AN AFFAIR OF THE HEART
The menu was practically aphrodisiacal at the 60th anniversary luncheon of the American Heart Association. A taste: crab mango salad with sherry vinaigrette, chicken breast with Calvados (more alcohol!), heart-shaped red ravioli, then a white chocolate heart box of raspberrystudded mousse. The 1,100 women thronging the Marriot Wardman Park Hotel, however, were only able to share it with each other: no Romeos included. They applauded designer Edward Wilkerson’s Lafayette 148 New York collection in Saks Fifth Avenue’s production, where 20 models paraded chic styles. The Affair of the Heart Luncheon was hosted by the Greater Washington Women’s Board, which raises funds to research cardiovascular disease and stroke, the number-one killer of women. Along with a few men (hardy souls!), supporters included luncheon chair Jacqueline Collamore, chairman of the Women’s Board Karen Fuller, Donna Marriott, Ann Hand, Nancy Marriott, Pat Skantze, Sally Pratt, Annie Totah, and the ever-bubbling and entrepreneurial Carole Randolph, who then ran off to teach her class Modern Manners: Dining and Entertaining at the Fairmont.

“MADDER MUSIC AND STONGER WINE”
Washington’s Russian Ball, following the old Julian calendar with New Year’s later than for the rest of us, had all the usual features we expect of this rollicking event: Sydney’s Orchestra for dancing, the Washington Balalaika Society, and wild Russian dancers doing the Kazaki – named for the Cossacks who dance it. The Traxler waltz group brought a return to momentary decorum – as befit the formally-clad guests. Their titles harken back to Old Russia: Princess Alexis Obolensky, and the ball chairmen, Georgian Prince David Chavchavadze, and his wife Eugenie. Others were Princess Marina Poutiatine, Prince and Princess Gregory Gagarin, Princess Obolensky’s daughter Princess Sophie and her sibs Prince Dimitri Obolensky and his wife Teresa, and Princess Selene Obolensky and husband Charles Leatham, in from London. Seen: Gertrude d’Amecourt, Prof. Vladimir and Suzanne Tolstoy-Miloslavsky, Raisa Scriabine (grandniece of the famed composer), Louis and Vera Emmerij, Vicky Doyle, Gary and Rose O’Neal Akin, Renée and Wallace Robinson, and Xenia Woyevodsky. A midnight champagne toast led to more dancing, presided over by Russian Amb. Yuri Ushakov and and Svetlana Ushakova, who like to party, too.

MASS MIGRATION
So many Washingtonians planning European trips have mentioned “going to the Fraunfelters,” that others wondered if “Fraunfelters” was a chic, new private ski resort. Not a bit of it. Washingtonians Harriet and Eric Fraunfelter are so popular that 103 of their most intimate friends packed up for London to witness Eric’s “investiture” there. He was declared a “Master of the Worshipful Order of Fruiterers,” a guild (union) dating back to the Middle Ages. It seems that on his trips to George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate, Eric learned a lot about apples.The last ten travelers straggled back just hours before the Master Chorale’ s Candlelight and Song Gala, barely making it in time to hear Donald McCullough’s golden-voiced group perform, and to tell stay-at-home guests about the London pageantry.

KALEIDOSCOPE
Eloise, that loveable, literary imp who wrought havoc at New York’s Plaza Hotel, recently came to Washington in spirit. Created by Kay Thompson, Eloise’s charm was also captured by book series illustrator Hilary Knight. Knight was here last month, shepherded by Ann Townsend, the founding president of the Trust for Museum Exhibitions. The motherdaughter tea at the Willard Intercontinental benefited the Trust and Reading is Fundamental foundation…. Pretty Sara Daneshpour, the competition-winning young Iranian pianist and D.C. native who has been getting rave reviews since age 13 for her powerful performances, is coming to Strathmore Hall on March 27 as part of their Mansion Series. She is a protégé of Young Concert Artists, headed here by Gilan Tocco Corn, who brings us many outstanding musicians.