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SEM Progressive Dinner - 07.16.2005
Article and photos by Dave Burton
Dawn and Eric Walton again took on the organization of this year’s traveling
feast. Three gracious host couples volunteered their homes and the
preparations began. The Progressive Dinner is a tradition in the SEM going
back to well before Diane and I joined PCA and it is a neat concept. The club
provides the major fixings such as main course entrée, beer, wine and soft
drinks, along with arranging for the rental, delivery and pickup of the tables
and chairs for the middle, dinner stop. The members participating bring their
choice of an hors d’oeuvre, a main course accompaniment, or a dessert. The
event chairs then devise a route that connects all the stops and print route
instructions for the participants. Put it all together and you have a neat
traveling potluck dinner.
Pat and Shirley Widmer offered to be our first stop and opened their lovely
home and yard in northern Clarkston for an invasion of Porsches. I know that
everyone is inured to the coming and going of a Porsche or two in their
neighborhoods but twenty or more in and around your driveway will draw the
attention of even the most jaded neighbors. The subdivision children really
enjoy the parades in and out as well. Pat and Shirley’s house is set well above
the road among the rolling hills of the area and the home takes good
advantage of the topography with multilevel decks and patios. The club
descended on the Widmer estate at the appointed hour and the festivities
began. Each year brings new recipes and old favorites. Michael and Suzanne
Gilson brought his infamous duck salad (worth the price of admission alone).
Don Kleist made stuffed mushrooms that were delicious. There was crab salad,
brie with fruit topping, cheese dip and hummus. We cheated due to time
constraints and brought sushi (not homemade—that would be scary!).
Everyone dove in and tasted the offerings while renewing old friendships and
making new acquaintances. After devouring the appetizers, it was time to
invade Bloomfield Hills.
Don Klahre, our host for dinner, has a pretty home and a spacious yard -
perfect for a Porsche picket fence. With the cars as backdrop and the forest
behind, the tables were set among the trees and covered with German flag
colored tablecloths. More socializing and car talk, with an occasional close up
inspection of someone’s or another new car and soon, dinner was ready. Our
main course consisted of ham and turkey, along with baked beans, potato salad
and casserole, black bean salad with blue cheese, a couple of different slaws,
pasta salad and rolls. Hopefully, everyone saved room for dessert. This is a
great way to dine - no one rushing or trapped for the night in the kitchen. Just
sit back, relax and converse with friends. After dinner, I inspected Don’s
remodeled garage. He raised the ceiling and installed a hoist so that he can
accommodate his car collection. He added heat, cabinets and an epoxy floor
and then decorated it all like any other room in the house - very nice. Dinner
settled and digestion begun, it was time to head across to Dave and Debbie
Miller’s for dessert, also in Bloomfield Hills.
The Miller’s home, driveway and yard also can swallow a large group of people
and sportscars. They even had parking assistants in the form of their son Evan
and his friend. While the dining room was converted to “Desserts R Us,” we
wandered around admiring the house, yard and pool when we discovered that
they too had, like Don, finished off their garage. This is a growing phenomenon
and indicates that we need to schedule another Garage Tour. Meanwhile,
dessert was underway inside with homemade baklava, dirt cake (with gummy
worms!), lemon torte, and brownies with strawberries joining cherry strudel
and apricot pie, banana bread and fresh coffee. Sure, all of this are on my diet,
why do you ask?
With the remnants of Hurricane Dennis threatening rain and thundershowers
all day (all week, actually), it never did. We got away with just one light
sprinkle early on and then warm, muggy convertible weather the rest of the
evening. Every one of our hosts had prepared to move the party inside if
necessary but the outdoors were enjoyed by all. Each of our hosts had hosted
one leg or another of the Progressive Dinner previously, so you know that it
can’t be too daunting a task. We’re always looking for new venues to keep the
event fresh and if you would like to blow away your neighbors with a Porsche
parade and corral, just let Dawn or anyone on the Board know. We had two
inquiries about next year already at this year’s event. It really is an easy way to
throw a great party with minimal fuss. See you next year!
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