By Ken Williams | Editor

Find out how this hip community rolls

Taste of North Park keeps evolving each year and now includes not only restaurants and brew pubs, but also boutiques and galleries.

For sponsor North Park Main Street, this popular foodie event is part of the bigger picture of promoting North Park as one of San Diego’s destination communities.

“Taste of North Park showcases this area’s amazing restaurants, breweries, galleries and shops,” said Angela Landsberg, executive director of North Park Main Street. “Each year this event brings people to North Park, and creates awareness of the thriving local businesses, booming art and culinary scene, and the electric atmosphere here.”

“We hope that this event, and others like it, encourage entrepreneurs to choose North Park as the location in which to start their businesses. But most importantly, we want local San Diegans and tourists to recognize that North Park has so much to offer, and it is a wonderful community that is growing and flourishing every day.”

A self-guided walking tour, the seventh annual Taste of North Park will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, along University Avenue and 30th Street and adjoining streets. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 on the day of the event at tastenorthpark.com.

More than 40 restaurants, 10 local craft brews, and 10 boutiques and art galleries will participate this year. Some are making their first appearance at the event.

“We are so excited for this year’s new participants: Lucha Libre, Tostadas, Streetcar Merchants, Sublime, Holsem Coffee, Amorcito Corazon, Fatboy’s Deli and Spirits, Panchitas Bakery and Crazee Burger,” Landsberg said.

Tasting events such as this are always a draw to visitors who enjoy good food and libations. Chefs are invited to showcase a bite-size sample of their best dishes, a perfect opportunity for a restaurant to sell itself to potential diners in the future. Breweries often unveil a new flavor. Art galleries and boutiques typically serve a small sample of a local craft beer, bringing in new visitors to check out their wares.

“If you love fine dining on a budget, craft beer from local specialty brewers, modern and unique fashion, and contemporary art, then this event is for you,” Landsberg said.

“We see visitors from all over San Diego and the surrounding areas, and this year we’re teaming up with Uber so you can ride with ease to Taste of North Park! To get your first Uber ride free [up to $20], sign up at [ubr.to/1KPfxXf] or download the app, and enter the promo code TASTENP15. All of our attendants must be 21 or older to taste the craft beers, but food tasting is available for all ages,” she said.

Taste of North Park goes on, rain or shine, and organizers will cap the number of tickets sold.

“We have a limited number of tickets — 1,100 — and they have a tradition of selling out each year so you’ll want to act fast,” Landsberg said. Tickets are available online at bit.ly/1gICvaF.

Taste of North Park is a win-win for both the visitors and the participating businesses, she said.

“North Park has the best restaurants, breweries, boutiques and galleries that San Diego has to offer, and each year the community grows,” Landsberg said. “Taste of North Park offers foodies, craft beer aficionados, fashionistas and art lovers the opportunity to find a new favorite place to dine, drink, play or shop. Local chefs also have a chance to highlight their innovative menu items, while shop owners and brewers get to feature new products or brews. All participating businesses promote a sense of community by offering new and existing customers a friendly atmosphere where they can experience unique new flavors.”

—Ken Williams is editor of Uptown News and Mission Valley News and can be reached at [email protected] or at 619-961-1952. Follow him on Twitter at @KenSanDiego, Instagram at @KenSD or Facebook at KenWilliamsSanDiego.