GARDEN PARTY: Maestros of fun, the Social Concierge’s Jordan Kallman and Tyson Villeneuve partnered with Ballet BC to present their newest social venture Babylon, a magical night of botanical beauty and choreographic dance in support of the province’s venerable contemporary dance company. The Queen Elizabeth Plaza was transformed into a fully immersive midsummer night’s party amidst fantastical reimagined gardens of Babylon. Creations by some of the leading florists in Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»served as stunning backdrops for twilight performances orchestrated by Ballet BC artistic director Emily Molnar. Between dances, guests kibitzed with artists and dancers, while enjoying the earthly delights, including a special installation by internationally renowned master florist Hitomi Gilliam.
DINNER FOR 300: North Shore’s Dinner on the Pier was conceived as a way to connect people and businesses and their love for community. The brainchild of the Juicery Co’s Alex Troll, Adriana Koc-Spadaro and Justin Duggan, the event drew 150 to last year’s inaugural staging. The sophomore edition saw numbers double for the long table alfresco dinner on the Burrard Dry Dock Pier. The evening began with a cocktail hour in the Pipe Shop, where attendees sampled bespoke cocktails. They would eventually step outside into the glorious sunshine for a delicious family-style dinner, created by Pinnacle Hotel executive chef Joel Green. A party with a purpose, the community gathering aimed to raise $10,000 for Growing Chefs, a non-profit that engages children in learning where their food comes from.
POST-GAMES LIFE: Krista Guloien’s debut book Beyond the Finish Line chronicles her journey as an elite rower who participated in two Olympics (reaching the podium in 2012) to the challenges that ensued afterwards. From finding a new passion and career post-sport to opening up about body image issues, her candid tell-all book gives readers an insight into the mind of a professional athlete’s sometime difficult transition to a life after sport. Breaking the silence and openly sharing her struggles, Guloien, joined by fellow Olympians Richard Hortness, Darcy Marquardt and Brent Hayden, launched her book days before the start of the Rio Games at a reception in Yaletown.
