This week marks the 131st anniversary of the Battle of Homestead. No, it wasn’t part of any war, and technically, it didn’t even happen in Homestead. Just outside the Pump House in what is now the Waterfront, labor leaders walked out for six days to defend their rights while on the job. What followed was a brutal clash with Pinkerton “detectives” that ended with dozens of injuries and the slow collapse of the budding union. People died, and the movement didn’t stick, but the conflict left an ind...
Jul 05, 2023•18 min
For a long time, the birthday of 19th century composer Stephen Foster was a big deal in Pittsburgh. People here were proud that Foster, who was born on July 4th in Lawrenceville, was the popular songwriter behind a bunch of hits at the time — “Beautiful Dreamer,” “Camptown Races,” “O Susanna,” and more. And while Foster himself was not a confederate leader, there was a statue of him in Oakland for 118 years depicting a barefoot Black man playing a banjo at his feet. The controversial piece came ...
Jul 03, 2023•17 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! If you’ve been struggling with Pittsburgh’s air quality the past few days, we’ve got a DIY solution to breathing easier. Plus hear more about hometown legend Mac Miller’s posthumous drop and what you can do to welcome fursuiters during Anthrocon this weekend. We cite our sources: Confused about Code Red? Here’s a handy explainer on AQI The effects of ozone vs particulate matter 60 years since the Clean Air Act and what’s going wrong PA’s poor grades in the American ...
Jun 30, 2023•25 min
Pittsburgh is the undisputed ketchup capitol, but it turns out our city can (at least partly) lay claim to one of America’s most recognizable frozen desserts. Brian Butko, director of publications for the Heinz History Center, joins us to share the origin story of the Klondike bar — and how the original 1920s classic compares to today’s iconic, foil-wrapped treat. Read more about western Pennsylvania grocery history via Brian’s great book, “Isaly's Chipped Ham, Klondikes, and Other Tales from Be...
Jun 29, 2023•18 min
Maybe you played sports in middle school, or maybe it took another 20 years before you found something fitness-y you actually enjoy. For the more than 10,000 older athletes on their way to Pittsburgh for the 2023 National Senior Games next week, it’s a mixed bag! Nancy Brown, coveted volleyball hitter and president of the Senior Olympics of Western PA, explains the community (diverse) and competition (fierce), plus what it takes to find and pursue a sport in your 50s, 60s, and beyond. Want to se...
Jun 28, 2023•17 min
Pittsburgh is a cradle for technology, innovation, and discovery — but that doesn’t mean we love everything AI spits out. From writing poems about Pittsburgh to paranoid comparisons to nuclear weapons, what should we be paying attention to? And what have we learned? Dr. Maarten Sap, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Language Technology Institute, explains what it means to call something intelligent, why we should be nice to our smart speakers, and if the robot wars aren’t qu...
Jun 27, 2023•20 min
Early summer is the peak season to buy a house in Pittsburgh, but the process can feel overwhelming. How do you find an agent or figure out your price range? Does a Pittsburgh potty count as a half-bath? What the heck is hand money? Local realtor Jessica Baker joins us to help demystify the home-buying process — and explain why an ugly bathroom or outdated cabinets shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We...
Jun 26, 2023•26 min
Pittsburgh professor Alex Waibel is proud to call himself an explorer, but today he’s mourning. All this week, a lot of the world was sort of obsessed with the rescue efforts for the submersible that went missing on its descent to the Titanic shipwreck. A big part of the problem was how the sub and others like it communicate with would-be support above water, and Waibel had been working on a way to solve that. Last summer, he tested it on Titan, and he planned to return in a few months. Host Meg...
Jun 23, 2023•21 min
From sandwiches to salads, Pittsburgh has a long history of putting fries on just about everything. But where does this tradition come from? We’re revisiting our conversation with O’Reilly Media’s Sarah Grey, who dug into Pittsburgh’s unique culinary tastes and history for Serious Eats. Support our advertisers! Join the Art of Living in the special, one-night event Sixth Sense - Meditation & Wisdom with Sri Sri Ravishankar on Thursday, June 22 from 7-9 p.m. at the Omni William Penn. The Art ...
Jun 22, 2023•13 min
It’s the summer entertainment guide — three weeks of recommendations for what to do in Pittsburgh, and how to do it best. This week, the City Cast team is sharing our top local giftable experiences, including treats and activities to mark Pride, the start of pool season, and more. Here’s where to find all of our top picks: Things to buy: Shop with pride from local vendors at the Queer Craft Market this Friday at the Union Project in Highland Park. Learn about dinosaurs, space, art and everything...
Jun 21, 2023•26 min
We’re two weeks out from Pennsylvania’s state budget deadline and a lot is new this year. Like, ahem, the governor himself. We’re with SpotlightPA’s capitol reporter Stephen Caruso to talk about the wildest additions to recent budget seasons (looking at you, Spin scooters), what could get funded this year, and what happens if lawmakers botch the deadline… again. Support our advertisers! Join the Art of Living in the special, one-night event Sixth Sense - Meditation & Wisdom with Sri Sri Ravi...
Jun 20, 2023•19 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! The City Cast Pittsburgh team is getting you ready for a weekend worth celebrating. We’re talking about local Juneteenth history and events, Taylor Swift mania, and a bunch of other activities elsewhere in the city to help you avoid the crowds — all while celebrating Father’s Day, the pup in your life, and more. **Reminder: City Cast won’t be publishing on Monday in observance of Juneteenth. Special thanks to all the great reporting out there that helps us fuel our ...
Jun 16, 2023•25 min
More farmers and gardeners are growing native plants to increase biodiversity and promote conservation, but for people from other countries, planting the fruits and vegetables that they grew up with in Pittsburgh gives them something else — a sense of home. Rafael Vencio of Amboy Urban Collective tells about his experiments with growing tropical plants from the Philippines in a much colder and grayer climate. Support our advertisers! Join the Art of Living in the special, one-night event Sixth S...
Jun 15, 2023•18 min
Summer’s finally here and so is the stress of trying to fit in every warm-weather activity you dreamed about all winter. We’re trying to make things a little easier over here with our summer entertainment guide — three weeks of recommendations for what to do in Pittsburgh, and how to do it best. This week you’re joining us live from the Bottlerocket Social Hall in Allentown where we’re celebrating the best of summer music with the Pittsburgh Independent. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure...
Jun 14, 2023•17 min
Three of Pittsburgh’s 18 city pools will stay closed this summer (miss you already, Bloomfield Beach) but there’s still a lot to celebrate. From the best snack options and kiddie areas to the spots in closest proximity to bars, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know ahead of opening weekend. Special shoutout to our guest Jill Terner, aka @jillratespools, for her incredible efforts in 2022 to rate the best pools in the Burgh for The Incline. Check out her iconic rubric and get the...
Jun 13, 2023•28 min
Cars were essential in the early 20th century — not just to get Black folks from A to B, but as a key part of establishingmobility, freedom, and a place in the middle class. But even with a car, travelers had to be careful where they stopped, relying on resources like the Green Book to tell them where they might be welcomed. Tony Norman, a columnist for NEXTpittsburgh, joins us to talk about two new exhibits at the Frick Car & Carriage Museum and the Heinz History Center, plus his piece hono...
Jun 12, 2023•19 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! A local program for movie and theater professionals is getting a reboot, we’ve found yet another thing the state is worst at (lyme disease, eep!), and there’s a new multi-million proposal to study exactly how to replace our city’s thousands of sodium-vapor streetlights over the next few years. Thanks to all those who’ve done the great reporting we discussed today: Julia Felton in the Trib on potential plans to convert the city’s streetlights to LED lights Emily Payn...
Jun 09, 2023•23 min
Summer is the perfect time for an ice cold brew, and it turns out many of the top producers in the country are right here in Pennsylvania. Host Megan Harris joins City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri to break down Pittsburgh’s local craft brewery boom and sample some of the best beers in the commonwealth. Take our survey! We’re doing an audience survey to learn more about our listeners. It only takes 5 minutes. Anyone who finishes can enter to win a $250 Visa gift card. That’s at citycast.fm/survey...
Jun 08, 2023•29 min
Summer’s finally here and so is the stress of trying to fit in every warm-weather activity you dreamed about all winter. We’re gonna try to make things a little easier over the next three weeks with our summer entertainment guide full ofrecommendations for what to do in Pittsburgh, and how to do them best. Today, we’re starting with a guide to the best guided tours in the Steel City. Find more info on them all here: Burgh Bus Bike the Burgh & Golden Triangle Bike Tours Molly’s Trolley Double...
Jun 07, 2023•24 min
Dozens of Pittsburgh public schools went virtual last week — not because of COVID, but because of extreme heat. The city’s school buildings are so old, most of them don’t have air conditioning and can’t be retrofitted with building-wide systems. As our region gets warmer, many district schools are unprepared to deal with sweltering temperatures that could affect student learning. James Fogarty of A+ Schools joins us to talk about what schools could do to adapt. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Ma...
Jun 06, 2023•17 min
An historic announcement from the FDA changes the rules about who can give blood, which is vital, because according to the Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood as part of a life-saving procedure. Gay and bisexual men were banned from giving blood in 1985 because of the AIDS epidemic, and even as the FDA loosened those restrictions, critics still called the policy discriminatory because it was based on sexuality rather than behavior. Thanks so much to Sean DeYoung, the CEO...
Jun 05, 2023•18 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! The first week of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial is done, and we’re feeling a lot of big feelings about the news coverage. Plus, city councilors weighed in on a reality TV star, and a newly minted Steeler had his car (and playbook!) stolen. Shoutout to the local journalism that makes our Friday shows possible: Lots of local outlets are in the courtroom every day for the shooting trial, including the Trib, PUP, PG, and WESA Check out the Jewish Chronicle’s r...
Jun 02, 2023•27 min
Friday is National Donut Day, and we’re celebrating early. The City Cast crew tasted 21 different donuts from all corners of Pittsburgh, including old standards like cinnamon sugar and glazed plus more creative fare like huckleberry and buckeye. Which would be crowned your favorite? Special thanks to all the shops we sampled, plus those we missed that were recommended by our Hey Pittsburgh readers: West End: Better Maid (Crafton Heights) and Big Daddy’s Donuts (Crafton) East End: Olivers (Lawren...
Jun 01, 2023•27 min
Local celebrations kick off this weekend with concerts, marches, and festivals, including the Pittsburgh parade at noon on Saturday, June 3. QBurgh’s Jim Sheppard shares his best tips for how to thrive, some fun acts to catch, and how our modern celebration compares to the revolutionaries who started it all in 1973. Check out march details, and look for QBurgh’s free magazine celebrating 50 years of fearless local Pride on shelves now. Because over 460 legislative bills have been introduced in s...
May 31, 2023•17 min
When Andrew Carnegie began opening libraries in southwest Pennsylvania in the 1890s, he wanted to bring books and knowledge to everyone — not just those who could afford to pay. Now libraries are taking that spirit beyond the printed word, offering everything from power tools to ukuleles to genealogy databases. We’re exploring the unique collections available for you to check out at local libraries. Take our survey! We’re doing an audience survey to learn more about our listeners, so we can make...
May 30, 2023•16 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! The team is discussing plans to close the Downtown homeless shelter on Smithfield Street and the push to make part of Lake Erie a national marine sanctuary — because it has so many shipwrecks. Plus, we travel back in time to celebrate a radical Pittsburgh painter who shares a birthday with a member of our team. We love to cite our sources! Kiley Koscinski with WESA has done great reporting on the Smithfield Street shelter closure. Learn more about the proposal to de...
May 26, 2023•27 min
One from the archives! Some tastes are just quintessentially Pittsburgh, and today the City Cast team is celebrating a summertime staple: the strawberry pretzel salad. Native Pgher and friend of the pod, Rossilynne Culgan, shared the classic dish with the world for Saveur Magazine and she brought us a cooler full of treats created in homage of its OG flavors, including Millie’s ice cream, Mary Mac Bakehouse’s delicious cookies and Dewey’s gose-style dessert beer. Want to make the classic local d...
May 25, 2023•18 min
Pregnancy and birth can be a time of joy and wonder, but it can also leave parents feeling overwhelmed and sad. An estimated one in five birthing parents face anxiety, depression or other mood disorders. Pennsylvania is doing better than average on providing mental health care before and after birth, but there’s a long way to go. Dr. Rebecca Brent, a clinical psychologist in Allegheny Health Network’s Women’s Behavioral Health Program, tells us a few tips to help new parents (or anyone) dealing ...
May 24, 2023•17 min
We’ve got one from the archives: ASMR is supposed to be relaxing, but for the creators behind the content, platforms like YouTube often fall well short of protecting the people who keep it so popular. Pittsburgh-based artist Lilliana Dee, aka Lily Whispers, is here to explain how she uses her day job in cybersecurity to help educate fellow creators on red flags like fetish mining. And stick with us to the end — Lily offered some very fun, very Pittsburgh bonus content you don’t want to miss. Tak...
May 23, 2023•20 min
Summer is just around the corner, which means anyone who takes care of kids will soon be looking for ways to stave off boredom — and maybe, just maybe, educate or entertain. Freelancer and City Cast contributor Meg St-Esprit is our guide for kid-friendly adventures, free and discounted tickets, and the best festivals for burning off energy. Find more of Meg’s work at Kidsburgh, including her wonderful roundups. More info here about why the Andy Warhol Foundation had business before the U.S. Supr...
May 22, 2023•19 min
