Sue and Lester Smith are still glowing following the Angel Ball in New York City (held before Superstorm Sandy) where they were honored for their generous philanthropic contributions to cancer research. They were joined in the national spotlight on the star-studded evening by the third honoree Bonnie Pfeifer Evans, trustee of the Charles Evans Foundation.

Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research founder Denise Rich hosted the evening. Entertainment Tonight correspondent Christina McLarty served as emcee and entertainment was provided by Smokey Robinson, Natalie Cole and Nelly.

The Smiths happily found themselves in the ballroom of Cipriani Wall Street rubbing elbows with the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Gerard Butler, David Arquette, Solange Knowles, Tiki Barber, Jane Seymour, Stephen Baldwin and on and on. The evening raised $3.7 million for the foundation's cancer research programs.

Heart Ball honorees named

Surrounded by millions in diamonds, emeralds and rubies, Heart Ball supporters rallied in the hallowed environs of Zadok Jewelers to announce the 2013 Heart Ball honorees.

Stepping out as medical honoree was Dr. Miguel Quinones, cardiology chair at Methodist Hospital; community honorees Jyl and Keith Calcote and corporate honoree Cameron, which was represented by Adam Nightingale and Grace Holmes.

Welcoming guests were Heart Ball chairs Lavonne Cox and Denis DeBakey and the entire Zadok family. Good news for the ball chairs, proceeds have already reached 1/3 of the $1.5 million goal set by the American Heart Association.

Feasting Halloween style

Donna Vallone says that Halloween and Thanksgiving are her favorite holidays. So in anticipation of the former, she threw a midday lunch recently for a handful of ladies that shows just how deliciously creative she, and Tony's chef Grant Gordon, can be.

At a table in the center of Tony's dining room, Donna decorated and decorated and decorated, all to hubby Tony Vallone's approval.

The ladies dined divinely on "Monster Mash Burrata," "Wicked Baked Salmon" or "Vampire Veal Piccata" served with "Pumpkin Potion Rissoto" and finished the meal off with "Shivering Sweet Smoking Treat," actually pecan balls wrapped in orange whipped cream with jack-o-lantern faces.

Applauding the menu and the hostess were Carol Linn, Dancie Perugini Ware, Astrid Van Dyke, Sharon Adams, Susan Krohn, Jo Lynn Falgout, Soraya McClelland and Sandy Barrett. None of these ladies could resist the pecan balls.

Sight 'ems

A heavy-duty gathering of politicos at the Four Seasons Hotel for the annual pre-election analysis luncheon hosted by Klotz Associates and Fulbright & Jaworski. Lending their expertise were Bob Stein, Mustafa Tameez, Sonny Messiah Jiles and moderator Miya Shay.

The top-drawer political crowd lending an ear included Klotz Associates' Wayne Klotz, Fulbright senior partner Neil Thomas, Harris County Commissioner Jack Cagle, Texas Highway Commissioner Jeff Moseley, State. Senators Rodney Ellis and Carol Alvarado, U.S. Rep Gene Green, Arthur Schechter, Jason Fuller and Cindy Clifford.