Brian Jessel BMW Cabriolet Charity Gala
Saturday, June 11, 2011
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is proud to be a benificiary of the 6th annual Brian Jessel BMW Cabriolet Charity Gala. Proceeds from this event support vital pancreatic cancer research being performed at VGH.
Join Canada’s own, Barenaked Ladies, for a live concert at Brian Jessel BMW!
The evening will include an all access pass to sip and savor delectable offerings from some of Vancouver’s finest restaurants. A silent and live auction will feature an array of sought after products, services and experiences!
Don’t miss out on the event everyone will be talking about!
The Details:
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Brian Jessel BMW, 2311 Boundary Road, Vancouver
Festivities begin at 7pm
Attire: Vancouver Elegant
Gala Ticket: $200
Patron Ticket: $350
VIP Gala Ticket: $500
Words almost can’t describe it. At first, it was sheer excitement at the site of the colourful Moroccan themed private tent suites. Then, it was pride as opening acts like the Sarah McLachlan Foundation Choir took to the stage and cruise ships sailed past Ambleside beach. Finally, as night falls on a near perfect day, it was magic as Sheryl Crow, Neil Young and Sarah McLachlan, three of the biggest names in music, performed to a sold-out crowd the likes of which we have never seen here in West Vancouver. It was a once in a lifetime VIP experience that I hope we get to do all over again next year, and next, and next. Congrats to everyone involved.
Sarah McLachlan, Neil Young, Sheryl Crow
01 & 02 – Glowbal Catering executive chef Jeremy Atkins and sushi chef Yoshi prepare food fit for concert royalty as they serve up mango california rolls, ahi tuna, lamb chops and lobster grilled cheese (my fave) to those in the VIP suites.
03 – The Shore 104 Radio program director Patrick Zulinov, left, parties like a rock star with Keg Restaurant empire owner, and now part-time radio owner, David Aisenstat in his VIP suite.
04 – It’s been a long time since Dr. Robert Lee tapped me on the head for graduation as UBC Chancellor back in 1995. This night, he and wife Lily bask in the sun in his VIP suite next to Sarah McLachlan’s dad and family to enjoy the show.
05 – He’s a member of CBC’s the Dragon’s Den, but in real life Brett Wilson is a real sweetheart who is a big fan and supporter of the Sarah McLachlan Foundation.
06 – West Vancouver’s Graham and Angela Lee deserve a lot of the credit for making this concert happen. It was Graham’s original idea that got the ball rolling – thank you thank you thank you.
Sarah McLachlan, Neil Young and Sheryl Crow
07 – Singer Nadina Zarifeh, left, is mobbed by hundreds of thousands of fans when she appears in the Middle East, but this day she gets to enjoy some quiet time at someone else’s concert with friend Petra Muir.
08 – Nettwerk Records’ CEO and YYOGA co-founder Terry McBride has had a busy week with the planning of this concert AND the opening of his latest Flow Wellness studio in downtown Vancouver. Congrats Terry – you rock!
09 – Glowbal Group owner Emad Yacoub, left, and managing partner Jack Lamont work it behind the scenes keeping food and fans happy.
10 – Always part of the VIP scene and known for their philanthropy are West Vancouver’s Harald and Sharlene Ludwig and John O’Neill.
11 – Candace Alderson and Martin Charlwood cuddle under the stars as Sarah takes the stage.
12 – Surrounded by a halo of guitars, music legend Neil Young plays a mellower, unplugged set in front of 9,000 fans who just couldn’t get enough.
13 & 14 – Sarah McLachlan and Sheryl Crow team up for duets on Crow’s “Strong Enough” and McLachlan’s “Angel”, giving everyone goosebumps. HItting high notes with no effort at all, and with no signs of the laryngitis she had been battling earlier in the week, McLachlan ended the show by asking “So if we do this again would you all come back?” You bet!
Pop princess Britney Spears walked off stage tonight in Vancouver, BC, at her GM Place concert, claiming that the air was too smoky for her to perform. The nicotine fit came only three songs into the show when an announcement was made asking everyone to butt out, literally. (See the evidence for yourself in the YouTube video below – thanks to Chris B for posting).
Apparently, it was less about the prima donna and more about the marijuana as later reports reveal that the stage hands working above the set were apparently choking from the fumes. Spears eventually came back on some 40 minutes later to a much different crowd who were still wondering if the stunt was real or, like most of her singing, just imagined.
The entire episode raises several issues.
First up – It is hard to believe that her stage hands were choking from pot smoke. Have you seen the amount of smoke (and mirrors) she uses? No wonder she has to lip sync. Who can breath with all that raging fire and brimstone. If it was a real ventilation problem, they would have announced it as such, but this was different (judge for yourself from the YouTube video).
Secondly – I know Vancouver is a pot smoking town. There were probably a fair share of legal cigarettes lit too. But as a true non-smoker (in every sense of the word), even I have survived an Ozzy Osbourne or AC/DC concert without hacking up a lung. Yes, the smell is bad, but isn’t Britney a cigarette smoker to begin with?
Also, who exactly was in this crowd? I thought Britney was a teen dream/drag queen favourite. Judging by the colourful characters roaming the streets downtown tonight, the only dangerous substance being abused was hair glitter. The regular reefer madness crowd was safely tucked away at home in mom’s basement playing X-Box.
Lastly – who is in charge of concerts at GM Place? Not that I think Spears doesn’t love the drama of it all, but divas of this magnitude have contracts and riders that management must uphold or else. In other words, if Britney was expecting a non-smoking stadium, then she deserves to get a non-smoking stadium. I have the expectation of a non-smoking stadium (and I also think it’s the law too), but something tells me that I’d get thrown out faster than the pot smokers if I complained to security that someone was smoking in my row at a show.
Oh, what the heck. If millions of people can turn a blind eye to Britney pretending to be a singer, then I guess it’s only reasonable that security turn a blind eye to illegal drug use during concerts. Hey – I wonder what’s going to happen at the snowboarding event at the 2010 Olympics?
So Britney . . . when ya coming back to Vancouver?
Words almost can’t describe it. At first, it was sheer excitement at the site of the colourful Moroccan themed private tent suites. Then, it was pride as opening acts like the Sarah McLachlan Foundation Choir took to the stage and cruise ships sailed past Ambleside beach. Finally, as night falls on a near perfect day, it was magic as Sheryl Crow, Neil Young and Sarah McLachlan, three of the biggest names in music, performed to a sold-out crowd the likes of which we have never seen here in West Vancouver. It was a once in a lifetime VIP experience that I hope we get to do all over again next year, and next, and next. Congrats to everyone involved.
