Membership can be a beautiful thing. Just ask Houston Ballet patrons, who are part of the Ambassadors support group. Some 80 members of that well-heeled club, who pay $2,000 each for special privileges, wined and dined in the swank River Oaks abode of Susan Krohn and fiancé Patrick Gehm for the Ambassadors spring party.

The swell crowd including Pat Breen, Tripp Carter, Pam and Bruce Earthman and Jo and Jim Furr were invited to tour the antiques-filled French style mansion overlooking River Oaks Country Club golf course.

Providing ample and delicious sustenance for the partying throng was the team from Elegant Events and Catering by Michael. Beef Wellington, chanterelle-crusted pork tenderloin and ginger cured salmon were on the menu. Washington State's Chateau Ste Michelle provided the wines.

Houston Ballet executive director Jim Nelson and artistic director Stanton Welch welcomed patrons including Merrill and Joe Hafner, Richard Holt, Jay Jones, Jean May, Karen and Gene Oshman, Mary Alice and Michael Parmet, Ann Trammell and Margaret Williams with Jim Daniels.

Barbara Hines on canvas

It was another success for this world traveler who opened her second Meredith Long & Co. gallery show with an artist's reception on Thursday night.

More than 200 friends and arts aficionados poured into the gallery on San Felipe to greet Barbara Hines and her husband, internationally-renowned developer Gerald Hines.

Titled "Jerusalem The Golden," the show ranges from small mixed-media works on paper ($1,950) to a giant oil on canvas triptych ($75,000). More than half of the works sold at the two-hour opening with the artist's proceeds benefiting Holocaust Museum Houston and Aishel House. The paintings will remain on view until May 25.

Cornelia and Meredith Long and their daughter, Martha Long, welcomed the lot that included Anne and Dr. John Mendelsohn, Heather and Jay Wyper, Diane Lokey Farb, Beverly Ogilvie, Raizy and Trevor Hines, George Lancaster, Marley Lott, Wendy Hines, Sis Johnson and Carolyn Farb.

Ooh-la-la luncheon

Donna Josey Chapman opened her beautiful home to a bevy of well-connected and fashionable femmes for a luncheon supporting the American Hospital in Paris. Adding a glam touch to the midday fete was the French House of Guerlain, led by director of beauty and fragrance Marie Line Patry. Neiman Marcus and Guerlain set up shop in the Chapman living room where a portion of proceeds from sales of fragrances and cosmetics went to the hospital.

The luncheon gathering included supporters already on board as ambassadors for the hospital — Lynn Wyatt, Diane Lokey Farb, Danielle Ellis, Molly Crownover, Karen McRae and Linda Barrett.

Sitting down to the luncheon feast from Tony's were Stephanie Perkins, Elizabeth Vail, Judy Oudt, Melinda Berkman, Ceron, Kari Gonzales, Sandy Barrett, Alice Burguieres, Saula Valente, Bruce Padilla and Laura Codman.

Toasting chef Philippe Schmit

French Consul General Frederic Bontems invited a passel of Francophiles into his River Oaks home to salute chef Philippe Schmit, who earlier this year received honors in France as Maîtres Cuisiniers de France (Master Chef of France). Schmit is the only chef in Texas to hold the coveted honor. On accepting congratulations from Bontems, Schmit shared an emotional moment dedicating the title to his father.

It was something of a busman's holiday for the self-proclaimed French Cowboy, who cooked up a load of sweet and savory petite bites for the crowd.

Jean-Francois Bonnete, COO of Pisco Porton, served as co-host for the reception that featured pisco cocktails. Among those savoring both the chef's talents and handsome good looks were Lynn Wyatt, Cathi Walsh, Meredith and Lou DeLone, Karen and Byron Hood, Bill Montgomery, Marie and Alain LeNotre and a number of consuls general.