Stephanie Hunt, the incoming chairman of the AFI Dallas International Film Festival, is wasting no time shaking the trees for powerhouse movie stars. Thursday evening, Stephanie and her husband, Hunter (son of oilman Ray Hunt), hosted a dinner in their home honoring Sir Anthony Hopkins, the Welsh-born star famous for his Oscar-winning portrayal of Hannibal Lecter.

Sir Anthony is also a composer, and he was in town to join the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as it premiered some of his music.

Thursday night at the Hunt home, Sir Anthony was joined by local film enthusiasts such as Nancy Fisher. The wife of Dallas Federal Reserve president Richard Fisher, Nancy sits on the national board of the American Film Institute. Philanthropist Nancy Dedman attended as did attorney Steve Stodghill and his wife, Anne, and Diane Brierley and her husband, Hal, chairman of the Dallas Symphony Association's board of governors.

Wednesday evening, Sir Anthony had a more subdued meal at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek.

While the AFI Dallas International Film Festival is not until the spring, a kick-off party will be held on Oct. 29 at Arlington Hall at Lee Park where the 2009 festival co-chairs will be announced.

Just a year and a half ago, singer-actress Willa Ford showed up with her then-fiancé Mike Modano at the doctor for a sonogram. In the blink of an eye, the rumor that she was pregnant had raced around the world.

She wasn't. It was a sonogram for a stomach problem.

Who needs kids when you have a puppy?

Visitors to Willa's Facebook page will see pictures of Willa and her Dallas Stars husband, holding their new little golden ball of fur.

The Collin Country Children's Advocacy Center has grown its annual gala to a stage where it now brings in more than $1 million.

Carolyn Speese, chairman of the 2009 gala, gathered her troops last week at the ultra-cool Nylo Hotel in Plano to announce that Deal or No Deal host Howie Mandel will headline the May 16 gala.

It will be held at the Hilton Anatole, and the theme will be Safari Soiree. Radio personality Jody Dean will emcee.

Dallas-based actor Drew Waters has to play a strange-sounding character on NBC's Friday Night Lights.

The show has cast Drew as a regular in the part of assistant football coach Wade Aikmen.

Crazy name, huh? Whoever heard of anyone in Texas football named Aikmen?

The episodes that the Dallas model and actor has been filming should start to air in February.

Singer Sheryl Crow will stop in Fort Worth on Sunday to promote her clothes line, Bootheel Trading Co., at the Dillard's in Hulen Mall.

Ms. Crow created a line of casual jeans and tops reminiscent of the laid-back sartorial style she is known for.

Her Dillard's appearance will be from 4 to 4:30 p.m.