SWEET DUMPLINGS: Twenty local restaurants competed in the second annual Golden Dumpling Cook Off, presented by Bao Bei, held in conjunction with the Chinatown Festival. Dumpling lovers converged to sample various varieties of dumpling and take in the much-anticipated, all-you-can-eat-in-two-minutes dumpling eating contest. Sixteen contestants — eight women and eight men, including yours truly — competed for bragging rights and top honours. Julia Roos gulped down 21 dumplings to take the women’s title, while Cody Jensen impressively inhaled 37 of the wrapped wonders to win the men’s division. Angus An’s Thai seafood dumpling was declared the afternoon’s best. Proceeds from the dumpling-do support the Chinese Elders Community Kitchen, a program of the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre that creates a safe space where Chinese elders can cook and share meals.
LIVING LIFE: Living Space’s Ross Bonetti fronted his third La Dolce Vita party at his designer showroom in the Armoury District. Fast becoming once of Vancouver’s must-attend parties of the summer, the weather cleared in time for the stylish outdoor/indoor party. The city’s creative class — designers, artists, developers and architects — once again gathered for an evening of furniture, fashion and fun. Spilling out into the parking lot, guests enjoyed bites from and some of the city’s finest food trucks before taking in the al fresco runway show presented by Boboli and Bacci. Douglas Coupland, Charlotte Wall and Foster Eastman were among the notables making the scene. Ten thousand dollars was raised in support of scholarships to Emily Carr’s Industrial Design Program.
CINEMATIC EXCELLENCE: The Whistler Film Festival Society hosted its annual fundraiser at Blue Water Café and Raw Bar in Yaletown. Marking the 16-week countdown to Whistler’s 14th cinematic celebrations Dec. 3 to 7, festival co-founder Shauna Hardy Mishaw welcomed Hollywood North’s business leaders and industry luminaries to the stylish party and fundraiser. Yours truly emceed the swish $150-a-ticket affair that honored longtime friends of the festival. Actor Jason Priestley, entertainment lawyer Arthur Evrensel, producer/writer Bill Thumm and filmmaker Lynne Stopkewich were feted for their ongoing support of the festival that nurtures independent filmmakers, Canadian films and creative excellence. A reported $20,000 was raised.
