Hidden Gems
There is so much to see and to do in Oakland with each season offering a variety of unique experiences. Summertime explodes with outdoor activities such as the Oakland Farmers’ Market, from end of June thru to mid November, every Friday, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. along Sennott Street. Here you will find the best selection of Western Pennsylvania’s fresh produce and organic food products. Walking Tours provided by the Pittsburgh History and Landmark’s Foundation are a great way to see Oakland’s unique architectures and designs and learn about the amazing history of Oakland www.phlf.org/events/index.html.
To tempt your palette, Oakland is home to a variety of unique eateries and restaurants. Atwood Street is lined with Pittsburgh’s finest international restaurants; choose from Indian to Thai to Mexican cuisine. Also along Atwood Street, Dave and Andy’s Ice Cream provides home made ice cream, just follow the scent of fresh made waffle cones. Once a year in May, the St, Nicholas Greek Food Festival brings the culinary delights of Greece to Pittsburgh www.stnickspgh.org.
Oakland is home to many unique shops. Jay’s Bookstall (3604 Fifth Avenue) offers a unique selection of books and great reading material. Owner Jay Dantry will also share with you his private collection of photos taken with famous authors from David Sedaris to Kurt Vonnegut. Maggie and Stella’s Gifts (218 Oakland Avenue), named after the first female graduates of the University of Pittsburgh, is a unique gift shop offering an assortment of gifts to please everyone. From jewelry to scarves, greeting cards to baby gifts, this gift shop is a must see attraction.
For the fashion conscious, Oakland offers unique clothing stores, American Apparel (3805 Forbes Avenue), Rue 21 (3806 Forbes Avenue) and Selection Boutique (3602 Forbes Avenue) have a great selection of women’s clothing. To top off that new outfit, Medical Center Opticians (3524 Fifth Avenue) offers the most fashionable eye wear, from Gucci to Versace.
This activity is being funded by the Oakland Business Improvement District, the Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Special thanks to Pennsylvania State Senator Jay Costa.