Three cheers for Laurie and Reed Morian, who have launched an impromtu fundraising campaign to help Hermann Park save its live oaks. A mass email went out Thursday afternoon with the headline "Stressed out."

Intro to the campaign reads, "Is the heat stressing you out? Imagine if you were 90 years old, lived outside, and it was recommended that you consume 50 gallons of water a day!"No one ever said that Laurie Morian wasn't playfully creative.

Under the auspices of the Hermann Park Conservancy, this duo has outlined suggested donations. A $25 contribution earns you Branch Buddy status, $50 Foliage Friend status, $100 Root Reviver status, $500 Live Oak Lover status and $1,000 as an Arbor Advocate. They've included an easy online way to donate, which you can do by clicking here. (Be sure and click on "Save Our Stressed Trees" on the drop-down menu to ensure your gift goes directly to the care of these priceless trees.)

With CultureMap breaking the news on Thursday that Houston could lose 66 million trees as a result of the drought, the Morians sprung into action. They signed their email letter "Hermann Park Live Oak Lovers" (LOL).

Partying with Hank Williams

Stages Repertory Theatre is having so much fun with its lively musical production Hank Williams: Lost Highway that execs couldn't resist throwing a Hank-themed party for the theater's young professionals group. So Tuesday night, a youthful Stages contingent poured into Blanco's for an early evening of ice cold long necks, bar bites and dancing to the old-style tunes of the Hank Williams cast.

In actuality, it was a membership drive for the group aimed at theater supporters aged 35 and under. But Stages patrons of any age were invited to plunk down their $50 for a couple of drinks, light chow and two-steppin' turns on the dance floor.

Among those mixing it up with the Hank Williams cast was Stages artistic director Kenn McLaughlin, just back from London where he was working on the upcoming production of Panto Red Ridinghood, which opens Nov. 18. Stages Young Professionals event chair Stephanie Tabbah and the theater's special events maven Libby Cagle welcomed the toe-tapping crowd.

Swaying to tunes such as "Hey, Good Lookin'" and "Your Cheatin' Heart" were Thomas Spiriti, John Marcellus, Vivian Wise, Leslie Bowlin Bennett, Mark Nye, Suzn Hilvers, Lauren Carroll, Bubba McNeely and Jeanie and Mike Mullins.

You can still catch the popular production, which has been extended through Sept. 11.

Triple-header birthday

Beth Madison thought she was hosting a surprise birthday dinner for pals Margaret Williams and Tara Wuthrich on Wednesday night, which she was, but the party gang decided to surprise the hostess and honor her birthday as well.

The evening began with the dinner bell from Tony's and a parade of waiters carrying balloons for each of the birthday girls. Then, every 20 minutes between courses and birthday toasts, waiters from Tony's catering team would ring the dinner bell and a gift would be delivered to each of the birthday girls. By the time the evening drew to a close, the belles has received 10 gifts each. Sweet.

Joining in the celebration were Ralph Burch, Jim Daniel, David Wuthrich, Guyla Pircher and Boyd Harris, Marianne and Bob Ivany, Edward Djerejian, Betty and Jess Tutor, Susan Krohn and Patrick Gehm, Linda and Gene Dewhurst, Fran Fawcett Peterson, Kristina Hornberger, Viviana and David Denechaud, Danielle and John Ellis and Joanne King Herring.

Somethin's cooking

The Austin-based “Casserole Queens” Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock checked into Hotel ICON on Thursday for a three-day book tour and cooking demo that will take them to a number of area stores, including several H-E-B and Kroger locations, plus Blue Willow Bookshop in Memorial.

You might remember that their Chicken Pot Pie recipe won them such a following that Bobby Flay challenged them to a Food Network Throwdown.

Sight 'ems

Anne Carl celebrating her birthday at 51 Fifteen in Saks Fifth Avenue with friends who billed the midday bash as a "Wild About Anne" party. That meant that everyone dressed in some form of animal print. Hostesses Alicia Smith, Kim Moody and Kimberly DeLape oversaw all the details including the sporting elephants and giraffes decorating the table. Helping Anne blow out the candles were Deborah Duncan, Lisa Holthouse, Amy Lee, Holly Dinsmore, Warner Roberts, Sylvia Forsythe, Pamela Wright, Todd Ramos, Jennifer Gilliam, Rachel Regan and Nancy Marcus Golden.