ABOUT SPA CITY STRANGERS

Meet our Founder, Wendy Daniels

Wendy Pashoukos grew up in Brentwood, NY, and in 1989 moved with her family to Malta, NY. She graduated from Shenendehowa High School in 1995 and married Navy Sailor Kurt Daniels in 2000. In 2002, she earned a degree in Theatrical Acting and Writing from North Seattle Community College. 

Over the next 20 years, Wendy and Kurt traveled across the country with the Navy, welcomed two children, and faced separations and deployments. As a Navy spouse, Wendy learned to make friends quickly, a vital skill for finding support during relocations.

In 2022, after Kurt retired from 26 years in the Navy, the family moved back to the Capital Region.

Wendy loves meeting new people from all walks of life. She believes face-to-face connections make life exciting and can lead to life-changing moments. Her children often ask why she always talks to strangers; she explains it's about curiosity, kindness, empathy, and gratitude. She emphasizes that digital social media can overshadow the healing power of genuine human interaction.

The idea for Spa City Strangers LLC originated when Wendy planned a trip to London and Reykjavik in 2025. Curious about dining with strangers, she found the app TIMELEFT, which connects people for in-person dinners and experiences. After great encounters in major cities, she was inspired to create a local version.

Saratoga Springs has long been a place where strangers become friends, especially during the area’s Victorian history of social gatherings at hotels, springs, and the racetrack. Today, many people are immersed in their phones and have fewer in-person conversations with new people. Wendy aims to change that.

Spa City Strangers LLC encourages locals and visitors alike to discover more social connections and opportunities to make friends.