WP8 nationalpost.com nationalpost.com citylife NATIONAL POST, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2010 Δ Don and Denyse Green. Liloo Alim, Four Seasons Toronto, with Bollywood sensation Aamir Kahn and Kiran Rao. Gallerist Bruce Bailey and Adrian Mainella. Karen Fonn, Kavelman Fonn Foundation, and honouree George Cohon, founder of McDonald’s Canada and Russia. Life of the party The ﬁnest fetes of 2010 AMORYN ENGEL Kim Newport-Mimran and Joe Mimran. Michael Budman and Diane Bald. Design superstar Sarah Richardson and husband, Alexander Younger. Yolanda Hadid and David Foster. Dina Pugliese wearing Oscar de la Renta. Suzanne Boyd, Snowball co-chair and Zoomer editor-in-chief, wearing Wayne Clark. London designer Charlotte Olympia and Kerry McKenna. H erewith, the very best parties of the year’s social season: Other Worldly A Midnight Spell was cast last May at the Ontario Science Centre, inspired by the Centre’s Harry Potter exhibit. Jamie Kennedy prepared a scrumptious feast, with gorgeous wines donated by Martin Malivoire of Malivoire Wine. The live auction included a meet-and-greet package featuring tween heartthrob Justin Bieber at Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Best Re-invention It was raining men at the Some Like It Haute Snowball benefit for Casey House. The pièce de résistance was Emmy awardwinning Jane Krakowski of 30 Rock fame, who brought down the house with a sultry cabaret number. Best Newcomer A jaw-dropping Oscar de la Renta fashion show and gala dinner was presented at the Carlu by Suzanne Rogers to benefit the Hospital for Sick Children. With the iconic designer himself in attendance, this top-tier event drew hundreds of guests clad in fabulous gowns, many designed by Oscar himself. Watch for Marchesa, coming in the New Year! Most Coveted TIFF Invite An invitation to the George Christy luncheon at the Four Seasons is like gold, highly coveted and not easy to come by. Christy, a celebrated Hollywood scribe, helped put the Toronto International Film Festival on the map. Only the Fashionable Need Apply The first birthday bash in honour of that den of fabulousness, The Room at The Bay on Queen Street, featured London’s most au courant designers including Charlotte Olympia Dellal, Giles Deacon, Mark Fast, Erdem Moralioglu, Jonathan Saunders, Marios Schwab and NicholasKirkwood. Dining in Style Michael Budman and Diane Bald hosted a fabulous dinner party for their friend Laurie David (ex-wife of neurotic funnyman Larry David). Laurie was in town to promote her new book Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect with Your Entrepreneur Larry Wasser, president, Genuity Fund Management, and his art consultant wife, Marla. Holt Renfrew president Mark Derbyshire, designer Donna Karan and Hilary Weston. Heather Reisman, Indigo, and author Laurie David. Kids, One Meal at a Time. Keep the Champagne Flowing Corks were popping all night long at Yorkville’s Teatro Verde where a new in-store Veuve Clicquot Champagne Boutique opened recently. The boutique carries everything that a champagne connoisseur could want, from branded stemware to trays, outdoor furnishings, and limited-edition champagne buckets. Lunch with Donna Last summer, Hilary Weston hosted an intimate luncheon at Holt Renfrew in honour of iconic designer Donna Karan, celebrating her 25 years in fashion. A select few of Canada’s chicest fashionistas were treated to a fashion show of the designer’s runway pieces for fall. Afterwards, guests got to shop the Donna Karan line with the designer herself in tow! How fabulous is that? Best Pose-down At Absolut George, a black-tie retrospective of the work of our favourite shutterbug, George Pimentel, sponsored by Absolut Vodka to launch its Glimmer vodka, guests kept an eye out for pictures of themselves on display throughout the exhibition. Raise High the Roofbeams More than 500 guests dressed in denim and hard-hats attended the Construction Chic gala at the Carlu in support of Ronald McDonald House Toronto. Highlights included a video tribute to George Cohon, founder of McDonald’s Canada and Russia, who has worked tirelessly to help make Ronald McDonald House — which provides accommodation for seriously ill children and their families who come to Toronto for treatment — what it is today. Everyone lent a hand in raising funds toward the building of a brand new Ronald McDonald House slated to open its doors in Toronto in 2011. Something to Savour Grand Cru, a $2,500-a-ticket wine-and-dine extravaganza, saw some of Toronto’s highest flyers host exclusive dinner parties at their homes in support of Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation. “This event continues to age, much like a fine wine,” said event founder ToddHalpern. Over the years, Grand Cru has raised more than $8.2million for the Foundation . Unforgettable Some 400 guests descended on a Bridle Path mansion in support of the David Foster Foundation, which benefits kids going through lifesaving organ transplants.Chef Mark McEwen prepared a feast and Peter Cetera of legendary rock band Chicago and the great Lionel Richie entertained. Oh what a feeling — we were dancing on the ceiling. Look for more coverage of this event in City Life within the next month. Sylvia Mantella. Taylor Thomson and Lynda Prince. Simona Shnaider, Bonnie Brooks, president and CEO, The Bay, and Richard Baker, governor, Hudson’s Bay Company. Stephanie DeGasperis and Esme Rambert, The Room at the Bay. Marlo Szellos, Sandy Skotnicki, Vanessa Mulroney, Ciara Hunt and Stacey Kimel. Ann Layton, president, Siren Communications. Weekend Post amoryne@nationalpost.com PHOTOS BY AMORYN ENGEL, GEORGE PIMENTEL Canada’s film icon Norman Jewison and Lynne St. David. Muhammad Ali and his wife, Lonnie. Suzanne Rogers and Oscar de la Renta. Fernie Pereira and her husband, celebrity photographer George Pimentel. Lionel Richie. Barbara Bebis meets Justin Beiber at Atlantis, Bahamas. Michael Pellegrino, owner, Teatro Verde, and Toufik Sarwa of Amber and Cinq01 fame. Allison Borun, construction chic! Vonna and Jenna Bitove flank Alex Filiatrault, Four Seasons Toronto. Mark Mulroney, RBC Capital Markets, his sister, Caroline Lapham, and Hollywood scribe George Christie. Shawn Gibson, owner, Teatro Verde. WP9 Jen Jarvis and Judy MacGowan, both with Ronald McDonald House Toronto, and yours truly. Ellen and Todd Halpern, founder, Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival. Nick Broderick with Snowball co-chair Wayne Clark and Jeffrey Fisher, both designers.