Lovers Have a Ball: The city's movers and shakers including Bob Lee, Frank Guistra and Francesco Aquilini, turned up for the 23rd annual Symphony's Lovers Ball. Four-time chair Liz Gordon fronted the sparkling soiree produced by Shelley Johnson and Colin Upright. Nearly 500 lovebirds packed the Vancouver Convention Centre for the exquisite black-tie dinner and auction hosted by the Bard on the Beach's Christopher Gaze.

Turning Dreams into Reality: Society darling Kasondra Cohen held her fourth annual Face of Today Gala. Three hundred guests turned up at the Sinclair Centre for the Millionaires Club-themed benefit presented by MacQuarie Group. Vanhattan's next generation of business leaders, entrepreneurs and leading philanthropists gathered for the $300-a-pop, 1920s-themed evening of decadence and philanthropy. Helping youth and underprivileged kids achieve their goals, party highlights included an over-the-top auction, $1,500 balloon raffle and performances by Jarvis Church and Burgandy Brixx.

One More Jewel: "The King of Gastown" Sean Heather opened Rainier Provisions, his 11th establishment on the ground floor of the Rainier Hotel. The 100-seat coffee shop at the corner of Carrall and Cordova is a stone's throw from Brandon Grossutti's Pidgin Eatery, the subject of recent protests. Eighteen years in the area, Heather offers up a deli and retail store while continuing to provide free meals to occupants of the hotel, an SRO for vulnerable women.

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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.