Oh, how the naughty boys of summer and the July party girls have been itching for an excuse to release their pent-up party fever. Why, not since the Fourth of July has there been such a good reason to let it all hang out as there was Thursday night when Neal Hamil, Kalon McMahon and company took over Armandos.

It was the first of a series of Thursday disco nights at the iconic Mexican restaurant, where merely dining gives one a certain social cachet. But to disco there, with the sweat flowing as if from faucets — it was sublime summer madness. We're not sure what happened to the AC. It was churning but simply couldn't keep up with the body heat generated by all the gyrating on the improvised dance floor.

Gregory Fourticq, Mark Sullivan, Becca Cason Thrash, Monsour Taghdisi, Ashley Wehrly, Sandra Gunn and Bubba McNeely were among those jiving to the DJ sounds.

"Don't get close to me, I'm sweaty," was the resounding chorus of both men and women who had worked up a fierce perspiration flow while on the dance floor.

Overall, the energy level was high, the restaurant packed and the margaritas flowing as a load of usual Armandos suspects made the most of a summer night — including Debbie and Rudy Festari, Andrew Echols, Marcy de Luna, John Kuhl, Stuart Rosenberg, Jeff Shell, Beth Muecke, Kelly Anzilotti, Cara Morales and Jared Lang and a host of late-arriving cute young things who were probably in hopes of gaining a little schmooze time with the Dynamos who were expected to arrive after their soccer match.

Surprise!

That's what is was for Christie Sullivan when friends Millette Sherman, Megan Sutton-Reed, Bethany Hughes, Jill Faucetta and Leigh Williams pulled off a surprise birthday luncheon for her at Tony's. The midday repast was billed on the invitation as "the birthday of which we do not speak." That would be her 29th!

Twenty summer swans gathered for the fete and bubbly and Tony's signature cinnamon soufflés to celebrate and reminisce with the birthday girl. Among those making the scene between summer getaways were Courtney Hopson, Greggory Burk, Laurel Blando, Shanna Linbeck and Ryland Holmes Peveto. Proud mom of the birthday girl, Joan Parsons, beamed throughout the entire afternoon!

Sight 'ems

Rice University political scientist Bob Stein celebrating his 60th birthday at a surprise dinner at Vincent's where the well-wishers included his wife Marty Stein, former Mayor Bob Lanier and Port Commissioner Elyse Lanier, Licia Green-Ellis and State Sen. Rodney Ellis, political consultant Dave Walden, Andrea White, Tim Fleck and Rusty Hardin . . .

Greggory Burk and brother Jay Fields celebrating their July birthdays at Bar Annie with their spouses, Pat Burk and Allie Fields, and other family members . . .

A host of notables lunching at La Griglia even on a Friday in mid-July. At various tables were City Councilman James Rodriguez, Maggi Jones and Sandy Parkerson, Nandy and Michael Berry, Rice University's director of Public Art Programs Molly Hubbard and a happy group of lunching ladies sipping Skinny Lemon Drops — SPA's June Christensen and Priscilla Larson with Laura Spalding discussing the annual Yelloween fete . . .

Mayor Annise Parker lunching at Tony's with Nancy Kinder, Sharon Adams, Donna Vallone and Waynette Chan, the mayor's chief of staff.