Backyard bash

It may be off-season, but a serious gathering of Astros turned up Saturday night when Patty Biggio threw a grand-slam retirement party for her husband - No. 7, Craig Biggio.

The celebration took place at the family home, where guests sat down to dinner in a backyard tent large enough for Jackson & Co. staff to swirl through and spacious enough for guests to kick up their heels on the dance floor while the Texas Utility Band played.

Valet parkers in No. 7 T-shirts, waiters in No. 7 dress shirts, a massive cake by Who Made the Cake covered in 7s and a Goliath-size, lighted "7" on the front of the house all paid tribute to Biggio's lucky number. Party favors were Radko ornaments fashioned like Biggio's jersey and personally signed by the player.

Among those heading home with the prized trinkets were Bridget and John Styles, Roger Clemens, Laura and Andy Pettitte, Ericka and Jeff Bagwell, Elizabeth and Drayton McLane, Pam Gardener, Cara and Lance Berkman, Judy Nichols, and Milo Hamilton.

High honors

Houston Symphony maestro Hans Graf joined an elite coterie of decorated Austrians Friday when Austrian Ambassador to the United States Eva Nowotny presented him with the Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria. The presentation took place onstage at Jones Hall Friday night before the symphony concert.

Recognized for his distinguished career and for his role as cultural ambassador for Austria, Graf was the toast of a pre-concert reception held on the upper balcony at Jones Hall. The 100 well-wishers included honorary Austrian Consul General Otmar Kolber, Margarita Graf, Rosie Jowitt and Matthew VanBesien, Margot and John Cater, Sophie and Bertrand de La Noue, Betty and Jesse Tutor, and Karen and Byron Hood.

Sight 'ems

Neiman Marcus president and CEO Karen Katz at DaMarco celebrating 50th birthdays with close friends from her days at the University of Texas. The celebrants - A Fare Extraordinaire co-owner Karen Lerner, Market Momentum owner Nancy Ehrenkranz, New Orleans transplant Kim Wainer Kline and Lisa Graivier Barnes, legal counsel for Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis. . . .

Carolyn Grant Fay celebrating her 93rd birthday with tea and cake at the Jung Center, of which she was founding president. Among those saluting the lady of many years were board members Travis Broesche, Bill Conner, Lucie Dunwoody and Jimmy Robertson. . . .

Angela Hall, Wayne Bridgeford, Dr. Nancy White, Denise Vecera and Bill and Barbara Mitchell Pharr at the opening of the relocated Simposio restaurant, Westheimer at Dunvale, where owner Vasco Luti and son Gianpaolo Luti welcomed 200 guests. . . .

Tony Gracely, Don Jordan and Ed McMahon making an interesting trio over lunch at Post Oak Grill.