parties

At Record-Breaking Final Festari Fash Bash, Athletes and Other Notables Strut Runway for Charity

At Record-Breaking Final Festari Fash Bash, Athletes and Other Notables Strut Runway for Charity

Houston Texans Garret Wallow and Jonathan Owens

ONE OF THE hottest tickets on the fall social calendars for 25 years — Debbie and Rudy Festari’s “Una Notte in Italia,” both a boisterous dance-party gala and a men’s fashion show featuring pro athletes and other notable gents from the community — has come and gone for the last time.

The Festaris, owners of the men’s boutique Festari for Men, announced that this year’s event at the Omni, attended by nearly 600 people and raising a record-breaking $540,000 for Children at Risk, would be the last. So they went out with a bang!

“The ballroom was beautifully decorated in silver and green with roman-styled décor, including framed photos of Michaelangelo's statue of David on stage,” noted a rep for gala organizers. “Then beautiful and beloved emcee Dominique Sachse got the event started, and the philanthropic men and athletes took to the runway.”

Models for the night included doctors Matthew Brams, Al Lindseth, Courtney El-Zokm and Roland Maldonado with Kayvon Sohrabi; attorneys Mo Aziz, Travis Torrence and James Lassiter; businessmen Pete Bell, Pablo Delgado, Matthew Hurley, Robert Bailey and Ajay Khurana with son, Shaan. Donald Bowers and journalist Steven Devadum were also on hand, as were athletes like former Houston Dynamo star Brian Ching, Houston Sabercats rugby star Gerrie Labuschagne, Houston Rockets GM Rafael Stone along with son, Gerard, and Houston Texans Jonathan Owens, Austin Deculus and Garret Wallow. At the end, “handsome clothier Rudy Festari took his final walk on stage to a standing ovation,” noted the gala rep.

The highlight of auctioneer Johnny Bravo’s auction came when Ginny and Dustin Bailey bid $100,000 for a vacation package, which drew a rowdy and grateful response from the crowd. Alice Mao Brams and Stacey Lindseth were chairs for the evening. Guests included Brigitte Kalai, Melissa and Michael Mithoff, Melissa Juneau, Olympian Carl Lewis, Courtney Hopson, Kristen Cannon, Hallie Vanderhider, Ben Berg, Donae Chramosta and Lara Bell.

Jennifer Pinkerton, Debbie Festari and Rachel Bagwell

Amy Beth Talley, Dr. Courtney El-Zokm, Dustin and Ginny Bailey

Ben Berg and Sam Governale

Brian White and Claudia Sierra

Brigitte Kalai, Katherine Triestman, Tiffany Wong and Melissa Mithoff

Alice Mao and Matthew Brams

Cody Soutar, Kristy Phillips and Sheri Wharton

Stacey and Al Lindseth

Dominique Sachse

Gigi Huang, Johnny Bravo and Lara Bell

Rafael Stone and Gerard Stone

Kathryn and Faruk Mujezinovic

Lane and Chita Craft, Iraida and Danny Brown

Monica Guerra and Crystal Del Toro

Paige Halberdier, Rachel Estes, Nikki Hardwick and Janette Gardner

Pete Bell

Travis Torrence

Rudy Festari

Parties
promoted

Elevate Dining in and out this Summer with Steam Cooking

Elevate Dining in and out this Summer with Steam Cooking

MAKE THE MOST of every delicious bite this summer with the benefits of steam cooking. Whether you’re reviving leftovers from Houston’s hottest foodie hangout or hosting memorable gatherings at home, integrating steam into your cooking repertoire can take your food to the next level.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Leadership in Action: CEO Theresa Roemer Credits Mother, Mentors and Mindset for Accomplishments

How did you get to where you are today? My journey to where I am today is built on a foundation of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Every step along the way, I faced obstacles, but I approached each one with determination and a “never give up” mindset. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, I used them as opportunities to grow and improve. Consistency was key—I committed to showing up and giving my best effort every day. I also learned not to take “no” as a final answer. Instead, I saw it as a chance to push harder, adapt, and find another way forward. It’s this combination of persistence, resilience, and unwavering focus that has brought me to where I am today.

Keep Reading Show less