The Best of 2009

Who rocked our world?

Published On: February 01, 2010

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!

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

ASCAP Awards

Leave it to the music industry folks to come up with the coolest invite. That makes sense, actually, since nonprofits aren't keen on shelling out bucks for stationary that takes dollars from their cause—it's a very tricky line these folks walk when planning an upscale event. But ASCAP, hey—it's for profit and thus justified in sending out the grooviest invite we've seen in years.

Coolest Decorations

The Symphony Ball

While just may have been the prettiest, Symphony Ball gets the nod for the coolest, considering they actually made it snow! Tha,t plus the incredible sequined velvet white tables, the matching snowball dessert and Perian Strang's and Dara Dickson's metallic gowns—everything went together beautifully. You can't make the Schermerhorn look anything short of stunning.

Prettiest Decorations

TIE: Frist Gala and Ballet Ball

Just as the Schermerhorn is the perfect foundation for a striking event, the Frist gave decorators an excellent platform to work from—the works of Georgia O'Keeffe. Joe Smith and his Ilex crew created their works of art on each table with vivid turquoise and stones, echoing some of Georgia's most memorable pieces. Wow. Brilliant. And the Ballet Ball's beautiful lighting, festive tables, gorgeous dancers and life-size cutouts of former chairs were inspired.

Best Overall Menu

Steeplechase Iroquois Club

Okay, it's pretty much the same every year, but it's hard to beat Dani Kates' cheese dreams, little tomato sandwiches, tenderloin—oh, and don't forget the Nutty Buddies they pass out towards the end of the day. omething for everyone in this tent.

Irresistible Hors d'Oeuvres

Symphony Ball Patrons Party

Folks almost bypassed dinner at the Symphony Patrons party where loads of luscious Greek nibbles were passed throughout the evening.

Most Creative Dessert

Mad Hatter

People couldn't stop oohing and aahing over the creative Limoncello dreamsicles at the benefit for The Sexual Assault Center.

Honorable Mention: Artrageous Nashville Cares' fundrainser celebrated all things chocolate and sugary sweet in 2009 with its Willy Wonka theme. Next time though, we need to take it easier on those chocolate martinis!

Best New Venue

The Loveless Barn

No questions asked here. People like going casual, and the barn mandates a laid-back cool dresscode.

Honorable Mentions:

St. David's Episcopal Church and Sweet CeCe's

St. David's Episcopal Church—When we saw the catwalk down the aisle and the models strutting their stuff (including the Bishop's wife!) at the Mekong Blue fashion show, we knew there was serious inspiration behind this whole operation.

Sweet CeCe's—In case you haven't noticed, there is a party at Sweet CeCe's yogurt shop in the Hill Center every single day. There's a party when Ensworth gets out, when moms pick up their little ones from St. George's, when the bell rings at St. Cecilia's and so on. You get the drift? It's the hot new party spot.

Overlooked Potential Chairman

Beth Seigenthaler Courtney, Rachel Anderson, Chad Blackburn, Sinclair Kelly, Jayne Bubis, Jane Conea, Wendall Lowe, Ann Maradik, Sarah Keith Maxcy, Diana Day-Cartee, Todd Bottorff, Josh Anderson, Brooke Reusch, Beth Knott, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Bill Forrester.

Best Entertainment

Library Gala Patrons Party

The Library Gala Patrons Party at Margaret Ann Robinson's home basically brought Meet the Press to Nashville. John Seigenthaler interviewed Doris Kearns Goodwin, the recipient of the Literary Award, in that intimate, charming way that only he can.

Honorable Mentions: Adventure Science Center, Swan Ball, Authors in the Round

Adventure Science Center—yes, the actual building. Everyone loves channeling their inner child, and that's exactly what folks got to do at The Caper and all the other events that take place there. The building itself is entertainment.

Big Swing and the Ballroom Busters—Swan Ball co-chairs Frances Spradley and Kathy Thomas discovered this Atlanta-based band that rocked Cheekwood to its core. The singers, the horns—absolutely glorious.

Authors in the Round—We love this event. With a renowned author at each dinner table, how could you be anything but entertained?

Best Day-Time Event

Sunday in the Park

Everyone loves this event which celebrates our parks and nature's splendor. Ladies pull out their favorite fall hats, and fellows get gussied up for lunch outside in the park.

Best Women's Event

TIE: Women Against MS Luncheon and Power of the Purse

The Women Against MS Luncheon's fabulous guest speaker, Wendy Booker, motivated all of us to climb mountains. And Jane Pauley—wow, she's one cool cat. She mesmerized the gigantic audience at Power of the Purse.

Most Unusual Sight

Jeff Fisher in a Peyton Manning jersey at Rocketown; Flying monkeys at Fest de Ville; a roasting pig at Wine and Swine; Abe Lincoln impersonator at the Library Gala Patrons Party (wonder how much work he gets).

Best Special Guest

The Library Gala

Doris Kearns Goodwin took home the prize for this (geez, our readers are smart!), but some other folks who won plenty of votes included Amy Grant, Will Hoge, Kris Kristofferson, Cortland Finegan, Jane Pauley, Brenda Lee, Brooks & Dunn, Carrie Underwood, Tommy Tutone, Daryl Hall and Leann Rimes.

Biggest Calendar Conflict

Authors in the Round and Vino on the Veranada

Let it be known to those who attempt to attend both: There's a speed trap by Electronic Express on West End, and Serpas' boys are sure to catch ya.

Valet Parking Snafu

Steeplechase

Nature can turn all plans upside down, and that's what happened this year. Between Steeplechase and the Heritage Ball (both of which Noah would have considered good ark weather), enough rain came down to fill the Pacific. Instead, it pooled into muddy fields at Steeplechase where lines and lines of spectators were forced to abandon their cars and trudge through the mud. Fun—if you're 21. Not so much if you're dressed for the Iroquois Club.

Best One-Time Event

Noah Liff Opera Center Opening

The Noah Liff Opera Center Opening steals the prize, hands-down. Between Barbara and Jack Bovender's efforts and the decorative O's that mirrored the building's architecture, the party and this stunning new facility had us at hello.

Best Dancing Guests

We know, we know—it's always Amy and Owen Joyner or Ming and JJ Wang. This year, there are some new names. All hale Hunter Armistead for his enthusiastic spins on the floor! Emily and Mac Hardcastle—these cats are so good that people step off the floor to watch. Oh, and Myles Maillie is always a spirited, energetic dancer—must be the artist in him expressing himself.

Sight You Never Thought You'd See

You all were surprised by lots this year. There's the teacup poodle at the Library Gala, beer at the Ballet, trees blowing over at the Capitol, women in cowboy boots and cocktail dresses. Other extreme sightings include Karl Dean hanging with Captain Kirk, Sheryl Crow and Ben Folds and a pony at the Parthenon at the Mad Hatter.

What Did We Leave Out?

Most-Thought-Provoking Party Hmm—we'll have to think.

Best bonfire It's Glen Leven or Orrin and Leann's. Has to be.

Best Bar Service Ooohhhh. Good one. Hate to call that one. Between Bill Forrester and Lamar Durr, that's tough.

Best Childrens' Event Since those usually don't have bar service, we miss them.

Best Cause Oh come on now. That would be like choosing your favorite child. Don't you love them all equally?