Is it really possible that Thanksgiving is Thursday? Where did the time go?? So not ready to start baking, but there is no time to waste if I want the stuffing and sweet potato casserole to be made with gluten-free ingredients. There won’t be a report next week because ‘Thanksgiving’, so enjoy the shopping and dining news that follows.

Enjoy live acoustic music from Lilac Wine every Wednesday and Friday at Atlas, located at the St. Regis Atlanta, from 6 to 10 p.m. on the patio with a fire place and a fire pit.  When the temperature drops, Lilac Wine, comprised of Alexandrea Lushington on lead vocals, Grant Reynolds on guitar and Robert Henson on bass, will move inside to the lounge. With a focus on curating fresh ingredients from local farms, the chef-driven, dinner-only restaurant applies its European influences to American cuisine.

Luce’s Gluten Free Artisan Bread

Christophe’s To Go’s paleo Thankskgivng dinner looks pretty incredible and costs $30 per person. Place a preorder by Wednesday, November 23rd at 6:00 a.m. and they will deliver it straight to your door on Thanksgiving. The meal includes: butternut squash soup, turkey breast with herbed bourbon gravy, Fuji apple stuffing, asparagus and mushroom casserole with roasted shallots, mashed sweet potatoes, cranberry with orange, and chocolate panna cotta. What a feast! If you don’t want to order a whole meal, the sides can be ordered a la carte.

Beginning this week, Luce’s Gluten Free Artisan Bread will begin shipping their freshly baked breads to any U.S. address. These breads are crusty, hearty and unlike anything you have tried before. Fruity loaves and buckwheat sourdough hemis are available for order with a crusty outside and soft middle. These breads are gorgeous, allergen friendly and will impress family and friends at upcoming holiday gatherings.  

The Aquafina Rink at Park Tavern in Piedmont Park is opening for the 2016-2017 on Thanksgiving Day. The Rink, situated under a heated tent, will be open Monday through Friday from 4:30 p.m. to midnight and Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight.  The rink is only open to ages 16 and up from 8 p.m. to midnight nightly and is also available for private skating lessons and parties.

The Cook’s Warehouse is opening a store and cooking school in Chamblee by April 2017. The new location will be in Peachtree Station, previously known as Peachtree Crossing, a development at 5001 Peachtree Blvd.  The retail center, near the intersection of Peachtree and Johnson Ferry Road, will be anchored by a 45,000 square Whole Foods Market, and will also include over a dozen other tenants.   This store replaced the one that closed in Brookhaven Station in 2015. The larger store will include a teaching kitchen for hosting cooking classes, as well as an outdoor patio for grilling classes and special events. The larger space will allow for bigger classes and a greater variety of products.

Now open, The Federal, a new concept from Shaun Doty, is located at 1050 Crescent Avenue in Midtown. The menu is a map of foodie favorites from Doty’s travels throughout his career. Look for a traditional menu — steak frites alluding to years in Belgium and chopped liver reminiscent of Katz’s Delicatessen, a favorite NYC haunt. They are open only for dinner now, but will extend their hours for breakfast and lunch in the coming months. Lance Gummere is partnering with Doty in the new venture just as he has at Mumbo Jumbo, Bantam + Biddy, and Chick-a-Biddy.

The Pinewood in Decatur is expanding from its rather cramped location next door into the space previously occupied by Decatur Bikes. The new concept will introduce a brand new façade, full service lounge area, various private dining options, extended weekend hours and refreshed menus.  The team is partnering with Atlanta’s Square Feet Studios to design the 1,700 square foot addition, the same group that conceptualized their sister restaurant, The Mercury at Ponce City Market. The growth allows The Pinewood’s award-winning cocktail program to expand, while maintaining the premium quality and integrity of its house made ingredients. The gastro-pub’s menu will continue to feature approachable and inventive dishes inspired by old-school comfort foods. Once complete, the expanded cocktail-focused restaurant will extend its weekend hours and offer an enticing late-night menu to guests. Private dining options will range from customizable, intimate dinner gatherings to full buyouts and cocktail parties. More information will be announced in the coming weeks.

Trader Joe’s has gotten in a number of gluten-free holiday items, like peppermint Joe-Joe’s (oreo-like cookie with cream peppermint filling, cranberry covered goat cheese, fig and honey covered goat cheese, stuffing mix, turkey gravy (in a box), and pumpkin pancake mix. A new item to look for in the freezer is the 2-pack of pizza crusts that are vegan as well as gluten free.

Have a safe and tasty weekend.