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When we drove up to Ponce City Market in Atlanta my expectations were lukewarm. I thought we’d have a nice brunch, walk around a little and then head out. We stayed all day! Forget crisscrossing the city going to this restaurant and that shop, avoid the traffic and head straight here. Ponce City Market (PCM) is the perfect place to escape into a day (and night) of rooftop games, unique retail and craft-kitchen food. PCM, nestled in the heart of Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, is a mixed-use entertainment destination and it’s HUGE – 2.1 million total square feet and around 330,000 of that dedicated to shopping and restaurants. Plus, it's continuing to grow, according to the developer's website. PCM is stretched across a collection of buildings, but the main attraction is a nine-story building that was once a showroom and warehouse distribution center for Sears Roebuck & Co beginning in the 1920s. The site’s history as a place for entertainment traces back to 1903, long before Sears bought the site. Dubbed “the Coney island of Atlanta,” the area was previously the Ponce de Leon amusement park, a history honored with the PCM's rooftop Skyline Park. We started our day with brunch at Pancake Social. Yum! Warm syrup over large buttermilk pancakes with a side of creamy grits and bacon. Southern appetite satisfied. With bellies full, the exploring commenced. PCM's look and feel is everything you expect a repurposed warehouse to be. Brick, concrete walls, huge pillars and exposed ventilation piping are everywhere. Large metal beams stretch overhead and industrial-style lights hang from the ceiling. My favorite part of the building’s design was the restored wooden floors (if those aren’t the original floors, then they fooled me). The floors were dark and looked oiled. They creaked under foot with a vintage sound that seemed to connect the building’s history with its modern, industrial-style present. Interesting side note, the building is included on the National Registry of Historic Places. It was a beautiful day during our visit, so we paid for admission to the building's top-floor, outdoor attraction, Skyline Park. We boarded an enormous freight elevator inside the Ponce City Market Tower for our ride up. As a nice bonus, you can see out a window as you travel. The rooftop’s theme pays homage to the market's amusement past with a series of boardwalk-style games, including skee-ball and a basketball toss. There’s also a two-story slide, a small tower ride and miniature golf. The putt-putt course is not great, which kind of made it more fun and hilarious. Everyone around us was having fun playing, too. The biggest highlight was the panoramic view of Atlanta. We felt lucky to see the skylines of midtown and downtown on a sunny day with practically no clouds in sight. Gorgeous! The entire area is called The Roof at Ponce City Market. In addition to Skyline Park, it’s also home to 9 Mile Station, a nice-casual restaurant and bar featuring craft beer and cocktails. The restaurant is named for the streetcar line that used to shuttle people to the area in the 1920s. The restaurant’s best feature is the huge outdoor terrace. Again, the views! Thanks to individual igloos placed over tables, you can enjoy dining on the rooftop even as the weather cools. After my husband finally won a prize in the basketball toss, we headed back downstairs to explore the rest of the market. The building’s first two floors feature the Central Food Hall and small retailers interspersed around. The ceilings are high and the second floor is open in the middle with balcony railing. Iron staircases connect the two floors, including an especially cool circular one. The food hall’s selection of cuisine is everything from a cold treat at Honeysuckle Gelato to po’boy sandwiches at W.H. Stiles “Dub’s” Fish Camp, which is helmed by the James Beard Award winning chef, Anne Quatrano. There are flavors from around the world including Indian, Asian, Latin and French. PCM is the perfect spot to find artisan-made gifts, especially at Citizen Supply. It features a large collection of independent vendors and makers offering everything from skincare products and jewelry to vintage clothing and original T-shirt designs. As a nice added bonus, Citizens Supply includes Excuse My French, a cafe and cocktail/coffee bar. Outside the building is an extra-wide breezeway lined with more shops, including upscale national and boutique retailers such as Williams-Sonoma, Allbirds, Buck Mason, Madewell and Lululemon. Men's clothier Rye 51, a self-titled "textile distillery," actually has a whiskey bar inside. Another popular shopping attraction is "Artists & Fleas." This open-air market is held every Saturday and features pop-up shops with everything from vinyl records to original jewelry and clothing. We visited PCM close to Halloween and a trick-or-treat event was in full swing. People of all ages were in costume, vendors were handing out candy and spooky decor was everywhere. The list of PCM's special events is long and ongoing. Art classes, coffee hour book clubs, outdoor yoga and trivia nights are just a tiny sampling. With the holidays coming up, so are the themed activities at PCM, including rooftop ice skating – Skate the Sky – beginning Nov. 24. Friday nights are reserved for adults-only, retro skating with a D.J. spinning music from the ‘80s and ‘90s. The 12 Cocktail Bar on the top floor of Ponce Market Tower will host holiday mixology classes beginning Nov. 17. And, the tower lobby will be transformed into a Holiday Social Bar. If you plan on visiting Ponce City Market here are some tips: • Expect to use the parking garage. Pay by the hour. Additional time can be added by the phone app. • Walk or bike right up to the market thanks to the Eastside Trail of the Atlanta Beltline. The beltline, which intersects the market, is a 22-mile long network of trails, transit and parks over what was once a railroad corridor. • Admission to The Roof for viewing only is $15. It’s an additional $15 for unlimited games at Skyline Park. A wristband indicates you’ve paid for unlimited games. Food and drinks are not included. There are concessions for purchase on The Roof. • No admission cost to go to The Roof to eat or have drinks at 9 Mile Station, just the cost of your meal. But, if you want to also play unlimited games at Skyline Park, buy a $10 wristband before going up the freight elevator. If you buy the wristband once at 9 Mile Station, it’s regular price. • Skyline Park is family-friendly, except after 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights when it’s 21+. The last admission time on those nights for anyone underage is 6 p.m. • Reservations are a smart idea for special events like Skate the Sky and the igloo dining.

Are you among the “PWAGs?” That sounds like a race of sci-fi movie creatures, but it actually stands for “People Without Celiac Disease Avoiding Gluten.” For a month, I was among them and here's what I discovered. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye). People with celiac disease can’t tolerate gluten at all. It’s a chronic condition with no cure except avoiding gluten. The National Institutes of Health estimates about 1% of the population worldwide has celiac disease. That’s not a huge number, so why does it seem like gluten-free food is everywhere? Well, plenty of people have gluten sensitivity or believe a gluten-free lifestyle is healthier. So when a trend emerges, industry takes note. In 2022, Grand View Research Inc., estimated the size of the global, gluten-free products market at $6.45 billion in U.S. dollars and by 2030 it will reach $13.7 billion. The variety of gluten-free items, especially in the snack category, has come a long way. At one time, gluten-free food was only found on a few shelves in health foods stores and it didn't taste great. Now, there are entire gluten-free sections featuring better tasting choices in grocery stores and even large retailers like Walmart. With predictions like those by Grand View, which was widely reported in the media, expect gluten-free options to continue evolving and expanding. I don’t have celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or any health issues for that matter. I did, however, feel bombarded with information about anti-inflammatory eating, which includes going gluten free, so I decided to give it a try. I lost 12 pounds–it practically fell off. I can’t prove going gluten free was the main factor to this easy weight loss. In all fairness, I did increased my intake of water, fruits and veggies (foods naturally gluten free, btw). I don’t know the answer, but I liked the result. In my gluten-free quest, I shopped Harris Teeter, Walmart, Target and Trader Joe's. I tried a bevy of gluten-free products and here's what I liked best. Gluten-Free Options for Kitchen Staples Egglife • Egg-white wraps in Original and Everything Bagel flavors. • Perfect bread substitute for making wraps. • Eat it cold or warmed in a skillet or microwave. • Zero cholesterol, dairy, soy and sugar. • Serving size: 1 wrap is 25-35 calories with 5-6 grams of protein depending on the variety. Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free • Great for avocado toast. A little dense for a sandwich if you prefer softer bread. • 100% whole grain bread made with “ancient grains.” • Ingredients include rice flour and whole grain sorghum flour. • Dairy, nut and soy free. • Serving size: 1 slice for 70 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. Veggiecraft Farms Pasta Made with Cauliflower • Sturdy, nice tasting, high-protein pasta. • Penne-shaped pasta made with a flour blend of lentil, pea and cauliflower. • Non GMO, dairy free and vegan. • Serving size: 2 ounces dry (1/4 of the box) is 200 calories with 13 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. Trader Joe’s Hearts of Palm (riced and pasta varieties) • An easy substitute for part of an entrée or as a side dish that's ready in a flash. • Both varieties are in a boxed, vacuum-sealed pouch. Simply remove from the pouch and reheat quickly in the microwave or on the stovetop. • The pasta is linguine-shaped and tastes great when mixed with a basil pesto. • The riced variety is perfect for Mexican dishes. In a skillet, add drained organic black beans, chopped sweet bell peppers, a little cumin, lime juice and a protein. • Vegan. • Serving size for both: 1/3 of a pouch is 20 calories, 3 servings to pouch. Entire pouch is 60 calories. Trader Joe's Organic Yellow Lentil and Brown Rice Spaghetti Pasta • Good alternative to traditional pasta with a punch of protein. • Made with organic ingredients. • Serving size: 2 ounces (1/6 of the package) is 190 calories with 14 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. Gluten-Free Salty Snacks Siete’s Grain Free Tortilla Chips (lime and sea salt varieties) • Satisfying for anyone that likes crunchy, salty snacks. • Made with a cassava flour blend, coconut flour, avocado oil and chia seed. • Non GMO. • Serving size: 14 chips for 130 calories and 3 grams of fat. Trader Joe's Organic Cacio E Pepe Puffs • Crunchy, corn and rice puffs flavored with cheese and pepper. • Packs big flavor. One of my favorite snacks. • Ingredients include organic corn meal, sunflower oil and brown rice flour. • Organic, kosher. • Serving size: 1 1/2 cups of puffs for 150 calories, 2 grams of protein and 9 grams of fat. RW Garcia 3 Seed Organic Sweet Potato Crackers • Tasty choice if you want something crunchy for dipping. Great with hummus. • Flavor is more sweet than salty. • The all organic ingredients include stone ground yellow corn, sunflower oil, sweet potato, flaxseed, poppy seeds and chia seeds. • Non GMO. • Serving size: 16 crackers for 140 calories with 7 grams of fat and 2 grams of protein. Quinn Creamy Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets • A gluten-free version of a common salty snack that didn't disappoint. Tasted great. • Ingredients include peanut butter (dry roasted peanuts, sugar and salt), cassava flour, sunflower oil, whole grain sorghum flour, hemp heart protein and sea salt. • Corn and dairy free. Non GMO and vegan. • Serving size: 8 pretzels for 140 calories with 6 grams of fat and 3 grams of protein Gluten-Free Sweet Treats Siete Grain Free Mexican Wedding Cookies • Small, thick cookies that crumble easily and answer a sweet tooth’s call. • Made with a grain-free blend of five flours (almond, arrowroot, chickpea, cassava and tapioca). • Non GMO. • Serving size: 5 cookies (plenty to satisfy a sweet tooth) for 150 calories with 9 grams of fat and 1 gram of protein. Goodie Girl Fudge Striped Crunchy Oat Flour Cookies • Remember being a kid and putting your finger through the center hole of a flower-shaped cookie and then eating around it–that's this cookie but with chocolate. • Traditional, shortbread-style cookie that is striped with fudge on one side and completely covered on the other side. • Chocolaty and crunchy. • Made with gluten-free whole grain oat flour. • No nuts, eggs or artificial colors or preservatives. • Serving size: 4 cookies (more than satisfying) for 150 calories with 3 grams of protein, 6 grams of fat and 2 grams of fiber. Enjoy Life Soft Baked Cookies (Double Chocolate Brownie and Chocolate Chip) • Good choice if you have food allergies. • Free from 14 allergens and labeled “school safe.” • Some flavor sacrifice to be free of so many allergens, especially the chocolate chip cookie. • Choose the double chocolate brownie for a richer flavor. • Serving size: 2 cookies are 130 calories and 5 grams of fat. WOW Soft Baked Key Lime White Chocolate Cookies • Soft cookies with a strong, tangy, key lime flavor. Yummy enough to share. • List of ingredients includes brown rice flour, long gram white rich flour and 100% pure key lime juice concentrate. • Serving size: 2 cookies for 120 calories with 6 grams of fat and 1 gram of protein. Hu (Get Back to HuMan) Cashew Butter + Pure Vanilla Bean Dark Chocolate Bar • Rich, decadent dark chocolate bar made with 70% organic, fair trade cacao. • Salty Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut Butter varieties are also delicious. • Clean eating with no refined sugar, dairy, soy, or sugar alcohols. • Serving size: Bar consists of 8 large chunks. Half of the bar (4 chunks) is 190 calories with 13 grams of fat and 3 grams of protein. 1 chuck is satisfying. Tate’s Bake Shop Gluten Free Lemon Cookies • Large, thin, crispy cookies with a nice lemon flavor. • Good enough to share with guests. • Serving size: 2 cookies for 150 calories with 7 grams of fat and 1 gram of protein. Heavenly Hunks Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bites • A single hunk is a satisfying, sweet snack between meals, especially when on the go. Two chunks if you’re too busy for lunch (A few keep me from stopping for fast food lunches when traveling). • Ingredients include certified, gluten-free rolled oats and brown rice syrup. • Non GMO, vegan certified and dairy free. • Serving Size: 1 hunk is 120 calories with 6 grams of fat and 1 gram of protein.