Sure, designer doughnuts, gourmet macaroons and other trendy desserts are great. But nothing draws a sweet-toothed crowd quite like the promise of good old-fashioned cupcakes — at least not in Vancouver anyways.

Case in point was the recent Cupcake Throwdown fundraising event at the Fortune Sound Club, which was packed to the rafters with people eager to sample as many mini-frosted delights as they could. And these treat connoisseurs didn’t trickle in or show up fashionably late. They were lined up outside before the doors even opened. After that, a steady and seemingly endless stream of people just kept filing in throughout the night.

Inside, countless competing professional and amateur bakers were serving up a smorgasbord of innovative flavours, including root beer, Irish cream and crunchy banana. All were equally tasty, but there could only be one official winner and that was Joyce Rose for her green tea cupcake, filled with sweet red bean paste and topped with black sesame buttercream. However, she wasn’t the only one to come out on top that night. When all was said and done, Cupcake Throwdown had raised $4,800 for three different community-based charities. Well done, cupcake lovers!

Compassionate consumption

Dining Out for Life is back and bigger than ever. On March 7, nearly 200 participating restaurants will contribute 25% of their total food sales to Friends for Life and A Loving Spoonful — two Vancouver charities that support people living with HIV/AIDS. To help create buzz for the main event, event organizers recently hosted a launch party at the Diamond Centre for Living. Forage restaurant generously supplied the appies, and guests quietly grazed and mingled in the beautiful and welcoming heritage home — all happy to do their part for such a great cause. For more info, visit DiningOutForLife.ca.

 Vino, vino, vino

The Vancouver International Wine Festival was in full effect at the Vancouver Convention Centre this past weekend. People made their way around a myriad of tasting booths, sipping and swirling vinos from around the world. And from what I could see through my wine goggles, a fun time was had by all.

Party on

The Grape Juice Wine Auction, in support of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland, is on Thursday, March 7 at Ferrari Maserati of Vancouver. Tickets: $100 at grapejuicevancouver.com.

The opening gala for the eighth-annual Vancouver International Women In Film Festival is on Thursday, March 7 at VIFF’s Vancity Theatre. For more info, visit womeninfilm.ca.

In the mood for a truly dark and gripping play set in Dublin? Check out Terminus by Mark O’Rowe at Performance Works on Granville Island. Now playing until March 17.