Suds and Sounds in Atlantic City June 4-5

The 2022 Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival returns to Bader Field (545 N. Albany Ave.) for two days of music and beers (and hard ciders, meads and more).

The Festival will feature Alkaline Trio with special guest Thrice for Session 1 on Saturday, June 4 (2 p.m. to 6 p.m.). At Session 2 on Sunday, June 5 (noon to 4 p.m.), New Found Glory makes their long-awaited return to the Jersey Shore with guests Four Years Strong. The festival also plays host to an acoustic stage that features eight local artists, unplugged and acoustic.

Jersey City's Departed Soles Brewing Company will have at least one of its gluten-free beers at the Festival. (If Sunken Silo Brew Works in Hunterdon County confirms that it will have gluten-free Crazy X American Pale Ale there, I'll update this post.)

Confirmed cideries and meaderies include Armageddon Brewing (New Jersey), Austin Eastciders (Texas), Blake's Hard Cider Co. (Michigan), Original Sin (New York), Moonlight Meadery (New Hampshire) and Romilly Cidre (France). California's Flying Embers will have hard kombucha.

If beer and music aren't enough, the festival will also feature cuisine from Atlantic County restaurants, area food trucks, culinary demonstrations, educational seminars, sideshow acts and other activities. There will be two all-gluten-free food trucks at the Festival: Philly's own Fox & Son and Wholly Bowls.

In addition, the 2022 festivities will host a carnival-like atmosphere. Attendees are invited to enjoy hot wing eating contests, larger-than-life games, Silent Disco, hatchet throwing and keg tossing. In addition, non-brewery vendors will offer unique beer-related apparel and goods.

The 2022 Hops Trot 5K will take place Sunday, June 5 at 10 a.m., starting at Ocean Casino Resort. This fun run will send racers down the boardwalk to some of Atlantic City's favorite watering holes, ending at Bader Field just in time for Session 2. Costumes are encouraged!

General Admission tickets are $70 in advance (plus taxes and fees) and can be purchased online. The festival also offers VIP tickets, group tickets and a Designated Driver ticket for $25 at the door to further encourage attendee responsibility. Although Designated Driver tickets are unlimited, keep in mind that the festival has sold out for the last nine years, so don't wait to get tickets.

The event is rain or shine, and parking is available on site at Bader Field for a fee.

All attendees are urged to taste responsibly. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted into the festival. Valid photo identification must be presented.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Photo by M. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia™

Baseball is back! After a lengthy lockout and delay to the start of the season, the 2022 Phillies home opener is Friday, April 8 against the Oakland Athletics.

Citizens Bank Park will again have a dedicated gluten-free area. This season, the gluten-free cart is located at Section 122, behind home plate directly across from Guest Services. Expect a similar menu as in past years, with hot dogs, cheesesteaks, cookies and other snacks. Chickie's & Pete's Crabfries at Ashburn Alley and Sections 208 and 319 are prepared in dedicated fryers.

KLYR rum, a new gluten-free distilled spirit made in York County, Pennsylvania, will be sold at stands throughout the ballpark this year.

Meanwhile, Ocean City's own Manco & Manco has replaced Seasons Pizza as CBP's pizza purveyor. While its stand in Ashburn Alley will offer gluten-free pizza, I am still waiting to learn more about preparation, so stay tuned.

CHOP Celiac Education Day Slated for March 6

Each year, the Celiac Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) provides children with celiac disease and their caregivers with a state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary educational program. While the event will be virtual again this year, it will contain high-quality presentations and networking opportunities for families near and far.

The 17th Annual Celiac Education Day is open to families who want to:

• Hear evidence-based lectures about celiac disease, current research and potential new treatments from respected experts in the field
• Learn how celiac disease presents across the lifespan – from early childhood through adolescence and early adulthood
• Understand more about naturally gluten free, anti-inflammatory foods
• Learn how to safely eat gluten free in school, at restaurants and when traveling
• Obtain the most up-to-date information on celiac disease and COVID-19
• Hear from other kids with celiac disease about their real life experiences

After you register through Eventbrite, a link to join this event will be sent to your email. Please do not share the link with others. The deadline to register for this event is March 6, 2022. For questions, contact CHOP via email.

Step Beyond Celiac 5K Set For Sept. 26

Beyond Celiac's Step Beyond Celiac 5K will be off and running at FDR Park in Philadelphia on September 26, 2021. The live walk/run starts at 8 a.m. and there is a virtual option available.

All participants receive a Step Beyond Celiac 5K shirt if they register before the t-shirt deadline. The race fee is $35 and registration ends September 24, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Register here and select Team Gluten Free Philly.

Beyond Celiac is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic along with CDC and local health department guidelines. COVID-19 vaccination is encouraged; masks are required of all participants based on current City of Philadelphia mandates. Participants exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 are asked not to participate in this Step Beyond Celiac 5K. If it is determined that the event cannot take place in person, the 5K will become a 100 percent virtual event.

What's New at Expo West

Expo West, the annual gourmet, organic and specialty food show that takes place in California every spring, is happening virtually this year due to the pandemic. Nonetheless, there are several new gluten-free products being formally introduced at this year's event. 

Cappello's has launched three varieties of almond flour ravioli that can be found in the frozen aisle of Whole Foods Market locations across the country: Five Cheese, Butternut Squash and Spinach & Cheese. Five Cheese is a blend of ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, fontina and asiago cheeses; Butternut Squash; and Spinach & Cheese with ricotta. 

Taste Republic is expanding its line of grain-free refrigerated pastas with the addition of cauliflower gnocchi. Each pasta serving includes one serving of vegetables. It's sold at Target stores.

Lakeview Farms' newest line, Tribe Mezze Dips, is a collection of Mediterranean-inspired ready-to-serve refrigerated deli dips and spreads. Three feta-based dips include Red Pepper, Roasted Garlic and Spicy Tomato. The Original Style Tzatziki is made with Greek yogurt, cucumber and dill, while the Mediterranean Layered Dip is made with hummus, tzatziki, red peppers and herbs.

Hopefully, this fall's Expo East, slated for Philadelphia, will proceed as scheduled with lots of new products and, of course, samples!