When Anne Carl selected a theme for the annual Rienzi Spring Party, she based her decision on a beautiful bejeweled opal, coral and gold objet by jeweler David Webb —Figure of a Fish, circa 1965. She asked guests to dress in "resort chic" and enlisted steel drum musicians and models wearing resort designs from Calypso St. Barth to provide an island touch.

As lovely as the somewhat casual concept was for the annual outdoor dinner evening around the Rienzi swimming pool, the Old Guard, that so strongly supports the museum house, just couldn't shake the suits and ties and little dinner dresses. A few in the younger generation forwent the ties and a few fashion forward types (at least for this stately gathering) actually stepped out in resort styling.

Anne Carl chaired the evening in tandem with her husband Noble Carl, Laurie and Paul Carl and Lucy and William Carl.

Guests gathered for cocktails on the terrace and samplings of A Fare Extraordinaire's extraordinarily delicious coconut shrimp before gliding down the stairway to the pool terrace for a buffet dinner and calypso dancing.

Front and center among those cruising through the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston museum home before dinner were Isla and Tommy Reckling, Christiana McConn, Kathy and Marty Goossen, Denise Cartwright, Gwen Goffe and Ed Eubanks, Astrid and Gene Van Dyke, Nancy Allen, Warner Roberts, Rienzi director Katherine Howe and George Howe and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston director Gary Tinterow and Christopher Gardner.