Night Of Fun

Fun on the runway: Houston Texans and the Nae Nae add panache to Una Notte in Italia gala

What: Una Notte in Italia.

Where: Royal Sonesta Hotel.

The 411: More than 600 guests packed the large Galleria-area hotel ballroom for the annual gala that features food and wine with an Italian theme and highlights businessmen, attorneys and athletes in custom-made attire from Festari for Men. As usual, there was also ample opportunity for great people watching, as female attendees pulled out all the stops with body-hugging dresses — the invitation suggested "Elegante" cocktail attire — and killer shoes.

More than 25 male models rocked the runway to loud applause and bursts of confetti. Friends and family of Martijn Van Koolwijk waved cut-outs of his chiseled face while, on the runway, Charles Clark and Ben Dugger donned sunglasses and Travis Torrence, Chad Zamarin and Chad Pinkerton busted some fine dance moves. Torrence brought down the house with his rendition of the Nae Nae.

Houston Texans Kareem Jackson, Alfred Blue, Garrett Graham and Andre Hal, along with Houston Dynamo Chandler Hoffman, represented the sports contingent.

Among others earning big applause on the runway were Anatol Feygin, James Lassiter, Ajay Khurana, Rocky Mafrige, Bill Toomey, Jonathan Farb, Jeff Abel, Astley Blair, Dr. William Guerra, Richard Hancock, Jack Merriman and Ulises Vidal.

Debbie Festari, the longtime guiding spirit behind the fundraiser, and Channel 2 anchor Dominque Sachse kept a lively running commentary as the men took the runway, while Rudy Festari took a special bow for outfitting each dapper dude.

Channel 2's Andy Cerota led a spirited live auction for packages that included a private dinner with the Houston Texans, a trip to the Napa Valley and a tour of Italy that raised an additional $26,500 for the evening's beneficiary, Bo's Place.

Much of the crowd remained for the after-party in a lounge setting with specialty drinks from Circulo Tequila and non-stop dance music from DJ Senega.

Who: Gala Chairman Eloise Frischkorn Bauer, who was thrilled that the evening took in $350,000 for the non-profit that offers grief support services to children and their families, Joella and Steve Mach, Melissa and Michael Mithoff, Brady and Alexandra Knight, Luba and Alan Bigman, Tiffany and Randall Wong, Susan and Charlie Neuhaus, Claudine and David Hartland, Megan Sutton Reed and Chris Reed, Jill and Calvin Schlenker, Kara Vidal, and Bobby and Lil Newman.

Houston Texan Kareem Jackson, Rudy Festari, Houston Texan Andre Hal.

Photo by Emile Brown

Houston Texan Kareem Jackson, Rudy Festari, Houston Texan Andre Hal.

galas fundraisers

Medics on the Keys

Houston doctors play a Steinway to support pediatric burn program

Courtesy of Doctors in Recital

Dr. Michael Yafi and Amanda Watson.

What happens when scalpel-wielding professionals swap the OR for a Steinway? Something pretty magical. For the third annual Doctors in Recital, Houston’s Steinway Piano Gallery orchestrated a night where medicine met music — and heartbeats gave way to half notes — all in support of the city’s only Pediatric Burn Program.

Held at the newly renovated River Oaks Theatre, the performers welcomed a crowd of friends, family, supporters, and members of the medical community for a musicale. The program spotlighted 12 multi-talented physicians, whose day jobs span cardiology to pediatric surgery, as they played their hearts out on two exquisite Steinway grands.

The performance piano: A gleaming Model B-Spirio in ebony, digitally recording each performance. Its show-stealing counterpart? A limited edition Steinway X Disney: Mickey Mouse piano — one of just 25 in the world — designed by Italian artist Elena Salmistraro in honor of Disney’s 100th anniversary.

Amanda Watson, chair of the event and rep for Steinway Piano Gallery of Houston, welcomed the audience, setting the tone for an evening of artful giving. Then came Dr. Michael Yafi, co-chair and performer, who riffed on art history and the legendary Viennese surgeon-musician Billroth. A nod to the storied connection between music and medicine, his remarks underscored the tenor of the evening: Compassion, creativity, and care.

The performances were a blend of classical favorites — think Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff — with a dash of good-humored flair. There may have been a few lighthearted shenanigans (it’s not every day you hear a doctor sneak in a playful glissando mid-Rachmaninoff), but the audience loved it. These weren’t just notes on a page — they were love letters to both music and medicine.

Rounding out the evening was Dr. Kevin Lally, who offered insight into the cause behind the concert: The Burn Program in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. As the city’s only pediatric burn unit, it treats more than 400 children annually, provides $50,000 in free burn care supplies, and serves a community of 2.3 million.

Among the doctor performers were Neale Clark, Ryan Dickey, Natalie Drucker, Liliane Hay, Khashayar Hematpour, Maria Matuszczak, Aki Nishikawa, Marc Rhoads, Allison Speer, Tony Tran,and Pansy Tung, joined by guest performer Chaden Yafi, who teaches five of the participating doctors.

Courtesy of Doctors in Recital

Dr. Michael Yafi and Amanda Watson.

fundraisers doctors in recital