If you missed the lively rollick that was Dancing with the Houston Stars last September, a second chance to vote on your favorite H-town headliner is fast approaching. John and Becca Cason Thrash are reprising the successful evening that had the crowd on its feet over the dance talents of Lynn Wyatt, Monsour Taghdisi, Pat Burk, Diane Lokey Farb and the winner — Phoebe Tudor.

Phoebe and her Houston Ballet dance partner, Phillip Broomhead, will be back at the May 10 fundraiser for a guest performance. But don't expect those back flips and overhead lifts this time out. Theirs will be a demonstration rather than part of the competition. A new slate of amateur dancers and their Houston Ballet partners will swirl, twirl and soar over the dance floor that will cover the Cason Thrash indoor pool.

Stylist to the stars Cerón, who already has plenty of hot dance floor moves, will disco with Krissy Richmond. Channel 2 KPRC news anchor Dominique Sachse is working on the cha-cha with Philip Gutierrez. The Houston Chronicle's Lindsey Love has been working out with Joe Modlin to perfect her pop dance moves. Look for Beth Muecke to perform an X-jazz number with Adriann Ciobanu and Melissa Mithoff to salsa through the competition with Linnar Looris.

My personal favorite is Houston Ballet's managing director C.C. Conner, who will partner with Dawn Scannell in what promises to be a divine Ginger and Fred number. Can't wait!

The competitors will each present a three-minute routine between dinner courses provided by Philippe Restaurant + Lounge, Eddie V's at West Ave, Monarch Bistro at Hotel ZaZa and Ava Alto in West Ave.

For more details and reservations, contact Houston Ballet's special events manager Jill Scott at 713-535-3230 or jscott@houstonballet.org.

Million dollar windfall

That would be the result of the Partnership for Baylor College of Medicine's "I Feel Good" gala that had the ballroom of the InterContinental Houston Hotel rocking with close to 500 black-tie-attired notables. Congrats to chairs Doe Florsheim and Diane Gendel for the evening that netted $1.1 million, thanks in no small part to Lester and Sue Smith, who matched dollar for dollar funds raised. In appreciation of that grand success, the ballroom erupted in wild applause and even a few woo hoos when Doe and Diane unveiled the check.

Funds from the gala are earmarked for the Ovarian Cancer Research Project at Baylor's Human Genome Sequencing Center. For their generosity, the Smiths were presented with personalized lab coats with the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center logo, a nod to the fact that this isn't the first time that the Smiths have blessed the medical school with their over-the-top largesse.

Another important aspect of the night was presentation of the honoree — Dr. Paul Klotman, Baylor College of Medicine CEO and president.

Fed up at Tony's

And that was a good thing! Tony Vallone spared no calories and no creativity when it came to overseeing dinner Wednesday night for renowned food columnist and author John Mariani. The two have been pals for a quarter century and when Mariani passed through H-town this week on a tasting and book tour, Tony rolled out the red carpet.

More than 70 diners ponied up the tariff for an astounding six-course dinner and included an autographed copy of Mariani's new book, How Italian Food Conquered the World. The New York-based connoisseur shared insights from his tome with the gathering before sitting down at Tony and Donna Vallone's table for a true feast.

Dr. Mary Riley and Bob Piro, Joyce and Arthur Schechter, Danielle and John Ellis, Soraya and Scott McClelland, Janine and Julian Fertitta and Bobbie and Stanley Weinstein were among those savoring the dinner.

What did Tony serve? Baby Dover sole with shaved foie gras, lobster tagliolini, Guinea hen sausage gnocchi, melt-in-your-mouth eight-hour veal cheeks, roast beef tenderloin and lemon souffle with raspberry semi-freddo. Kudos to chef Grant Gordon.

It's never too early!

It might be five months before the Houston Symphony's opening night at Jones Hall and the current season continues running strong, but for the Houston Symphony League it didn't seem too early on Wednesday to kick up enthusiasm for the Sept. 10 opening night gala. Just ask chairs Kathi and Bill Rovere.

They welcomed an overflow group to the wine room at Tony's for a luncheon kickoff where they announced the theme "Ode to Joy," a nod to the program that will include Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The response was so positive to this midweek gathering that a table of 10 had to be set up outside of the wine room. Kathi happily reported that the dinner evening that follows the concert will return to The Corinthian.

Symphony supporters in the mix included Betty Tutor, Mary Ann McKeithan, Phoebe Tudor, Carolyn Mann, April Lykos, Viviana Denechaud, Diane Lokey Farb, Astrid Van Dyke, Cerón, Barbara McKnight and Houston Symphony CEO Mark Hanson.

Sight 'ems

Baseball great Jeff Bagwell lounging with pals Bubba McNeely and Debbie Festari at Philippe where each sampled the divine crab and avocado in a jar from chef Philippe Schmit's "Contained Decadence" section of the bar menu . . .

Former Houston Oilers Earl Campbell and Ray Childress part of the happy hour crowd at Benjy's Rice Village where United Airlines was taping a new commercial for Elite members.