Clay Walker Headlines Holiday Bash and Grand Re-Opening for Iconic Jewelry Store

Michelle Watson
Clay Walker Headlines Holiday Bash and Grand Re-Opening for Iconic Jewelry Store

Brooke McDonald and Haley Free Bordes

I W MARKS HAS been a Bellaire (and Houston) staple for more than four decades. This month, a festive fete toasted not only the holiday shopping season, but also a stunning renovation.


The jewelry store’s grand reopening party, hosted by owner Brad Marks and his beautiful wife Joanna, featured delicious bites by another H-Town icon, Tony’s restaurant — plus a soundtrack provided by none other than Texas country star Clay Walker, who sang some of his hits a cappella.

Hip-hop violinist and TikTok star Demola also performed as guests perused the baubles and bling while sipping cocktails that featured diamond-shaped cubes courtesy of Fat Ice. Cheers!

Clay Walker with Joanna and Brad Marks

Shaina Park and Adele Hartland

Demola

Nina and Edd Hendee

Mike and Susan Plank

Diamond-shaped ice by Fat Ice

Laura Michelle, Hannah McNair, Amy Haymond, Joanna Marks, Shaina Park, Alexandra Ochoa and Abigail Venegas

Custom Davidoff cigars

Jason Burgess, Brandy Burgess, Nicole Armistead and Jonathan Calton


Style
Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

Keep Reading Show less

Glenda and Russell Gordy and Alicia and Garrett Gordy (photo by Wilson Parish)

EVEN AS RODEO season winds down, the party people at the Stage Houston theater company were still donning boots and shouting yahoo — and taking in a record haul of $1.4 million!

Keep Reading Show less

Olivia Barboza, Wesley Gow and Audrey Gow

ONE OF THE lesser-known gems of Houston’s performing arts scene — the splendid, bold 4th Wall Theatre Company — threw its first-ever “Fête” gala fundraiser at the beautiful new Hotel Saint Augustine in Montrose, raking in $212,000 to support it artistic mission.

Keep Reading Show less