The Houston art scene enjoyed a noteworthy start to 2010 Wednesday night when Deborah Colton Gallery launched a print portfolio exhibition from Exit Art, the critically acclaimed non-profit art institution in New York City.

Deborah Colton, Carolyn Farb and Lester Marks hosted the evening that began with a benefit reception featuring the portfolios that mix works from preeminent artists with that of emerging talents. (Exit Art's associate director Audrey Christensen will conduct a gallery talk and tour of the portfolios at 2 p.m. Saturday at the gallery, 2445 North Boulevard.)

In the mix were Contemporary Arts Museum Houston director Bill Arning, Galveston Arts Center's Clint Willour, Andrew Abendshein and Eloise Frischkorn plus gallery artists and photographers Jay Rusovich, Nathaniel Donnett and Michael Meazell. Art patrons and collectors included Leigh and Reggie Smith, Marthann Masterson, Kent Shaffer, Kristy Phillips, Rob Taylor andloads more.

The second act took place in the River Oaks home of Farb where Exit Art board members and out-of-town guests were honored with a down-home Tex-Mex feast from Abuso Catering including board chair Charles Kremer and Exit Art co-founder and director Jeanette Ingberman.

Fashion forward

When Gregory Fourticq abandoned New York City for hometown Houston in July, he cast about for a business endeavour that would play to the strengths he developed as vice president of retail for Calvin Klein, Donna Karan and finally Carolina Herrera.

Pals in Houston were thrilled at the prospect of having the handsome and charming Fourticq back at home base. When his parents threw a 50th birthday party for Fourticq at River Oaks Country Club last year, it was standing room only.

Fashion was a likely arena for Fourticq. He fixed on Moo Boo, a children's clothing line founded by University of Houston accounting grad Trinh Nguyen, and became an investment partner. The beautifully handcrafted, uniquely designed little girl, dress-up dresses are sold in 80 specialty stores around the country, including Tootsies, where Fourticq made the entrée.

But Fourticq is not a man to sit still. He has expansion on his mind. Look for the Moo Boo label to grow to include well-fitted blouses and shirts for women in price points not to exceed $250. The company is in the early design stages. Stay tuned for further developments.

Sight 'ems

A slew of notables pouring into RDG and Bar Annie Wednesday night where we found Darla Lexington making her first public outing since the death of her long-time companion John O'Quinn. She was tete-a-tete with real estate developer Rob Wilson and wife Bess. At various tables around the bar were author Jo Barrett, Rosanne Rogers and Dr. Aashish Shah making a romantic duo and Monsour Taghdisi with Catherine and Dr. Cenk Ozdogan, underwriters of next week's glam UNICEF benefit, "An Evening with Lucy Liu" . . .

And out Los Angeles way, interior designers Sheridan Williams and Sylvia Dorsey dining at Giorgio's in Santa Monica with their daughters Kristen Nix and Elizabeth Fertitta, respectively, after a day of shopping for Sheridan and John Eddie Williams' new home in River Oaks and for Dorsey's Longoria Collection in Uptown Park. At another table Mary and Vincent Kickerillo, who have a home in Santa Monica, and Kelli Kickerillo Forester entertained Veronique Peck, widow of Gregory Peck, and Barbara Sinatra, Frank Sinatra's widow. The Kickerillo clan got an eyeful when Taylor Swift and John Mayer, songbirds playing lovebirds, came in later. And none of these people were going to the UT/Alabama game, imagine . . .

Beth Sanders Moore celebrating her birthday in the wine library at Tony's where Melinda Berkman, Diane Connally and Karen Johnson hosted. The lunching ladies, who woofed down the divine ice cream bombe dessert, included Karen Mayell, Donna Vallone, Diane Lokey Farb, Mary Lee Merrett and Kelli Blanton . . .

Lunching at various tables in Grotto 610 Michael Holthouse, Francis Page Jr., Clyde Drexler and Jon Culberson.