No sooner had organizers announced the dates for next fall's Houston Fine Art Fair than supporters gathered for a kickoff cocktail reception at the home of Janet and Paul Hobby.

Janet and Melissa Grobmyer, partners in MKG Art Management, have signed on as show advisors for the fair that is scheduled for Sept. 14-16 at Reliant Center. Organizers anticipate that this year's fair will be even more successful than the inaugural event last fall that drew 10,500 visitors who perused works from more than 80 galleries from around the world.

Previous fair director Fran Kaufman, workingthis year's as a creative consultant, came in from New York for the cocktail party. Jetting in from California was the fair's new sales director Ruth Fruehauf.

They mingled with a stellar group of collectors and gallery owners, who will comprise the host and advisory committees for the upcoming fair. The A list crowd included Bill Goldberg, Marshal Lightman, Albert Grobmyer, Craig Massey, Catherine Masterson, Elisabeth McCabe, Elisabeth Young, Hiram Butler and Andrew Spindler, Robert McClain, Barbara Davis and Jo and Jim Furr.

Arrivederci to a special Astro

For 32 years, Dennis Liborio was on the team as the Houston Astros' clubhouse manager. And then he retired, but not without a bit of fanfare from some seriously heavy-hitters. Monday night, Frankie Mandola, Susan and Dan Sessions and the Texas Italian American Sports Foundation threw Dennis a retirement party at Damian's Cucina Italiana. The turnout for the event organized by Astros travel manager Barry Waters was spectacular.

Reminiscing over the three decades of Liborio rule were Nolan Ryan, Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Art Howe, José Cruz, Mike Hampton, Larry Andersen, Gerry Hunsicker, Tal Smith, Phil Garner, Enos Cabell, Bob Aspromonte and more. Astros TV announcer Bill Brown served as emcee.

Lester Smith as Daddy Warbucks?

His face is all over the posters at Hobby Center promoting Theater Under the Stars' upcoming production of Annie. But no, even though he is the city's most-generous high-profile philanthropist, Lester Smith isn't trading in his ballroom dancing shoes for stage makeup. Soon his image with a young red-headed moppet (aka Annie) will be arriving in your mailboxes as part of a direct mail campaign.

As a TUTS spokesman emailed, "It's only appropriate that Lester, perhaps viewed by some as a real-life Daddy Warbucks, be involved with a musical depicting a millionaire who decides to use his wealth to help others — the Smith family is synonymous with charitable causes, outreach and fundraising."

Bring on the beads!

The Mardi Gras partying has begun and the King Cake's are satisfying the sweet tooth of many a fan so it was only natural that the University of St. Thomas get into the act with a pre-Mardi Gras Ball fete honoring underwriters of the Feb. 21 gala. They gathered at Tony Mandola's where feather boas and blinking beads were part of the fun.

In a very New Orleans mood, hosts Phyllis and Tony Mandola had the kitchen whip up crawfish dishes, boudin balls, blackened chicken and gumbo shooters while the bar served Hurricanes. Phyllis and Kelli Kickerillo chair that gala that will be held at the InterContinental Houston.

Sampling the Cajun fare were guests including Mary and Vincent Kickerillo, Todd Forester, Alice and Keith Mosing, Trini Mendenhall Sosa and Frank Sosa, Blanca and Rey Reza and Cathy and Giorgio Borlenghi.

Sight 'ems

Lunching at various power tables at Grotto 610 — Danny David, Ray Childress, Suzy Bergner, Ernie Rapp, Holly McAllister . . .

Bucky Allshouse celebrating his birthday at the private club that will not be named with hosts Lynne and Joe Hudson and Sheridan and John Eddie Williams and a host of guests including the birthday boy's wife Cynthia Allshouse, Marcia and David Solomon, Lilly and Thurmon Andress, Anne and Charles Duncan and David Leebron and more. Singing "Happy Birthday" and providing loads of dance tunes was Yvonne Washington . . .

Karen Johnson, Karen Mayell, Laura Sweeney, Terrie Turner and Dancie Ware lunching at La Griglia.