Pittsburgh has a brewery or craft beer for just about any craving, and we also have a Brewers Guild that supports that more than 40 craft breweries the create these libations. We’re with incoming executive director Mel Larrick to talk about how modern beermakers honor the city’s nostalgia, plus she walks us through the city’s growing brewery trails, the guild’s new code of conduct, and how to get prizes for supporting local spots. Become a founding member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.ci...
Dec 21, 2023•23 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. **Editor’s note: This show originally aired Sept. 19, 2023. Become a founding member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily ...
Dec 20, 2023•17 min
Nippon Steel is paying $14.9 billion for Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel, so what does that mean for the company that helped build the Burgh? Penn Hills is getting new free trash cans, and not everyone is thrilled about it. And we’ve got a few ways to help your neighbors this holiday season. Plus, we want to hear from you about what Yinzer hill you’d be willing to die on. Call or text us at 412-212-8893. Become a founding member of City Cast Pittsburgh. More info at membership.citycast.fm. We always...
Dec 19, 2023•23 min
More than 300,000 people will be passing through Pittsburgh International Airport between Dec. 22 and Jan. 1, and getting there can be even more troublesome than the flights themselves. The City Cast Pittsburgh team is sharing our best tips and tricks to making your travel time a smidge less painful, plus, we’ve got the latest on the $1.4 billion renovation at the airport. Check out Marylee’s spicy LGBTQIA book club Find your airport parking spot a little easier by saving the official PIT map Ca...
Dec 18, 2023•26 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Groceries are so much more expensive than they used to be, and new data shows Pennsylvanians in particular are paying more than the rest of the country. Pens and Pirates games have a new TV home, and we’re honoring a remarkable local who devoted her life to public service. Plus, stick around for all the details on City Cast’s next meet and greet on Friday, Dec. 22. We always cite our sources: Consumer Affairs released a grocery analysis that found Pennsylvania is th...
Dec 15, 2023•29 min
How long could you last without going to the grocery store? TikTokers Jordan Tony and Silvan Goddin use their skills and public resources to show their more than 800,000 social media followers how to live more sustainably, and for their annual “Living Off the Land” challenge, the duo are seeing how long they can get by eating only wild and homegrown food. Learn about their farming roots and favorite spaces to grow, forage, and hunt in Pittsburgh. Plus, hear their suggestions for getting started....
Dec 14, 2023•27 min
Pennsylvania is getting $1.6 billion in opioid settlement money over the next several years. It’s supposed to help communities address addiction, but a long-standing state ban on some harm reduction practices could make it difficult to get anything done. WESA’s Sarah Boden and SpotlightPA’s Ed Mahon share how Allegheny County gets around the rule, how other regional providers are coping, and exactly what’s in store for our piece of a very expensive pie. Become a founding member of City Cast Pitt...
Dec 13, 2023•19 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...
Dec 12, 2023•35 min
We’re going back to the moon! A Pittsburgh-based aerospace company is sending off a lunar lander right before Christmas. But it’s not our first rodeo in this space — the Steel City has a long legacy in cosmic exploration. Producer Sophia Lo shares Pgh’s role in the Apollo missions, how the upcoming Peregrine launch came together, and what it means to have a budding “space district” on the North Side. Plus, our team has a little launch announcement of our own. We’ve kicked off a new membership pr...
Dec 11, 2023•24 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Winter is coming, but is the city prepared with its snow plows? We’re also looking at how Gov. Josh Shapiro has (or hasn’t) lived up to his campaign promises so far, and if you don’t feel like cooking, we’ve lined up a whole day of great local food. Plus, there’s a new chance to hang with the City Cast crew in December! We always cite our sources: Spotlight PA has been tracking how far Shaprio has gotten on his campaign promises. PublicSource has a great story on th...
Dec 08, 2023•23 min
Where does Mayor Ed Gainey go to unwind? What’s his favorite restaurant? Is he a hockey guy, or a Steelers stan? Which mascot is his all-time favorite, and why isn’t it ALCOSAN’s Frankie the Fish? We kept the mics hot to ask the city’s top official a few of your silliest questions. A couple past shows to check out: Budgets, bridges & why Gainey thinks sidewalks are sexy Why can’t Pittsburgh score an NBA team? Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pitt...
Dec 07, 2023•9 min
People are worried about downtown Pittsburgh, but Mayor Ed Gainey isn't convinced. We went to the City-County Building to talk about his wish list for more bridge projects, less gun violence, and bringing the NFL Draft to Steelers country. Plus, stick around for our suggestions ahead of his very first e-scooter ride. 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 voic...
Dec 07, 2023•32 min
Hanukkah starts tomorrow night, and if you head Downtown, the mayor and community leaders are lighting a 12-foot menorah at the City-County Building. But its place on government property wasn’t always so celebrated. In 1986, a team of Pittsburghers brought a lawsuit against city and county governments to remove both it and the enormous creche, which in those days sat outside the County Courthouse. We’re talking with one of the plaintiffs, attorney Jon Pushinsky, about his legal argument and what...
Dec 06, 2023•16 min
Why lead one county when you can influence 10? Outgoing County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced his new gig with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, which means he won’t be going far. We’re talking about what the SPC actually does, plus how it plans to spend $35 million through 2045. HBO’s latest period drama “The Gilded Age” is adapting the Homestead strike in this week’s episode, and with everyone posting their Spotify Wrapped, we wondered what it would take to get Pittsburgh as your ...
Dec 05, 2023•21 min
Lights, camera, action! Now that the Hollywood actors’ and writers’ strikes are over, what does it take to get Pittsburgh’s movie biz rolling again? We're with Pittsburgh Film Office executive director Dawn Keezer to talk about upcoming productions, how they've been supporting their artists, what she hopes to do with money from the state when it eventually comes, and why it’s taken Pgh so long to break a “season three” curse. You can visit the Pittsburgh Film Office’s website to learn more about...
Dec 04, 2023•19 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! PA still doesn’t have a state budget and it’s costing local community colleges and libraries a lot. Zoning changes — more zoning changes! — could be on the horizon for child care facilities, and after a week without Matt Canada, how are the Steelers looking? Plus, we learned something new about Prevention Point Pittsburgh. We always cite our sources: SpotlightPA reports state budget delays are really hurting local community colleges and libraries. The Trib focused o...
Dec 01, 2023•19 min
Description: It’s the food show! We’re helping you get into the holiday spirit with Christmas pop-up bar recommendations. Plus, our tips on where to get cookies for holiday parties and events to keep you busy this weekend. Check out Hey Pittsburgh’s best holiday markets for shopping local around the ‘Burgh. Want some more Pittsburgh news? 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 412-212-8893. ...
Nov 30, 2023•17 min
Pittsburghers tend to be pretty nostalgic — we love giving directions based on what used to be somewhere — and our city is filled with these forgotten relics from the past. Local writer Virginia Montanez (aka Jane Pitt or Pitt Girl) decided to change that. She’s sharing her latest passion project, an interactive map called Pittsburgh Remains to Be Seen. Plus, hear how you can get involved! **This episode originally aired Tuesday, August 22, 2023. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign...
Nov 29, 2023•15 min
The Hollywood Theater in Dormont is back in business, temporarily. Developer Brian Mendelssohn is in the preview phase of a more than $1 million renovation of the oddly shaped, weirdly designed one-screen space, and he’s just getting started. We joined him on Potomac Avenue to talk about what he learned from opening Row House in Lawrenceville, how the South Hills community has contributed to his dreams for the Hollywood, and all the fun treats he’s got in mind for its basement, including private...
Nov 28, 2023•19 min
Judicial elections don’t usually take the spotlight. But this year, the race for PA’s Supreme Court between Democrat Daniel McCaffery and Republican Carolyn Carluccio set big new spending records. AP reporter Marc Levy explains how all that cash made a difference and what this election could mean for future judicial races. 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 ...
Nov 27, 2023•15 min
Tis the season to shop small! For this month’s City Cast Pittsburgh gift guide, we’re ticking off a swirl of upcoming art and craft markets for holiday shoppers of every stripe. Whether you’re in the mood for huge wall art, intricate glasswork, hand-painted stationary, or beautifully delicate ceramics and pottery, we’ve got your ultimate holiday market guide to help you find the Pittsburgh-perfect gift for all your loved ones this year. Newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco shared an even bigger l...
Nov 22, 2023•15 min
Over the last couple months, one local name has become synonymous with failure — or at least culpability. The 6-4 Steelers may have a winning record, but few would credit offensive coordinator Matt Canada with their success. What about him inspired thousands of fans to chant “Fire Matt Canada” at both Steelers and Penguins games, or prompt one enterprising Giant Eagle to sell cookie cakes with the same slogan? We’re with WPXI’s Jenna Harner and The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo to talk about how Canada...
Nov 21, 2023•20 min
It’s hard to tell now, but Pittsburgh’s got deep roots in roller skating. We’re talking about the heyday for local rinks, iconic moves like the Pittsburgh Stride, and how a new group called the PGH SK8 Collaborative centers all skating styles, abilities, ages, races, bodies and genders. Plus, guests Dana Bannon and Rico Rucker have a thought or two about both pickleball and the future of the Homewood Coliseum. If, like host Megan Harris, you’re worried roller skates would make you look like a ba...
Nov 20, 2023•16 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! The City Cast Pittsburgh team is going deep on Mayor Ed Gainey’s “State of the City” address and which of his priorities perked up our ears. Plus, we explain what the end of Giant Eagle FuelPerks actually means and how to do Light Up Night right. We love to cite our sources! Watch Gainey’s “State of the City” address and read up on his budget. Dive deeper into the myPerks take over. Scope out Light Up Night, and this years festivities and controversies. Want some mo...
Nov 17, 2023•23 min
Dietary restrictions and food allergies can be a real damper on all of the delicious holiday dishes, but they don’t have to be. Pittsburgh food blogger Liz Fetchin is with us to dish on all of the allergy-friendly recipes in her new e-cookbook, An Octofree Thanksgiving. With a grocery list, timeline, and alternatives to comforting classics, Fetchin will have you ready to serve everyone at your table this season. Follow Fetchin on Instagram at @octofree and buy her e-book at https://octofree.com/...
Nov 16, 2023•18 min
It’s officially winter, according to Allegheny County’s emergency winter housing plan, which is supposed to expand our capacity to provide for unhoused people when the temperatures start to fall. Officials say we’re ready, that more beds will be available IF temperatures and demand require them, but they haven’t shared where those beds will be. As encampments continue to get cleared, we talk with PublicSource photojournalist Stephanie Strasburg about why biggest overflow space — Smithfield Churc...
Nov 15, 2023•17 min
How tall is too tall for a building in Bloomfield? Developer Echo Realty requested a zoning variance to increase the maximum height for a new housing development and grocery store, but Pittsburgh’s zoning board denied the request. TribLive reporter Ryan Deto breaks down what happened with this setback and shares what these zoning decisions say about the process of building housing in the city. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. W...
Nov 14, 2023•17 min
Spin e-scooters were all over Pittsburgh as part of a two-year pilot, and lawmakers could reauthorize them any day — if the Senate can finish the long-overdue state budget. (It’s only 4.5 months late, but who’s counting.) City Cast’s Megan Harris & Sophia Lo talk about the new program, how our lawmakers are feeling, and what one reporter who’s doggedly dug into scooter-related injuries hopes to see from the city in phase two. Ann Belser reported on the potential return of e-scooters for Prin...
Nov 13, 2023•18 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Earlier this week, voters in Ohio codified access to abortion and recreational cannabis, and we wondered whether Pennsylvania could do the same. The answer is complicated. We’ve got an update on where the commonwealth is on the road to recreational cannabis legalization, plus a fun little airport update — Pittsburghers will soon be able to get flights to Iceland without a layover. A special thanks to City Cast’s interim executive producer Marylee Williams — her firs...
Nov 10, 2023•24 min
Whether you want a turkey-less Thanksgiving or a soul food feast that can feed 15 people, newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco and audio producer Sophia Lo have you covered with the best Thanksgiving takeout options in Pittsburgh. Plus, we dip into Heinz’s new ketchup flavor, restaurant openings around town, and what to do this weekend. 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? T...
Nov 09, 2023•21 min
