The Best of 2009

Just think about all the songs that use the word "party" in them. From Miley Cyrus and Kool and the Gang to Hank Williams, Jr. and Eddie Murphy, party is the word. Here in Music City, we live what we sing. We party 24/7. Recession? What recession? We didn't know there was a recession going on, 'cause we've been partying so hard!

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Once in a Blue Moon

Swan Ball

Library Gala Patrons

Fest de Ville

Divas Nashvegas

Frist Gala

Ballet Ball

Library Gala

Artrageous

Authors in the Round

ASCAP Awards

Symphony Ball

Chukkers for Charity

Nashville Film Festival

Power of the Purse

Sunday in the Park

Seriously. Nashville will never be accused of having a dearth of parties. We've got charity balls, music award fêtes, private bashes, songwriter benefit nights, black-tie galas, white-tie events. The list is endless. Are valet-parker tips tax deductible? We hope so 'cause Nashville keeps those parkers hopping.

Back to the parties. After a whirlwind year of benefits, gatherings and social happenings, the results are in. We know the Best Parties of 2009—as voted on by our readers, along with some editorial guidance from the party professionals here at Nfocus. After all, we do hit several parties throughout the year, making us decent judges of what's hot and what's not. So read on. It's party time!

Hottest Party

Once in a Blue Moon

Okay, the secret's out. If you're looking for a good time for a good cause, look no further than Once in a Blue Moon, benefiting the Land Trust for Tennessee. If you can't have fun at this party, you have issues. Really. This year, co-chairs Beth Alexander and Brooks Mathews drew in a record crowd, with more than 700 people showing up at Glen Leven for Dani Kates' down-home meal, music, dancing, singing, camaraderie, and a bonfire. It's everything that the Hottest Party in Nashville should be. And if you say you don't like crowds or being confined (after all, 700 people is a hefty group), just remember the cause—saving the land! Which means, the LandTrust spreads everyone out so folks have room to breathe. Top that off with a blue-jean dress code, and, my friends, we have us a winner.

Honorable Mentions: Divas Nashvegas, Fest de Ville, Chukkers

Divas for the Oasis Center—when the Judds take the stage, everyone is on their feet, singing, crying, laughing. Yep—they are that good.

Fest de Ville—Leave it to TPAC to work a theme through every fiber of an event. And the play, Wicked, certainly gave them some great material for their gala. Two enthusiastic and spirited co-chairs Renée Chevalier and Robin Glover, dressed for the part and were surrounded by props such as Flying Monkeys, broomsticks and ruby slippers. Much, much fun.

Chukkers—We had to include this. Yes, it was fun, but more importantly, it was hot. And we mean not only were the polo players hot, but they were drenched in sweat, too.

Best First-Time Event

Top 30 under 30 for Cystic Fibrosis

Another homerun. It takes guts to reinvent a successful fundraiser like the popular Toucan party, but the mighty minds at CF came up with an even better, more fun and productive way to raise funds. They named 30 upcoming philanthropists to honor under the age of 30 (very smart, getting the young folks involved) and celebrated them with an über cool soirée at the Icon in the Gulch. In fact, we may have to get some younger folks to cover this—cause we felt a little square among all these hot, young hipsters.

Best Revamped Party

TIE: Night of Jade and Sparkle and Twang

A Night of Jade came in at the top due to its shifting locales to the Loveless Barn, where this crowd obviously enjoyed dressing down and getting down to support the Jade Pasley Fund at Vanderbilt. What a good time.

And Sparkle and Twang, which also moved out to the Loveless Barn, had folks going all out in their glittery cowboy finest for a helluva shindig.

Best Just Plain Fun

Divas Nashvegas

Divas Nashvegas takes the title with Wy, Naomi and Kenny Rodgers burning up the house, or barn, as it were. The Loveless Barn packed people in, and everyone got jiggy with it.

Honorable Mention: Once in a Blue Moon Blue Moon is quickly sneaking up on Divas for this award. Maybe it's the cause, maybe it's the laid-back nature of the event—whatever it is, it works.

Most Inspired Theme

TIE: Fest de Ville and Symphony Ball

Both parties worked their theme into every last breath of the events. Fest de Ville drew on Wicked, and the Symphony celebrated 25 years—the silver anniversary—with a shimmery, winter wonderland that reflected beautifully on everyone and everything.

Most Inspired Co-Chairs

The list is long. We got oodles of submissions. Perian Strang and Dara Dickson, Beth Alexander and Brooks Mathews, Dallas Wilt and Lisa Slipkovich, Frances Spradley and Kathy Thomas, Renée Chevalier and Robin Glover, Lynn Rhett and Jennie McCabe, Jean Ann Banker and Barbara Haugen. How does one really choose?

Best Party Favors

Stephanie Maxwell's Spa-rty

Leave it to Stephanie to have the best swag bags in town. No girl in her right mind would turn down all the lovely beauty treats she stuffs in the give aways. Stephanie—Nashville's Queen of Swag.

Most Creative Invitation