It's Friday! And on Fridays, we talk about all the latest news! Raj Mankad, the op-ed for the Houston Chronicle, and City Cast Houston culture contributor Olivia Flores Alvarez join us this week to kick around the week's biggest and most interesting news. Have you checked our our morning newsletter yet? What are you waiting for! Sign up here . If you ever want to reach us about a topic we should cover or a sweet compliment you've got for us, call or text us at 713-489-6972 You'll also find us on...
Mar 04, 2022•22 min
As America tuned in to one of the most momentous State of the Union Addresses in modern time – one that featured a “masks optional” crowd in the House Chamber – the president’s message was clear: Go back to work, open up the schools, and “Fill our downtowns again.” That is exactly what Lisa Gray did: She drove to Discovery Green to experience her first full-fledged dinner out at a restaurant in a very long time – a restaurant jam-packed with jolly, rowdy Houstonians. Although the experts say the...
Mar 03, 2022•17 min
An hour north of downtown Houston, on I-45, is Huntsville. The home base of Texas' enormous prison system. Keri Blakinger, a corrections reporter for the Marshall Project, recently published a story called "The Rise and Fall of a Prison Town Queen." In it, she tells the story of Melinda Brewer. Along the way, she captures Huntsville and the lives of the people who work in the prison system in a way that is pretty uncommon. You can grab a bowl of popcorn and read Keri's story here . Get the lates...
Mar 02, 2022•21 min
The day Bravo’s Top Chef asked Evelyn Garcia – the chef behind Kin HTX – to appear on its 19th season, she had to think long and hard about it. Yes, it was a chance to compete for $250,000, and yes, it was great publicity. But was she ready? Evelyn had already turned down Top Chef in 2014 when she felt too young and inexperienced to compete. But this time, she considered all she’s learned in the past several years working in New York and Southeast Asia, experiencing so many different kitchens an...
Mar 01, 2022•16 min
A few weeks ago, a glowing op-ed appeared in the LA Times: “What Can Houston Teach Los Angeles About Solving Homelessness?” This article referenced the way Houston has more-than-halved its homeless population in the past decade and hailed it as a national model. Now, as Houston seeks to eradicate homelessness entirely, The Beacon – a nonprofit organization serving the Houston homeless community – has transformed into a gathering spot for those in need. Because the homeless often wait outside the...
Feb 28, 2022•13 min
It’s been an eventful week – and not just here in Houston. Our planet felt the tremors of war on Thursday morning and with it, the instant demand for energy as rifts snaked throughout the world. As always, with its vast resources and technologies, Houston remains as internationally relevant as ever. Each Friday, City Cast Houston asks its correspondents to break down the most important Houston stories of the week, and the most underreported ones. Of course, today, the primary focus is on Russia ...
Feb 25, 2022•17 min
I'm sure you had a lot of epiphanies during the pandemic. That was definitely the case for Ivy Walls, who while working as an infection preventionist learned just how much of a food desert her neighborhood Sunnyside really is. So she did something about it by starting Ivy Leaf Farms. She talks to us about her five-acre farm and how a new grocery store is only the beginning. Check out what new things Ivy Leaf Farms is planning by visiting their website here. Love learning about cool Houstonians d...
Feb 24, 2022•14 min
Some Houston neighborhoods seem to flood every time it rains. So why do people keep rebuilding there? After Hurricane Harvey, sociologist Rachel Kimbro, dean of Rice's school of social science, interviewed 36 women in one of Houston's frequent-flooding neighborhoods. Today she joins host Lisa Gray to talk about her book, In Too Deep, and how it gets into the ways of how families and neighborhoods work. We drop all our gossip lines in our newsletter, so you'll have to subscribe here to get it str...
Feb 23, 2022•19 min
You would not believe why fire ants, who only recently arrived in Houston (probably in the 1930’s when stowaways docked at the bay of Mobile, Alabama) have successfully marched across four states to Texas with little or no resistance: Because they have been conditioned to work together and to never attack neighboring colonies. Which is smart! Because in their world, not only must they dodge pesticides and other animals (and even the occasional stomp of an angry Houstonian’s shoe), but also, a pr...
Feb 22, 2022•19 min
The day Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale donned a costume mattress and shouted “Gallery Saves You Money!” he became a Houston icon. From his wild wagers on the Super Bowl to his foray into politics - and to the touching moments in the wake of disasters when he opened his doors to help helpless Houstonians - love him or hate him, Jim McIngvale is as Houston as it gets. Today, City Cast Houston's Dina Kesbeh, Ferrill Gibbs and Lisa Gray bat around the topic of Mattress Mack as a Houston icon. Make su...
Feb 18, 2022•12 min
The Houston growing seasons are not so very Texan. Our climate is humid subtropical – it has extremely mild winters – and it means that gardening possibilities are endless, especially when tomato-growing season rolls around. Today, City Cast correspondent Evan Mintz argues that gardening is the greatest escape from our world's constant dissonance, and joining him is author Pilar Hernandez, who’s been teaching Houstonians for years how to tend their gardens for food, engagement and fun. If you wo...
Feb 17, 2022•19 min
For half a century, Rothko Chapel has been the stillest place in Houston. We’re a city where too much is never enough, where the hustle never stops. But Rothko Chapel is minimal. And meditative. This week, the chapel finishes its year-long celebration of its 50th birthday with new music by composer Tyshawn Sorey. Today, we talk about all of that with City Cast culture correspondent Chris Gray; and Sara Rothenberg, director of Da Camera, Houston, which co-commissioned the piece. Get the scoop str...
Feb 16, 2022•17 min
Smack at the center of Rice's main quad is a bronze statue of Rice's slave-holding founder, William Marsh Rice. For nearly a year students held daily "Down With Willy" sit-ins, demanding the statue's removal. City Cast correspondent and 2020 Rice graduate Rachel Carlton tells City Cast Houston’s host Lisa Gray (also a Rice alum!) all about the protests, and also, the university's effort to make things right. Follow City Cast Houston on Twitter ! Also, Follow Lisa Gray on Facebook - and contribut...
Feb 15, 2022•17 min
Last time we opened up the phone lines for caller submissions, Houstonians regaled us with inspiring stories from the 610 Loop. Today, just in time for Valentine’s, we were equally inspired by Houstonians’ tales of love. Listen to real love stories - some sweet, some naughty, and others that’ll bring a lump to your throat - as told by the greatest audience we know, the City Cast Houston fans! We hope you have a great Valentines Day. That said! Follow us on Twitter ! Follow us on Facebook ! Aaaaa...
Feb 14, 2022•23 min
Since 1982, Buc-ee's has been THE road-trip stop favorite among many Texans. Their reign over being the top gas station has stretched across many state lines, and now they're headed to Colorado. Peyton Garcia, City Cast Denver newsletter writer was filled with questions about what a Buc-ee's even is and if it's something Denver should get excited about. Today, the City Cast Houston team steps in to help a Denverite understand what getting a Buc-ee's in there state means for their road trip adven...
Feb 11, 2022•13 min
When host Lisa Gray walked her dog on Monday, she saw a gnarly dark plume billowing over Southeast Houston. Turns out, that cloud was a “flare event” - spewing chemicals into the air the volume of nine Metro buses. To help her better understand what unseen elements can sometimes confront Houstonians on their dog walks, Jennifer Hadayia, of the Air Alliance Houston, and Luke Metzger, of Environment Texas, stop by to break it all down. If you would like to know more about Jennifer and Luke's organ...
Feb 10, 2022•17 min
Have you ever wondered what your neighborhood looked like before there were buildings on the land? What was uptown like before freeways and the Galleria? What about the Astrodome area and Alief and West University? On today's episode, environmental expert, Jaime Gonzales may blow your mind. Houston before development was probably not what you imagined. If you're as curious as where, here's where you can download Google Earth to look into your own neighborhood's history! Wake up to a nice cup of ...
Feb 09, 2022•20 min
Once upon a time, Robert Thomas was a nightclub owner: District 1960 in Northwest Houston. (Acts such as Megan Thee Stallion and Moneybagg Yo performed there.) But, when the pandemic struck and the crowds thinned out, he was forced to shut down and rethink his purpose. Mulling his new status of “non-essential,” he experienced a lightbulb moment: Could he bring black vendors together and promote products made with love at a new grocery store called District Market Green Grocer? Find the charming ...
Feb 08, 2022•18 min
According to The Marshall Project’s Keri Blakinger, Texas youth prisons are a complete and total mess. They’re places of tortuous violence, horrifying prisoner confrontations, and interminable stints of solitary confinement. More than anything, she argues, it's how these institutions have failed to set up youths for future success, and in some cases, have even become an express route for kids straight to death row. For more on this story, make sure to read Keri Blakinger's recent piece at the Ma...
Feb 07, 2022•17 min
It’s crawfish season! (You heard that right … even in early February!) Although 90% of the country’s crawfish come from across the Louisiana State line, they are still very much a Houston flavor. One of the most sought-after dishes around here is the Viet-Cajun crawfish, like the ones you can find at Crawfish and Noodles . On today’s show, enjoy a crawfish-centered discussion by the City Cast Houston team as they break down: What *are* crawfish? Are they healthy? And what’s the best way to eat t...
Feb 04, 2022•17 min
The River Oaks Theatre - Houston’s oldest and most beloved spot to catch a flick - has been shuttered since March 2021. Ever since, its fate has been up in the air… until now! Maureen McNamara, one of the founders of Friends of River Oaks Theatre; and David Bush, director of Preservation Houston, stop by to deliver some heartwarming news about the historic movie theater. Find out more about Friends of River Oaks Theatre here ! Also! We'd love to see y'all on Twitter! Make sure you follow along f...
Feb 03, 2022•17 min
Exxon Mobil announced this week that it's moving its headquarters to the Houston area -- which will make it the biggest Fortune 500 company located here. Why are Exxon's top executives leaving Irving, Texas? And what does it mean about the long-term prospects of Houston's oil companies? Today we dive into the reasons behind this move with contributor Loren Steffy. Get all your Houston dirt right to your inbox, subscribe to our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastHous...
Feb 02, 2022•13 min
Primary season is here! In these parts, we have roughly 90 races to vote on, which is a lot of platforms, issues, and campaign promises to keep up with! So, to help you navigate the Texas political murk, City Cast Houston contributor Evan Mintz offers ways to get a bead on the candidates so that you can vote smart all the way down the ballot. Make sure to follow along with Lisa Gray's weekday newsletter, because as she mentioned, she will be scrutinizing the process and hearing from folks like E...
Feb 01, 2022•18 min
Loop 610 is the city’s Mother Loop, its inner ring - the circle that defines Houston. (Either you’re in, or you’re out!) Today, City Cast listeners share their own stories from the loop: Funny, alarming, thoughtful, and sometimes, more poignant than you ever thought stories about a freeway could be. You got a good Houston love story? Valentine's Day is coming… call our City Cast answering machine and make us swoon! Make sure to tell us your name! Dial (713) 489-6972. Finally, if you're up for a ...
Jan 31, 2022•16 min
Whataburger is a Texas favorite but the invasion of the shiny West-Coast chain In-n-Out has sparked a debate: is In-n-Out better than Whataburger? Are both their burgers totally different or comparable. Today the team tackles a brewing debate on which burger is better and if either of them is worth a bite! Want more Houston news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastHouston...
Jan 28, 2022•16 min
Chester Chambers, the bright-eyed owner of the Bloom Foods food truck, also holds a degree in chemical engineering from MIT. But, down here in Houston, he focuses on the perfect chemistry his plant-based burger possesses (as well as nuggets, fries, sausage biscuits, and tacos). It’s fare that any late-night bar-hopping Houstonian could find delicious, and its biggest upside? It’s healthy. Chester is joined by editor of Edible Houston David Leftwich who argues that improvements in techniques and ...
Jan 27, 2022•16 min
Usually, when Houstonians talk about insects, it's about the ones that we want to kill. Mosquitoes, fleas, fire ants, but today one of the insects' biggest fans is joining bug-hating producer Dina Kesbeh. City Cast contributor, Scott Solomon studies ants. He's a Rice University entomologist, and he's just released a lecture series on why insects matter. Scott is going to make the case that yes, even in Houston, we need those creepy crawlies. If you want to go down a rabbit hole of insect learnin...
Jan 26, 2022•19 min
Something that every Houstonian can agree on is that potholes are the worst. Good thing we have Walter Hambrick on the job! (Assistant Director of the Houston Public Works Department.) He and his team even have a pothole “War Room” from which they rush to the battlefield each time a jarred Houstonian dials 3-1-1. On today’s episode, learn all about Mr. Hambrick and his team who are making Houston’s streets a smoother ride. Check out the Houston Potholes Tracker - you'll see that these pothole fo...
Jan 25, 2022•14 min
Last year, Houston police responded to 470 deaths. It was one of the worst homicide rates we’ve seen in the past 30 years. City Cast contributor Evan Mintz joins Dr. Howard Henderson - founding director of Texas Southern University’s Center for Justice Research - to discuss ways Houston could be proactive instead of reactionary in this fight to end homicides. You can find Dr. Henderson's page at TSU here ! Also, if you like our weekday podcast that covers Houston in insightful ways, go here and ...
Jan 24, 2022•16 min
Recently, H-E-B was ranked #2 on a national survey - just behind Amazon. Today, the City Cast crew breaks down what makes H-E-B special… and what makes it especially Texan. (Not to mention the Texas-shaped tortilla chips.) Here's Dina 's favorite drink H-E-B carries: H-E-B Sparkling Prickly Pear ...And here's the Texas-shaped Corn Tortilla chips Finally, help us prepare for an upcoming showdown between Whataburger and In n' Out! Just call the City Cast Houston line and tell us whose side you're ...
Jan 21, 2022•16 min
