Visitors get a taste of Oakland’s best

This weekend, Oakland will show off the best that its business district has to… This weekend, Oakland will show off the best that its business district has to offer.

Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., the Oakland Business Improvement District, a collaboration of local buisness owners, will host the third annual Taste of Oakland, which features local retailers and restaurants.

Attendees can shop while snacking on some of Oakland’s finest.

“It’s an opportunity for the community to come out and sample food and local retailers,” said Mary Davidson, the marketing and communications coordinator of the business improvement group.

People can pay $5 each for admission or give a nonperishable food item that will be donated to a local food bank. Carnegie Museum members can attend for free.

Prospective attendees can purchase tickets Saturday at the public parklet at the corner of Forbes Avenue and South Bouquet Street, or at Eureka Bank on 3455 Forbes Ave. They will receive a hand stamp and a map to guide them on a tour of Oakland’s shops and restaurants, Davidson said.

Besides snacks and shopping, admission includes other discounts and events. The $5 fee or food donation covers free admission to the Carnegie museums of art and natural history and to Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum, as well as discounted admission to shows at the Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theatre and the International Children’s Festival.

“‘A Taste of Oakland’ is growing. Last year we had about 500 people attend, and this year we are expecting 700 people,” Davidson said.

The host, the OBID, is a collaboration of business owners in the Oakland area. This year, the participants range from Big Joe’s Pizzeria & Deli and Maggie & Stella’s Cards & Gifts to Pitt’s book store.

“The year we’re partnering up with Eureka Bank,” Jimmy John’s manager Mike Dytko said. “We prepare sandwich platters and take them to the bank to be sampled.”

Jimmy John’s will provide an assortment of different sandwiches, including meat and vegetarian choices, Dytko said.