"Holiday fashions, furs and firemen" — who could turn down that invitation for lunch and frolic in the designer sportswear area of Neiman Marcus? Hostesses Karen Wildenstein and Cheryl Byington had few declines for the Friday bash during which the bubbly flowed and the firemen flexed.

Both women had been the winners of a coveted Neiman Marcus luncheon at charity events, so they combined that coup with their annual Houston Fire Fighters Calendar salute. And with that, three beautifully beefy and slightly tattooed fireman joined the party to autograph the calendars and to select the winner in the gingerbread man decorating contest. Yes, beyond the tiramisu, gingerbread men from Moeller's Bakery comprised the dessert fun with each guest employing her creativity or lack thereof.

Joanne Naponic's nifty fireman/gingerbread man took top honors.

The ladies did their best with the icing, red hots and chocolate chips, except for those who ate their dessert before decorating. Among those testing their skills at cookie decorating while ooohing and aaaahing over the swell fashions that were modeled informally were Cynthe Hughes, Mary Ann McKeithan, Lynn Zeid, Leila Gilbert, Joyce Frassanito, Mary Dee Holtzapple, Astrid Van Dyke, Kathi Rovere and Liz Jameson.

Houston Grand Opera honors

Applause, applause for Houston Grand Opera's 2012 Ovation Award recipients, recognized as up-and-coming leaders in the areas of volunteerism, fundraising and philanthropy.

All set to take bows at the announcement party at Wortham Theater Center on Jan. 11 are Jason Bernhardt, Lindsey Brown, Carrie Carson, Caroline Starry LeBlanc, Lee Mitchell, Paul Pettie, Samira Salman and John Urquhart.

They will be honored at the Encore Party, which is the after-party of the Opera Ball, set for April 14, 2012.

Campaigning already

The wagons are circling early for next year's election, when Harris County District AttorneyPat Lykos faces a handful of opponents. At least one of those, former prosecutor turned defense attorney Zack Fertitta, has been lining up impressive support, evidenced by a recent fundraiser held at the River Oaks home of his in-laws, Sylvia and Tommy Dorsey.

Fertitta spread his message calling for a new crime lab, updated technology and a new approach to the system while a younger generation of voters offered their support. Among them were Temple Brown, Carter Perrin, Scott Gordon, Thomas Dorsey, Mayes Middleton and the candidate's wife, Elizabeth Fertitta, and his brothers Julian Fertitta and Jason Fertitta.

In the mix of Republicans and Democrats gathered in support of the Democratic candidate were Martha Adger and James Madget, Julie and Markley Crosswell, John Middleton, Kathleen and Bill Sharman, Minnie and Will Baird, Karen and Tommy Royce and Marie and Mick Seidel.

Tis the season

The Women's Home Young Professionals held their holiday party at Momentum Audi, where the guys and gals could set their sights on hot new wheels for the holidays. The fete was chaired by Crystal Heydari and Eileen Sims.

Seventy young men and women raised funds for The Women's Home while sampling drinks from ONEHOPE Wine and grooving to the tunes of DJ Mishka. Just outside the showroom doors, the Kurbside Eatz food truck provided sustenance for the partying crowd. One in the lucky group received a door prize of a weekend rental of an Audi, while a gift certificate to Tootsies was another door prize.

In the group were Amy Phan, Helen Carlson, Mindy Melendez, Von Nguyen, Alex and Rachel Lopez, Luke and Megan Hotze, Semmes and Will Burns, Ryan Sims and Sarah Golshadi.