It's applause, applause for a handful of Houstonians and special entities that will be recognized as 2010 recipients of the National Philanthropy Day Awards. Just announced, they will be honored at the Association of Fundraising Professional Greater Houston Chapter's annual luncheon on Nov. 3 at the Hilton Americas-Houston.

Taking bows as recipients of the Maurice Hirsch Award are generous philanthropists and community leaders Janice and Bob McNair, Houston Texans owner. Veteran gala chair and philanthropist with a Midas touch, Linda McReynolds will take bows as Outstanding Community Volunteer Fundraiser.

Laura Ward, Houston Children's Charity executive director, will receive honors as Outstanding Fundraising Professional and Sukey Fenoglio will be recognized with the Byron Welch Award for Lifetime Achievement in Fundraising.

Additional recognition goes to Aramark as Outstanding Large Corporation, Houston Restaurant Week as Outstanding Fundraising Program earning less than $250,000, Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market as Outstanding Fundraising Program earning more than $250,000, Jaffe/Deutser and Brad Deutser as Outstanding Media, the Hamill Foundation as Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation and Mach Industrial Group as Outstanding Small Corporation.

The Aspen schmooze

If you've wondered why your favorite midday watering holes have been less than populated with the social swans, we have at least part of the reason — a gaggle of them are vacationing in Aspen.

The very social Diane Lokey Farb hosted a number of the ladies to lunch at the Roaring Fork Club recently. Mother nature slightly rained on her parade when a downpour moved the festive repast from the patio overlooking the grand golf course. No worries, the ladies vacated to the swank wine room with its own view of the golf course and — bonus — a fireplace.

The guest list included Jana Arnoldy, Cherie Flores, Mindy Hildebrand, Cam Canion, Kay Holmes, Ericka Bagwell, Hilda Curran, Denise Monteleone, Susana Brener de Stern, Doreen Herzog, Sue Smith, Florence Rutherford, Jessica Meyer and Jennifer Stern. The femme fest went on all afternoon with guests not departing until 4:30.

Entertaining in Santa Fe

Houston Grand Opera patrons Donna and Bob Bruni of San Antonio and Santa Fe, N.M., (in summer) were rolling out the red carpet before the annual HGO group arrived at their home Thursday night. The energetic duo hosted the "welcome party" for last week's International Folk Art Market, the largest market of its kind in the world.

Linda Lorelle was in Santa Fe shooting a documentary and joined the Bruni soirée as did Gloria Portela and Dick Evans as well as former Houstonians Susie and Jay Gouge, Auburn University president, who served as president of the University of Houston System from 2003 to 2007.

Sight 'ems

It sure didn't look like summer in La Griglia at lunch on Thursday when notables were all but hanging from the rafters. Among them at various high-powered tables: former Mayor Lee Brown, State Rep. Carol Alvarado, Steve Lasher, radio personality Michael Berry, Channel 13 investigative reporter Wayne Dolcefino, newly-signed Chicago Bull Carlos Boozer, attorney Richard "Racehorse" Haynes, Jack Rains, attorney David Berg, Harris County Tax Assessor Collector Leo Vasquez, marketing/pr guru Cindy Clifford, attorney Marvin Nathan and Jason Fuller, regional director for Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison . . .

Heavy-hitters packing Reef including State Sen. John Whitmire, attorney Craig Washington, State Rep. Borris Miles, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher Jason Grimsley and the one and only former Houston Oiler Earl Campbell . . .

Sheridan and John Eddie Williams dining with friends at Ibiza where they were greeted by chef Charles Clark and Ibiza partner Grant Cooper.