Fashion show. Body art competition. Live painting. There was no shortage of visual stimulation at the Art World Expo at the Telus World of Science on Friday. In addition to the stage performances, there were more than 80 artists showcasing their eclectic works all around the colourful and brightly lit interactive science exhibits.

I honestly didn't know where to look first . well, okay, that's not altogether true (like any good social columnist, my eyes are preprogrammed to seek out the closest source of beverages before taking in any other visual information). But after I hit the bar, I had to make a concerted effort to take it all in.

And this huge undertaking wasn't just for show. It was a benefit for the Make and Break Arts Foundation, a non-profit society dedicated to helping local artists thrive in the community.

Guests were treated to mini cupcakes, free manicures and a fashion extravaganza courtesy of local clothing designer Shelley Klassen (a.k.a. the queen of party frocks). Ticket-holders also got to see a live performance by Juno Award-winning rocker, Bif Naked.

In short, the Art World Expo organizers could not have packed any more entertainment into this evening, even if they tried. They really did have it all.

Crustacean Carnage

To help kick off its special May-long spot prawn menu, C Restaurant hosted a tasting party. And it couldn't have been a more perfect evening for it. The sun was shining, so the waterfront patio was open and packed with prawn lovers, eager to taste the first batch of the season.

Executive Chef Robert Clark and Chef de Cuisine Lee Humphries kept it simple for the most part and served up the super-fresh prawns whole. That meant guests had to get right in there with their hands and pry those tasty buggers out. Not a single person minded one bit though. No sooner would a platter of lightly seasoned prawns come out to the patio that a stack of empty shells would go back into the kitchen.

It was summertime dining at its best.