It was just as Mickey Rosmarin had envisioned — the party space in his swank new West Ave emporium brimming with fashionable ladies, lunching, chatting, swooning over the informal modeling and, of course, inspired to shop.

At the north end of the 300-foot-long catwalk that extends the full length of Tootsies, Mickey created a mirrored and marble space with floor-to-ceiling windows across the end, the ideal venue for birthday lunches, showers or any other excuse for the ladies to spend a good part of the day cosseted in the luxuries of the new store. Conveniently, a catering kitchen is located just around the corner.

Waiters in white jackets offering bubbly, white wine and sparkling water welcomed the sprinkling of CultureMap guests to the new Tootsies for this lunch with Mickey and moi, CultureMap editor-in-chief Clifford Pugh and store manager Fady Armanious.

Schmoozing through the grand space, several found themselves locked in rapture in the shoe salon. Lucinda Loya, Amy Lee and Melinda Berkman were quick to whip out those credit cards for more than one pair of Tootsies' fancy footwear. Karen Johnson and Clayton Erikson perused the jewelry department while the mother-daughter team of Laura Sweeney and Brittany Sakowitz explored the entire store, this their first visit.

Ever the accommodating host, Mickey arranged for the trunk shows from Alberta Ferretti and Moschino to be delivered to the story a day early so that these ladies could garner first look at the fall line. And the evening clothes were a hit with Lisa Holthouse and Karen Mayell, who remained after the luncheon to conduct some very serious shopping.

Sitting to a deliciously ladylike lunch from The Stone Kitchen were Sheridan Williams, Sharon Adams, Lora Clemmons, Isabel David, Lindsey Brown and Kelli Blanton.

Smokin' guns

If you weren't a talented marksman at the Greater Houston Gun Club on Saturday, no worries. For those not competing in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Fine Art of Shooting: A Sporting Clays Invitational, there were card games, shopping for the sportsman and rooting for a favorite team. Kim and Dan Tutcher chaired the 16th annual fundraiser.

The competition occupied the morning with activities concluding with a spectacular buffet lunch provided by Frankie B. Mandola Catering. For hefty appetites there was a range of dishes from avocados stuffed with crabmeat to grilled quail and to ribeye medallions and plenty of sides.

Receiving engraved crystal bowls for their winning marksmanship were Master Class Team Winner Mach Industrial, Men’s Master Class Champion Tim McGinty and Ladies’ Master Class Champion Sarita Hixon.

Rounding out the shooting contingent were MFAH board chair Cornelia Long and Meredith Long, MFAH interim director Gwen Goffe, Brenda Love and Ed Jones, Sten Gustafson, Scotty Arnoldy, Gaye and John Kelsey, Butch Mach, Harry Mach, John Poindexter, John Daugherty and Vence Petrenella.

Wearing a new hat

That would be Paul-David Van Atta, who recently left his post as director of catering at the Hilton Americas-Houston to hang his own shingle. With a wealth of creative talent that has won the hearts of many a gala chair, Van Atta has launched PDV Special Events.

With his door hardly open, the talented event planner already has a handful of clients signed on to take advantage of his skills in production, creativity and design of special events. His touch was apparent at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation gala Saturday night when the two chairs arrived astride longhorn steers for the "Denim, Diamonds & Dreams" themed evening.

Sakowitz auction

Items from the estate of the much-beloved Ann Sakowitz, matriarch of the retailing Sakowitz family and mother of Lynn Wyatt and Robert Sakowitz, will be offered at auction Wednesday by Lewis & Maese Auction Co.

In addition to several of her designer hats (Adolfo, a straw "boater" in its original Sakowitz hat), items under the gavel will include Limoges china, Sheffield plate serving pieces and flatware from England. Bidding begins at 6:30 p.m. at Lewis & Maese headquarters on Sabine Street.