Capri Comes To Houston With an Island Party Worthy Of the Mediterranean — All Things Italian Celebrated La Dolce Vita

Storied Boots and Restaurant Families Take Center Stage With a Soccer Guru

By Shelby Hodge // Oct 28, 2026

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Zinat Ahmed, Sheere Frede join in the limoncello toast at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Roz Pactor, Candace Thomas, Donae Chramosta, Rachel Regan, Brittany Rose Wetterer, Chiara Casiraghi at'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Rosalyn Bazzelle Mitchell, Valerie Dieterich. Ann Ayre at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Gina Erwin, Lisa Holthouse at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Andrea Chiapuzzo, Stephanie Perkins at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Anne Carl, Christy Sullivan at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Ashley Kearney, Courtney Zavala at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Zinat Ahmed, Brittany Rose Wetterer, Donae Chramosta, Heidi Turney, Heather Almond at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Beth Muecke at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Michelle Reyna, Rachel Bagwell at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Honored family members Johnny Mandola, Luke Mandola, Michael Mandola, Dominic Mandola at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Brittany Rose Wetterer, Chiara Casiraghi at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Tamborines fill tabletops at the 'La Dolce Vita' luncheon

Margaret Bannon, Kimberly Gattis, Allison Gattis, Diane DiPuma, Rosalyn Ingenthron, Camille Mosior, Emily DiPuma, Deann Decker at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

MaryLu Garza, Charity Yarborough, Leila Perrin at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Nina Rand, Dr. Mikenah, Joy Vega, Candace Thomas at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Ally Shell, Tiffany Halik at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Stacey Lindseth, Jacquie Baly at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Patti Murphy, Camille Valente, Rachel Regan, Saula Valente at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Rachel Regan, Erika Myers, Donae Cangelosi Chramosta at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Crystin Pactor, Roz & Alan Pactor at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Honorees Sal Maida IV, Sal Maida Jr., Vince Maida at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Sandra Porter, Lu Caltagirone, Debbie Aspromonte Simon at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Lauren Fisher, Shari Koziol, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

Runway model from Saks Fifth Avenue at 'La Dolce Vita in Capri'

It might have been October, but the stylish crowd packing River Oaks Country Club ballroom took the Italian Cultural & Community Center’s “La Dolce Vita in Capri” luncheon theme to heart. The spring florals, the lemon-embellished prints and the sundresses all spoke to the swishy island motif.

Co-chair Donae Cangelosi Chromasta had picked up her stunning Mediterranean-inspired outfit on the island during the summer while co-chair Rachel Regan suited up in deep ocean blue.

There were those, however, who relied on the calendar rather than the theme in their wardrobe choices creating a visual whiplash from spring to fall and back again.

Michelle Reyna, Rachel Bagwell at ‘La Dolce Vita in Capri’

The midday festa celebrated all things Italian including fashion, dance, music, food and wine, with a limoncello toast finale. Saks Fifth Avenue provided the parade of designs from Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Alberta Ferretti, Valentino and more. Uptown Dance Center invigorated the luncheon throng with its dance moves while the country club delivered on the Italian-themed luncheon food.

“My grandfather immigrated from Sicily through Ellis Island and eventually settled in College Station, where he became a leather craftsman and made the first bridle for (Texas A&M’s) Reveille,” Chromasta tells PaperCity. “My father carried that appreciation for craftsmanship into our family’s marble business. It was especially meaningful to celebrate the Maida family’s leather heritage and the traditions passed down through generations.”

Houston-based Maida’s is the oldest family owned and continuously operating boot and shoe company in the country, still using the time-honored techniques in boot making that it did 100 years ago. Representing the family were Sal Maida IV, Sal Maida Jr. and Vince Maida. Founder John Laureto Maida immigrated from Sicily in 1901, landing in Houston several years later. Today the business includes Maida’s Bespoke Boots & Shoes and Maida’s Belts & Buckles

Baobab Classique Scented Candles

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Honorees Sal Maida IV, Sal Maida Jr., Vince Maida at ‘La Dolce Vita in Capri’

The prolific restaurant Mandola family was also honored with Johnny, Luke, Michael and Dominic Mandola in the spotlight. Michael Mandola shared his family’s history and named the dozen-plus Italian and handful of Cajun restaurants that have been in the family through the decades.

In a nod to the “then and now” focus of the theme, the event also honored Chris Canetti, who served as president of FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston host committee. The former president of Houston Dynamo and Dash is as big a figure as ever in Houston’s soccer world.

Funds raised at the event, in addition to supporting the center, will provide scholarships to study abroad.

Roz Pactor, Candace Thomas, Donae Chramosta, Rachel Regan, Brittany Rose Wetterer, Chiara Casiraghi at’La Dolce Vita in Capri’

PC Seen: Kim Moody, Anne Carl, Stephanie Perkins, Zinat Ahmed, Saula Valente, Amy Pierce, Ann Ayre, Valerie Dieterich, Pam Lovett, Debbie Festari, Laura Davenport, Paulina Padilla, Katie Tsuru, Chris Goins, Sandra Porter, Sidney Faust, Beth Wolff, Sippi Khurana, Anita Segal, Beth Muecke, Elsie Eckert, Leisha Elsenbrook, Leisa Holland Nelson, Saula Valente, Brittany Ros Wetterer, Chiara Casiraghi Brody and Sheree Frede.