turned up for watt

J.J. Watt, wife Kealia, and his family and friends ring it in at Ben Berg's swanky supper club

Houston celebrated J.J. Watt’s triumphant homecoming this past weekend, as No. 99 was fittingly inducted into the Houston Texans Ring of Honor during the team’s 30-6 win Sunday, October 1 over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Watt donned the Texans red jacket during halftime, officially joining the late Houston Texans founder/owner/CEO Robert “Bob” McNair and NFL Hall of Fame nominee (and Watt’s former teammate) Andre Johnson.

“It feels like you’re at a family reunion and it feels like I’m back with all my family in a place that feels like home and I’m just loving it,” Watt told the packed NRG Stadium. “The fans have been great, the McNairs have been great, the whole organization has been really, really great and I'm just thankful to have my whole family here. My wife and my son are here, my parents are here, my brothers are here. It’s my mom’s birthday so it all kind of culminates into a great day today.”

Texans Chairman and CEO Cal McNair placed the jacket on Watt’s mountainous shoulders as Johnson, Watt’s family, and nearly 90 former Texans players cheered him on for his induction. Adding to the memorable day, Watt’s brother T.J., currently on track to be 2023’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year at very least, served as the Steelers opposite our Justin James as coin toss team captain.

The Watts and crew ring it in

While Houston showed up and out for Watt, where did No. 99 celebrate? He and his family and friends opted for Ben Berg’s famed, swanky speakeasy supper club, Turner’s.

The Berg connection comes from Watt’s retirement announcement dinner last year, where he and some close friends and teammates celebrated at B&B Butchers. “So the Texans reached out to us and asked if we could do a dinner at Turner’s for J.J. and his family,” Berg explains to CultureMap.

Watt posted photos on Instagram with his lovely wife Kealia sitting in his lap, he and his brothers Derek and T.J., mom Connie and dad John, and their close friends at Turner’s, which Berg closed for the private celebration.

“It’s a big honor,” Berg notes. “You know, when you create these spaces, the goal is to be a memorable part of people’s lives. And so the fact that we were chosen for him to celebrate with his family, loved ones, and his closest friends — for such a huge accomplishment and huge honor — was a big responsibility.”

What’s J.J. eating?

For the big bash, Berg and company crafted a special — and beefy — steak-stacked menu, with special treats for Connie, who was celebrating her birthday — and her son’s big day. While Berg and the staff didn’t create specific themed items — like, say, the Onion Rings of Honor that Trill Burgers fried up for the weekend — “we made sure we brought over some of his favorite dishes from B&B,” says Berg.

Those dishes included the A5 Japanese Wagyu Katsu Sando, the always popular Carpet Bagger on the Half Shell, Chef Tommy’s Bacon slabs (served with blue cheese and truffle-infused honey), and more of No. 99’s favorites. Other items included buttermilk fried quail, Maine lobster gnocchi, and a feast of sides like mac and cheese casserole. Sweet finishes included a signature triple chocolate layer cake, a walnut caramel tart, and the Berry Butter Cake from B&B.

Though we’d have imagined tearing up a Porterhouse or massive ribeye, Berg reports that Watt ordered the Wagyu Filet Rossini (decadently dressed up with foie gras and spinach truffle jus) and the IYKYK classic Turner’s Wedge salad.

Speaking of orders, partiers ordered up some song requests from Turner’s resident vocalist and pianist Thomas Cokinos, who’s always on fire at the supper club, but really turned up for Watt. No. 99, an ol’ softie, requested Beatles classic “Here Comes the Sun” for Kealia (also writing “I love you” on the ticket — well played, J.J.), while others opted for tracks by country stars Zack Brown and Morgan Wallen.

Derek Watt requested Lil’ John’s “Get Low” with a shout out to his two brothers, leaving us disappointed that nobody asked for “99 Problems” in honor of J.J. (Next time, gents).

Ryan Reynolds + J.J. = goals

J.J. Watt Turner's Houston songs family friends Hey J.J., something you wanna share with the rest of us? Photo by Thomas Cokinos

Our favorite shout out? One “Ryan Reynolds” requested the bro singalong classic “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling” by the Righteous Brothers. Watt fans will recall that he buddied up with the handsome Canadian actor and soccer fan and backer when he and Kealia announced their investment in UK football side Burnley FC. (Kealia also seems to be a big fan of Reynolds, as we reported in May).

Berg made sure to let Watt and Co. enjoy themselves until late, but also made sure to stop by and greet his VIP guests. “I wanted to say hello and thank you; it was really an intimate affair for him, his family, his brothers, and really close friends,” says Berg.

“J.J. is just a super nice guy and just super down to earth,” Berg adds. “And, you know, he’s really big.”

J.J. Watt/Instagram

Hometown hero J.J. Watt and his wife Kealia pose at the Turner's party.

Picnic Chic

Houston toasts nature and leadership at Memorial Park’s annual gala

Photo by Jenny Antil

Chris Ballard, Nancy and Rich Kinder, and Shellye Arnold.

There are gala nights and then there are nights when the trees themselves seem to raise a glass.

On a picture-perfect evening in April, nearly 350 supporters of Memorial Park Conservancy gathered beneath the native canopy of the Clay Family Eastern Glades for The Park Ball, an annual celebration of one of Houston’s greatest natural treasures.

Helping to orchestrate the evening’s blend of elegance and ecology was a roster of event chairs: Julie and Casey Doherty, Betsy and John Garibaldi, Gayle and Richard Hightower, Tammy and Steven Jenkins, Linda Lorelle and Lou Gregory, Gary Moss, Amy and Adam Newar, Carrie and Al Pepi, Carol and John Porter, and Anita and Gerald Smith.

This year’s theme, picnic-chic, was a love letter to the land, a heartfelt homage to the winding trails, sprawling green spaces, and sun-dappled prairies that define Memorial Park’s 1,100 acres. It was also a moment to reflect and to cheer as guests honored Shellye Arnold for more than a decade of leadership and welcomed Chris Ballard as the Conservancy’s newly named president and CEO.

It was springtime, elevated, and distinctly Houston.

Under Shellye Arnold’s guidance, Memorial Park transformed from a beloved local green space into a nationally recognized model of urban parkland — balancing ecological restoration with accessibility and beauty. Her departure was bittersweet, but the love in the air was undeniable. A proclamation from Houston City Councilmember Abbie Kamin officially declared April 10 as Shellye Arnold Day, applauding her tireless work in cultivating a park that serves both people and planet.

The evening flourished with the smooth sounds of the David Caceres Jazz Quintet, whose melodies floated through the canopy as guests strolled the illuminated paths or lingered beneath chandeliers that seemed to twinkle in time.

The night was also a fundraiser, of course — and a successful one. The Park Ball brought in a cool $750,000, every dollar of which will support the everyday magic of Memorial Park: Maintaining the native prairie grasses, protecting wildlife habitats, and ensuring this urban oasis remains a place of escape and exploration for generations of Houstonians.

In the crowd were Chris and Aubrey Ballard, Nancy and Rich Kinder, Veronica Chapa Gorczynski and John Gorczynski, Giles and Andrea Kibbe, Roxann and Tim Neumann, Rogene Gee Calvert, Emily Clay and Bill Schneidau, Kalinda Campbell, Kevin Foyle, Lissa and Farzanah Gangjee, Lisa Helfman, Elizabeth and Tom Howley, George Johnston and Jaime Loera, Chris Newport, Annise Parker, and Dhiren and Anila Shethia.

Photo by Jenny Antil

Chris Ballard, Nancy and Rich Kinder, and Shellye Arnold.

memorial park fundraisers