MAIN STREETING: Chinatown’s renaissance continues. Juniper is the latest jewel, located at Keefer and Main, and stars two hospitality veterans. Running the cozy 100-seat, two-level room will be sommelier Sarah Macauley, most recently of the Wedgewood Hotel. Shawn Layton, the acclaimed barkeep of L’Abattoir for the past five years, will oversee the spirit-forward drink program. And completing the trifecta is Sarah Stewart, formerly of Edible Canada, who brings her farm-to-table sensibilities to the kitchen.
FASHION FORWARD: Creativity and talent intersected at Blanche Macdonald’s annual Fashion Design Graduate Show. A capacity crowd of fashionistas, tastemakers and media elite gathered at The Permanent for an exclusive look at the next generation of aspiring artists. The event saw the debut collections from 19 grads. Executive program director Peggy Morrison led models and designers through the much-anticipated runway romp. Future names to note: Joy Nickerson, Maxine Siperko and Lindsey Kapitze.
FOR KIDS SAKE: Believing in the power of youth, Mark Mahl founded Kidzfirst Canada, a non-profit dedicated to providing support to future leaders and the most vulnerable. Nearly 100 guests attended the firm’s first Give it Up 4 Kidz reception at Coast Restaurant to learn more about its effort and fundraise for UBC’s CampOut and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Upwards of $10,000 was raised for the newly minted registered charity.
RECORD HAUL: More than 5,000 generous Vancouverites checked into the Pan Pacific Hotel for the 28th Vancouver Christmas Wish Breakfast. In return for their unwrapped toy for the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, attendees enjoyed a complimentary breakfast led by executive chef Bob Wiles and his culinary team. A reported 11,000 eggs, 11,642 sausages and 4,600 croissants were served. And in a mere three hours, the lobby spilled over with 17 tonnes of toys, 1,000 bikes and more than $22,000 in cash donations for families in need.
