Ponce City Market

Before I went on vacation, I got to cover an event as press for the first time at my new job. The event took place at Ponce City Market and I had a few hours to snoop around between work and...well, work.

Starting with the upstairs.

Ponce City Market connects to the BeltLine, a beautiful stretch of green space that runs throughout parts of the city. I didn't have time to go before my work event, but I'd love to spend some time walking on it one morning or evening soon.

PCM is in one of the biggest brick buildings in the Southeast, as it turns out. There's tons of space in the market downstairs, as well as apartments.

Now that I've been to the High Line in NYC (that post is coming soon), I can see a lot of similarities. The BeltLine is, thankfully, less packed and more serene, even in the section next to PCM.

After the friendly suggestion above, I went back down into the market.

There are TONS of food choices in PCM, ranging anywhere from Southern-style fried chicken to South African beef jerky, Indian street food, Italian...I really could go on for a while.

Normally I'd be flustered at having to choose between lobster rolls, burgers, tacos, and steamed buns, but this time I was calm. I was on a mission for one thing: gelato.

I had to walk around in circles for a good twenty minutes and eventually ask for directions, but I finally found it nestled in a small stand in the back. There are some suggested flavor combinations and I could think of a few more (fresh mint and honey fig, maybe?), but like always, I went with what I knew would be delicious. Toasted marshmallow and Nutella gelatos with a chocolate drizzle.

It was thick and creamy, but so smooth. Part of me was sad to finish it but from the giant grin on my face, no one could tell. I've had their gelato before in pints sold at the supermarket, but having it freshly scooped makes a huge difference.

It was a pleasant afternoon and I enjoyed the event I worked on, but I felt a bit uneasy for a while afterwards. I can't look at PCM, or any place on Ponce de Leon Ave., without thinking about what communities may have been there before all of the new developments. So many people are either unaware or willingly ignorant about the amount of gentrification that happens in Atlanta, and it makes enjoying places like PCM and the BeltLine, which used to be deemed "unsafe" but are now some of the most popular areas, a little difficult. 

I love that Atlanta is growing and becoming more popular, and I love seeing more small businesses on the rise. I just want the existing communities to be supported as these businesses continue to grow.