We suspect that Houston Symphony musicians, leadership and patrons are still beaming over the orchestra's lead performance Monday night at the Spring for Music festival at Carnegie Hall. With maestro Hans Graf at the helm, the symphony received a standing ovation following the all-Shostakovich program.

Applause from the audience of 1,100 was so robust that the home team gave an encore performance — Liadov's Baba Yaga.

Mayor Annise Parker and Kathy Hubbard accompanied symphony patrons on the trip and the mayor introduced the 87-member orchestra to the Carnegie Hall crowd.

The day before was filled with celebrations for Houstonians in the mix that included Mike Stude, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor and Betty and Jesse Tutor. Sunday evening began with cocktails in the Citi Café at Carnegie Hall, where a string quintet of musicians from Virtuosi of Houston entertained, and continued on with dinner for a select group of symphony patrons in Carnegie Hall's iconic Rohatyn Room.

Graf explained to the gathering the significance of the symphony's 16th appearance at Carnegie Hall and his plans for the unique program on Monday night.

Houston Symphony CEO Mark Hanson welcomed this contingent and demonstrated how to wave the hometown purple handkerchief, given to each ticket-holder for the concert. Spring for Music tradition holds that each orchestra has its own color during the festival and the waving hankies are indication of hometown support.

On Monday, a number in the Houston crowd gave Tilman Fertitta's Manhattan Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse a look-see, stopping in for lunch.

Notables taking in the concert Monday night were Wynton Marsalis (who hung out backstage with symphony pals), symphony guest performer violinist Augustin Hadelich, and New York Philharmonic CEO Matthew VanBesien (former Houston Symphony CEO) and wife Rosie Jowitt and WQXR (New York's classical music station) weekend morning host Elliott Forrest, who emceed the entire concert and streamed it live online.

Making the NYC scene were Muffy and Mike McLanahan, Rita Graf, Linda and Gene Dewhurst, Christina Hanson, Nancy and Bob Peiser and Ata and Mikhail Svetlov. The festivities ended Monday night with a post-concert dinner at the Parker Meridien Hotel.

A run for the roses

While there were more than a few Houstonians in the stands at Saturday's Kentucky Derby, probably none had more fun than traveling pals Valerie and Tracy Dieterich, Mary and Dr. Mark D'Andrea and Kelli and Chris Watson.

This trio of couples had tickets for the Secretariat Lounge both race days and are still grooving over the memory of the bands playing, the vast buffet tables and, of course, Derby Pie. It was all so rich that Tracy Dieterich observed that he felt like he was on the Titanic — before any thought of icebergs.

The ladies packed their finest for the outings that required hats and at least one long gown. They did it up for the Kentucky Oaks, the Friday night Julep Ball and on Derby Day.

Bowling for birthdays

State Rep. Sarah Davis and Bellaire City Councilman Corbett Daniel Parker put politics aside (never mind the elephant sitting atop the cake from Moeller's) to celebrate their mutual birthdays with a wild and wooly bowling party at Palace Lanes.

They celebrated Sunday with friends and family over strikes and spares while noshing on barbecue from Goode Company. The early evening event also served to celebrate the duo's being named to Houston Business Journal's 40 Under 40.

In lieu of bringing gifts, guests were asked to support Davis' re-election campaign and the Rotary Club of Houston Skyline, founded by Parker.

Joining the party were Sarah's husband Kent Adams, Reyne Hirsch, Metro board member and former Bellaire Mayor Cindy Siegel, Judge John Coselli, Leisa Holland-Nelson and Robert Davenport.