VSO's Angela Elster

VSO Ball volunteers Naomi, Alex, and Laura.

Jennifer and Christopher Gaze.

Michael Menten and Maddy Tranter.

SPANISH SERENADES AT THE
SYMPHONY BALL

Ron Josephson was ready for romance!

Angus and Iain Beatty.

Volunteeers Nita and Tracey.

While A-listers Shakira and J-Lo dazzled the crowd at the Superbowl last month, there were lots of hot-to-trot, torrid twosomes dancing up a storm at the 30th anniversary of the Vancouver Symphony Ball at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

It was sold out weeks before, with more than 600 dressy guests being welcomed by the new VSO and Music Schools, CEO and President Angela Elster, radiant in flaming red sequins, along with maestro Otto Tausk, who led the orchestra in the dramatic and fiery sounds of Spain.

Kudos to the glamorous co-chairs, Alexandra Mauler-Steinmann and Barbara Klebanoff, and to the dozens of volunteers who helped make the evening a true gala gala do.

Wonderful to see such solid supporters as Art Willms and his wife Mary Ann Clark, Melita and Lorne Segal, David and Brenda McLean, Lane and John D'eathe, Jim Murray and Linda Mah, Inna and Michael O'Brian, Jennifer and Christopher Gaze, David and Christie Garofalo.

Also joining the festivities were Deputy Mayor Lisa Dominato, and Alexandra Mauler-Steinmann's husband, Michael Steinmann, the president and CEO of Pan American Silver.

Also on hand were the Park Board's John Coupar, Michael Menten and Maddy Tranter, and Iain and Angus Beatty in their colourful McBeth tartan kilts.

I was also delighted to see handsome barrister Ron Josephson at the reception, waiting for his date and holding a bouquet of beautiful white flowers. A true romantic! Lucky lady! It harkens back to the gala's earlier days when it was known as "The Lover's Ball".

The new head chef at Joey Restaurants, Matthew Stowe.

NEW BOSS IN JOEY KITCHENS

Following the champagne reception, I popped over to Joey Restaurant on Burrard and enjoyed their California Chicken Burger with Yam Fries.

Joy, hard at work taking in the scene at Joey on Burrard.

That's when I learned the latest scoop- Joey's boss Jeff Fuller has just appointed Matthew Stowe as executive director of culinary operations. I've known Matthew since he was a very young man and he always had a passion for food. Since then he's been hovering over the kitchens in The Pan Pacific and the Fairmont Hotels and was also the executive chef at the Sonora Resort on Desolation Sound. Matthew was the winner of the Top Chef Canada title and culinary director of the Joseph Richard Restaurant Group.

I rode the Seabus over to check out the newest Joey, which is their 28th location. It's on the waterfront in the shipyards area of Lower Lonsdale in North Vancouver, with easy parking or a quick trip on the Seabus. It is spectacular! With two levels [330 seats] of glass and granite, a showcase kitchen, fire bowls, a retractable roof for patio dining, and an incredible view, it is 9,300 square feet of glamour.

It is also adjacent to the large, newly installed ice skating rink, where Governor General Julie Payette skated last Saturday as part of the Vancouver Olympics 10th Anniversary.

With the combination of scenic waterfront dining, glamorous setting and Matthew Stowe as the new culinary boss, it's bound to be a winner.

1970s PRICES AT THE OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY

Still with food, Gastown's iconic eatery, The Old Spaghetti Factory, will celebrate its 50th Anniversary! To mark the special occasion, they will roll back their prices to 1970 for one day only- March 3, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Spaghetti entrees will be $1.75! Best of all, all proceeds will be donated to the BC Professional Firefighters Burn Fund.

A TOAST TO THE BARD

The 42nd annual Vancouver International Wine Festival at the Hotel Vancouver was a great success, raising more than $255,000 for Christopher Gaze’s Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, with chair Jana Maclagan, emcee Chris Gailus from the Global news desk, and the amazing Howard Blank as auctioneer.

SAD FAREWELL

Sad to note the passing of my good friend, Pam Glass. Pam was feisty, spunky, loyal and determined, an athlete, journalist, politician and judge of the Citizenship Court of Canada. She was predeceased by husband Cecil and daughter Kelly. She is survived by daughters Maeve and Siobhan and son Eamonn, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A jammed Celebration of Life was held at the Star of The Sea Catholic Church in White Rock and Canada's only female Prime Minister, Kim Campbell, sent a personal note of condolence to the family. Pam and Cecil were also actors, and I vividly recall them co-starring on stage at the old York Theatre as part of VLTA's season in a tailor-made tale directed by the late great John Parker. The scene was in the bedroom where they were vigorously arguing and battling each other.

They became so engrossed in the situation, that they fell into each other's arms and landed passionately onto the bed. All of a sudden, to everyone's horror, the bed collapsed! After stifling her laughter, Pam got up, looked at the audience and said, "Sure and begorra, that never happens at home!"

And my deepest condolences also go out to one of my favourite people, Lily Lee, her four children and their families on the passing of her husband, Bob Lee, after whom the Robert Lee YMCA on Burrard is named. To say that Bob will be missed would be a gross understatement. Bob was brilliant, compassionate, generous, and dedicated.

He worked tirelessly to benefit others. He was always smiling. I would say he was one of the most honest people you could ever hope to meet. Rest in peace, Bob.

MANY A GALA GALA DO TO COME …

Lots to look forward to next time covering the Olympic Revisited Gala, the Big-O Breakfast, the Bacchanalia Ball, the Kidney Gala, Brian Jessel's Cabriolet fundraiser, and the Daffodil Ball...