Three cheers for Windi and David Grimes, Laurie and Reed Morian and P.J. and Pat Murphy for their wildly successful Texas Conservation Hall of Fame Dinner at the Hyatt Regency. With 530 guests, Karl Rove as emcee and a hunting trip with Boone Pickens on the auction block, this baby brought in well over $900,000.

This was not your typical, over-polished fundraiser for a strictly Houston crowd. The evening hosted guests from around the state, all in town for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation's annual meeting. They sat down to dinner amid a sea of sunflowers (thank you the Events Co.) with yellow blossoms lining every table and vast murals of Mission, Tx., sunflower fields covering the walls. They supped on quail poppers and filet mignon and danced to the sounds of the famed Red Steagall and his Boys in the Bunkhouse.

Highlight of the fundraiser was induction of the Hall of Fame class of 2010: Meredith Long, the late Walter Fondren III and the Coastal Conservation Association.

It was a gathering of the city's blue bloods, individuals with ranches and/or a keen interesting in hunting and therefore conservation. Among them were Susan Baker, Clare Glassell, Rose and Harry Cullen, Eliza and Stuart Stedman, David Underwood, Aliyya and Herman Stude and large coveys of Fondrens, Longs and Cullens.

Among those from around the state, including foundation board members and Texas Parks & Wildlife commissioners were Mark Bivins of Amarillo, Ralph Duggins of Forth and Dan Allen Hughes of San Antonio. Add Ashley and Mac Rankin from Dallas to the mix.

Dining on high

It was a bird's eye view of the downtown skyline and up and down Kirby Drive for supporters of the University of St. Thomas' School of Nursing, who were treated to a progressive dinner that included cocktails in three swank apartments in the dazzling 2727 Kirby high-rise and a seated dinner in the Sunset Room.

Margo Geddie, Judy and Darby Seré and Trini Mendenhall Sosa and Frank Sosa opened the doors of their aeries to 75 guests who took in the sunset from all angles.

This underwriter event saluted supporters of UST's upcoming Founders Nursing Gala to be held at Tony's Restaurant on Nov. 18, chaired by Sheridan Williams.

The dinner group included Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, UST president Robert Ivany and wife Marianne, John Eddie Williams, Beth and Dr. Cristo Papasakelariou, Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza, Dr. John Marcellus, Raye White, Franco Valobra and Shirley and Jim Dannenbaum.

Birthday partying

That would be Beth Bryant, blowing out the candles at Caffé Bello with a slew of friends who took over the second-floor private party space of the Montrose eatery. They noshed on pizzettes and Crave Cupcakes and sipped on, of all things, apple-flavored bubbly. A seated dinner followed, then the celebrants moved on to Vintage Lounge to party into the wee morning hours.

In the mix were Miriam Habib of the Lexis Florist family and who gifted Bryant with party flowers, Erica Rose, Carrie Carson, Beth Zdelick, Naji Ghorayeb, Tom Leslie, Cara Morales and Jared Lang, Micahel Yates, Rachel Walton, Kristyn Hogan, Mahek Shah and Fernando Aramburo and Sarah Walters.

Sight 'ems

Terri and Andy DiRaddo taking bows at the Crystal Ballroom of The Rice where they were honorees at the Love Street Light Circus "Come Together" gala featuring Beatles tribute bands. The retro evening benefited Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance . . .

Gallerist Wade Wilson and his bride Diane Jergens of Santa Fe, N.M., in the group at La Colombe d'Or enjoying the Brilliant Lecture Series dinner. The couple will commute between their homes in Houston and Santa Fe. Does that mean a possible Wade Wilson gallery west? . . .

Pam Cohan celebrating her birthday at Damian's with her husband, Patrick Cohan, plus Karen and Mel Payne and Cindy and Dick Vaughan.