Save the Date cards for all kinds of charity events have been crowding our mailboxes in recent weeks, but none was received with such surprise and excitement as the one that just arrived heralding Liaisons au Louvre Trois. Next June, Becca Cason Thrash will revisit her two previous multi-million dollar successes with a third international round of glamorous fundraising for the venerable Louvre in Paris.

Ooh la la, we're already imagining the designer gowns, the rivers of champagne and the lavish partying that will define three days of Parisian magic. Becca will soon be off to London and Paris organizing details of what is bound to be another amazing adventure. Rumor has it that in addition to the incredible La Grande Nuit in the Louvre, guests will be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime dinner at Versailles. But that is yet to be confirmed.

After her entertainment successes first with Duran, Duran in 2008 and then with Janet Jackson in 2011, the pressure is on to continue the tradition of great music. Thus, the trip to London where Becca has her eye on a top British band.

An American Friends of the Louvre board member, Becca reports that Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac of Paris and Salzburg has signed on as a major sponsor and that Sotheby's will return with a sponsorship role.

Due to the limited number of spaces and the international interest in Liaisons au Louvre Trois, the round of fundraising parties is by-invitation-only and invitations to Houstonians is limited. The tariff continues at the $10,000 per person level that was set for the original event.

Christopher "Kip" Forbes, American Friends of the Louvre chairman, continues his role as Becca's co-chair.

Houston-Austin art connection

With Houstonians Kelli Blanton and Marita Fairbanks signed on to chair the Austin-based Texas Cultural Trust's biennial Texas Medal of Arts Awards celebration next March, it was only fitting that a Houston artist would be tapped to inspire and help design the look and feel of the event.

That would be respected contemporary artist Aaron Parazette, the Art League of Houston's 2012 Texas Artist of the Year and a University of Houston professor of art. He explained in a prepared statement, “One of the most unique aspects of the 2013 TMA Awards creative design is the number of minds, styles and perspectives that went into the design process. It’s been a collaborative effort, with lookthinkmake (a brand communications agency), the Dan Winters logo and my own sensibility, all coming together to create something very fresh. I think the final product is the essence of what the awards are all about."

Sight 'ems

Zany comedian Yakov Smirnoff and his general manager Trey Pelz dining at The Grove earlier this week and taking in the amazing acrobats at Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza on Thursday night. Smirnoff was in town scouting the city in advance of his performance at the Hobby Center in October . . .

A packed-to-the-rafters dinner crowd at Tony's including Sheridan and John Eddie Williams, Karen and Mike Mayell, Rudy Avelar, Lisa and David Greenberg, Carol and Dr. Tom Sawyer (celebrating his birthday) and on and on . . .

Nightlife impresarios Ian Rosenberg of 13 Celsius and Mongoose Versus Cobra and Augustine Bui of Fox Hollow dining across the room from each other while checking out Monica Pope’s new Sparrow Bar + Cookshop . . .

La Griglia buzzing with the biz lunch crowd including UH's new executive director of government relations Darrin Hall, UH associate vice chancellor Cliff Redd, popular philanthropist Trini Mendenhall-Sosa, H-Town's director of Boards and Commissions Jenn Char, luxury brand publicist Alton LaDay, co-pastor of St. John's Downtown Church Juanita Rasmus and strategic marketing specialist Cindy Clifford . . .

Jeff Gremillion at Brasserie 19 hosting a trio of femmes fabuloso: Susan Plank, Joyce Echols and Courtney Hobson.