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PALETTE PLEASER: Passions, one of Vanhattan’s top culinary galas returned to Yaletown’s Roundhouse. Chaired by Michael Barker Fyfe and event founder Nathan Fong, the foodie fete drew a capacity crowd to the community space-turned-party palace to taste culinary creations from 26 of the city's top restaurants, bakeries and caterers while supporting the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation. This year’s participating chefs included Quang Dang of West, Wayne Sych of Joe Fortes and CinCin’s Andrew Richardson. Yours truly along with Global TVs Sophie Lui emceed the yearly fundraiser sponsored by the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Courier. The tasty and successful affair raised a record $145,000, bringing the 13-year tally to nearly $1.4 million for HIV/AIDS care.

SHINE ON: Diagnosed in the late ’80s with HIV and given months to live, Dean Thullner relied on Vancouver’s medical and mental health resources to see him through a very difficult period. Wanting to give back, Thullner created Brilliant, a benefit for mental health. While artistic differences spelled the end of Thullner’s relationship with St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation and gala he created, the mental health advocate returned with SHINE, a similar soiree to benefit the Lions Gate Hospital HOpe Centre and the Canadian Mental Health Association. More than 200 volunteers — hair stylists, designers and make up artists — participated in the marathon, multimedia hair, makeup and fashion show held at the Commodore Ballroom.

ON THE FRINGE: This year’s Fringe Festival, Vancouver’s annual alternative theatre festival, features more than 700 performances from the absurd to the traditional and everything in between. Launching the festival’s 33^rd season, executive director David Jordan welcomed Fringers — past and present — to the opening night gala and fundraiser. Part performance, all party, the red carpet evening drew a capacity crowd to the curtain raiser on Granville Island. Butt Kapinsky, one of the wildest characters in the history of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Fringe, kick started the festival’s 11-day run, which is expected to draw some 40,000 attendees. Once a showcase for local up-and-comers, the Fringe is now part of an international touring circuit attracting entertainers from around the world. The festival runs until Sept. 18.

Hear Fred Mondays 8:20am on CBC Radio’s The Early Edition AM690 and 88.1FM;Email: [email protected]; Twitter: @FredAboutTown