It was a heavy-hitter gathering in the party room at La Griglia Thursday night when a powerhouse collection of Democrats and a sprinkling of Republicans turned out for the "friends and family" announcement of attorney Zack Fertitta's run for Harris County District Attorney. Zack won't be formally filing until the official date of Nov. 28 but he's already registered for the race and Eduardo Sanchez has signed on as his treasurer.

Zack's stepfather, John Connally III, son of the late Texas Gov. John Connally, introduced the candidate to the 30 or so early supporters. Zack's father, Julian Fertitta, spoke on his son's behalf informing the crowd that it all started with Zack becoming an Eagle Scout.

Big Dems in the crowd included John Eddie Williams and family, Tani and Tony Sanchez and their family and Harris County Democratic Party chair Gerry Birnberg. Exemplifying the cross-party support that Zack is hoping to capture, supporters from across the political aisles included Judge Mike McSpadden and Clayton and Shel Erikson. Add political independent Tilman Fertitta (a distant relative) to the mix. As Zack noted in his brief remarks, "Criminals don't look at your voter registration card before they act."

Displaying a political interest in the proceedings were Dancie and Jim Ware, Sylvia and Tommy Dorsey, Kelli Kickerillo and Todd Forester, Mark Jacobs, Ken Olive, Patsy and Greg Fourticq, Melinda and Dr. Norman Berkman, Marsha and Jim Braniff. Plus Zack's wife Elizabeth Fertitta, mom Diane Connally and brothers Julian Fertitta with wife Stephanie and Jason Ferittta and wife Courtney.

Celebrating in style

That would be the H-E-B team led by Houston president Scott McClelland, who welcomed Montrose neighbors to a formal luncheon at The Menil Collection on Tuesday, the day before opening the swank new grocery at Dunlavy and West Alabama.

Embracing a good neighbor policy, H-E-B invited cultural arts, business and civic leaders from the neighborhood to enjoy the Central Market-catered repast and learn more about the new store and H-E-B from remarks by Scott, Cyndy Garza Roberts, Winell Herron and store manager Shannon Simpson.

The guest list included City Councilwoman Sue Lovell, Houston Center for Photography executive director Bevin Dubrowski, Menil Collection director Josef Helfenstein, Bradshaw-Carter's Tripp Carter, the Montrose Boulevard Conservancy's Claude Wynn and Legacy Community Health Services' Katy Caldwell and Chree Boydston.

Stting a lofty goal

Heart Ball chairs Bobbie and John Nau, owners of Silver Eagle Distributors, have raised the bar on the American Heart Association's Heart Ball by setting a $1.8 million goal for the Feb. 11 gala. They made that announcement at Silver Eagle headquarters in the swell party room where the 2012 honorees were also announced.

Port Commissioner Elyse Lanier and former Mayor Bob Lanier have been tapped as community honorees while Dr. Roberta Bogaev of the Texas Heart Institute is medical honoree and Enbridge Energy is corporate honoree.

The buzz on this night was the contribution by Sewell Houston of a 2012 model auto valued at $65,000. The high auction bidder will choose from a stable of six top-line cars including an Audi A7, Cadillac Escalade and Infiniti QX.

Cameron Silver at Tootsies

Vintage threads and contemporary jewelry were the focus the other night when Tootsies' owner Mickey Rosmarin hosted a champagne reception for Cameron Silver in from LA with a trunk load of his fab vintage fashions from Decades and a trunk show of his new jewelry line done in collaboration with jewelry house Miriam Haskell.

Among the ladies swooning over the vintage clothes were Lauren Morris, Chris LaFollette, Eri Hoxha, Karen Restivo, Julie Scully, Beth Rall-Durden, Jennifer Keenan and Lynn Smith.

Sight 'ems

H-E-B Houston president Scott McClelland chilling at The Bird & The Bear with wife Soraya, daughter Megan and friends Bonner and George Ball . . .

Laura Sweeney, Vesta Frommer and Sheridan Williams lunching at Da Marco.