It’s officially fall, which means leaf-peeping season is almost upon us. If you’re looking for outdoorsy autumn getaways, the City Cast Pittsburgh team has got you covered. Host Megan Harris, newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco, and producers Mallory Falk and Sophia Lo are here with our favorite trips within four hours of the ‘Burgh. This is episode is the first in a three-part series on the best fall getaways in our region. Our picks close to Pgh: McConnells Mill State Park (near Portersville) ...
Sep 26, 2023•23 min
In 2008, the city and its foundations made a promise to all Pittsburgh kids – if you attend class and get decent grades, we’ll help you pay for college or trade school. But last week, the officials behind those gifts told parents in a one-page letter that the money is almost out. We’re talking about why with journalist Mary Niederberger and James Fogarty, executive director of A+ Schools. For more background on the Pittsburgh Promise’s results and past fundraising efforts, check out Mary’s previ...
Sep 25, 2023•22 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Pittsburgh had on impact on the whole dang state when we elected a new representative this week; Pennsylvanians will be automatically registered to vote at the DMV; our five most recent former governors would love to open our primary elections; the “revolving door” for lawmakers to become lobbyists is an increasing problem in Harrisburg; and Gov. Josh Shapiro opened a text line for constituents — if you have an iPhone. We’re with Stephen Caruso of SpotlightPA and Ki...
Sep 22, 2023•24 min
It’s harvest season, and if you’re looking to preserve your bounty, we’ve got some tips for you! Richard Kralj, a food safety educator at Penn State Extension, joins us to talk about why there’s a renewed interest in canning, the best ways to get started, and why you may not want to rely on your grandma’s preserved peach recipe. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh! No...
Sep 21, 2023•16 min
Pittsburgh played a pivotal role in labor history, and we continue to innovate today. City Cast content director Wil Fulton discusses Pittsburgh’s vanguard approach to employee ownership with our sponsor, The Pennsylvania Center for Employee Ownership. He speaks with PA Center for Employee Ownership CEO Kevin McPhillips, and Erika Strassburger and Sara Innamorato, two members of the Center’s citywide task force. They discuss the Center’s mission to educate Pittsburgh on the benefits of employee ...
Sep 20, 2023•21 min
Did you know Pittsburgh is the backdrop for one of the most thrilling movies ever made? The Silence of the Lambs was mostly filmed around Pittsburgh in the early 1990s. When the house of the film’s skin-conscious serial killer, Buffalo Bill, went up for sale a few years ago, a fan bought it. Filmmaker Chris Rowan recreated parts of the set — including the infamous basement well — and converted the house into a “boutique accommodation and a cinematic destination.” City Cast got a special tour. **...
Sep 20, 2023•21 min
Did we just become best friends?! Making new connections as an adult in Pittsburgh can be really hard, but hobbies can help! Writer and City Cast Pittsburgh contributor Meg St-Esprit has a bunch of great ideas to help you find a fun new pastime, plus tips for breaking the ice among your soon-to-be best pals. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Not a fan of social? Then leave us a voicemail at ...
Sep 19, 2023•16 min
South of Schenley Park and just across the river from Page’s Dairy Mart, there’s blank plot of land — currently known as Hazelwood Green — that the city, its foundations, and developers have been dreaming about for a long time. It used to be a center of industry, one of dozens of steel-making centers along our waterways. But what it should become next is still up for debate. PublicSource reporters Emma Folts and Eric Jankiewicz join us to discuss plans to transform the site from “Steel Valley” i...
Sep 18, 2023•20 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Pittsburgh is getting a trans-focused fertility clinic, and City Council passed a pair of bills to protect trans health — though it’s not clear how much power the city really has. The new COVID boosters are available and finally hitting shelves in Pittsburgh. Plus, neighbors who are still anxious about plans to build condos at the old Irish Centre site may have an unlikely hero in Phipps Conservatory. We love to cite our sources! A trans-focused fertility clinic is ...
Sep 15, 2023•24 min
Pittsburgh homes are a mixed bag — some are lavish and others very lived in. Sisters Hope Perri and Annie Perri Colehave made a study of neighborly nebbiness with their hyper-popular Instagram account @HousesofPittsburgh, and they’re taking us behind the scenes on how they take a neighborhood home tour, their approach to content creation, and tips and tricks for making the most of any home-scouting trip in the Burgh. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey ...
Sep 14, 2023•19 min
This week 67 years ago, President Dwight D. Eisenhower launched the sister cities program, and in the decades since, Pittsburgh has become an especially popular international partner. How do these diplomatic hook-ups happen, who greenlights the match, and how did Pittsburgh end up with so many? Kathy Risko, director of the Sister Cities Association of Pittsburgh, says some of it is personality and a lot comes back to steel. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morni...
Sep 13, 2023•14 min
When Andrew Carnegie started 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. **This conversation originally published May 30, 2023. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sur...
Sep 12, 2023•15 min
Labor Day is over and Pittsburghers are in full-fall mode — buying their Halloween candy and getting their pumpkin spice fix, even if it’s still best served over ice. But the city has its eye even further out, because officials are hunting now for our next enormous Christmas tree. Bobby Cherry, the local writer behind itsChristmas365.com, shares how Public Works anoints its annual evergreen, plus his top tips for holiday events you may want to plan for in advance. Want some more Pittsburgh news?...
Sep 11, 2023•20 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Kenny Pickett’s getting paid to look at new sofas and Cutch’s place with Pittsburgh may be in the past. We’ve got a snapshot of host Megan Harris’ hot sports goss, plus an update on the state of the South Side now that the summer is unofficially over and producer Sophia Lo’s suggestions for the best ways to enjoy RAD Days over the next few weeks. We love to cite our sources: The Trib covered Carson City Saloon’s plan to reopen Kiley Koscinski has been covering vario...
Sep 08, 2023•32 min
Have you ever tried a pawpaw? The fruit is ripe for tasting this time of year, and they grow right in our backyard, in our forests, and near our waterways. Hey Pittsburgh editor Francesca Dabecco is here to share some history of this native tree, plus some tips and tricks for finding or foraging its tropical flavor. We love to cite our sources! Become a pawpaw nerd like Francesca and read “Pawpaw, In Search of American’s Forgotten Fruit,” by Pittsburgh author Andrew Moore. Learn about pawpaw’s I...
Sep 07, 2023•13 min
The federal government is giving away billions of dollars to build hydrogen hubs across the country, and Pennsylvania lawmakers want in. They’re excited about hydrogen as a cleaner energy source than fossil fuels — and about the potential for new, well-paying jobs throughout the Commonwealth. But some environmental advocates worry that without the right regulations in place, these hydrogen hubs won’t actually be as environmentally-friendly as they seem. Kate Huangpu, government reporter for Spot...
Sep 06, 2023•17 min
Almost a decade after it was created, Pittsburgh’s land bank made its first few sales this summer. Why did the land bank take so long to get off the ground, and does this portend a more productive future? Jon Moss, co-editor of the Pittsburgh Union Progress, shares the renewed hopes and continued challenges for the city’s grandest residential housing experiment. Find Jon’s reporting on the land bank here. He and others remain on strike from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Act 47 is Pennsylvania’s s...
Sep 05, 2023•16 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Many months after a study found we’re short on bathrooms downtown, city officials think they’ve finally found a solution — and they also want city residents to creatively take care of their deer problem. Plus, there’s a viral video floating around that asks a question Penn State fans should be very, very familiar with. We love to cite our sources! Pittsburgh has a new public restroom proposal for Downtown We talked about the lack of Downtown restrooms on the podcast...
Sep 01, 2023•24 min
How do you mark the start of fall in Pittsburgh? The first crisp morning? The moment the leaves start to change? Or maybe even earlier than that — as soon as pumpkin spice lattes are back on the Starbucks menu and Halloween decorations hit store shelves. If you’re in the latter camp, then fall is already here! And the City Cast team is sharing some of our favorite local treats to get you into the autumn spirit. Our picks: Commonplace Coffee’s fall drink specials, including their maple cinnamon a...
Aug 31, 2023•18 min
Days after a standoff in Garfield over a home ejectment, the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group released a studythat found corporate home buyers have been buying more and more property in the region. Lead producer Mallory Falk joins host Megan Harris to break down the impact of corporate purchases on homeowners, including when buying practices become predatory. We love to cite our sources: Check out Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group’s new study on corporate home buyers in the region T...
Aug 30, 2023•27 min
Where officially is the Steel City? It's a conversation we've all had plenty of times, everyone thinks they're right, and no one is ever fully satisfied with the answer. So we made it an official debate. We’re throwing it back to one of our favorite conversations ever on this show that, of course, came on the heels of a very silly social media moment. What do you think- Midwest, Appalachia, East Coast, or Mid-Atlantic? Or as @pittsburghpersonified says, “a secret third thing,” lol. We’ve got two...
Aug 29, 2023•32 min
A record number of Pennsylvania teachers left the profession last school year, and experts say there aren’t enough qualified candidates to replace them. City Cast Philly and City Cast Pittsburgh are teaming up to unpack the problem, the causes, the consequences, and a few potential solutions. We always cite our sources: Check out PA’s teacher retention data for yourself, courtesy of Penn State’s Center for Education Evaluation and Policy Analysis Here’s the latest from WHYY on staffing at Philad...
Aug 28, 2023•21 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! A new study found Pennsylvanians eat dinner surprisingly early so we asked yinz what time you eat. Big layoffs and a store expansion put a spotlight on Dick’s Sporting Goods this week. Plus, Duquesne City School District could get its high school back — which may bode well for other schools still struggling financially from our unconstitutional funding formula. We love to cite our sources! Andrew Goldstein has been following the Duquesne City news for awhile, first ...
Aug 25, 2023•28 min
Fermentation might sound tricky, but in Pittsburgh, we have an expert to guide you through everything from pickles and pop to kimchi and miso. Trevor Ring of Community Cultures hosts workshops that give you a tingly taste of the art of fermentation. Listen along as the whole City Cast Pittsburgh team makes delicious blueberry pop, and get the recipe to try at home! You can check out Trevor’s upcoming workshops or book a private fermentation class at the Community Cultures website, and pick up hi...
Aug 24, 2023•19 min
We’re in the final few days of summer, school’s about to start, and traffic in Oakland is about to get a whole lot worse. But if you’re looking for a way to celebrate, the City Cast Pittsburgh team has got you covered with the perfect gifts to refresh, relax, and recharge. Support these local businesses: Virginia Montanez’ new book, “Nothing. Everything” Fresh flower picking at Shenot Farms, Soergel Orchards, and Triple B Farms. Tote bags from Nalonkuru Get a delicious dessert from Ritual House ...
Aug 23, 2023•23 min
Pittsburghers tend to be pretty nostalgic — we love giving directions based on what something used to be — and our city is filled with relics from the past. But until recently, there hasn’t been a map of all these artifacts. Local writer Virginia Montanez (aka Jane Pitt) decided to change that. She joins us to discuss her interactive map project Pittsburgh Remains to Be Seen, and how you can get involved with the hunt for local relics. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our...
Aug 22, 2023•15 min
The car parked outside of Evergreen Cafe on Penn Avenue in Point Breeze has frustrated Pittsburgh drivers for decades. Despite complaints to police and social media outrage, it’s remained there day after day. Hannah Kinney-Kobre from Pittsburgh City Paper got the man behind the dusty brown Buick to break his silence, and she’s here to tell us what(arguably) the most hated parker in Pittsburgh has to say for himself. ***This conversation originally published May 3, 2023. Want some more Pittsburgh...
Aug 21, 2023•15 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! The research is in and (surprise, surprise) Pittsburgh is not the fittest city in America; an iconic Kennywood ride is closing for preservation; and details are still trickling about about how and why a house exploded in Plum Borough — we’ve got a few ways you can help the affected families in the coming days. We love to cite our sources: Pittsburgh scored 29th overall in an annual survey on personal and community fitness markers The PG dug into more details about t...
Aug 18, 2023•21 min
The Steel City has a bunch of classic eats, but one of our all-time favorites — the pepperoni roll! — actually hails from West Virginia. We’re talking about its industrial history and modern reinvention with Katt Schuler, the altruistic, story-loving owner and founder of Rolling Pepperoni in Lawrenceville. Plus, why you really don’t need to eat them with sauce. ***This conversation originally published April 27, 2023. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey...
Aug 17, 2023•21 min
When the city announced the appointment of new police Chief Larry Scirotto, they didn’t mention his gay and biracial identities. He said that’s because he wanted to be introduced on merit rather than factors outside his control, but that he’s proud to serve as Pittsburgh first openly LGBTQ+ figurehead and hopes his lived experience will have a lasting effect on local policing. So how did our LGBTQ+ advocacy community feel about it? Reporter Jordana Rosenfeld worked with host Megan Harris for Pit...
Aug 16, 2023•23 min
