overheard included PR maven Jo Swani and her husband Ra talking about Boston party crashers and one socialite who kisses women on the lips at every chance he gets (I’m politely leaving his name out; you’re welcome!). Other random gossip I overheard while making my way through the extremely shitfaced crowd included two friends talking about a coworker, saying, “Why is he making out with her; he works with her?” and “Can she be any more obnoxious with that bling?”
Some of my favorite party moments were watching Linda Pizzuti doing the meet-and-greet with her new man, Red Sox owner John Henry, in tow; Tim Pappas chatting with a friend while his fashion-designer girlfriend Jess Meyer danced the night away; photographer Eric Levin doing his best impression of Andy Warhol while working the scene with shutter speeds that went as fast as publicist Regan Dillon’s dance moves; Regan Communications’ Max Buccini arriving and waiting only 20 seconds (a record for him) to announce, “These are the electric-blue loafers Carson Kressley loved!”; renaissance women Tonya Mezrich talking fashion with her sidekick, Lisa; and James Joseph Salon’s William George, who must have thought Quantum of Solace came out last week because he took a page out of Daniel Craig’s book with a rockin’ tux.
Once the evening was in full swing, the drag queens took over the dance floor, but the crowd slowed things down to view a short film produced for the birthday girl by her best friend Elizabeth, a/k/a “Zaza” (apparently Erica and her friends all have sexy European-sounding nicknames they go by when in party mode). The movie had clips from The Erica Corsano Show (a little talk show produced by and for Erica’s friends) and party pictures from all around the world. You could see and feel that Erica has a lifestyle that rock stars can relate to — and bottom line, she has some pretty damn cool friends.
The viewing was followed by “Happy Birthday” performed by one of the drag queens; then Erica blew out the candles on her two birthday cakes (created by her roommate, Mickey Northcutt), including a sheet cake with edible pictures of Andy Warhol and Bianca Jagger. But of course.
After this highly entertaining soiree, I wish every weekend was Erica’s birthday! And why not — we should all party like rock stars whenever we can. Hey Erica, any thoughts on opening a Studio 54-like club of your own? Boston’s nightlife could certainly use a daily dose of you and your fabulous friends.
— Tim Brett
