Will I Am: Battling a form of adrenal cancer since she was 16, Megan McNeil composed "Will to Survive" as a way of helping others, especially children battling childhood cancer. McNeil performed the song at the Giovanni Bastone Foundation Gala, which yours truly emceed earlier this year. Since then, having already endured 20 rounds of chemo, the 19 year-old has relapsed with cancer reportedly found in her liver. In the midst of all of her treatments, her song - produced by Grammy winner Garth Richardson‹has been released on iTunes with a portion of every paid download to benefit childhood cancer research. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month.

High notes: Cantonese opera enthusiasts helped SUCCCESS Foundation, Fronted by chair Betty Funston, raise $56,000 for senior services. Fans enjoyed the evening's performances, which included selections from the classic The Flower Princess, two of Asia's most celebrated opera artists and six seasoned performers, including Vancouverite Alice Choi.

Pop art: Using the transition period between old and new to do something unique and unexpected, Yaletown's Opus Hotel unveiled its pop-up eatery 100 Days, transforming its French bistro into a graffiti-adorned urban diner.

As the name suggests, it will operate for exactly that amount of time before a permanent restaurant opens in 2011.

--------

Hear Fred Monday morning on CBC Radio One's The Early Edition AM690 and 88.1FM; email Fred at yvrflee@hotmail.com; follow Fred on Twitter: @FredAboutTown.