Understated honorees, over-the-top soiree

What if you threw a party for Randy and Jenny Boyd and everybody came?

Randy and Jenny Boyd, left, with Nazzy and Hash Hashemian.

Randy and Jenny Boyd, left, with Nazzy and Hash Hashemian.

That’s exactly what Hash and Nazzy Hashemian did a couple of weeks ago. A virtual who’s who of Knoxville was at this over-the-top soiree at the couple’s gorgeous RiverSound mansion. The event was catered by the Northshore Brasserie, featured a piano player, a band and a disc jockey at different portions of the evening, and was quite simply fun, fun, fun.

“We wanted to have a party and we needed someone to blame it on,” joked Hash Hashemian during his remarks after dinner.

Randy Boyd, right, with his father, Tom Boyd.

Randy Boyd, right, with his father, Tom Boyd.

Randy and Jenny Boyd were the perfect choices for the role of honorees. Randy is a successful businessman and philanthropist and earlier this year was named state Commissioner of Economic and Community Development by Gov. Bill Haslam. Jenny is a former ballet dancer and musician who is the proprietor of the popular Jig & Reel restaurant in the Old City. Their designation as honorees — there was a continuous slide show featuring them, as well as posters of them throughout the home — caused several intriguing rumors to make the rounds of the party.

Was Randy going to make some kind of announcement about his political future? Was Governor Haslam going to appear to make some kind of announcement? I love a party with a bit of mystery.

Actually, there was not an announcement and the governor did not come. During the brief “speaking” part of the evening, Randy described how important it is for young people to have a mentor, and he talked about the success of tnAchieves, a program he helped found in 2009. Since then, tnAchieves has enrolled 10,000 first-generation college students in community colleges across the state. It features a strong mentorship element.

“We take for granted how important it is to have a mentor,” Randy said. “My father clearly was my mentor. My dad’s the most ambitious person in the world.”

Jenny Boyd, right, with Julie Howard.

Jenny Boyd, right, with Julie Howard.

The house was great for a big party.

The house was great for a big party.

What a view from the back!

What a view from the back!

Hash greets former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison and his wife, Jan.

Hash greets former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison and his wife, Jan.

State Sen. Becky Massey, center, with her husband, Morton, and Sandi Burdick.

State Sen. Becky Massey, center, with her husband, Morton, and Sandi Burdick.

Congressman Jimmy Duncan, right, with Mehrad Hashemian.

Congressman Jimmy Duncan, right, with Mehrad Hashemian.

State Sen. Randy McNally and his wife, Jan.

State Sen. Randy McNally and his wife, Jan.

Lacey and state Rep. Cameron Sexton.

Lacey and state Rep. Cameron Sexton.

Former state Sen. Jamie Woodson, left, and Maureen Bosch.

Former state Sen. Jamie Woodson, left, and Maureen Bosch.

From left, Cynthia Miller, Melissa McAdams and State Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Lee.

From left, Cynthia Miller, Melissa McAdams and Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Lee.

Nazzy Hashemian and Kelly Conley.

Nazzy Hashemian and Kelly Conley.

Raja and Michelle Jubran.

Raja and Michelle Jubran.

John and Jennifer Duncan.

John and Jennifer Duncan.

Lynn Duncan and Alan Carmichael.

Lynn Duncan and Alan Carmichael.

David and Sandy Martin.

David and Sandy Martin.

Amanda Stiles greeted guests with glasses of bubbly,

Amanda Stiles welcomed guests with glasses of bubbly.

Watermelon bites with feta mousse were passed.

Watermelon bites with feta mousse and crushed pistachios were passed.

Tim and Amy Williams with Don Bosch, right.

Tim and Amy Williams with Don Bosch, right.

Sid and Jo Blalock.

Sid and Jo Blalock.

Tom Rogers, left, with Bruce and Sharon Bosse.

Tom Rogers, left, with Bruce and Sharon Bosse.

Mike Conley and Robyn Askew.

Mike Conley and Robyn Askew.

Brenda Wood, left, and Kay Clayton.

Brenda Wood, left, and Kay Clayton.

Kristin and Mark Williams.

Kristin and Mark Williams.

I like this cute picture of Tom Boyd and his wife, Sandi Burdick.

I like this cute picture of Tom Boyd and his wife, Sandi Burdick.

Melissa and Tom McAdams.

Melissa and Tom McAdams.

From left, Patty Baird, Chief Justice Sharon Lee and Dorothy Stair.

From left, Patty Baird, Chief Justice Sharon Lee and Dorothy Stair.

Jim Clayton and Michel Witt.

Jim Clayton and Michell Witt.

You can imagine the noise level with all these extroverts in one place!

You can imagine the noise level with all these extroverts in one place!

Anthony and Lynn Wise, left, with Tom and Diane Ballard.

Anthony and Lynn Wise, left, with Tom and Diane Ballard.

Chief Justice Lee, right, with Ted Flickenger and Julie Howard.

Chief Justice Lee, right, with Ted Flickenger and Julie Howard.

Randy Boyd with Pete DeBusk.

Randy Boyd with Pete DeBusk.

Jerome Miller and Victoria Neiderhauser.

Jerome Miller and Victoria Niederhauser.

Ashley Capps with Nazzy.

Ashley Capps with Nazzy.

From left, Suzi and Chad Kiger with Jennifer and Greg Morton.

From left, Suzi and Chad Kiger with Jennifer and Greg Morton.

Alan Carmichael with Dugan McLaughlin, right.

Alan Carmichael with Dugan McLaughlin, right.

From left, Betsy Child, Paul Barber and Pam Fansler.

From left, Betsy Child, Paul Barber and Pam Fansler.

Cheri Elliott, left, and Jennifer Hill.

Cheri Elliott, left, and Jennifer Hill.

Helen Harb, left, and Tammy White.

Helen Harb, left, and Tammy White.

Soon it was time to sit down. Tables were set both inside and outside.

Soon it was time to sit down. Tables were set both inside and outside.

Congressmen Chuck Fleischmann and Jimmy Duncan chose an inside spot.

Congressmen Chuck Fleischmann and Jimmy Duncan chose an inside spot.

Here's the back of the house as the sun was setting.

Here’s the back of the house as the sun was setting.

The buffet featured grilled culotte steak with onion compote, tomato braised chicken thighs with jasmine rice and stewed lamb with sweet peppers and Morrocan spices. My favorite was the baked corn and leek pudding served as a side dish.

The buffet featured grilled culotte steak with onion compote, tomato braised chicken thighs with jasmine rice and stewed lamb with sweet peppers and Moroccan spices. My favorite was the baked corn and leek pudding served as a side dish.

The flowers in the centerpieces were stunning.

The flowers in the centerpieces were stunning.

We picked an indoor table.

We picked an indoor table in a room that would later be transformed into a discotheque.

So did state Sen. Richard Briggs and his wife, Stephanie.

So did state Sen. Richard Briggs and his wife, Stephanie.

And Sylvia and Wayne Davis.

And Sylvia and Wayne Davis.

Here's the pool at night.

Here’s the pool at night.

My vote for best dress of the evening: Cindi DeBusk's!

My vote for best dress of the evening: Cindi DeBusk’s!

Hash posing with Tom and Randy Boyd.

Hash posing with Tom and Randy Boyd.

Time for Alan's favorite part of the evening: dessert. Options included chocolate banana cake, tiramisu and lemon bars.

Time for Alan’s favorite part of the evening: dessert. Options included chocolate banana cake, tiramisu and lemon bars.

Alan selected tiramisu -- for both of us.

Alan selected tiramisu — for both of us.

Pretty soon, the disc jockey cranked up the tunes! (This photo by Maci Whitson of Reflections & Images Photography.)

Pretty soon, the disc jockey cranked up the tunes! (This photo by Maci Whitson of Reflections & Images Photography.)

We said goodbye to Justice Sharon Lee, left, and Culver and Linda Schmid as we left.

We said goodbye to Justice Sharon Lee, left, and Culver and Linda Schmid as we left.

What a party! (Just think what will happen when Randy Boyd actually DOES announce his future plans.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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3 Responses to Understated honorees, over-the-top soiree

  1. Alan Carmichael, on August 10th, 2015 at 2:24 pm said:

    This was a spectacular party. Even Gatsby could take a cue.

  2. cmmoxley, on August 10th, 2015 at 10:36 pm said:

    Alan: You are right about that. But I think you loving that dessert had a little influence on your comment.

  3. Maria Cornelius, on August 11th, 2015 at 2:12 pm said:

    Alan should write a first-person book about desserts. I am happy to help with research.

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