DRESSED TO THRILL: Nordstrom threw a party for the ages. Marking its arrival in Vanhattan, the luxury retailer spared no expense hosting thousands of Vancouverites who made the red carpet for the much-anticipated retail romp. Buzzing with le beau monde, the starry night kicked off with a sparkling reception at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Bubbles flowed as the Nordstrom family greeted guests. After exchanges of air kisses, much kibitzing and endless photos, the well-dressed crowd was led to a tented Robson Square for a stellar fashion show featuring the store’s many designer labels. Among those spotted in the front row: Vogue’s Hamish Bowles and Lisa Love, supermodels Coco Rocha and Karolina Kurkova, actress Camilla Belle and actor Zachary Quinto. It was then off to the in-store gala where attendees imbibed and engaged in some much-needed retail therapy. The sold-out fashion show and gala raised $420,000 to be shared by four local charity organizations: B.C. Children’s Hospital, B.C. Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, Covenant House Vancouver and the Vancouver Art Gallery.
PARTY PATROL: Premier Christy Clark and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, along with 1,400 business and community leaders, paid tribute to Jim and Vicki Chu for their combined 65 years of service with the Vancouver Police Department. They were the guests of honour at the Vancouver Police Foundation’s annual Night Patrol Gala presented by Telus and staged at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Partygoers enjoyed an evening of fine dining, entertainment and philanthropy in honour and celebration of the couple’s legacy and life-long commitment to the city and police force. More than $1.6 million was generated from the charity dinner co-chaired by Peter and Joanne Brown, and Ryan and Cindy Beedie, to support the VPD’s youth-at-risk cadet outreach program, one of many legacies Chu has contributed to Vancouver.
COMFORT FOOD: Chef, author and owner of Vij’s and Rangoli restaurants, Meeru Dhalwala chaired her fifth Joy of Feeding event, an inter-generational, international food festival benefitting the UBC Farm. Sixteen home cooks of various ethnicities, traditions and professions offered recipes and tastes of family favourites to the public. Rain didn’t dampen spirits as more than 500 guests converged at the agriculture research and teaching farm for the foodie fest aimed at building bridges to cultural understanding. Among the attendees were Arran and Ratana Stephens, co-founders of Nature’s Path, a family-owned organic food company, who recently gifted the farm $2 million. Dedicated to helping grow sustainable food systems, the couple — supporters of organic agriculture — earmarked the funds towards capital infrastructure as the farm expands its programs and transitions to a certified organic farm.
