The Ottawa Art Gallery's art auction, XX, marked the social hotspot Thursday with nearly 400 partygoers piling into the Arts Court to enjoy some of the most delicious food around while also outbidding each other on more than 60 pieces of artwork.

The popular event celebrated the OAG's 20th anniversary (hence the name, XX) and raised about $55,000 for its exhibition and educational programs. The organizing committee was headed up by family therapist Susannah Dalfen and included the Urban Element's Carley Schelck as co-ordinator of the participating restaurants and caterers.

Some kibitzing with up-and-coming artist Sarah Hatton revealed she's been both productive (her paintings are now in Montreal and Switzerland galleries) and reproductive (she has a 10-month-old daughter, Stella). Mixed media artist Reuel Dechene showed no signs of cold feet over his plans to tie the knot at City Hall the next day with figurative painter Eliza Griffiths. Arts patrons Glenn and Barbara McInnes were seen chatting with painter Duncan de Kergommeaux, from whom they bought their first painting years ago.

In the largest exhibit room, Les Fougères co-owners and chefs Charles Part and Jennifer Warren-Part prepared culinary delights alongside another staunch art auction supporter, Sheila Whyte and her team from Thyme & Again.

Gallery director Mela Constantinidi was in the crowd, as were CBC's Don Newman and Canadian Museum of Civilization Corp. boss Victor Rabinovitch. A Philip Craig painting fetched the most, at $3,300, followed by a Leslie Reid piece at $3,000. Also for sale was architect Barry Padolsky's fun portrait of Stephen Harper as a Roman emperor. The artistic commentary on the government's handling of the portrait gallery sold for $375.

Tastes of India

The exotic scent of incense and spices along with the soothing tunes of Indian music made for one exceptional launch of the Elisabeth Bruyère Health Centre's campaign to raise $3.5 million for its Geriatric Day Hospital.

The event was hosted Wednesday by Indian High Commissioner Rajamani Narayan and his wife, Rani, at their Rockcliffe Park residence. They donated The Exquisite Tastes of India dinner reception for 60 to the live auction at last year's Maharaja's Ball charity gala. It was snapped up by Beament Green lawyer Derek Nicholson, who subsequently offered the prize for the campaign launch.

The turnout far exceeded 60 guests, not that the high commissioner minded. "There's always room for one more," he told the room. The campaign -- headed by community leader Gary Seveny -- will raise funds for the expansion and renovation of the hospital's day centre, which provides assessments, diagnostic and treatment services to elderly patients with medically complex problems while allowing them to continue living in their own homes.

In attendance was Jean Bartkowiak, president/CEO of SCO Health Service, along with its foundation's chairwoman, Debbie O'Brien, and president, Amy Desjardins. Also rubbings shoulders were CFRA's Steve Madely and Shenkman president Kevin McCrann, who's on the foundation board and campaign cabinet. Also on the board is Dr. Nalin Bhargava, a dentist who chairs the award-winning Maharaja's Ball. Other guests included businessmen Bill Malhotra, Anand Aggarwal, Akash Sinha and Scotiabank's Dennis Jackson.

A Trunkload of Fun

A certain chic condo overlooking the Rideau Canal experienced an influx of female visitors Wednesday. What they had in common, besides great style, was a fondness for Ottawa-based designer Karen McClintock's jewelry.

This year's trunk show was again hosted at the home of Gerda Hnatyshyn, who is the widow of former governor general Ray Hnatyshyn and head of The Hnatyshyn Foundation. Part of the proceeds from the sale were donated to the foundation, which is a private charity dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts. Ms. McClintock's jewelry, which use sterling silver, semi-precious stones and antique coins, is sold at Holt Renfrew in Ottawa and at Marlene Shepherd's upscale ladies' clothing and accessories store, Shepherd's. Among the gals seen perusing and/or purchasing were Citizen fashion editor Wendy Warburton, socialite Sandra Assaly and Gowlings lawyer Paula Clancy, who is a winner of this year's Top 40 Under 40.

classic tulips

What a "trill" it was to have concert pianist Angela Hewitt back home for the Canadian Tulip Festival. Her concerts were sellouts, as was Monday's reception hosted at Earnscliffe by British High Commissioner Anthony Cary and his wife, Clare, who were just back from the wedding of their son in Henley-on-Thames, England.

Pianist Evelyn Greenberg, who taught Ms. Hewitt piano accompaniment when Ms.

Hewitt was a student at the University of Ottawa, co-chaired the event with another former pupil, Tu Mach, the founder and director of the music academy Tutti Muzik.

Wowing the crowd were Ms. Mach's sons, cellist Stanley Leong, 13, and violinist Kerson Leong, 11, who performed while accompanied by their mother on piano. The last time Ms. Hewitt heard the lads was at a special concert in December 2006. "You were great then, but you're even better now," Ms. Hewitt told the boys.

Also in attendance were Tulip Festival chairman David Luxton, Celebridée director Julian Armour, and Frances Macdonnell from the Royal Canadian College of Organists. The concerts raised $50,000 toward helping gifted young organists through a scholarship fund named after Ms. Hewitt's late father, Godfrey Hewitt, a former organist and choir director at Christ Church Cathedral.

John Mierins, president of St. Laurent Volvo, attended the reception with his wife, Keltie, as did developer Bill Teron with his wife, Jean. Other guests included Jeanne d'Arc Sharp, Sarah Jennings, and federal Conservative candidate Brian McGarry. Self-professed "groupies" Joan Kisylia and Paula Sabin came all the way from California to catch Ms. Hewitt in concert. "She makes Bach sound like music," said Ms. Kisylia.

The hunks are here!

Hundreds of women across the city surely breathed a collective sigh of relief upon learning the Ottawa firefighters calendar is back. Last Monday, they started lining up 90 minutes before the doors opened at Foundation to help choose the next crop of smokin' hot calendar boys. The selection night turned out to be a wild party with 35 firefighters using their charm and muscles to work the crowd of 400-plus excited women gathered in the ByWard Market restaurant.

The 2009 Great Boys of Fire calendar is being shot by Ottawa photographer Michelle Valberg with proceeds going to the Ottawa Regional Cancer (ORC) Foundation and the heart institute. The evening's auction items included the opportunity to oil up bare-chested firefighters during a calendar photo shoot.

The organizing committee is being co-chaired by Kelly Coates and Bells Corners firefighter Terry Brennan, head of the Ottawa firefighters' charity committee. On hand were cancer-surviving firefighters André Proulx and Grant Wilson along with heart institute patients and firefighters Alex Davey and Jimmy D. Fata. Also present were the ORC Foundation's Shannon Gorman, the Heart Institute Foundation's Christina Moretto and Foundation restaurant's managing partner, Steve Wilson. The calendar will be launched at the firefighter fashion show at the Hampton Inn on Nov. 12