INDIAN ARTISTRY: Glamorous guests, fine sips and delectable nibbles curated by Vikram Vij and other top chefs was the perfect party mix to launch the Indian Summer Festival, one of the city’s fastest growing summer celebrations. Hundreds of dignitaries, donors, VIPs and artists in their best saris and summer suits filed in to the Roundhouse Community Centre for the Opening Gala, kicking off 10 days of multidisciplinary arts experiences that bring together diverse artists and audiences in a spirit of global dialogue and citizenship. Creators Sirish Rao, festival artistic director, and his wife Laura Byspalko, welcomed attendees to the event’s sixth instalment, a Border Crossings theme encouraging artists and attendees to push barriers linguistically, religiously, sexually, and racially. Highlights of this year’s celebration include a fashion talk with actor and model Waris Ahluwalia, a discussion of food systems with environmentalist Vandana Shiva and a concert by acclaimed artist Rajasthan Josh.
COMING OUT SWINGING: Committee members Angela Austman, Randall Chatwin, Suzanne Daley, David Davies, Bryan Hicks, Conor Kinsella, Don Prins, Craig Rollins, Mike Vrlak, Neil Wallace and Erica Weiss fronted Arts Umbrella’s 19th annual Golf Classic, recognized as one of Vancouver’s premier charity golf tournaments, staged at the Point Grey Golf and Country Club. The invitational drew 144 players who hit the fairways for a day of golf and camaraderie in support of Canada’s preeminent performing arts centre for young people. Yours truly hosted the charity dinner back at the clubhouse. Boasting the hole-in-one that got away, players also feverishly bid up six live auction lots, including an exclusive dinner with newly appointed CEO Paul Larocque. Fetching $7,500, the hot meal and other fundraising games contributed to a record haul of more than $120,000 raised.
HAPPY MEALS: B.C.’s new Ronald McDonald House celebrated its second birthday. A home away for home for seriously ill children and their families, the Heather Street facility opened its doors to donors and dignitaries for the anniversary celebration. Guests were treated to a celebrity cook-off featuring four of Vanhattan’s top chefs and four of the city’s best barkeeps. Delicious small plates created by Angus An, Jonathan Jovancek, JC Poirier and Quang Dang paired with cocktails by Sabrine Dhaliwal, Katie Ingram, Lauren Mote and Grant Sceney vied for votes. The team of Angus An and Sabrine Dhaliwal would take top honours, but the biggest winners were the kids and families who benefit from the state-of-the-art facility. Since its opening two years ago, the house has served 3,000 families who must travel to Vancouver for their child’s treatment.
