Now you see them, now you don't. That was the story when three Houston Astros and their wives put their on-the-field woes behind them and posed for a charitable promo photo involving Sprinkles cupcakes.

The 11:30 a.m. curtain call was a bit early for the guys, who aren't used to arriving at Minute Maid Park until around 2 in the afternoon. And cupcakes before noon? No way. Way. As soon as the photo shoot was a wrap, all six dived into the red velvet confections. Thus, the before and after shots by photographer Daniel Ortiz.

Mary Catherine and Mark Melancon, Clint and Summer Barmes and Michelle and Humberto Quintero have volunteered to be celebrity servers at Sprinkles Houston from noon to 1 p.m. on Aug. 5, in Highland Village. This kicks off the week-long sale of Astros Red Velvet cupcakes with 100 percent of the proceeds donated to the Houston Area Women's Center on behalf of the Houston Astros Wives organization.

Sprinkles delivered two dozens of the yummy treats to Minute Maid, the remainder of which went to the locker room for the team to devour.

The Houston Area Women's Center is beneficiary of the Astros Wives annual Black Ties & Baseball Caps gala, this year set for Aug. 18 on the floor of Minute Maid Park. Summer and Catherine are chairing and Michelle is serving as auction chair.

Handsome in the house

The ladies were swooning when Mario Lopez, host of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew, showed up unannounced at CityCentre's Hotel Sorella. In town on a promo tour, he checked out the surroundings and visited with guests at the Monnalisa Lounge and later dined at Bistro Alex, where he enjoyed a glass of Irony Pinot Noir with dinner.

You might remember Mario from his days as A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell or from season three of Dancing With the Stars where he danced with Karina Smirnoff.

Tim Keating back on the range in Houston

It's for one great night only but popular chef Tim Keating, who won the palates of Houston foodies during his years as top toque at the Four Seasons Hotel's Quattro, will join chefs Robert Del Grande of RDG fame and Dean Fearing of his namesake restaurant in Dallas as lead cooks for the Sept. 13 Best Cellars Celebrity Dinner at River Oaks Country Club.

The chefs cook up a gourmet storm while wine hosts at each table provide the fine vintages coordinated with the fancy menu. Jeanie and Jim Janke are chairing the dinner. Franelle Rogers with Brent Sloan are serving as wine host co-chairs. The evening benefits the T.J. Martell Foundation with funds earmarked for a cancer research fellowship grant at M.D. Anderson.

Last year's event was a glowing success that concluded with Robert and Dean reprising their roles as musicians in their country group the Barbed Wires. Before he left Texas, Tim was an original member of the group doing vocals to Robert's guitar and Dean's mandolin. This should be some entertaining reunion of the group.

No one hit me

Contrary to the stories circulating after last night's Women of Wardrobe kickoff party that I attended, I was not hit in the face, did not have stitches in my chin and was never injured. I had a phone call from Aspen today, inquiring if I was OK and repeating that litany of pain.

I did have stitches beside my nose but it was because I had two suspicious growths removed. The stitches were taken out this morning by the good doctor Fred Aguilar, who was such a talent that I had neither pain nor bruising from the actual removal or the stitching. I hope that sets the record straight.

Sight 'ems

Sheridan Williams and Dancie Ware tete-a-tete at lunch in La Griglia where notables at various tables included City Councilman C.O. Bradford, Houston First Corp.'s Sharon Adams, Meredith Long & Co.'s Martha Long, Museum of Fine Arts development director Amy Purvis, man-about-town Tom Roupe, and Bellaire City Councilman Corbett Parker lunching with Ch. 13 ace reporter Miya Shay and Ned Gils . . .

Marketing exec Cindy Clifford and Jason Fuller, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's regional director, parking themselves at a key table in Brasserie 19 Thursday night where a load of VIPS chowed down including political player Fred Zeidman, real estate honcho Larry Levine, Grocers Supply CEO Max Levit, Ch. 2 powerhouse reporter Mary Benton, Houston Style publisher Francis Page Jr. and Neil Strauss.