Opening night for the BC Home + Garden Show is never what I would call a rager. After all, one drink ticket and concession stand snacks a party does not make. But the sideshow on the Home Cooking Stage? Now that’s where all the action’s at. And this year was no exception.

Ladies, I got two words for ya: Fiya Fighters. That’s right, adjacent to the media lounge SHAW was hosting the Cooking with Fire chili cook-off.

Based on the titular cable TV show, participating firefighters were showcasing their kitchen skills in a culinary competition. Here, we had three teams of two vying for the top prize, which is a donation to the charity of their choice. Judging that night was none other than fire chief John McKearney, foodie blogger Mijune Pak and Nosh chef John Ly. It couldn’t have been an easy decision for them. All those steaming hot, delectable ... pots of food looked mouth-wateringly good.

All Jazzed Up

My club days are long behind me. But if I still had the ability to stay up until the wee hours of the morning, I’d be all over the Absolut Elyx Speakeasy events at Ginger 62. As it is, I was able to check out the first hour of one of these Prohibition-era parties before hitting my bedtime wall. Recreating the spirit of an illegal booze can, guys and dolls filed in all jazzed up for a night of bevvies and beats. Sporting their best glad rags, these partiers looked perfectly at home in this electro-booze can. The Absolut dames, in particular, were rocking some pretty stellar roaring 1920’s attire — love those beaded flapper dresses!

Munching March

Vancouver Foodster was at it again with another Tasting Plates Vancouver. This latest self-guided walking tour was the second downtown edition. With nine participating restaurants, cold, but determined, participants got to sample everything from green curry at Pink Elephant Thai to butter chicken naan kebabs at the Soho Road Food Truck. In terms of favourites, the general consensus seemed to be the beef taquitos at Lolita’s ... mmm, delicioso!

Party On

Mt. Seymour’s seventh-annual Moonlight Snowshoe fundraiser is on Feb. 26. Proceeds go to Take a Hike, a program that helps guide at-risk youth through outdoor adventures.

Vancouver International Wine Festival runs from Feb. 25 to March 3. This year’s charitable partner is Bard on the Beach Theatre Society. Tickets are on sale now. For more info, visit vanwinefest.ca.

The ongoing Talking Stick Festival, which explores aboriginal culture through music, dance, storytelling and visual art, runs until March 3. For more info, visit fullcircle.ca.