In addition to the spots our readers voted on in the Best of the Big A contest, Atlanta is teeming with singles and prime meeting spots. The trick, of course, is to leave your home and job for a few hours — and no, a quick jaunt to Starbucks doesn't count. But you don't have to go to meat lockers, either, or watch players guzzle drinks by the bucket. Here are a few of accessAtlanta's picks for having a good time and maybe even meeting that someone.

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Related: Best of the Big A - 2005 Misadventures in Atlanta blog

Best nonpick-up pick-up Spot: There are no tequila shots or foaming beer at the Grape, just 120 wines at this easygoing, no-pressure meeting spot. Nosh on brie and strawberries. Stroll through the adjoining wine store. And just think, you don't have to worry about beer breath. 4300 Paces Ferry Road, Vinings. 3500 Peachtree Road, Phipps Plaza, Buckhead. 5145 Peachtree Parkway, Norcross.

Runner-up: Whole Foods Market, 650 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., or 2111 Briarcliff Road N.E.

Best unexpected place to meet singles: Dave & Busters 2215 Dave & Busters Drive S.E., Marietta. Location has two happy hours (4:30 to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 p.m. till closing Sunday through Thursday) to give you twice the chances to enjoy half-priced drinks, play the 250-plus games and, of course, mingle.

Runner-up: Hands on Atlanta, Habitat for Humanity or any other charitable, civic-minded group with lots of activities.

Best first face-to-face meeting for online daters: We like the sleek Cafe Intermezzo, 1845 Peachtree Road, with fab desserts and a new 6-foot espresso machine that whips up drinks from the basic to the extravagant. For a Bohemian vibe, try organic coffee house Java Monkey off the Decatur Square, where an eclectic group reads, taps on laptops and listens to live jazz or open mike poetry. And there's always a Borders, where you can duck into the aisles of books if your date is, umm, nothing like his or her online photograph.

Best mellow way to "Get to Know You Better:" There's something about painting your own pottery that feels so good. Maybe because you are transforming a chalky white mug into a colorful piece of art. Laid back and comfortable, paint-your-own pottery spots give you something to talk about, and are quiet enough to hear each other talk. Many allow you to bring your own bottle of wine and snacks.

A sampling: That Pottery Place in Decatur; Wired & Fired, Virginia-Highland; Naked Clay Studio, Sandy Springs; Art and Soul, Buckhead.

Or ... Go to the DeKalb Farmer's Market, 3000 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, 404-377-6400, a food lover's dream, with endless produce and an international variety. Plus, the place is so cold you'll want to wrap your arms around each other. Then take your bags of groceries home and make dinner for your new squeeze.