• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    Runway Hits

    Male call

    Clifford Pugh
    Nov 11, 2009 | 11:26 am
    News_Una Notte in Italia Nov. 2009_Darryl Hamilton
    Darryl Hamilton
    Daniel Ortiz

    A few years ago, Family Services of Greater Houston hit on a good idea for its annual "Una Notte in Italia" fundraiser: A fashion show featuring male celebrity models.

    It was a big hit and has been ever since. So why mess with a good thing?

    Wisely, organizers kept what works, with a rollicking fashion show Saturday night at the InterContinental hotel featuring a hit parade of Houston men in sharp suits from Festari for Men.

    Debbie Festari, the evening's honorary chairwoman, and Bob Boudreaux kept a running commentary as the men worked the runway -- some more confidently than others.

    Among the naturals: Jeweler Franco Valobra twirled strands of pearls and threw several to his favorites in the audience; ballroom dancing champion Lester Smith shed his jacket and did a lively salsa down the runway; Domenico Luciano, principal dancer for Dominic Walsh Dance Theatre, performed a few Michael Jackson moves.

    The audience of 500 whooped and hollered for their favorites. Several were showered with money and silly string.

    At the end, the disco hit, "It's Raining Men" blared on the stereo system as Meredith Cullen, Inaki Orozco, Humberto Quintero, Monsour Taghdisi, Christoper Mendel, Sten Gustafson, Dr. Michael Brown, Charles Reimer and other models made one last runway walk to wild applause. Afterwards the balroom was transformed into a late night disco and tequila bar.

    Seen in the crowd: Milletteand Haag Sherman, Melissa and Michael Mithoff, Courtney and Bo Hopson, Ericka and Jeff Bagwell, Suzanne and Paul Getty, and Veronica and Michael Roa.

    Co-chairs Rachel Brown and Robin Reimer were thrilled that the event raised more than $350,000.

    From left, Rachel Brown, co-chair; Debbie Festari, honorary chair; and Robin Reimer, co-chair

    News_Una Notte in Italia Nov. 2009_Rachel Brown_Debbie Festari_Robin Reimer
      
    Daniel Ortiz
    From left, Rachel Brown, co-chair; Debbie Festari, honorary chair; and Robin Reimer, co-chair
    unspecified
    news/society
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Houston intel delivered daily.

    Pink Warriors

    Research and resilience shine at Komen’s annual Houston luncheon

    Joel Luks
    Apr 25, 2025 | 9:30 am
    Susan G. Komen Tickled Pink luncheon 2025
    Photo by Jacob Power
    Allison Honer, Alison Lock, Ashley Cairns, Varshini Mohan, and Laura Leonard.

    It was an afternoon of purpose and pink as Susan G. Komen hosted its Fourth Annual More Than Pink Luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston on March 20. With 100-plus supporters gathered downtown, the event brought together breast cancer advocates, survivors, and scientists over lunch, cocktails, and a lively silent auction in pursuit of breast health equity for all.

    This year’s honoree, Anne Meyn, was celebrated for her commitment to Komen’s mission and her work across the organization’s advocacy and research. A Komen Scholar and survivor herself, Meyn received recognition for mentoring the next generation of advocates and investigators.

    Adding gravitas to the gathering was keynote speaker Dr. Abenaa Brewster, also a Komen Scholar and professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center, who moved the room with insight into how research and community investment are saving lives and shifting disparities.

    With a committee powered by Jane Marmion, Dorothy Paterson, Kelly Hunt, Nadine Eidman, Elda Garcia-Ditta, and Cindy and Roger Masek, the event raised more than $30,000 for the cause. People in the pink mix included Fran and Frances Ditta, Jessica Epps, Rosette Nije, Kari Wallace, Allison Horner, and Stephen Marmion.

    Susan G. Komen Tickled Pink luncheon 2025
      

    Photo by Jacob Power

    Allison Honer, Alison Lock, Ashley Cairns, Varshini Mohan, and Laura Leonard.

    news/society
    Loading...