a day for notte

Lovely ladies lunch in chic tease party for Houston's hottest men's fashion show

Lisa Zadok, Dominique Sachse, and Amy Zadok

Photo by Quy Tran

As social scene-savvy Houstonians know, one men’s runway romp rules them all when it comes to gentlemen’s fashion events: “Una Notte in Italia.” For 26 years, the gala/runway show has been the soiree to catch sports celebs (think J.J. Watt, Lance McCullers, Jr., and more) and handsome Houston power players strut their stuff in front of a totally rowdy crowd.

But recently, it was local ladies who headlined an Una Notte event, the brainchild of power couple Debbie Festari and her husband Rudy — owners of Festari for Men — at a pre-celebration ahead of the November 4 affair at Omni Houston. More than 500 are expected to attend the bash chaired Dr. Alice Mao Brams and Stacey Lindseth. Houston celeb Dominque Sachse will return to co-emcee.

Dr. Alice Mao Brams, luncheon co-chair Courtney Hopson, and Stacey LindsethPhoto by Quy Tran

In news that will certainly shock many, this year’s Una Notte Gala will be the last, Debbie and her handsome husband Rudy revealed.

Brigitte Kalai and Anne AyrePhoto by Quy Tran

Debbie Festari and Amy ZadokPhoto by Quy Tran

Back to those lovely ladies: Some of Houston’s most elegant hit Zadok Jewelers’s posh palace for Una Notte’s Ladies Kickoff Luncheon. Co-chair Courtney Hopson (she joins Melissa Mithoff as co-chair this year) and honorary chair Debbie Festari welcomed 40 women, who included top sponsors and spouses of this year’s participating male models.

Mason Clark and Danielle NemiroffPhoto by Quy Tran

Guests sipped bubbly and champagne at the event that started in the sleek cocktail lounge (crafted by noted interior designer, Nina Magon), then it was on to an Italian lunch courtesy of Tony Gutierrez of Monarch Hospitality Group.

Dr. Sippi Khurana and Marla HurleyPhoto by Quy Tran

Debbie Festari then introduced Devika Kornbacher, a former president and current board Member of Children at Risk, this year’s nonprofit beneficiary of the event. Kornbacher shared her group’s mission to battle the scourge of sex trafficking of children.

Felicia Stone, Amy Zadok and Devika Kornbacher Felicia Stone, Amy Zadok, and Devika KornbacherPhoto by Quy Tran

Fun came via some retail therapy, as the ladies shopped til they dropped; a big draw was jewelry was showcased by Phillips House, owned by family members Lisa Frankel and Danielle Nemiroff.

Michelle Reyna Wymes, Lauren Paine, and Crystal Del ToroPhoto by Quy Tran

While a tad bittersweet with the news of the final Una Notte, the day proved to be a fun tease of the red-hot event.

Naureen Malik, Rachel Bagwell, and Iraida BrownPhoto by Quy Tran

Lisa Zadok, Lisa Frankel, Helene Zadok, Danielle Nemiroff, and Amy ZadokPhoto by Quy Tran

hello, friends

Public memorials and services set for 'Houston's anchorman' Dave Ward

Photo courtesy of Dave Ward

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ABC13 anchor emeritus Dave Ward died on December 13 at age 86.

Members of the public are invited to pay their respects to the longtime newsman at visitations and funeral services this week. Plans include:

Wednesday, Dec. 17: Ward will lie in repose from 11 am-6 pm at the Crimestoppers of Houston Dave Ward Building, 3001 Main St., Houston, TX 77002.
Thursday, Dec. 18: Public visitation open to all at George H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors at 1010 Bering Dr., Houston, TX 77057 from 11 am-2 pm and 4-8 pm
Friday, Dec. 19: Funeral service open to the public at 12 pm at St. Martin's Episcopal Church at 717 Sage Rd., Houston, TX 77056.

ABC13 will carry the funeral live on television and streaming platforms.

For more than 50 years, Dave was Houston's anchorman. He began each newscast with his signature line, "Good evening, friends." That's how the legendary newsman felt about the viewers who shared his love for the city he was so proud to call his home.

His name was David Henry Ward, but he was known to thousands of Eyewitness News viewers simply as "Dave." Born in Dallas in 1939, Dave grew up in Huntsville and began his radio career with KGKB Radio in Tyler while attending college. Three years later, he joined the staff of WACO Radio as a staff announcer and quickly climbed to Program Director the following year.

Dave moved to Houston in 1962, where he worked for KNUZ Radio as a News Reporter and News Director for four years. He made the move to Channel 13 in 1966 as the station's only on-the-street news reporter and photographer, coming "inside" in early 1967 to anchor Channel 13's weekday 7 am. newscast.

Later that year, he became the first host of the wildly popular "Dialing for Dollars" program, which later evolved into "Good Morning Houston." Houston viewers flocked to see him and hear him, and by January 1968, Dave became the anchor of Eyewitness News at 6 and 10 pm.

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Read more about Dave Ward’s life and legacy, with video, on CultureMap's news partner, ABC13.com.

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