Store openings can be tricky. Fortunately, Janet Kurtz was in charge and she knows how to throw a party! Q Clothier and Rye 51 is a dual concept store that opened in the Gulch, taking a prominent location in the Thompson Hotel. Guests/customers enjoy a customized, one on one styling experience – Q Clothier offers luxury, custom men’s clothing and Rye 51 is the ready-to-wear casual counterpart. I hosted a small pre-party a few weeks prior so I was already familiar with the merchandise – the fabrics are wonderful, I love the design and styling as well as all of the customizable options. The grand opening was incredible. I went with Tribe Talent’s founder/director, Sherry Rhine-Padilla and New Faces director, Charika White. The store did a great job with the James Bond meets Johnny Cash inspiration. There was a selection of cigars which were smoked outside, a full bar with attentive bartenders that never allowed your glass to be empty for too long and a massive charcuterie display. One of the first people I saw was Janet who was slaying it in a fitted red dress and black laser cutout leather Alexander McQueen booties. She introduced me to founder, Raja Ratan. He had heard about the successful pre-party I hosted and was pleased, as he was with the huge turnout for the grand opening and how well it was going. Immediately after I ran into Randall Roop and we both lamented a bit that neither of us had been very involved with Nashville PRIDE since rolling off the board. Dee Patel was there. Had to gush over Conservancy Gala again. It was AMAZING!!! Jeannette Barker was there. I am excited that she and Janet are co-chairing Broadway Brunch this year. Jennifer Frist was there with her husband Billy. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to chat with her. I did get to chat with Jenny Jackson. We were like passing ships at an event over the holidays at King Jewelers so the last time I saw her was in the fall for Your Williamson Magazine’s 10th anniversary celebration. Nashville’s busiest printer, Rick Ryan took a break from Jive! and attended. He tried to put me to work and was almost successful. The queen of corporate interior design, Marjorie Feltus was there. It was fun to catch up a little, we hadn’t seen each other since Nashville Wine Auction’s l’Ete de Vin in 2019. Their new director, Loren Chumley was there.  I really loved seeing Fletcher Foster. I hadn’t seen him in quite some time, but we didn’t get to catch up because he introduced me to Mitchell Solarek. Mitchell now manages Christian recording artists, but he used to own the biggest modeling agency in San Francisco. We spent quite a bit of time talking about the models we knew – the girls I worked with in San Francisco that he booked when I was there. And just when we started to talk about all of the runway superstars we knew, Alexa Lipman walked in, who I always love seeing. Donald Walters and Kelly Breckenridge have been doing a great job at the store. I am looking forward to coming back. A huge congratulations to the team at Q Clothier and Rye 51 as well as to Janet Kurtz. Thank you for all of the fun! I can’t think of a better way to start the new year!