KTRK Channel 13 veteran news anchor Dave Ward is on a roll just a week before he receives the Lifetime Achievement in Broadcast Emmy presented by the Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. (He's anchored the nightly news in Houston for a whopping 45 years.)

On Tuesday, he was in New York to interview Regis Philbin, who is retiring from LIVE! With Regis and Kelly on Nov. 18. This coming Monday, he's off to Washington for a one-on-one interview Tuesday with President Barack Obama on issues ranging from the presidential campaign to oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

The 72-year-old broadcaster will be back in Houston in time for the Nov. 5 Lone Star Emmy presentations, which will take place at Warehouse Live.

For the first time in 15 years, Dave will miss the Houston Children's Charity gala, which is the same night. Dave has regularly served as emcee of the evening that benefits HCC of which his wife, Laura S. Ward, is executive director.

Belly dancing, anyone?

Amazing that with a weekend full of Halloween parties on tap and a zillion charity benefits on the calendar, the birthday girls have been kicking up their heels as if their dance cards were empty. Of the three recent birthday bashes on our radar, probably none could top that of Yasmine Haddad, who celebrated her 40th with 95 girlfriends and a duo of gyrating belly dancers.

Yasmine took over Café Byblos for the bash that featured an authentic Lebanese luncheon prepared by Chef Wasfi. While they sampled an array of Middle Eastern specialties, local musician Jabbour performed popular Arabic songs and belly dancers jiggled. (That's right, both the chef and singer go by single names only.)

The highlight of the luncheon was the belly dancing instruction which saw guests such as Mehrnaz Gill, Joann Crassas, Astrid Van Dyke, Miriam Habib and Karina Barbieri on their feet attempting the stomach rolls and other seductive gyrations. Adding to the birthday buzz were Rosemarie Johnson, Nidhiki Mehta, Neda Ladjevardian and Eva Fahra.

Birthday power play

On a more mindful celebratory note, State Rep. Carol Alvarado decided at the last-minute on a throw-down birthday bash for herself on Wednesday. She invited guests to the private room at Ibiza where the political gossip flowed as freely as the birthday wishes.

More than two dozen friends turned out, including State Sen. Mario Gallegos, City Controller Ron Green, City Councilman James Rodriguez, lobbyist Giovani Garibay, County Commissioner Jack Morman's chief of staff Dave Walden, the Clifford Group's Cindy Clifford, University of Houston regent Jacob Monty and Channel 13 news whiz Miya Shay with her dashing steady Assistant District Attorney Gene Wu.

Taking over Max's Wine Dive

Champagne and comfort food — that was the ticket for the two dozen gals who gathered in the back of Max's Wine Dive on Tuesday night to celebrate the birthdays of Jean Radelat and Vanessa Sendukas.

It was a rocking party that took an upward turn when a guitar-toting stranger ambled over for an impromptu serenade.

Among the ladies picking up their party favor cupcakes before calling it a night were Kelli Fondren, Tracey Peddle, Denise Bush Bahr, Honey Waters, Kari Parsons, Cathy Cagle, Rosemary Schatzman, Julie Brown and more.

Holidays already?

Well, with Christmas lights and snowflakes already decorating River Oaks Shopping Center and Highland Village, no need to hold back the "holiday" partying. Such was the case when Fleming's operating partner Sam Governale welcomed a host of Houston Ballet's Demi-Patrons (those who contribute $1,500 annually) to a holiday season kick-off.

Who better to lead the charge than Sharon Erskine, who chairs the upcoming Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market? She was joined by ballet managing director C.C. Conner and director of individual giving and special events Patsy Chapman.

In the festive party mix were Don Erskine, Scott Chapman, Tua and Brian Burke, Ron Juway, Cynthia Christ and Stephen Strum, Gaylon and Don Gullquist, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, Denise and Sam Malone and Gayle and Robert Rosales.

Sight 'ems

Diane Connally celebrating her birthday at DaMarco where Melinda Berkman hosted a small table of friends that included Patsy Fourticq, Karen Johnson, Karen Mayell and Sheridan Williams. In the main dining room Laura Casey Greenberg and Milton Townsend swooned over the white truffles and pasta . . .

Mayor Annise Parker lunching at downtown South American Samba Grille after casting her early vote for mayor. She and her two guests were seen deep in conversation, stopping briefly every now and then to grab bites from the menu's executive lunch.