Catherine Barr – Events, Celebrities & Entertainment News

Month: October 2009

  • Rotary Wine Fest at Park Royal West Van

    rotary_wineThe 8th Annual North Shore Rotary Wine and Food Festival took place last weekend at Park Royal Shopping Centre. Sipping and sampling was on the menu as was live music and more. Local restaurants, wineres and volunteers all pitched in to help make it happen and proceeds raised will go to the North Shore Youth Safe House. Hanging out at the mall with friends was never quite like this. Cheers.

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    01- West Van Surise Rotary president Bawn Campbell, left, and North Van Rotary president Norm Thompson greet guests as they arrive.

    02 – Helping organize the event are members Janice Bosley, left, and Shirley Robertson.

    03 – Cupcakes store owner Lori Joyce, who just opened her newest store in the village, hands out sweet snacks topped with frosting and love.

    04 – North Vancouver MP Andrew Saxton attends the event with friend and voice-over actress Brandi Ferguson.

    05 – North Vancouver District Mayor Richard Walton and wife Celeste Pelc are among the VIPs coming out in support.

    06 – Liberty Wine Merchants’ Tyler Dawson and Shelley Preston keep the glasses filled with reds and whites.

    07 – Hot stuff – Horseshoe Bay Boathouse chef Gerry Wiesner was a popular guy thanks to his pan full of delicious spicy hot prawns.

    08 – Shitake mushroom pasta fresh from the table of Magia E Bevi chefs Rob Parrott, left, and Doug Grisdale kept them coming back for more.

    09 – Cheers to good friends and good times at the mall. From left: Doug and Jane Knill, Alexandra Buesse and David Smith.

    By Catherine Barr – October 24, 2009

    Published in print by the North Shore Outlook newspaper on October29, 2009

  • Muhammad Ali, Steve Nash, Sugarlime, Arts Umbrella and more

    So many events, so little time. Here’s a roundup of some of the spectacular fundraisers and opening night celebrations that took place over the last week or two.

    ali_and_more

    01 – North Vancouver’s Jason Dussault, seen here with girlfriend/model Mashiah Vaughn, whose best known for his super-star endorsed clothing line Deuce, sits front row at the Boys’ Co. 25th Anniversary fashions show and party.

    02 – Nanaimo born NBA star Steve Nash, left, and NHL Canucks hero Trevor Linden come out for the kids in support of Steve’s foundation fundraiser “Showdown in Downtown”.

    03 – With a wall of TV screens to make you scream, the chic new Boston Pizza, (located at Esplanade and Chesterfield) will be the place to be seen during the game. From left: Franchisee Darrell Lesueur and wife Lisa, Owner/Operator Neil MacLeod and wife Judy, and Caroline Schein, VP of People Development.

    04 – A toast to Terminal City Club executive chef Jason Lloyd and sommelier Teresa Alampur for helping to host the fabulous Vina Tamaya / Vina Morande Wines of Chile winemakers’ dinner featuring stunning plates and presentations.

    05 – North Van’s Adam Wickstead, left, GM of Pacific Overseas Forwarding Inc. and Jan Beringer, President and CEO of Rohde & Liesenfeld Canada Inc. generously sponsor the vodka lounge at the Arts Umbrella’s SPLASH art auction event on Granville Island.

    06 – Partner Roshni Naik, left, and owner Karen Buder are the toast of the town at their sparkly Sugarlime Soiree 2009 fundraiser held at the Vancouver Art Gallery in support of BC Children’s Hospital.

    07 – “Facing Ali” producer Derik Murray, left, and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, right, are among the VIPs who got to meet legendary heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali during a special screening/reception at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

    – Catherine Barr

    As published in the North Shore Outlook newspaper on October 22, 2009

  • Mercedes Benz North Vancouver Grand Opening 2009

    mercedes_thumbWe’ve all watched it being built, and now its officially open for business. The Mercedes Benz dealership in North Vancouver is no stranger to the luxury lifestyle – so what better way to celebrate than with a gala re-opening to showcase the new 13,000 square foot showroom expansion and the debut of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan. The new $6 million renovation of glass and glam gives the Marine Drive dealership new life as they head into their 25th year at this location – now that’s style.

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    01 – VIP guests Bruce Anyon, left, and Blair Henderson raise a glass to a class opening night at the new dealership.

    02 – Marilyn Dilligente-Smith, left, of Marilyn’s in Caulfeild, helped supply the fashions for the models this night. She attends the event with Caroline Cave, husband Dr. Wayne Smith and friend Nancy Birk-Telfer.

    03 – Mercedes VP of National Sales, Hannu Ylanko, left, joins AllWest Insurance’s Devina Zalesky, Mercedes Benz Canada’s Marcus Breitschwerdt and Daniel Falcon for the big celebration.

    04 – Enjoying live music and socializing are West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce president Gary Mussatto and wife Misti, who both also own the Toy Jungle in Park Royal.

    05 – Kelly Lohn, left, Peter Kirk-Owen and Stephen Bradner, of Bradner Homes, check out the new luxury cars.

    06 – California Cult Classics wine man Frank Gigliotti takes a turn sitting in the driver’s seat of the swanky black Mercedes McLaren 772s valued at over $250,000.

    07 – Ledcor VP Ron Nalewajek and wife Filomena Nalewajek, CEO of Canuck Place, both live in West Vancouver and are always generous with their time and sponsorship.

    – Catherine Barr, Ocober 8, 2009

    Published in print in the North Shore Outlook newspaper on October 15, 2009

  • Vancouver International Film Festival 2009

    Erin Cebula and Ryan Robbins

    The 28th annual Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) kicked-off last week and the buzz is everywhere. Running from October 1-16, VIFF presents approximately 575 screenings of 350+ films from over 70 countries. Not known for attracting big Hollywood names, the festival nonetheless has plenty of glitz and glam to go with it, including the Gala Opening night party, the Brightlight/Bridge Studios big Red Carpet Party at Cin Cin, The Canadian Images soiree at Joeys on Burrard and the Women in Film and Television (WIFTV) Martini Madess at Edge. Check viff.org for more info.

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    01 – Keeping it cheeky – burlesque girls, feathers and fun are all part of the annual Woman in Film and Television (WIFTV) Martini Madness party at the Edge on Granville.

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    02 – West Vancouver’s Jack Evrensel, left, owner of Cin Cin restaurant, chats with North Vancouver’s Peter Leitch, President of North Shore Studios and Mammoth Studios.

    03 – ET Canada’s Erin Cebula interviews local actors, like Ryan Robbins (of Sanctuary and Battlestar Galactica fame), on the red carpet at Cin Cin.

    04 – Twelve year-old Cassandra Sawtell is a North Shore actress who can be seen in the upcoming “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” with the likes of Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Christopher Plummer.

    05 – West Vancouer’s Sharon Chan looks after VIPs, like actor Lochlyn Munro (Night at the Roxbury, 9-9-09), at the Cin Cin red carpet affair.

    06 – Karim and Monica Virani take in the VIFF Opening Night Gala at the Rocky Mountaineer after the screening of “A Shine of Rainbows”.

    07 – Twilight: Eclipse movie fans will recognize Nanaimo born actress Jodelle Ferland who is also starring in “Everything’s Coming Up Rosie” at the festival.

    08 – Taking in the action at several red carpet events, including the Loden Hotel’s “Fabulous” party, are pretty PR gal Tammy Preast, left, and West Vancouver businessmen Frank Giustra and Harald Ludwig.