The theme of the ball was "A Night in Fairyland" and the decorating committee had outdone themselves. The ballroom at the historic Hotel Vancouver, painted in tones of cream and gold with crown moldings, gold-framed mirrors, and Edwardian frescoes, glowed with an otherworldly beauty under the hundreds of tiny white twinkling lights strung up.

I checked my wrap and stepped into the animated swirl of partygoers. Men strutted about in tuxes, while one fabulous guy outshone everyone in ...