Bowled over: For the past 23 years, A Loving Spoonful has been delivering nutritious meals to men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. This fall, the non-profit will serve its two millionth meal. The band of dedicated volunteers welcomed 250 guests to the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel for its annual Project Empty Bowl benefit. While attendees filled their handcrafted bowl with fine food, auctioneer Hugh Bulmer emptied their wallets in a spirited live auction that saw an autographed Rolling Stones guitar fetch one of the night’s top bids. The evening was dedicated to gala founder David Holtzman who passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack earlier this year.

Penguin suits: The newly arrived African penguins headlined Tina Rowntree and Carla Maruyama’s Night at the Aquarium fundraiser. The seven birds made a big splash showing up in none other than their own version of black-tie entertaining 550 guests at the Ocean Wise food and wine grazing.

Top off: With the cool temperatures, one was hard-pressed to find any guests arriving in their beamers with the top down. However, Grammy-winner CeeLo Green did manage to raise the BMW showroom-roof once he arrived (two hours late). Headlining Brian Jessel’s Cabriolet Gala, the Green belted out a soulful 60-minute set in support of the Surrey Memorial, VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation and Arts Umbrella.

Hear Fred Mondays 8:20 a.m. on CBC Radio’s The Early Edition AM690 and 88.1FM; email: yvrflee@hotmail.com; Twitter: @FredAboutTown or fredabouttown.blogspot.com.

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Hear Fred Mondays 8:20 a.m. on CBC Radio's The Early Edition; email yvrflee@hotmail.com; Twitter: @FredAboutTown or fredabouttown.blogspot.com.