Sunday was a big day for Mayor-elect Annise Parker, as was to be expected. But there were two very real surprises amid the victory euphoria.

First, she received a congratulatory phone call from President Barack Obama. Alas, she did not get to talk to the president in person. The call came in while she was doing a CNN interview and President Obama was directed to voice mail. But the incoming mayor does have the message preserved forever on her cell phone. (You can hear it by clicking on the video at the end of this column.)

Second, Parker received an armload, and we mean an armload, of coral-colored roses from former Mayor Bob Lanier and Port Commissioner Elyse Lanier, ardent supporters of Parker's opponent Gene Locke.

Talk about kissing and making up. "First of all, we've always liked Annise," Elyse said Monday. "We talked with her during the campaign. We wanted to stay friends with Annise."

How do you go about getting roses delivered on a Sunday morning? "When I want something done, you know I get it done," Elyse demurred. She contacted her friends at Stems Custom Florist, previously Lyman Ratcliffe Custom Florist, and worked her magic to have the flowers delivered to Parker's home.

French fare

Monumental sculptor Bernar Venet, in town for installation of his behemoth exhibition in Hermann Park, was feted at a dinner party Wednesday night at the Museum Towers home of international arts writer Ulrike Natus-Ruggieri and Luigi Ruggieri, CEO of SAE Towers. (That Houston-based firm is a producer of steel lattice towers for high-voltage transmission.) The Ruggieris, who spend only a few months each year here, and Venet are long-time friends. The Ruggieris have a home in the South of France not far from Venet's compound and studio.

The intimate soirée was held only days before completion of the installation of the exhibition for which Robert McClain, McClain Gallery, served as curator. Fresh from Art Basel Miami, McClain was among the 13 who sat down for Natus-Ruggieri's classic French dinner. From hors d'oeuvres through dessert, the hostess wowed guests with her culinary talents.

Applauding the tour de force were Venet's wife Diane, collectors Doreen and Frank Herzog, Leslie and Brad Bucher and Becca Cason Thrash, gallery owner Sonja Roesch and Ann and Don Short, president of the Friends of Hermann Park board.

On the move

It was a stylish coterie of young leadership taking bows at the Red Room last week when Houston Grand Opera announced its 2010 Ovation Awards winners. The twentysomething, thirtysomething and a bit older professionals were selected on the basis of their philanthropic, civic and charitable endeavors.

To be honored at the Encore Party, the after-party of the April 10 Opera Ball, will be Nicholas Phillips, Valerie Palmquist, Isabel David, Denise Furlough, Leigh Williams, Cortney Cole, Danny David, Chris Brown, Jeff Gremillion and Marty Hricik.

B'day surprise

It isn't easy for a gregarious husband to keep his wife in the dark on a special party. But Lonnie Schiller did just that last week , surprising wife Candice with a birthday party in BLVD Lounge at RDG. Wearing party hats and frou frou foil leis, guests included Rana and Tarif Abboushi, Rosemary and Shaun Wymes, Lauren Wymes, Marjorie and Jim Nigro and Pam and Bill Boyer.

Caroline Schiller, the hosts' daughter, baked the gluten-free cake for the party. Mimiand Robert Del Grande, the birthday girl's sister and brother-in-law, briefly dropped their duties upstairs at RDG to join the festivities.

Hear President Obama's voice message around the middle of this clip.