It takes a special kind of girl to vault herself into the ranks of Coco Chanel. But, hey, when it's your birthday and your initials are CC as in Carrie Carson, why not? With the Chanel logo and the famous Chanel quote "A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous" on the party invitation, expectations were high for a stylish soirée.

The scene at Mercer did not disappoint. Even the desserts were branded with the Chanel logo of interlocking C's. More than 200 trés cool guys and dolls showed up to wish Carrie many happy returns. In fact, 20 of her scenester friends rallied together to host the bash.

DJ Zach Crager launched the party action with the Black Eyed Peas' hit "Let's Get It Started." Providing fuel for the energized partying was the Fusion Taco Truck which dispensed signature tacos and other taste treats late into the night.

Mixing it up at Mercer were James Phelan, Chris McCauley, Jennifer Moses, Daniel Ortiz, Liz Gorman, Jennifer LeGrand, Kirk Bergman, James Sivco, Marcy de Luna, Tim Connolly and Jan Carson, the birthday girl's aunt.

Party at the beach

With all of last week's rain, Carol and Mike Linn weren't sure how many of the 120 RSVPs would actually show up for their July 3 bash at their fab Beachtown home, just outside of Galveston. Surprisingly, most of the guests made it down I-45, through the monsoon, to arrive at the beach house for a feast and indoor frolic.

No signs of cabin fever here as Ann and Don Short, Dancie and Jim Ware, Laura and Dave Ward and Donna and Tony Vallone made the best of the drizzly beach weather. Even Beachtown developer Tofig Shirazi had a smile on his face. But then he would, because so many in the well-heeled crowd were getting their first tempting look at the sophisticated development.

While guests toured the three-level home, staff from Galveston's Mosquito Cafe set a lavish buffet table where the most popular item turned out to be the hot dogs. Who knew! The boiled shrimp, the shrimp wraps, the Texas caviar, the Italian meatballs in marinara all took a backseat to the Fourth of July favorite.

Among those filling their plates at the buffet table were Ileana and Michael Trevino, Susan Krohn (who owns the house next door) and fiancé Patrick Gehm, Shelley and Tracy Ludwick and Dianne and Ed McDonough.

Cross-country quickie

What's a little trip from Nantucket to L.A. for dinner and viewing the taping of an episode of the wildly popular AMC series Mad Men? Just ask Franci Crane, who left her comfy summer perch in Nantucket, to fly cross-country with a stop in Santa Fe to pick up pals Catherine Oppenheimer, founder of the National Dance Institute, and actress Shirley Maclaine.

The threesome headed to LA for the taping and dinner that night with Lionsgate vice chairman Michael Burns. He was on board the private jet that transported Crane back to Nantucket where he and wife, Pell, have a home.

Singing his heart out

That would be dashing tenor Mete Tasin, who hit the high C's in style at Hotel Zaza in an evening organized by fashion designer Cesar Galindo. It was billed as "Artists Helping Artists: An Evening of Romantic Opera" and the goal was to raise funds for Tasin's operatic studies.

In addition to a cover charge for the concert and dessert bar, several designers including Chloe Dao and Galindo provided fashion items for a silent auction.

Among guests were Edward Sanchez, Karen and Roland Garcia, Miya Shay, Alex Martinez and David Arpin, Riyad Abu-Taha, Pat Moss, Ludy Campos, Jorge Olivares and Lara Olivares.

Don't call 'em cowpokes

Michelle and Frank Hevrdejs are beaming over the news that their Longhorn cow, Cooter Hill, has for the third year in a row been named World Champion Female Longhorn in competition at the Fort Worth Will Rogers Memorial Center. The huge hunk of beef resides with a small herd of Longhorns at the Hevrdejs' Deer Creek Farm outside of Brenham.

The Hevrdejs were playcationing in their Pebble Beach home when they received word of their cow's continued success. Like a number of Houstonians with second homes in the area, the Hevrdejs are spending much of the summer in the cool California hills overlooking the Pacific.