News from the world of champagne wishes and caviar dreams: John and Becca Cason Thrash have been living the good life on the Med, yachting with friends in all the right places.

Sailing aboard a mega-yacht from Monte Carlo ultimately on to Corsica and points beyond, the merry band of revelers stopped along the way in Port Beaulieu sur Mer for dinner in the romantic Chateau Eza in the mountain perch of Eze Village, on to a grand fete the next day in St. Tropez where the Gypsy Queens entertained and lunched the following day at the beachfront Club 55 (Club Sank Sank in American phoenetic French). Next stop was picturesque Portofino where they savored dinner in the swank Hotel Splendido, a must for yachting enthusiasts and luxury travelers as well.

Beyond the lavish partying, John Thrash e-mailed his daughter, Meghan, were the people involved. "But the best of all . . . the hosts and their guests . . . for these, the words cannot be adequately composed . . . each so lovely, endearing and FUN!"

The Thrashes are among a handful of Houstonians who been playcationing on private yachts in the Med this summer. Sheridan and John Eddie Williams spent part of June and July aboard their Lady Sheridan, entertaining friends all along the French Riviera. Meg Goodman and Mike Bonini partied aboard their yacht there as well.

And Dr. Michael Brown of Hand Center fame and his wife Rachel chartered one of the mega yachts earlier this summer for a week or so of the luxe life afloat.

Taking a spill

That would be popular fine art and society photographer Fulton Davenport who won't be toting a camera for about eight weeks. The ever-dapper Davenport wrenched his left knee in a soccer match three weeks ago and . . . "I blew it out completely, everything," he said. ACL surgery followed. And now it's crutches.

No worries for social butterflies desiring Davenport to cover their parties through his PWL Studio. Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome is still on the scene with an assistant whom he supervises throughout the party period. At the Thursday night Astros Wives gala, he wore his usual smart blazer and crisp white shirt over shorts — a better fit for that bulging wrap around the wounded knee. And he had an assistant snapping diligently.

Flying high

Laura Mercier cosmetics founder Janet Gurwitch entertained former Houstonian Susanne Dawley Byram over dinner in a packed house at Hotel Grandcuca's Ristorante Cavour earlier this week. News flash: Byram allowed that she and hubby, Austin-based developer John Byram, have purchased the Westwind II jet that once shuttled then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin around that state. In an economy move, Palin sold the jet in 2007 to an Alaska entrepreneur for $2.1 million.

That fellow later went into bankruptcy and the Byrams picked up the eight-passenger gem from the bank. Nice.

The winners are . . .

Houston Jaycees introduced its "Five Outstanding Young Houstonians" at its annual awards dinner at the InterContinental Houston Thursday night. Taking bows for their professional prowess and community leadership were honorees Memorial Hermann of Sugar Land CEO Jim Brown, Metro's associate veep Russ Frank, Advarion co-founder and veep Lauren Nolasco, CP&Y veep Sanjay Ramabhadran and PaperCity Magazine fashion editor Kate Allen Stukenberg.

Key players included speaker former Gov. Mark White, Jaycees president Chris McVey, emcee and awards chair Sean Carter-Hammrle and past honoree Melissa King.

Girl's night out

Among the slew of sophisticates packing Bar Annie and RDG Thursday night was a table of lovelies celebrating their return to Houston after summering away in cooler climes with their families. Gathering at the round table for dinner and then moving on to Armandos for that Thursday night disco romp were Jessica Meyer, Natalie Reitman, Tori Hawash, Kelli Tumey, Limor Smith and Natalie Wall.

The good life

Internationally-renowned interior designer Bill Stubbs, host of the popular (seven million viewers) PBS program Moment of Luxury, shares his suggestions for adding luxury to your life with a special morning of mimosas and conversation on Saturday, Aug. 28, at The Houstonian.

The VIP bubbly reception begins at 9:30. The two-hour program commences at 10:30. The up-close-and-person opportunity is being presented by the John P. McGovern Foundation on behalf of HoustonPBS/Channel 8.

Sight 'em

Carolyn Farb and Kinky Friedman lunching at Hugo's in advance of a reading of the play Becoming Kinky at Stages Repertory Theatre.