Beyond the cucina, Bloomfield is also known for its eclectic mix of shopping destinations. From long-standing two- and three-generation family stores to boutiques just opening their doors in time for the new decade, Bloomfield’s bustling business district could be dubbed a lively little merchant mecca.

With something to meet all of your shopping, errand and retail needs, Bloomfield’s welcoming and walkable stretch of Liberty Avenue is home to everything from medical, financial and professional businesses, to clothing, apparel and gift boutiques. Browse for fine jewelry, hunt for unique housewares, and peruse distinctive gifts — all while getting your everyday errands done.

To shop Liberty, start at one end near the bridge, on the other near Shadyside, or smack dab in the middle of the wide Avenue. Either way, be sure to wander down the neighborhood’s welcoming side streets to discover an array of independent merchants dotting the quieter corners of Bloomfield.

Bordered by 40th St. and Baum Blvd., Bloomfield’s thriving commercial district anchors the community with a mix of old school charm and urban eclecticism. Within blocks, you can fire up your laptop and people watch at a cool coffeehouse, pick up the latest Lady Gaga album, attend an art opening or CD release party, and sample scrumptious spaghetti ice cream.

From foccacio to fine silver and cappuccino to Catholic chochkes, there’s something for every shopper and nosher. Along the Avenue, century-old family businesses like Hoffmann Real Estate and Bloomfield Drug Store happily coexist alongside contemporary art galleries, card shops, fitness centers, and even a pet grooming parlor.

For imported collectible ceramics and pasta bowls, check out Merante Gifts, your one-stop shop for Italian-style wedding favors — many embellished with the traditional almond fare — and fine gifts for any special occasion or loved one. A Bloomfield shopping destination for more than a quarter century, Merante also offers a variety of special cooking classes.

Looking for fine women’s fashions with a worldly twist? Head to Allure, where cosmopolitan chic meets neighborhood boutique. Housed in a sun-drenched turn-of-the century space at the corner of Cedarville, the one-of-a-kind shop specializes in women’s clothing, apparel and jewelry. Known for her knack for spotting global fashion trends, boutique owner, sculptor and jewelry stylist Ellen Levick — who outfits many doctors, staff and visitors from around the world who work at and visit the nearby hospitals — has trekked as far away as Thailand to seek out silk fashions and silver jewelry.

If java is your fix, pop into favorite local gathering spot Crazy Mocha. At all hours, people pour into, lounge at outdoor tables outside of, and surf the web inside the cozy Bloomfield coffeehouse. A second office for many city dwellers, Crazy Mocha keeps patrons coming back for its beverage selection, lived-in cozy vibe, hardwood floors, and tin ceilings. In the back, small but mighty DVD rental store Dreaming Ant is a magnet for citywide fans of independent film, documentaries, obscure television shows, and off-beat Hollywood titles.

Across the street, music lovers flock to Paul’s CDs, which carries thousands of jazz, folk, blues, and alternative rock titles, as well as world music and magazines and books. Also featured are vinyl LPs and 45s, music DVDs and fanzines. To take in Pittsburgh’s thriving live music scene, nightlife seekers congregate at the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern — which just unveiled a new deck — and Howlers, while pub-crawlers flock to Silky’s, Lot 17, Pleasure Bar, and Nico’s.

For a shave and a haircut — or just a quick trim — duck into Dan Cercone, one of Pittsburgh’s last remaining old-school barbershops. Run by Cercone’s grandson Dennis Scullion, who first worked as a shoeshine boy in the throwback shop, Dan Cercone features a traditional barber pole and colorful restored façade. Voted 2008’s “Best Old School Barber” by Pittsburgh Magazine, the shop draws old-timers and younger residents who often request the shop’s signature tapered cut.

Feeling anti-authoritarian? Channel your inner anarchist and delve into social justice, environmental and global issues at The Big Idea InfoShop, tucked away along Millvale Ave. The volunteer-run collective stocks new and used books, educational videos, calendars, and t-shirts. Popular titles include Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States and vegan cookbooks.

Blending necessity and luxury, Bloomfield’s accessible commercial corridor also boasts a supermarket, several banks, a seasonal Farmer’s Market, tanning and hair salons, two cobblers, a vacuum repair shop, two beloved Italian markets, a costume shop, and more. Bloomfield’s once-popular Plaza Theater, an anchor along Liberty Avenue, has been redeveloped as a retail property that today houses Starbucks and W.G. Grinders.