mfafirstfridays: The Art of Mingling

While heading down the usually quiet Asian Art hallway in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) last Friday, visitors could hear strains of live jazz from the adjoining Koch Gallery bouncing off of the sixth century limestone Chinese sculptures. Between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., the spacious gallery was packed to full capacity, perhaps the most popular place in town. The occasion was mfafirstfridays, an event that takes place on the first Friday of each month, when the site of one of the museum’s most popular permanent collections becomes a swinging singles scene.

At the end of the hallway in the sky-lit Shapiro rotunda, a well-heeled, predominantly 30-40 year-old crowd mingled over live music while munching on tapas, sipping bellini martinis (the month’s featured cocktail) and admiring the beautiful early twentieth century murals by John Singer Sargent. To the right of the upper rotunda in the grand colonnade, gossiping guests clung to an ornate railing, overlooking one of the lower galleries. Others reclined in luxurious brown leather couches and chairs, chatting amidst paintings by turn-of-the-century American painters. The scene was quintessential Gatsby—cultured, decadent and highly civilized. Renaissance works by renowned artists including Anthony van Dyck, Giovanni Battista Moroni and Peter Paul Rubens grace the walls of the adjacent European paintings wing, where the wine flowed profusely—by way of several long cash bars. Live music by the David Eure Jazz trio set a mellow mood as violinist David Eure, pianist Jacques Chanier and bassist Carlos del Pino entertained guests with the music of Dean Martin and Louis Prime. In honor of October’s Italian-themed event, the night also featured performers from the Boston Lyrics Opera. It seemed an evening of simple elegance.

But one should not be completely convinced by the façade of utter refinement—indeed, those who came seeking a night of class were also there seeking, well, a bit of something else. It is the perfect place for middle-aged men to feign a fascination with Renaissance art in endeavors of female flattery. “I painted that,” one man whispered in my ear as I observed a work by Diego Velasquez. While one regular patron of the event raved about all of the gorgeous men she had encountered there, two female first-time divorcees complained that it was too crowded to actually meet anyone.

The event began in 1996 with the express purpose of bringing in extra Friday night revenue. Over the years, however, it has become an official singles hotspot. Linda Chernoff, the development associate for special events, admits that there is certainly a high percentage of available patrons at each event. “The single’s community has certainly grabbed onto it,” she says. “It’s fantastic, but the event is open to anyone and everyone.”

And people keep coming, numbering as many as 1,300 by the end of the night. While the event draws an older, professional crowd, during the school year it also attracts a modest college contingent. The event runs weekly June through August as mfasummerfridays, held outdoors in the Calderwood Courtyard when the weather permits. The cover charge is included in the museum’s entrance fee ($15; $13 after 5 p.m.), and is waived for Harvard students and students from a variety of Boston schools. The only obstacle for Harvard students then is a valid ID—the event is strictly for those 21 and older. Those who want time to scope out the singles’ scene should arrive early enough in the evening to beat the long lines (the October 3rd event sold out around 8:15 p.m.).

Next month, mfafirstfriday will feature the music of the Andy Baer Jazz Ensemble, and the December 5th event will host the Jim Porcella Jazz/Swing Ensemble. Anyone seeking a change from the down-and-dirty Boston bar scene may want to opt for a classier way to start out their nights the first Friday of each month—and lucky singles may even find a new someone to join them for other late-night festivities.