The clique of Houstonians who made it to Manhattan recently for the New York Academy of Art Tribeca Ball, particularly Jessica Rossman and Gordon Bethune, are still raving about the star-studded night honoring Robert De Niro.

Bethune and his ladylove both served on the host committee for the gala. The former Continental Airlines CEO is a New York Academy of Art board member as well as a personal friend of academy founder Eileen Guggenheim.

Bethune and Rossman, Lynn Wyatt, Becca Cason Thrash and attorney Xavier Pena were among the Houston set sitting down for the dinner by famed chef Daniel Boulud. They mixed and mingled in the heady crowd that included Kim Cattrall, Victoria Beckham, Solange Knowles and Padma Lakshmi.

Dreamgirl in the room

It was a whirlwind few days for Tony Award-winning Dreamgirl Sheryl Lee Ralph, who was in town promoting her new book, Redefining Diva: Life Lessons from the Original Dreamgirl. She was the center of attention at a number of book signings including one on Monday at The Gite Gallery where Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Renee and Tom Logans and others were hosted by gallery owner Lloyd Gite.

Ralph did a special guest turn at Legacy Community Health Services on Sunday afternoon, when that non-profit officially announced the merger between Legacy and the Center for AIDS. Ralph is familiar with the agency's work having participated in the 2011 Legacy Cabaret for a Cure. As an advocate for African-American AIDS awareness, she works through her Diva Foundation to raise the profile of the pandemic in the African-America community.

Paul David Van Atta, who orchestrated the Cabaret for a Cure, hosted a book signing for the self-proclaimed diva at his home.

Ladies and three gents lunching at Tony's

Lunching with Lynn Wyatt is always a big seller in silent auctions and the Houston Ballet Ball in February was no exception when all seats for lunch with Lynn went like hot cakes. Tuesday was payday for those who had secured their seat at the table at Tony's.

Actually, there were three tables and La Wyatt moved between them with each of the three courses. Interestingly, there were three men in the mix — Houston Ballet's C.C. Conner, custom tailor Terry Wayne Jones and CultureMap CEO Stephen Newman. Each was seated at a different table — spreading the love so to speak.

Sharing in the table talk were Alicia Smith, Kimberly DeLape, Kristen Andreasen, Sofia Adrogué, Meredith Cocke, Shawn Stephens, Lindsey Brown and Nancy McGregor Mann.