SHELBY ABOUT TOWN

Jerry Jeff Walker croons for Mayor

Even as Jerry Jeff Walker was singing his heart out for Bill White's U.S. Senate bid Friday night, the Houston mayor was considering his options.

White made those considerations public yesterday with announcement that he just might throw his hat into the ring for governor. No surprise to political insiders and those astute enough to question the somewhat vague "Bill White for Texas" campaign.

It's probably safe to say that those who turned out for the private fundraiser and concert at the Austin home of the outlaw country singer will support White in either race. And how grateful they must have been to be guests at the ultimate political sing-along.  Jerry Jeff Walker, and his wife, Susan, hosted the sellout evening for which the 85 guests paid a minimum $500 a head. 

Despite thunderstorms, a full-house posse turned out for the truly rare in-home concert.  Walker's performance inspired swinging, swaying and singing to tunes such as What I Like About Texas, London Homesick Blues and L.A. Freeway, an encore that wasn't sung until one loyal White fan pledged an additional $1,500. In all, the unusual fundraiser brought in more than $50,000, according to Scott Atlas, Bill White for Texas finance chair. 

Taking chances

Enticing doesn't  begin to describe the raffle items being offered in conjunction with the Houston Grand Opera Yellow Rose Ball. The five delicious possibilities were presented last week at a gala kick-off party held at Susan Krohn's River Oaks home. While a few ladies had their eyes on the fab $15,000 Paloma Picasso pearl and citrine necklace from Tiffany & Co., everyone was imagining taking home the other four other offerings.

Ball chairs Denise Bush Bahr and Phillip Bahr are counting on the raffle to draw in the dollars. The chances include a stay at Cibolo Creek Ranch complete with private jet transport, 1/2 barrel of custom Merlot (approximately 144 bottles), a $3,000 shopping spree at Neiman Marcus and a stay at the lavish Toucan Hill private resident on the Caribbean island of Mustique.

Best dressed!

Harper's Bazaar has made its picks for the most stylish women of 2009 beginning with Michelle Obama and including Jennifer Aniston, Penelope Cruz, Roberta Armani and two women known for putting Houston on the fashion map -- Beyoncé Knowles and Becca Cason Thrash.  Selected for their "sartorial splendor" and "high glamour with tough-chic looks" were a coterie of 80 film stars and top-of-the-rung international fashionistas.

Cason Thrash wears a white Dior gown in her photo, tucked gracefully between Eva Mendes and Ashley Olsen. "I don't even remember which party that was," she said. "I've worn it at least three times."  Beyoncé  is pictured in an Hervé  Leger by Max Azria jacket and Gryphon New York skirt.

Others on the list — Drew Barrymore, Cate Blanchette, Halle Berry, Jacqui Getty and Daphne Guinness.

Second hand rose

The pickings were beyond rich at the high style "garage sale" last week benefiting The Center (Serving Persons with Mental Retardation). Stylist Cynthia Bussey founded the "Designer Resale Extravaganza" and brought in a load of pieces from the Kardashian girls, as in Keeping Up With the Kardashians of E! fame. Bussey is the girls' aunt .

The ladies crawled over Elizabeth DeLuca's River Oaks home in search of the perfect fit. Among the items was a $2,000 Oscar de la Renta sweater complete with original tags, a gift of Linda (Mrs. Jerry) Bruckheimer, cousin of The Center Foundation executive director Debra Collins-Breckenridge. Energized shoppers included Elaine Block, Laurie Allen, Mary Stanton Smith, Dena Prasher and Cathy Frank.

The host committee celebrating the $11,000 net proceeds included Kathryn Smith, Tim Moloney and Farrell Saunders.

On the tube

Party designer extraordinaire Darryl Murchison enjoys the spotlight on the Rachel Ray Show Wednesday in a special Thanksgiving episode that was pre-taped in Wilmington, Ohio. The talk show and Food Network host tapped Murchison to decorate the vast center where 2,000 needy individuals were fed turkey and dressing in an early holiday celebration. He went the whole nine yards weaving his magic in decor right down to the tabletops. He says the event was held in  Wilmington due to the unemployment rate, one of the highest in the country.

Sight 'ems

Fayez Sarofim celebrating his birthday at Da Marco's with Tom Roupe, Morton Cohn and sons Phillip Sarofim and Christopher Sarofim with his wife Courtney Lanier Sarofim. On the table — Alba truffles and pasta ($95 per plate) . . .  

Anita and Gerald Smith celebrating 22 years of marriage at Tony's where they toasted their good fortune with friends Judy and Wayne McConnell and Arvia and Jason Few, newly arrived from Chicago . . .

Phyllis Mandola, Karen Clifton, Fran Granger and Cindy Featherston eating healthy, of all things, at Sunrise Taquitos on Memorial, where most customers so for the real egg and chorizo in hand-rolled flour tortillas. But these calorie-conscious gals breakfasted on egg white tacos with salsa and beans on corn tortillas, their regular order at Sunrise.  

• Houston Grand Opera
• Becca Cason Thrash, Beyonce, Bill White, Christopher Sarofim, Courtney Lanier Sarofim, Cynthia Bussey, Darryl Murchison, Fayez Sarofim, Jerry Jeff Walker, Phillip Sarofim, Scott Atlas, Susan Krohn

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