About Last Night with Fred Lee: Photos from Science of Cocktails and the Dior Boutique Opening

An open bar and a retail launch brought out the city’s top movers and shakers.

Science World’s Science of Cocktails

The RoomScience World was transformed into Vancouver’s largest cocktail laboratory to let the city’s most talented bartenders and chefs showcase the biology, chemistry and physics behind their cocktails and cuisine. CEO Scott Sampson and founding party co-chair Tristan Sawtell raised a glass to welcome 1,500 guests to the science centre’s biggest fundraiser.

The StarsAn army of mixologists—62 bar stars in all, including Fairmont Pacific Rim’s Grant Sceney, Tableau’s JS Dupuis and Royal Dinette’s Kaitlyn Stewart (recently crowned the world’s best bartender at the prestigious World Class Bartender of the Year cocktail competition in Mexico City)—fronted the open bar and cocktail party.

The CauseMixed with a greater good, the science experiment—now in its third year—concocted more than $275,000 to support Science World’s Class Field Trip bursary program for underserved schools. The fundraising effort will ignite the imaginations of 8,000 students who would otherwise not be able to experience the wonder and excitement inside the geodesic dome.

Dior Vancouver Opening

The OpeningChristian Dior’s new boutique is the latest concession store to open within Holt Renfrew Vancouver. Though the brand has long had a presence at the store, the new dedicated space triples its square footage. Modelled after the French designer’s Paris Avenue Montaigne flagship, the 1,200-square-foot leather goods shop located just inside Holt’s main entrance welcomed adoring fans and retail insiders.

The HandbagThe retail space features a wide range of luxury products, including shoes, small accessories and, of course, its signature handbags. As usual, the Lady Dior bag, Dior’s iconic piece, in a variety of sizes, colours and embellishments, was the belle of the ball, drawing oohs and aahs from the style savvy.

The Party HighlightA travelling exhibition of customized Lady Dior bags reimagined by 10 global artists headlined the downtown event. Playing with the signature cannage motif and quilting pattern and letter charms, artists created their unique versions of the best-selling handbag.

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