Today we continue with Raj Mankad’s bicycle journey around 610 — his personal quest, after pandemic isolation, to reconnect with the city. Today he covers the eastern part of the Loop – the industrial side, the Port of Houston side, the grimy sublime part that most Houstonians know least. City Cast and the Houston Chronicle Opinion section want to know all your 610 stories! Call us at 713-489-6972, tell us your name, and in around 30 seconds, tell us about your Loop 610 story. Or email us: houst...
Jan 20, 2022•20 min
Raj Mankad, the Houston Chronicle's op-Ed editor and Houston's resident utopian, has made a project of riding his bike around Loop 610. How did it go and why on earth did he venture on this journey? Today, Lisa Gray asks Raj to map out his trip for us. In the first part of our two part series, Raj takes us on a ride through the lush greenery of Memorial park and through the upscale Bellaire. But, his ride does follow a few strict rules... you'll have to listen to find out what those are. City Ca...
Jan 19, 2022•17 min
Seismique, in far west Houston, bills itself as both an “art museum” and an “intergalactic playground.” Inside a former Bed Bath & Beyond, more than 40 hallucinogenic, made-for-Instagram rooms house wildly different experiences born of everything from projectors and LEDs to crochet. The dizzying experience is less like a traditional art museum, and more like a concert, an escape room or an amusement park. Today we talk about it with art maven and City Cast contributor Olivia Flores Alvarez a...
Jan 18, 2022•13 min
As Covid 19 has raged on, Independence Heights in Northwest Houston has suffered a loss of some historic housing - particularly with townhomes popping up right along Main Street. For Tanya Debose, a founder of the national group Black Towns Matter, MLK day on Monday will not be “a day off, but a day on,” as she continues to educate, inform and empower. For more information on how you can help, make sure to visit Tanya Debose's project, Black Towns Matter . Also, if you would like to see what she...
Jan 14, 2022•15 min
This March, on Black Heritage day, Lil’ Keke will join Bun B’s H-Town Takeover at the Houston Rodeo. Alongside some of the most highly revered Houstonian rappers ever (his fellow “elder statesmen” Bun B, Slim Thug, Z-Ro, and others), Lil’ Keke’s upcoming performance will draw inspiration from a career spent representing Texas. For more information on Lil’ Keke’s recently dropped song "We From Texas," go here! For Tickets to the H-Town Takeover, you should click over to the Houston Rodeo page (ti...
Jan 13, 2022•14 min
With Houston's crime rate on the rise and gun violence wreaking havoc on the city, finding a solution is on everyone's mind. It's why all but one council member, Letitia Plummer, voted for the gunshot detection technology. The technology has definitely drawn criticism and swirled many doubts, will this actually help reduce gun violence in our city? You'll have to listen to find out. Today Lisa sits down with City Cast contributor, Evan Mintz, and with DeRay McKesson, host of the podcast, pod sav...
Jan 12, 2022•13 min
Back in the day, Houston was flush with charming weirdos. People made strange stuff here: We had the Orange Show, the Beer Can House, and art cars galore. But where’s our new generation of eccentrics? On today’s show we discuss this with contributors Allyn West and artist Phillip Pyle II, who’s working on a 20' monument for the Flower Man. Check out Phillip Pyle's art on his website, here ! Also, make sure to check out Allyn West's twitter, here ! Finally, subscribe to City Cast Houston's podcas...
Jan 11, 2022•14 min
Scott Solomon - biologist, professor, and science communicator – takes producer Ferrill Gibbs to a portion of the shallow, muddy Brazos (just north of College Station) where certain historical rocks and their peculiar characteristics offer coordinates to one of life’s greatest mysteries. Check out Scott's new show on Wondrium, which is his greatest passion... insects! The show is called "Why Insects Matter" - and you can find it here ! Also, you should sign up for the City Cast Houston newslette...
Jan 10, 2022•11 min
The Great Resignation has been happening all over – but not like in Texas. Antréchelle Dorsey, contributor for City Cast Houston, explains how like other Houstonians, she has seized this moment to redefine her life and rearrange her priorities. To find Antréchelle ... you can go Here ! She mentioned Mimi Irwin and Dequilla Bratcher. Find their businesses here! Fitty Wraps and Delicacies by Dee Also, don't forget to tell two friends about City Cast Houston! We could use all your help - and they c...
Jan 07, 2022•13 min
In February 2021, after Winter Storm Uri rolled into Texas, the state’s power grid went down. Millions of homes and businesses lost electricity and heat, and hundreds of people died. Are we better prepared now? Sergio Chapa, an energy reporter with Bloomberg, explains the weaknesses 2022's first little cold snap revealed. Want the coolest scoop on Houston? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter ! Catch us at Tweeting and retweeting our colleagues from other cities @CityCastHouston...
Jan 06, 2022•13 min
Nelly, Hannah, and Laura of the band “Babes In Betoland” gear up to stump (although musically) for Beto O’Rourke’s gubernatorial campaign. Inspired by his causes, though not officially part of his campaign, they take to the road to discover if yodeling for Beto can thrust a message of “making Texas safe again” across a gaping political divide. You can check out their Indigogo page, here ! Also, they have a Facebook video here... Babes In Betoland Facebook Finally, make sure you follow/subscribe ...
Jan 05, 2022•14 min
The Tank, 106.5 FM, isn’t an ordinary radio station. It’s run by prisoners, for prisoners, at the maximum-security Allan B. Polunsky Unit north of Houston. Keri Blakinger, a prisons-and-jails reporter for the Marshall Project, tells Lisa about the Tank, its wild mix of programming, and what it means to some of the most isolated men in Texas. Read Keri's piece in the Marshall Project here . Want the scoop on Houston? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter ! We’re also on Twitter! Fo...
Jan 04, 2022•14 min
What better way to know that you *know* a city than to have an outsider ask “dumb” questions about it? On today’s episode, founder and CEO of City Cast (who also appears on the Slate Political Gabfest) David Plotz - a Washingtonian - gets schooled by host Lisa Gray and producer Dina Kesbeh on Houston’s idiosyncrasies.
Jan 03, 2022•20 min
Need a cool, thoughtful gift two days out from Christmas Eve? Dina and Lisa have you covered! From hyper-local honey (“the only food that lasts forever”) to ornaments, art lessons and dehydrated croissants, there are still a lot of great gifts to show how thoughtful — and local — you are!
Dec 22, 2021•12 min
Houston Methodist’s Omicron cases have topped 80% in December. It only took three weeks to dominate all other variants. Dr. Wesley Long of Houston Methodist warns that Omicron has begun to spread rapidly in Houston - and what Houstonians can do as they try to navigate the holidays later this week. Dr. Long's Tweets will keep you in the know. And, make sure to subscribe to City Cast Houston - it will keep you in the know, too! Go here !...
Dec 21, 2021•17 min
Ricardo Molina, second-generation owner of the Tex-Mex staple “Molina’s Cantina,” has never experienced such difficulties staffing and maintaining inventory as he has recently - ever since the COVID outbreak. Today, City Cast Houston contributor Loren Steffy gives his breakdown for why it's all happening, and the emerging economic landscape that Houstonians can expect to endure. Check out Molina's Cantina Here . Also, find Loren Steffy and check out all his many projects, Here Finally, subscribe...
Dec 20, 2021•14 min
“Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15!“: That declaration was the high point of Beto O’Rourke’s 2019 campaign for the presidency. But now that he’s running for governor of Texas, will his support of gun control doom his chances? Lisa Gray chats with City Cast contributor Evan Mintz, whose editorials on gun control made him a Pulitzer finalist. You can find out more about Evan, here ! Also, sign up for Lisa Gray's newsletter (She puts a lot into it!) - go here! City Cast Houston Signup Follow...
Dec 17, 2021•14 min
When plumber Justin Cauley (aka “Justin the Plumber”) found envelopes full of cash and checks spilling forth from the bathroom walls of Lakewood Church - a stash reportedly linked to a $600,000 robbery at Lakewood back in 2014 - the story became a national sensation. Today, City Cast Houston’s correspondents Marcus Carter and Evan Mintz discuss their perceptions of Lakewood Church and try to figure out why - with Lakewood - there is “always something.” Follow Marcus Carter on Instagram here ! Fi...
Dec 16, 2021•14 min
Do you have a long list of people you need to buy gifts for? Have you been racking your brain trying to find that perfect gift, but also unique? City Cast contributor and arts writer Olivia Flores Alvarez is here to tell us about all the excellent gifts made by Houston's creative people -- artists, artisans and a writer. Check out our twitter Here - and don't forget to sign up for our newsletter, Here ! Here's a list of all the shops mentioned in today's episode: Jim Koehn Art Space, watercolor ...
Dec 15, 2021•13 min
After a Christmas spent hunkering down last year, correspondent Antre’chelle Dorsey presents listeners with a variety of options to keep Christmas merry (and safe) in 2021. From The H-Town Christmas Countdown, to an outdoor dinner and drinks at one of her favorite spots, Pappasito's, Antre’chelle and host Lisa Gray have you covered… Check out these fun links discussed in the episode: H-Town Christmas Countdown The Houston Zoo lights Houston Botanic Garden Lightscape Pappasito's Cantina ... and t...
Dec 14, 2021•13 min
Raz Halili, a second-generation oysterman in Dickinson, Texas, has developed the reputation for being a good steward of his corner of the Gulf. Recently, he recruited Houston chef Joe Cervantez and together, they made a restaurant in nearby San Leon: Pier 6 Seafood and Oyster House. (It features the oysters procured by his family's oyster processing plant, Prestige Oysters - and also, it has a really good burger.) Check out the restaurant here ! A grand new pier and walkway are coming soon that ...
Dec 13, 2021•11 min
Last week, City Cast Houston's Senior Producer Dina Kesbeh came down with what she believed was the flu. Fully vaccinated, always conscientious of avoiding the virus, she was surprised to hear that this "flu" was actually COVID -19. She is thankfully on the mend, but the questions remain: Should she disinfect everything in the house? Particularly her toothbrush? Is it Omicron? And most importantly, how long should she quarantine? Heralded virologist Dr. Ben Nueman of Texas A&M University-Tex...
Dec 10, 2021•20 min
City Cast Houston contributor Marcus Carter is utterly in love with the restaurant Bludorn -- so much so that he made a hashtag about it. So, what's so special about this restaurant? We don't just ask Marcus, we sit down with Chef and owner Aaron Bludorn to dive into what makes this eatery so special. To get the scoop on all things Houston, be sure to sign up for our newsletter here. And, catch us Tweeting... City Cast's Twitter We’re working now on a podcast about last-minute holiday gifts – th...
Dec 09, 2021•13 min
Tahmina Ghoori was forced to flee Afghanistan last summer along with her family. After two stops at refugee camps in Pennsylvania and New Mexico, the family picked Houston as their new home – a city of wealth, diversity, and possibilities. Joining her is Jida Nabulsi, CEO of Amaanah Refugee Services, to explain to Lisa how the process unfolded. If you would like to hear more about the services offered by Amaanah Refugee Services, you can visit their website here . The City Cast Houston newslette...
Dec 08, 2021•11 min
In this episode, meditation expert Alejandro Chaoul offers ways to survive the holiday season — even if your relatives keep bringing up QAnon. If you would like to learn more about him, check out Alejandro's events! Meditation and Tea (In-person) Meditation and Tea (Livestreaming) Mini-retreat (Livestreaming) His new book is Tibetan Yoga: Magical Movements of Body, Breath, and Mind Also, there are weekly free meditations and a monthly meditation in Spanish called " The Power of Community " Follo...
Dec 07, 2021•16 min
Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, is fresh off the news circuit championing his strategy to strike a real blow to COVID -19: Vaccinate the Southern Hemisphere. Lisa Gray hosts as Dr. Hotez explains what we potentially face, what is known vs. soon-to-be-known, and how Dr. Hotez plans to approach the Holiday season with the ongoing threat of COVID -19. Find Dr. Hotez on twitter here ! Follow us on Twitter: City Cast Houston's Twitt...
Dec 06, 2021•16 min
Olivewood Cemetery is believed to be Houston’s first black cemetery. It had been neglected for a while before a group of volunteers decided they’d help clean up and maintain the grounds. But those volunteers are getting old and the upkeep is a lot for them. So who will maintain the cemetery if they can’t? Lisa sits down with City Cast contributor Brooke Lewis who writes for Texas Monthly. We're live on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastHouston to keep up with Houston news, nature, and other stuff you ...
Dec 02, 2021•15 min
In this episode, political contributor/Pulitzer finalist Evan Mintz discusses with Lisa the possible rationale behind the Woodlands’ continued resistance to becoming a city. His ultimate gut feeling? That The Woodlands have an aversion to anything even remotely symbolizing a restrictive government… Plus, some very good news regarding homelessness in Houston - just in time for the holidays. We're live on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastHouston to keep up with Houston news, nature, and other stuff you...
Nov 30, 2021•13 min
Lisa hosts producers Dina Kesbeh and Ferrill Gibbs on the last podcast offering before Thanksgiving. What culinary disasters have the three endured on Thanksgivings past? What’s on the menu for this year’s celebration? And, Lisa calls for something good in Houston that listeners might include into their festivities this year... We're live on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastHouston to keep up with Houston news, nature, and other stuff you need to know. Why let your ears have all the fun? Feast your e...
Nov 23, 2021•15 min
Photographer Geoff Winningham has been shooting Buffalo Bayou for decades. His photos are up on display at cafe Brasil for all to see -- it includes some historic photos that he found in Harvard's archives. So what is it about the bayou the drew him in for this long? Tune in to hear Geoff share all the historical details about what the Buffalo Bayou looked when he first laid eyes on it. We're live on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastHouston to keep up with Houston news, nature, and other stuff you ne...
Nov 18, 2021•14 min
