It was a decidedly glamorous crowd that turned out at the Memorial area home of Shoaleh and Asghar Nosrati to honor the host committee of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's 2013 Arts of the Islamic World gala, "Beyond Boundaries." That event will be the smashing launch of the museum's permanent gallery for Art of the Islamic World and celebration of the partnership with Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah of Kuwait, the exhibition of treasures to be unveiled at the gala.

With former President George H.W. Bush and former Secretary of State James A. Baker as honorary chairs, the groundwork is securely in place for a successful event.

An executive committee is chairing the gala and those attending the Nosrati party were Sima Ladjevardian, Sabiha Rehmatulla, Monsour Taghdisi, Rania Daniel and Dr. Cenk Ozdogan. Also serving on the committee are Franci Crane, Zeina Fares, Frank Hevrdejs, Vahid Kooros, Sultana Mangalji and Aliyya Stude.

On the road to Sundance

Fried Alligator Films co-founder Jerry "Tank" Tankersley was the toast of the table in the home of his close pals Suzy and Dick Bergner, when they threw a dinner honoring his early success with his film Mother of George.

Suzy was in Las Vegas last month on a golf outing with the Fried Alligator Film group, when she learned that the Sundance Institute had announced that Mother of George (Tank is an executive producer) was not only accepted into the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, but also is in competition for Best Drama.

Joining the Bergners in toasting Tank's big news success were Beverle and Marc Ostrofsky, Astrid and Gene Van Dyke, Caroline Matthews Kenney and Michelle and Shawn Morrison.

Holiday time!

They call it their annual Gal Pal luncheon — a gathering of lunching ladies that celebrate the holidays each December with a lavish lunch at Tony's. Sipping on bubbly and getting into the Holiday Spirit were fab femmes Vanessa Sendukas, Jan Carson, Jean Radelat, Kari Parsons, Rosemary Schatzman, Joann Crassas, Denise Bush Bahr, Tara Wuthrich, Cathy Cagle and Phyllis Williams.

This wasn't all about self-indulgence. In lieu of exchanging presents, each of the gal pals brought gift cards for Child Advocates to distribute to its clients and young children.

Lunching at a nearby table were Port Commissioner Elyse Lanier, Courtney Sarofim, Aliyya Stude and Laura Arnold — an annual holiday feast for this foursome which indulged in Tony's famous chocolate soufflé.

Triniti aglow

Triniti chef Ryan Hildebrand and his fiancée, Mollye Bergen, flipped on the holiday lights at the Montrose area restaurant during a cocktail reception for board members of the three non-profits that he is partnering with for an anniversary fundraiser, celebrating Triniti's first year in business.

In case you missed it, Nov. 23 through Dec. 23, Hildebrand is donating 10 percent of all sales to Citizens for Animal Protection, the Amschwand Sarcoma Cancer Foundation and Houston Area Women's Center.

His guests were the first to try Triniti's new bar bites menu featuring fried chicken meatballs, duck fat poached oysters, beef sliders and tuna poke. Among those sampling were Rebecca White, Melissa Amschwand Bellinger and husband Tom Bellinger, Nick Espinosa, Sanford Steinberg, Samantha Mundinger and Mittsy Mosshart.

A tasteful thank you

The Houston Human Rights Campaign (HRC) steering committee held a holiday cocktail reception at Sparrow Bar + Cookshop to thank corporate sponsors and silent auction benefactors for their support in 2012.

Those celebrating and enjoying the crisp patio weather included lawyer Kevin Baucom, whose firm Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith underwrote the event, co-committee members Britt Kornmann, Ian McNeil and Ron Goines, plus Tim Surratt, Melissa Levin, Nice Winery owner Ryan Levy, Scott Fontenot, Jack Case and Mary Ann McCulley.