CityBook One Year Anniversary Party
CityBook toasts one year with a fabulous garden-chic fete at McGovern Centennial Gardens!
Nov. 11, 2017
For someone who has never heard of Jentry Kelley or Jentry Kelley Cosmetics, what is your elevator pitch? Simple, clean, no fuss skincare and makeup. If you want clean, yet easy to use, and you are not a self-proclaimed makeup artist, this brand is for you. We are education-focused. When you have the confidence to do it on your own and tools to make it look right, you can look and feel your best every day when you head out to take over the world.
How did you land in the world of cosmetics? Was the world of beauty always your passion? Actually, I climbed trees and caught frogs as a child! When I was 14, my mom sent me to Page Parkes modeling school and I learned the art of makeup application. I had always been an artist with a canvas, but this time the canvas was my face — and I felt pretty for the first time in my life. Fast foward, I started working at a makeup counter at Neiman Marcus during college and over the course of 11 years I met some amazingly supportive people, and Jentry Kelley Cosmetics was born.
How did you go from working behind the counter at a department store to having a self-titled cosmetics line in branded brick-and-mortar retail locations? A quick mention from a friend that I should create my own line, an American Express Card, and an appetite for success. All the way back to when I was a child, I knew I would own a business one day. In 2011, I charged $35,000 my AMEX card. It was a huge leap, but I knew if I gave every ounce of me, it would be a success. Eight months later, I landed my first retail store, and three years later I was selling to 17 retail locations. Today, I have two brick-and-mortar stores, and just expanded our flagship location by another 5,000 square feet.
Who inspires you? Over the 11 years I spent at Neiman’s I worked for both Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier. Hearing the story of how Bobbi was an artist just like I was, was inspiration and motivation. Later, I landed a counter manager position at Laura Mercier. I started just a few years after Janet Gurwitch sold had to Alticor. Janet would pop in and buy gifts for her friends, and I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting during her visits. Over the years, we have stayed in contact, and it absolutely amazes me to watch the brands she acquires and builds to become strong, well-established household names.
What is next for the brand? Any new ventures? For the first time ever, I am dabbling in fragrance and body products. This is an extremely competitive market, but always something I’ve wanted to do. Again, another leap of faith and an accidental meeting started it all. Our fragrances will have notes of leather and citrus, but also a very clean aroma. I was inspired by Le Labo and Acqua di Parma. We are nearing formulation completeness and so close to the next big move for the company and I cannot wait.
SOON WE WILL be thinking about alfresco dining, taking our kids or pups to the park, and generally being outdoors in crisper weather. Enter Hearsay, the new oasis in Levy Park, which replaces the shuttered Woodshed Smokehouse.
At this family-friendly gathering spot from Landmark Houston Hospitality Group, guests can linger on the lovely patio with park views while kids devour soft-serve ice cream (your furry friends are invited, too). The glossy, wood-paved space, which dangles with multiple chandeliers, is huge, with lots of elbow room — and a separate bar, which stays open until midnight on the weekends. Dishing up eclectic American cuisine, this is the seventh Houston-area location from the restaurant group.
“We chose Levy Park for its rich history, aiming to honor Hearsay’s legacy, which began with our first restaurant in the historic W.L. Foley building in 2008,” said Joseph Natale, CEO of Hearsay. “Hearsay Levy Park marks our brand’s evolution. It features elevated design elements, and our largest bar with views, high ceilings, and garage doors that open outdoors. We’ve also included two private dining rooms, expanded our culinary menu, and our diverse selection of handcrafted cocktails.”
Chef Carlos Bautista’s vast lunch, brunch and dinner menus offer shareable plates like the charcuterie board and the spicy Kung Pao shrimp and calamari. Anticipate about ten handmade pizzas, as well as salads, burgers, tacos, and a Chicago-style hot dog. Main plates range from an espresso-rubbed pork chop and beef short-rib braised in Shiner Bock with cheddar-cheese grits, to crab-crusted redfish with red-pepper coulis.
Vegetarians are not left out of the fun: Choose from the plant-based burger, pesto pasta primavera, and watermelon "poke" tostados. Besides cocktails, mocktails, wine and beer to sip, specially priced Houston Restaurant Weeks multi-course menus are on tap through September!
JUST IN TIME for a long weekend — and a teeny reprieve from triple-digit temps — Hermann Park Conservancy has announced it will offer free train rides from Aug. 31-Sept. 6 to celebrate a pair of new locomotives.
For the first time, the historic Hermann Park Railroad has an electric train — make that two! “The introduction of the electric trains to the Park represents a leap forward in our commitment to environmental stewardship and visitor experience,” said Conservancy president and CEO Cara Lambright. “We are deeply grateful to ExxonMobil and the McGovern Foundation for their generous support, which not only preserves but elevates the Hermann Park Railroad as a premier attraction for visitors of all ages.”
Each of the major donors named a train: The ExxonMobil Express and the Dr. Jack Express, modeled after 1863 C.P. Hunting locomotives, begin servicing passengers tomorrow, Aug. 31. Dr. Jack is a tip of the hat to John P. McGovern, one of the park's biggest stewards; the train that began service in 2008 is also named the Dr. Jack Express.
The scenic railroad loop at Hermann Park has been a popular attraction for almost 70 years, and brings in an estimated $1.2 million each year, with funds going right back into park maintenance and improvements.
The Hermann Park Railroad has been a beloved Houston attraction for nearly 70 years. Since the Conservancy took over its operations in March 2008, more than 5 million riders have experienced a scenic loop around the Park. In addition to providing a unique visitor experience in the Park, Railroad operations bring in more than $1.2 million annually to support the Conservancy’s mission to maintain and improve Hermann Park. The new Commons, with an epic playground, splashpad and carousel, is a must-see — so hop on a train asap!