Bubbly flowed into the champagne flutes and air kisses wafted across the designer salon at Saks Fifth Avenue as the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America saluted the ABC/Channel 13 Women of Distinction. It made for a fairly dazzling visual as everyone — those being honored as well as those merely making the scene — dressed in their finest cocktail attire.

At the helm of the evening's official presentation of the women, who will be honored at the Winter Ball in January, were host Saks Fifth Avenue GM Terry Zmyslo, emcee Channel 13 news anchor Ilona Carson and Winter Ball chairs Jan Carson and Virginia Reisman.

Applause, applause for the 11 honorees who were unveiled last month and who will be feted several times more before the gala at the Hilton Americas-Houston on Jan. 22.

In the fashionable mix were Margaret Williams and Jim Daniel, Joanne and Bill Crassas, Dr. Fred Aguilar, Patti Murphy, Tim Connolly, Dr. Neal Resiman, Veronica Schiller, Ed McMahon, SFA fashion director Sylvia Forsythe and SFA's ever-darling couture manager Fady Armonious.

 Tugging at the heart strings

That would be the Houston Food Bank's moving "Recipe for Hope" luncheon at the Westin Galleria Hotel, where Bobbie Nau chaired and the Pappas family, led by Chris Pappas, was honored. No maudlin testimonials or weepy video, thank you. Just the facts: The need for food in the Houston area has risen 60 percent in the last year. That and other unhappy statistics (53,000 Houstonians go hungry every day) were delivered succinctly by Food Bank president and CEO Brian Green.

It was the kind of luncheon that professionals appreciate — starting on time and ending exactly as planned with a program that was to the point and involved no more than five people making brief remarks. Emcee Bill Balleza, KPRC Channel 2 news anchor, and Scott McClelland, Food Bank board chair, rounded out the program.

McClelland received high praise from Green for his leadership in the Food Bank's capital campaign which has reach $50 million of the $55 million goal. That done in a recession, bravo.

 Warm-up for Olympia Dukakis

The Colton & Farb Gallery pulsated with an international energy when Carolyn Farb and John Tscarios rounded up supporters for the Nov. 20 benefit "It's Greek to Me — An Evening with Olympia Dukakis." Farb chairs the evening that will raise funds for the Hellenic Cultural Center of the Southwest and the Wilhelm Schole International.

The evening will honor Dukakis along with Boston University president emeritus John Silber and comedian George Kostas. The Hyatt Regency Downtown will be setting for the Greek-themed benefit that Farb describes as designed to feel like "a stroll near the Acropolis on a moonstruck night." The attire is black-tie optional or "Grecian chic."

For more information, contact Tscarios at jtscarios@wilhelmschole.org.

 Mayor's Tony Award-winning performance?

OK, so it was only a few lines that Mayor Annise Parker basically read as part of Main Street Theater's annual Autumn Follies presentation of "Fiddler on the Loop." But she was such a good sport about her cameo appearance that surely a special Tony is in the works.

Even CultureMap CEO Stephen Newman got into the act that featured media, legal and civic personalities in the theatrical spoof. Newman, drawing on his years of training on the violin, led the audience into the theater at Chelsea Market and played a few bars on stage. No costumes required. Whew!

Among other big names making cameos were Judge Jan Krocker, Sarah Gish, Buzz Bellmont, Ernie Manouse and Doug Mueller.

 Sight 'ems

Food Network uber chef Bobby Flay slipping into RDG with a bevy of young fans for a late supper and a visit with his long-time friend Robert Del Grande. Flay, who passed through the Cafe Annie kitchen 20 or so years ago, ordered the heart-healthy Yellow Tail Salad . . .

Artist Jamie Wyeth at the Menil Collection, where he had a preview of the Kurt Schwitters show, which opened Thursday evening. Escorting Wyeth (who went straight from the airport to the Menil) was the museum's new curator of modern and contemporary art Toby Kamps. Wyeth was in town for the Thursday night opening of his exhibition at Meredith Long & Co. In Wyeth's entourage — New York-based dealer/collectors Jan and Warren Adelson, Wyeth family friend and collector Alexendar Forgason, and Rice University's director of the public art program Molly Hubbard . . .

 Joyce Echols celebrating her birthday with girlfriends in the hopping bar at the new Eddie V's at West Ave.