Around the World Without Leaving Hidden Lake
From Scotland to the Amalfi Coast and French Polynesia, Passport Party transformed Hidden Lake into an immersive journey of culture, cuisine, cocktails, music, and meaningful connection.
Candace, Kristine, Arev, Mike, Ruth, Jenni, and Tishaun—STROLL partners and contributors who help make community happen!
Around the World Without Leaving Hidden Lake
“The event of the year!”
That was one of the many comments I received following STROLL Hidden Lake’s sold-out Passport Party, and hearing the excitement and appreciation from so many neighbors made every hour of planning worthwhile.
What began as an idea to create an immersive travel experience right here in Hidden Lake became an unforgettable evening of incredible cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, meaningful conversations, new friendships, and memories that will last for years to come.
I knew exactly who I wanted beside me to bring the travel component to life: Kim Berry of Avant Fare Travel. Kim is brimming with ideas, incredibly collaborative, and the kind of person who continually asks, “What else can we do?” Together with our amazing business partners and contributors, she helped turn the Passport Party concept into an experience that invited neighbors not only to visit three destinations for the evening, but to discover something about themselves as travelers along the way.
From the moment guests arrived, the journey had begun. Our Title Partners, Timothy & Lori-Beth Scott of Scott Real Estate Group, warmly welcomed travelers before they received personalized boarding passes filled with questions we would explore throughout the night. Guests also pinned a world map with the destination they’d most like to visit next, immediately sparking conversations about bucket-list adventures and shared travel dreams.
With Kim guiding our travel conversation, we were officially ready for departure.
First Stop: Scotland
Our journey began in Scotland, where guests were welcomed with a Glasgow Kiss cocktail and an unforgettable Highland-inspired menu created entirely from scratch by Arev of Savor & Sip, LLC. Smoked salmon cucumber bites were followed by Beef Wellington with tender beef, mushroom duxelles, prosciutto, and flaky pastry, ending with decadent sticky toffee pudding.
But Kim invited us to look beyond the menu and scenery. Who is Scotland really for? Perhaps it’s the traveler drawn to history and heritage, dramatic landscapes, rich culture, adventure, and places with stories waiting to be discovered.
Our gracious hosts, Glen & Gerri Gheesling, fully embraced the spirit of the evening, with Glen appearing in his finest Highland attire—kilt, beard and all—to plenty of laughter and smiles.
Next Stop: The Amalfi Coast
From there, everyone traveled downstairs to the sun-soaked Amalfi Coast, where an Aperol Spritz set the Italian mood. Arev served burrata flatbread layered with eggplant, arugula, and prosciutto, followed by crispy risotto cakes with homemade marinara and fresh basil and an indulgent limoncello mascarpone dessert bar.
Here, Kim shifted the conversation. Are you the traveler who dreams of spectacular scenery, incredible food, charming towns, cultural immersion, and slowing down enough to truly savor where you are?
Suddenly, choosing a destination wasn’t simply about where looked beautiful. Guests were beginning to consider how they actually want to feel when they travel—a small taste of the thoughtful approach Kim brings to planning travel for her clients.
Final Stop: French Polynesia
Our final destination transported everyone outdoors to French Polynesia, where the Gheeslings’ beautiful lakefront became our own little island escape.
Guests sipped Mermaid’s Lagoon cocktails while enjoying ahi tuna wonton bites with avocado, red onion, and citrus vinaigrette, followed by panko tempura shrimp with pineapple mango habanero salsa. Creamy key lime cheesecake with homemade coconut whipped cream provided the perfect sweet ending to our culinary journey.
French Polynesia revealed yet another kind of traveler—the one craving relaxation, natural beauty, romance, water, and the opportunity to truly escape.
By the end of our three stops, guests weren’t simply learning about Scotland, the Amalfi Coast, and French Polynesia. They were learning about themselves. Watching neighbors compare their travel personalities, find like-minded travelers, and exchange stories about places they’d been and places they dreamed of going was one of my favorite parts of the night.
It also beautifully demonstrated something Kim knows well: thoughtful travel planning starts with understanding the traveler before deciding what the trip should look like.
An Experience for All the Senses
To say the cuisine was a highlight would be an understatement. Neighbors were absolutely blown away by the flavor, creativity, and presentation.
What makes it even more incredible is that Arev personally conceived, prepared, and executed every single course from scratch herself. I’ve had the privilege of watching her serve our Hidden Lake community for years, from neighborhood gatherings to events at The Quarry Club. Beyond her culinary talent, she’s also a dedicated nurse and mother of three children under three. Her work ethic, creativity, and heart were evident in every bite.
Desiré of Gathered & Garnished brought each destination to life in a cocktail (let me know if you’d like the recipes), while Tishaun Sizemore of Ambiance Elevated Cleaning & Lifestyle Services helped transform the spaces with beautiful centerpieces and event service. Tonya Cleveland of Tiffany’s Gardens added elegant floral touches throughout the evening.
And once our destination presentations concluded, everyone could simply relax and enjoy the party.
Shant filled the evening with incredible live music spanning languages and styles. One of the most memorable moments came when Glen joined him for a little live karaoke—an unexpected performance that had neighbors smiling, cheering, and singing along.
Through it all, Party Fly Photography preserved the laughter and connections in photos, while AJ Love Productions captured the evening on video.
Most importantly, none of it could have happened without Glen & Gerri Gheesling, who opened their beautiful home and lakefront property to our community and embraced every bit of the experience. Gerri even created adorable miniature suitcase favors for guests to take home. Their warmth and hospitality gave this big idea the perfect place to land.
What Neighbors Had to Say
The feedback afterward meant so much.
Wendy VanZegren shared:
“Food was fabulous as were the drinks. Huge appreciation for the host and hostess! Met some new neighbors. Always appreciate your efforts and joyful personality!”
Robin Kummer wrote:
“The party was a lot of fun. The theme of travel added a focus for food and entertainment and when I need a travel agent, I will definitely contact the sponsor. The addition of the raffle was a nice touch. I could see how much work went into the event. You and everyone else that participated in planning, sponsorship, and financial donations are much appreciated!”
And Cindy Gutowski summed it up perfectly:
“Everything was fabulous!”
The journey ended with one final surprise: our Passport Party raffle! Guests who participated earned entries throughout the experience, which were mixed together before names were drawn after each spin. Lucky winners took home an incredible collection of prizes, including a $500 Downtown Brighton gift card basket from Scott Real Estate Group, a $500 travel voucher from Avant Fare Travel, Moose Ridge gift certificates and an Aesthetic Atelier voucher from STROLL Hidden Lake, a photography gift voucher from Party Fly Photography, catering vouchers from Savor & Sip, and spray tan vouchers from The Bronzed Goddess. The anticipation, cheering, and generosity made for such a fun finale to our journey!
Our hosts received a surprise of their own when Ventures Window Cleaning & Services presented Glen & Gerri with a generous travel-inspired beach bag as a special thank-you for opening their home to our community.
When people ask how STROLL creates experiences like Passport Party, the answer is simple: collaboration.
It starts with an idea and becomes something extraordinary when talented, generous people bring their gifts to it. Kim’s enthusiasm, travel expertise, creativity, and willingness to go above and beyond helped turn Passport Party into a genuine travel experience, while our sponsors, contributors, hosts, and neighbors each added something that no one person could have created alone.
And that may have been the greatest takeaway from Passport Party: the best journeys don’t always require a plane ticket.
Sometimes they begin right here at home—with wonderful neighbors, generous business partners, a little imagination, and a shared desire to create unforgettable memories together.
To everyone who attended, sponsored, contributed, hosted, and helped bring Passport Party to life—thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you, and I’m already dreaming about where our next adventure might take us.