A cultural jewel — the Alley Theatre — and serious jewelry — that of Tony Duquette — made for an interesting little luncheon at Saks Fifth Avenue recently when Hutton Wilkinson of Tony Duquette Fine Jewelry opened his treasure chest of emeralds, diamonds and such.

Saks GM Terry Zmyslo and fashion director Sylvia Forsyth hosted the social in the store's fine jewelry salon where supporters of the Alley ooohed and aaahed over a sultan's trove of enticing jewels.

The connection with the Alley? Beyond jewelry and interiors, the late Tony Duquette designed costumes and sets for theater productions and movies. Alley members including director of development Nancy Giles and director of individual giving Laura Woods brought along Alley costumes as eye candy. Brian Teichman and David Gugino as well as Jennifer Roosth were taken with Desdemona's dress from the Alley's production of Othello while Cindi Rose was enchanted with Mrs. Darling's dress from Peter Pan.

Beyond the theater links, who doesn't love trying on precious pieces while sipping champagne. That was the course at Saks where Wilkinson regaled guests with tales of the creation of the jewelry and the colorful history of Duquette.

Soaking up the stories and admiring the jewels were Clayton Erikson, Mary Ann McKeithan, Cheryl Kridel, Rebecca Chapman, Beth Langford, Joann Crassas and Mimi Foerster among others.

So fab, it was "ridiculous"

That's how Karen Pulaski Tyrell and Steve Tyrell are describing the recent birthday bash at Israeli-American media mogul Haim Saban's Beverly Hills home. The party tent in the Univision owner's vast backyard was packed with celebrities ranging from former President Bill Clinton to Barbra Streisand, all there to celebrate the 60th birthday of Haim's wife, Cheryl Saban.

It wasn't enough that the singing began with Steve crooning The Way You Look Tonight for the birthday girl. Seal also entertained and convinced Donna Summer to join in with On the Radio, although she refused to leave her dinner table while singing. Songwriter Babyface took the mic for several rounds. And in a grand finale, the curtain rose on a magnificent cake and on Stevie Wonder who sang "Happy Birthday."

"It was ridiculous," echoed Karen and Steve, meaning in the best possible way.

Taking the oath

That would be Houston businessman Marty McVey, who was sworn in on Sunday to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) board for international food and agricultural development. It was one of those rare moments in life that followed McVey's official appointment by President Barack Obama in April.

The oath of office was administered at the home of Joyce and Arthur Schechter, former ambassador to the Bahamas, and delivered by Rep. Al Green. McVey used the same Bible that Schechter had used for his oath of office when becoming ambassador.

The seven-member board that McVey joined advises the USAID administrator on food security-related issues and the role of higher education in international agricultural development.

Help for Hester House

It was an SRO fundraiser at the home of Bellaire Mayor Cindy Siegel and husband Bob Siegel when they rolled out the red carpet recently for Hester House and its executive director Jennifer K. Holmes. The women had been classmates in the American Leadership Institute, a friendship was born and soon the Siegels were helping propel the Fifth Ward non-profit forward.

Testimonials from Hester House clients informed of the agency's 68 years of providing services to young and old in the neighborhood.

Packing the Siegel home were Judge Patricia Kerrigan and husband Phillip Kerrigan, Gina Carroll, Jamie and Kim House, Heidi and Mark Davis, Janette Cosley, Betty and Robert Mills, Hester House board chair Charles McCloud and Bellaire City Councilmembers Mandy Nathan and Corbett Parker.

Sight 'ems

The restaurant scene reached a boiling point on Mother's Day with the spanking new Brasserie 19 booking 200 reservations, with Brennan's fully booked two months in advance and Tony's buzzing all day. In the Tony's mix, we spotted Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Ileana and Michael Trevino, Ellie and Michael Francisco, Betty and Manny Leal, Carolyn Farb lunching with Charles Ward, and in the bar the entire Rose and Harry Cullen clan sitting down at one long table. Of course, Donna and Tony Vallone were on hand to welcome them all . . .

Monday night diners at various tables in Up Restaurant in Highland Village including Clayton and Shel Erikson, Betty Newton, Karen and Mark Johnson.