We moved to Candler Park in 2006, just before having our first child. Since then, that baby has become a tyrannical toddler, we had a second kid, sold the first Candler Park house and bought another, and decided that we'll stick around a while. Candler Park has been good to us, and we feel right at home. Here are a few of our favorite things in Candler Park:

1) Candler Park Market: It's summertime, and to a three year old that means POPSICLES. We've been taking our son, Alex, to Candler Park Market several times a week for a Push-Up. You know, that wonderful / terrible neon orange-green-pink sherbertish tasty treat. We rarely go a day without Alex demanding a piligramge to Candler Park Market. Oh, and they've got a great beer selection too. ;)

2) Our Neighbors: Is it wrong to think of your neighbors after thinking of popsicles?!? This list is not in order of importance! Anyway, we live on Hooper, one of the three dead-end streets off of Oakdale, and we looooove our neighbors. Fun, smart, interesting, reliable, helpful...they're everything you could want in neighbors. We really hit the jackpot.

3) The Dog Party: If you haven't been to Freedom Park, right off of Druid Place, on a weekday early evening, you're missing out. Lots and lots of dogs, not to mention good human camraderie. Check it out.

4) Patios: One of my favorite things about Atlanta is patios, and Candler Park has lots of 'em. Fellini's probably wins the prize for best "lounging outside in Candler Park." And odds of running into someone you know -- a neighbor, co-worker, whomever -- are pritty pritty pritty good, as Larry David would say.

5) Secret Destinations: If I publicized them, they wouldn't really be secret, now would they? But let's just say that Candler Park has the absolute best semi-hidden cooperative garden complete with wonderful goats and chickens and sneaky entrances and just general fantasticness (is that a word?).

6) The Park! Whether it's golf or basketball or swimming or playgrounding or, well, just wandering around, the park in Candler Park is a winner. What's not to like?

7) Little 5 Points: This thirty-something mom ain't nearly cool enough for piercings and head shops, but L5P still has a lot to offer. Lots of shops and restaurants -- including our new favorite, The Porter Beer Bar, and just a generally fun and awesome vibe.

8) Bee, Butterfly and Bird Island: Our neighbor Michelle Hughes spearheaded a wonderful nature-y oasis in Freedom Park, just adjacent to Mary Lin Elementary. I love having this plantalicious area near in our neighborhood, and also love having neighbors who would think to create something like this.

9) Walks Around The 'Hood: Sure, the sidewalks mostly suck. But you can't beat walking around Candler Park. So many impromptu convos with neighbors; just today a neighbor we'd never met, someone who lives a few blocks from us, offered us a raspberry bush from his yard. You never know who you'll meet on a walk, or what you'll discover. Fun.

10) Green: Parks, parks, and more parks. Gardens. Big ole trees. As my grandfather used to say, a city without trees isn't fit for a dog! And our little corner of this city certainly is.

Those are just a few of our favorite things about Candler Park. What are your favorite things?