It might have been as hot as the dickens Monday night, but certain Houston Ballet supporters were thinking winter wonderland as they held a kick-off celebration at Del Frisco's for the annual Nutcracker Market.

The three musketeers organizing the event, sponsored by Energy XXI, were Lara Bell, Roseann Rogers and Kristi Schiller. Close to 200 interested parties turned out to sip vino and sample hors d'oeuvres, compliments of Del Frisco GM Arthur Mooradian. Key among the guests was Nutcracker Market chair Shawn Stephens.

Handbag designer Mary Nichols created a charming evening bag — the Ballerina Clutch, $250 — for the kick-off and a portion of sales went to the ballet. Bonus at this gathering was the discount on Nutcracker Market preview party tickets. More than 50 were sold.

Among those getting the inside scoop on the market that runs Nov. 11-14 at Reliant Center were Katrina Arnim, Sharon Erskine, Julie Pincus, Cecilia Campbell, Cynthia Christ, Karen Hartnett, Jean May, Gaylon Gullquist, Philamena Baird and Mary Ann Reynolds Wilkins.

Birthday bash

City Councilwoman Sue Lovell's 60th birthday celebration on Sunday lived up to the invitation's billing as "Sue's Sizzling 60th." Not only was it hotter than hades outside but there was such a crush of heavy-hitter politicos and power brokers inside that it was an undeniably heated swirl. More than 250 people of influence and power poured in throughout the day to the Third Ward home of Lovell's partner Angela Blanchard, Neighborhood Centers Inc. president.

Among them were Mayor Annise Parker and Kathy Hubbard, Parker's deputy chief of staff Adam Harris, City Councilwoman Melissa Noriega, engineering guru Wayne Klotz, community leaders Nelly and Felix Fraga, Legacy Healthcare CEO Katy Caldwell, the mayor's agenda director Marty Stein and Rice University's Bob Stein, State Rep. Carol Alvarado, marketing consultant Cindy Clifford and on and on.

A new chapter

With both daughters now enrolled in school, Karen Pulaski is stretching her creative/business acumen in a new endeavor that embraces her love for the finer things in life as well as her altruistic bent. In addition to launching her interior design business via the web within the month, Pulaski is creating a line of fine bed linens, under the label Tribute Goods, in black and white with 10 percent of proceeds dedicated to a philanthropic fund.

"I have too much creative energy to do nothing," she explained.

The bed linens will be far beyond the ordinary. "I love patterns and there just aren't a lot of options in high-end thread counts," she said. Pulaski has engaged an artist to interpret her dream which she describes as in the "developmental stage" at the moment. Her plan is a combination of "high-tech process with an old world look." The goal is to have the patterns hand drawn but laser printed on the fabric, something with texture and dimension that can be laundered.

"It's what you wake up to and what you go to sleep to," she said. Look for the brand on line and in chic boutiques next fall.

Education first

Nancy and Rich Kinder bows at the Hilton-Americas Houston Saturday night during the Kinder Excellence in Teaching Awards evening that recognizes 15 public school teachers with honorariums that total $225,000. Formed in partnership with KIPP Houston, YES Prep Public Schools and Teach for America, the awards are funded by the Kinder Foundation.

The dinner evening included award presentations to exemplary teachers and a keynote address by Dan Heath, author of Made to Stick and Switch.

Sight 'ems

A rollicking crowd at Tony Mandola's Gulf Coast Kitchen where Paul-David Van Atta and Brian Teichman shared a table with Gary Joseph and David Watson while Mark Sullivan broke bread with Greggory Burk and Tim Moloney. The crowd included Emily Crosswell dining with friends and a tablehopping John Kirksey. Mr. Mandola himself was on the scene himself talking about the move to Waugh Drive in the coming year . . .

Becca Cason Thrash and Holly Moore partying in the bar at Tony's just like old times with Gregory Fourticq . . .

Sharon Adams and Nancy Kinder lunching at La Griglia . . .

Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Bob Jones hosting Melinda Berkman and Donna Vallone to lunch at Tony's. At the next table, Sheridan Williams and Laura Ward were tete-a-tete . . .

Rachel Price and Mary Donna Moceri dining at Vic & Anthony's . . .

Neal Hamil, Debbie Festari and Courtney Hopson lunching at Grotto 610 at one table, the self-proclaimed "Slackers" at another — Howard Hoover, Glen Miller, Ken Wise, Bob Livermore, Walter Burnap and Dr. Robert Conte with their non-Slacker guest Jim Walker.