POGO Chooses Tinsel Town Theme

The Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario’s sixth annual fund-raiser, held at Liberty Grand, was a celebration of old Hollywood glamour and sophistication. The vibe of the event, dubbed “Glitterati,” was intended to suggest a “post-Oscar bash,” said Vanessa Yakobson, POGO’s managing director of development. A soaring ice curtain from Iceculture at the entrance to venue provided the 900 guests with a clue of the party theme they were about to experience. Once inside, the Hollywood hints continued with passed appetizers from Liberty Grand’s kitchen such as “Spago” smoked salmon white pizza with caviar and dill crème fraîche and “Wolfgang Puck” chipotle ketchup on barbequed chicken drumsticks.
Gala dinner patrons, who shelled out $300 a ticket, enjoyed a live auction, entertainment by the Anita Rossi Band, and a gourmet dinner featuring salmon and ginger rolls with lobster vinaigrette, fois gras bread pudding, truffle pomme puree, and for vegetarians, a forest mushroom strudel. Shimmering kiwi-coloured linens topped by silver candelabra centrepieces with leis of fresh flowers adorned the dinner tables. Contemporary Furniture Rentals supplied several bars, while Church Street Flowers chipped in decor elements such as tall clear acrylic stands with gold and flower covered spheres. A hundred and twenty guests held tickets permitting them to join the event later in the evening. They participated in a silent auction and charity casino and noshed on appetizers such as mini falafel tacos and tempura fried calamari with Habanera and papaya mayo.