Snake Charmers: Ushering in the Year of the Snake, Anita Law, Chris Stepien, Margaret Chiu and honourary chair Sing Lim Yeo welcomed guests to Tapestry Foundation for Health Care's Chinese New Year Mount Saint Joseph fundraiser. The Scotiabank Feast of Fortune, sponsored in part by the Courier, drew 700 guests to the Westin Bayshore for an evening of fine dining and philanthropy. A record $522,000 was generated for a state-of-the-art 3D breast ultrasound imaging equipment.

Wine Reform: Educational wine tastings, wine orders at tasting events, secondary tasting rooms and donations of wine to charities are just some of the changes a dedicated group of folks from B.C.'s food, wine and hospitality industry are advocating. United in the belief that many of B.C.'s archaic rules and regulations related to wine should be updated, the Modernize Wine Association of B.C. lobby group, led by lawyer Mike Hicken and Nessa Van Bergen, fronted a mixer at Provence restaurant to raise awareness of their efforts.

Grads Feted: An influential figure in global financial regulation, a visionary in higher learning for Indigenous peoples, an award-winning lawyer, author and filmmaker and an internationally renowned cancer epidemiologist were feted at one of SFU's most celebrated traditions. Dr. Svein Andresen, Dr. Jo-ann Archibald, Joel Bakan and Dr. John Spinelli were honoured at the 30th annual academic 'do held at the Four Seasons Hotel. Presented by SFU's Alumni Association, the night also recognized future grads and leaders.

-----------------

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