February 16, 2026 - Katherine Tallman on the Coolidge Corner Theater, Roberto Lugo, and Chompon "Boong" Boonnak

After more than a decade as Executive Director and CEO of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, Katherine Tallman is stepping down. She reflects on expanding the Brookline art house, elevating its national profile, and guiding it through the shifts of streaming and the pandemic — reshaping what independents can be. To keep on top of all of Coolidge's programming go here.Ceramic artist Roberto Lugo blends classical porcelain with hip-hop, portraiture, and social critique — asking who belongs in museums and who gets left out. His exhibition “(In)visible Ink” is on view at the Robert Lehman Art Center at Brooks School in North Andover though March 6. It  brings together porcelain, painting, and customized sneakers in a powerful conversation about visibility. To learn more about the exhibition go here. Chompon Boonnak, co-owner of Mahaniyom in Brookline and its cocktail slinging sibling Merai, joins us after a double Michelin distinction: a Bib Gourmand for Mahaniyom and an Exceptional Cocktails Award for his bar program. He talks about balancing bold street food with serious mixology and what the recognition means for Greater Boston’s dining scene.