Food
Apteka
Inventive vegan fare with deep Eastern European influences, like soups, pierogis and fruit tarts. Also, cocktails with housemade shrubs and syrups. 4606 Penn Ave., www.aptekapgh.com
Bantha Tea Bar
A funky spot whose décor combines reclaimed materials with a Moroccan/Star Wars aesthetic offers a selection of unique teas, plus coffee and light snacks. 5002 Penn Ave., 412-404-8359
Commonplace Voluto
This bright and airy coffee shop is great for taking a meeting, hanging with friends, or watching the world go by from a sidewalk table. 5467 Penn Ave., Garfield, 412-661-3000
Gluten Free Goat Bakery and Café
Specializing in fresh café fare that accommodates dietary restrictions. Pop in for a vegan donut, or a grab-and-go lentil salad. 4905 Penn Ave., Garfield, 412-362-1600
People’s Indian Restaurant
A longtime fixture of the avenue, this spot offers popular curries, rice dishes and more, in a warm, casual setting. The lunch buffet is a bargain. 5147 Penn Ave., Garfield, 412-661-3160
Pho Minh
This welcoming no-frills storefront eatery offers freshly prepared, well-priced Vietnamese cuisine, including spring rolls, pho and rice- and noodle-based entrees. 4917 Penn Ave., Garfield, 412-661-7443
Spak Brothers
This popular to-go spot offers freshly made pizzas, sandwiches, calzones and other snack-food options. The menu offers plenty for vegetarians and vegans, including seitan wings. 5107 Penn Ave., Garfield, 412-362-7725
Spork
This restaurant combines a rotating selection of small plates, including pastas, charcuterie and salads, with craft beers and cocktails, all in a lively, contemporary setting. 5430 Penn Ave., Friendship, 412-441-1700
Station
Dine in the heart of Bloomfield, in this restored former bar space. Contemporary fare, with an Italian influence, plus a well-respected cocktail program. 4744 Liberty Ave., 412-251-0540
Tessaro’s
Long before there were meat-centric gourmet burgers, there was Tessaro’s generous house-made patty. Dine in the lively barroom, or in one of the quieter back rooms. 4601 Liberty Ave., 412-682-6809
Bars+Clubs
Armand’s
A classic dark and smoky bar, where budget drinkers rule the stools, day and night. 4755 Liberty Ave., 412-681-3967
Nico’s Recovery Room
Relax the day away at the bar, and maybe grab some Greek-inspired diner food. Saturday-night karaoke is late-night lively fun. 178 Pearl St., 412-681-9562
Pollock’s Café
There are not many no-theme taverns around, but here you’ll find low-cost basic beers, a jukebox of rock, and regulars holding forth at the bar. 4602 Liberty Ave., 412-682-1460
Sharp Edge Beer Emporium
Belgian beers are the focus at this longtime pub-style bar tucked into the corner of Friendship and East Liberty. Dozens of taps allow you to try something new every time. 302 S. St. Clair St., Friendship, 412-661-3537
Silky’s Pub
A good place to watch the game in a quieter neighborhood bar. Sidewalk seating in the warmer weather. 5135 Liberty Ave., 412-683-6141
Shopping
Linea Verde
An old-fashioned green grocer where the offerings — vegetables, fruit, plants, Italian cookies and even pottery — spill invitingly onto the sidewalk. 4619 Liberty Ave., 412-687-0400
The Big Idea Cooperative Bookstore
Activism is the new brunch, and you can get up to speed here, with a big selection of left-leaning (and beyond) reading material. Plus, coffee. 4812 Liberty Ave., 412-687-4323
Daily Bread / Refresh
Keep your street style fresh at these neighboring storefronts: one offers the locally created fashion of Daily Bread (caps, T-shirts), while Refresh is a gallery/store for vintage athletic wear. 5450 Penn Ave., Friendship, www.dailybreadpa.com
Farm and Forest
A place for house plants, classes about plants (build a mini succulent garden), and charming home décor, including toys made from reclaimed wood. 5437 Penn Ave., Garfield, www.pghfarmandforest.com
Juke Records
Vinyl never died in Pittsburgh. Pop in to browse new and vintage black platters (plus some CDs) of rock, jazz and indie. 4526 Liberty Ave., 412-621-3256
Kathmandu Artifacts
Stop by for an eclectic selection of clothing, housewares, accessories and more, imported from the Himalayan region — everything from incense burners to embroidered yoga pillows. 4625 Liberty Ave., 412-742-4461
Overcast Skate Shop
Hey skaters! Do you need shoes, T-shirts, videos or an awesomely painted deck? This locally owned shop can hook you up. 4116 Main St., 412-701-4116
Robin’s Nest Gift Shop
Specializing in locally made arts and crafts, drop in for goods such as jewelry, pottery, accessories, decor and more. 5504 Penn Ave., Friendship, 412-362-2600
Royal
A great source for one-of-a-kind hip men’s wear, with lots of vintage picks, like jeans, athletic jackets, plaid shirts and accessories. 4124 Main St., Instagram: @royalpittsburgh
Songbird Artistry
A charming store that offers Pittsburgh-themed gift items, T-shirts, toys and jewelry inspired by favorite TV shows and movies. Also: craft classes. 4316 Penn Ave., 412-427-5500
White Whale Books
Cozy corner bookstore, with a well-curated selection of new, used and local work. Also hosts poetry events, author visits and other literary community happenings. 4754 Liberty Ave., 412-224-2847
Arts+Culture
Alloy Studios
Two studio spaces, run by the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, hold public events like classes, workshops, dance performances and spoken-word shows. Rentable for events. 5530 Penn Ave., Friendship, 412-363-3000
Assemble
This nonprofit community space gets kids tapped into maker culture, through craft, art and tech classes and projects. STEAM ahead! 4824 Penn Ave., Garfield, www.assemblepgh.org
BoxHeart Gallery
Established storefront gallery for contemporary works, in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture and mixed forms. 4523 Liberty Ave., 412-687-8858
Center for PostNatural History
This storefront venue explores our relationship with genetically modified plants and animals. Intriguing enough to seek out its limited hours. 4913 Penn Ave., Garfield, www.postnatural.org
Level Up Studios
A multi-faceted arts space that offers dance classes, gallery space, creative writing, design and more; inspired by hip-hop culture and community engagement. 4836 Penn Ave., www.leveluppgh.com
Pittsburgh Glass Center
Part classroom, part gallery: Learn to make art glass, or just admire the work of professionals at regular exhibits. 5472 Penn Ave., Friendship, 412-365-2145
Silver Eye Center for Photography
Long-running gallery devoted to contemporary photographic arts, now in a new location. 4808 Penn Ave., 412-431-1810
Spinning Plate Gallery
This Friendship gallery hosts a variety of local artists and events that incorporate artistic mediums together. Stop by on second Saturdays to take in some culture. 5821 Baum Blvd., Friendship, www.facebook.com/SpinningPlateGallery/
Unblurred
An art-gallery crawl, often with bonus music, food and retail tie-ins, held on the first Friday evening of the month. Penn Avenue. www.pennavenue.org/unblurred
Workshop PGH
A relaxed classroom space to learn crafts, like woodworking, shibori dyeing, printmaking, leather work, sewing and more. 5122 Penn Ave., www.workshoppgh.com
Music
Howlers
A no-frills storefront joint where you can catch everything from old punk, new punk and weird rockabilly to indie bands, alt-country and tribute nights. 4509 Liberty Ave., 412-682-0320
Mixtape
Like its namesake, it’s a mix: dance nights, local-music shows, plus a café that offers craft cocktails, smoothies, small bites and coffee. 4907 Penn Ave., Garfield, 412-661-1727
The Mr. Roboto Project
It used to be a bar, but now it’s a DIY, all-ages straight-edge space that hosts mostly indie, punk and hardcore bands. 5106 Penn Ave., 412-345-1059
The Shop
Looking to catch just-about-to-blow-up national bands, experimental local noise acts and the like? This is the spot. 4314 Main St., www.theshoppittsburgh.com
This article appears in Jul 12-18, 2017.
