BOSTON- ON SUNDAY, December 14th the stars showed up and showed out at Hilton Boston Park Plaza in Back Bay for the 3rd installment of The Runway Ball, hosted and produced by the triumvirate of BostonMan Magazine’s Matt Ribaudo, Wave + Woven’s Amanda Vargus, and The 617 Event Group’s Jimmie Espo.
Featuring seven elite designers, and sixty stunning models from all over New England, Boston’s signature fashion and culture gala -once again- dazzled the 600+ guests in attendance while raising proceeds to benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital of New England.
Before any models took to the ravishing sixty foot runway though, attendees first indulged in a swanky Dark Romance themed cocktail reception -plush with luxurious activations from many top brands across the region- while mingling and taking pics with the evening’s designers & models; local celebrities; professional athletes; socialites; and Boston tastemakers alike.
Upon entering the Grand Ballroom at Park Plaza, guests were immediately treated to a ‘Dark Romance Cherry Martini’ courtesy of Tito’s Homemade Vodka; and perfectly matched with The Runway Ball’s 2025 theme. Consisting of a 3/4 oz cherry juice x 1/4 oz lemon juice mix blended with four dashes of bitters, shook to perfection with 2 oz of Tito’s Homemade Vodka, and topped off with a cherry garnish -the Tito’s Cherry Martini was an instant hit among the crowd.
“That Tito’s Bar was slammed all night,” exasperated Park Plaza catering manager Michaela Turner, barely able to contain her excitement. “All of the guests loved it!”
Featuring the custom ice bar design Tito’s has become known for, the aesthetics were as visually appeasing to event-goers as they were for their tastebuds. Strategically placed right next to the food stations many guests also commented on how the pairing of their Cherry Martini enriched the flavors of the bites they enjoyed during the cocktail reception.
“Absolutely delicious,” Runway Ball attendee Dheeraz Govathoti said when asked to describe the Tito’s Cherry Martini. “It’s one of the best martinis I’ve had at a charity event, and went very well with the food selections. Great job all around!”
Tito’s Homemade Vodka, a long time supporter of St. Jude Children’s and Research Hospital nationally and locally, was a natural fit as an event sponsor with The Runway Ball. For the 3rd consecutive year, The Runway Ball marked the official kick-off of ticket sales for St. Jude New England’s annual ‘Toast to St. Jude Gala” in April, of which Tito’s also supports and The Runway Ball sponsors.
“We’re thrilled to see Tito’s here at The Runway Ball,” Toast to St. Jude co-chairman Matt Milley said. “The financial support they provide in the fight to end pediatric cancer is very much appreciated.”
Caitlyn Flaherty, co-chair of Toast to St. Jude with Milley, echoed the sentiment: “We love Tito’s! It’s nice to have them as a friend and supporter across multiple events benefiting St. Jude New England.”
Giving back has always been a hallmark with Tito’s. Over the last five years alone, they have supported over 50,000 charity events, spread out over 20,000 non-profit organizations. Accomplishments also highlighted on page 47 in the current edition of BostonMan Magazine, which came out during the cocktail reception.
“We had a lot of fun with this one,” BostonMan Magazine publisher and Runway Ball co-producer Matt Ribaudo said. “It’s safe to say Tito’s goes over very well, both at The Runway Ball and with the audience of our magazine. We placed the Tito’s ad right at the tail end of the Gronk (Rob Gronkowski) cover story too. I think all parties involved will appreciate that!”
By 8:15pm, as the 2025 Runway Ball cocktail reception neared its conclusion, guests clamored to squeeze in one last Tito’s Cherry Martini before nestling into their seats for The Show. For attendees like Sarah Walz, who made the trip up from Philadelphia to attend Boston’s Runway Ball, only one thing remained to be answered: “What will the actual show do to top this incredible cocktail reception?!” she wondered.
It certainly is nice to have sponsors like Tito’s Homemade Vodka that help to set the stage and tone for a question like that.
