The benefit was dubbed "A Big Texas Party," and from the oil derricks and sunflowers decorating tables to the wealth of turquoise worn by the ladies, the evening galloped along in full Western mode.

The denim and fringe esthetic was a departure from the long tradition of black-tie galas that typically serve as the centerpiece of ORBIS International fundraising. The organization that works for the prevention of blindness and the treatment of eye diseases in Third World countries opted for something different this year, and different it was.

Instead of one or two chairs, the evening boasted 13 — Denise and Philip Bahr, Gayle and Lloyd Bentsen III, Joanne King Herring, Karen and Mike Mayell, Betty and Jess Tutor, Astrid and Gene Van Dyke, and June and Virgil Waggoner.

The invitation called for "boots & jewels" attire with the slightly confusing "cocktail Western" suggestion included in brackets. So there they were, several hundred guests wearing everything from frilly cocktail dresses and dark suits to blue jeans and suede. Margaret Williams, always the correct fashion maven, nailed it in a black suede skirt suit sparkling with black crystals. Karen Mayell did the high-fashion thing with an Oscar de La Renta black topcoat with wisps of delicate marabou worn over basic black that was accented with smashing Ralph Lauren turquoise.

Helping raise funds for the nonprofit that was founded in Houston were guests including Joann and Bill Crassas, Mary Ann and David McKeithan, Cindi and Dr. Franklin Rose, Harriet and Gil Gertner, Julia and Russell Frankel, Sidney Faust, and Cora Sue and Harry Mach. By evening's end most guests had taken a spin on the dance floor to the sounds of Ezra Charles and the Works.

Asia spectacular

From taiko drummers on the lawn to kimono-clad ladies serving hot sake and costumed chefs managing the popular sushi bar, the Asia Society Texas' debut Sunday night of the Asia House model was a delicious nod to foreign cultures. More than 300 guests poured through the Shadyside home of Ann and Don Short to view the model of the proposed building and to visit with its architect, Yoshio Taniguchi of Tokyo.

Asia House chair Eddie Allen announced that the fundraising effort had reached $25 million, putting it more than halfway to the $40 million needed. Two donors upped their gifts during the party, adding another $75,000 to the till on this night alone.

Key players in the heavy-hitter crowd included Asia Society Global president Vishakha Desai of New York, Asia Society Texas board chair Charles Foster, Andrea White, the party chairs Kelli and Eddy Blanton, and Nancy Allen, the Asia House project's most ardent supporter and fundraiser.

Major donors on hand included Donna Fujimoto Cole, Anne and Albert Chao, Diane and Michael Cannon, Sylvia and Gordon Quan, Drs. Shushila and Ninan Mathew, Dr. George Yang, Lily and Hamid Kooros, Suneeta Vaswani and Glen Gondo.

Book blowout

When Sugar Land resident Pradeep Anand unveiled his book, An Indian in Cowboy Country, Saturday, it took the Stafford Civic Center to handle the crowd of more than 650. The engineer and president of Seeta Resources signed hundreds of copies of the book that he published through iUniverse.

Ameriprise Financial sponsored the party that included representatives of Barnes & Noble selling the book while the crowd was entertained with classic rock and Indian rock music.

Guests singing Anand's praises included Ajit Paralkar, Nandan Nilekani, Charles Regan of Tulsa, Okla., Dr. Ram Gopalan of Vienna, Va., and New Yorker Prakash Panday, who proclaimed the book signing "a grand affair, even by Manhattan standards."

Sight 'ems

Latin heartthrob Enrique Iglesias supping with his manager at Grotto late Monday. The singer dined light, selecting the Grilled Snapper Ceretto. Arriving at 9:30 p.m., the duo encountered no curious fans or autograph seekers. . . .

Holding down tables in Cafe Annie's rocking Bar Annie Tuesday night: Vance Muse, Lois Chiles and Susie and Sanford Criner at a primo corner table; newlyweds Phyllis Hand and Lawrence Wall at a table for two; Gracie and Bob Cavnar catching a late bite; and Cathy Fitzpatrick and Joe Cleary at the bar.

World-renowned European art dealer Jan Krugier and his wife, Anne-Marie, dining at Tony's with McClain Gallery's Cynthia and Robert McClain. Jan, pre-eminent dealer in Picasso, specializes in 19th- and 20th-century masters at galleries in Geneva and New York. He was on his way with his wife to Florida for Art Basel Miami. ...

Carolyn Farb and Kimberly Gremillion head-huddling at Ibiza.

shelby.hodge@chron.com