Cue the confetti, and maybe a parade down Belle Meade Boulevard, because Stroll Belle Meade just hit the five-year mark. We’re excited to celebrate this milestone with you.

This journey, for me, began long before our first official issue hit mailboxes. My family moved to the Belle Meade Highlands in January 2007. At the time, we were leaving behind our loved ones in South Florida, and our boys were just two years old and four months old. I didn’t know a soul in Nashville. No family nearby. We came here with hope for new opportunities and new friendships.

Before having kids, I worked in high-tech public relations. I studied Mass Communications and Public Relations at Boston University, where I fell in love with storytelling and the art of being a connector. That passion has never left me. In 2013, that interest was revived when I joined what was then Belle Meade Living as a resident editor. That role was more than a title; it was a lifeline. It nudged me to make new connections, pick up the phone, and start building the kind of community I longed to be a part of. It gave me creative fulfillment while also allowing me to be present for my three kids during those early years.

Fast forward to fall 2019: Belle Meade Living was being shut down, and I was asked if I’d be interested in bringing it back to the community. I thought, Me? A publisher?

I’d never done ad sales or run a magazine before, but something in me said, Go for it. I attended The N2 Company’s training in October 2019 with plans to relaunch the magazine in the spring of 2020.

Well… we all know what happened that spring.

Like so many others, I had to pivot. I pressed forward. And finally, in August 2020, I relaunched Belle Meade Living. In July 2022, we gave ourselves a fresh look and a new name: Stroll Belle Meade. What didn’t change was our purpose: to reflect this community to itself with honesty, beauty, and heart. To build a more connected neighborhood by sharing the stories of the people who live, work, and play in this special place. Those early relaunch days weren’t easy. Securing businesses to advertise during such an uncertain economic time was daunting. But 27 local business owners said yes. They believed in what we were trying to do, and for that, I’m forever grateful. Without the backing of our preferred partners, there would be no magazine in your mailbox each month. No “Meet Your Neighbor” features. No “Making a Difference” spotlights. No platform for celebrating what makes Belle Meade unique.

I want to give a huge shout-out and thank you to the following businesses who have been with us since our very first issue in August 2020:

Today, five years in, Stroll Belle Meade is more than a publication. It’s a place where stories live. We’ve featured nearly 60 families, over 100 kids, and countless small businesses that are the heartbeat of our neighborhood. From our Sip, Shop & Stroll events and Around the Town coverage of local happenings to our upcoming Stroll the Bases night with the Nashville Sounds, we’ve been there celebrating, connecting, and spotlighting what makes this community truly one of a kind.

And I want to be clear: I don’t do this alone.

Bringing this magazine to your mailbox each month is a team effort, and I’m endlessly grateful for the brilliant, talented crew who help make it happen. From our resident contributors, Roseann Rogers and Arlene Averbuch, whose voices bring warmth and wit to our pages, to our sharp and steady editor, Maddy Rager, our creative social media manager, Allie Morgan, and our incredibly organized publication assistant, Mary Katherine Roberts, each plays a vital role. And of course, our amazing photographers, Alina Nentwig and Abigail Mathaney, who bring these stories to life with every beautifully captured image. This magazine reflects not just a community but the dedication of the people behind it.

And we’re just getting started.

One of the things I’m most proud of is that the majority of the businesses we partner with come to us through word-of-mouth recommendations—trusted names passed between neighbors, the kind you’d confidently recommend to family or friends. That’s the heart of what we do: highlight the local gems that truly serve and strengthen our community.

Do you have a go-to business you love? Or maybe you run one yourself? If so, I’d love to hear about it. Reach out to me directly at Tara.Biller@Strollmag.com. Let’s grab coffee or lunch—my treat! When your referral becomes part of the Stroll Belle Meade family, you’ll receive a $100 gift card to a local favorite. Because in this neighborhood, great recommendations should always come with great rewards.

As I look back, I also look ahead—with immense gratitude, with hope, and with deep pride in what we’ve built together. I’d love to hear which stories have stayed with you. Please stop me at an event, send an email, or reach out if you have a story idea you'd like to share.

Thank you for five unforgettable years. Every neighbor, every business, every story has made this journey possible. Let’s keep writing it together.