We love celebrating our own here in this city, and we’re quick to claim our hometown heroes when they make an appearance on a bigger stage. Now there’s a new nonprofit creating Pittsburgh’s very own Walk of Fame, so visitors can learn more about homegrown stars who’ve made an impact nationally. They’re asking for nominations through the end of the month. Nancy Polinsky Johnson, the project’s founder and executive director, is here to tell us how to submit nominees – and how they’re planning to p...
Jan 22, 2025•21 min
It’s freezing outside! As we’ve been watching the snow fall and trekking through the slush, we’ve been wondering how often our region actually deals with this kind of winter weather and when it’s genuinely been bad enough to break records or shut down the city. We’re digging into the worst snowstorms and cold snaps in Pittsburgh history – and how we even started measuring this data in the first place. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 21st episode: The Frick Pittsburgh Museums and Ga...
Jan 21, 2025•18 min
The local law firm Pond Lehocky replaced the enormous IC Light billboard on Mt. Washington, the grocery chain Wegmans finally confirmed they’re coming to Pittsburgh (and as a new neighbor to Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle), and the Steelers’ season is done sooner than we hoped. Plus, there’s been another unusual hockey heist — this time targeting Penguins center Evgeni Malkin — more developing U.S. Steel sale drama, info on testing your home for radon for free, and a few fun events to take you int...
Jan 17, 2025•27 min
Are there folks in your friend circle tying the knot quickly here in Pittsburgh? Ahead of the incoming presidential administration and threats to queer rights, we sat down with the CEO and founder of Burgh Brides, Victoria Deardorff, for her expert tips and tricks for pulling off a beautiful last-minute wedding, elopement, or casual day-of affair. Tune in for practical advice and a little Pittsburgh flair to make your big day everything it should be—no matter the budget or timeline. Learn more a...
Jan 16, 2025•31 min
Pittsburgh needs thousands of new homes to meet demand, and there’s a lot of local politicking behind potential solutions. One idea? Inclusionary zoning, which either incentivizes or mandates that a percentage of units in new housing projects be priced affordably for lower income households. A handful of neighborhoods in Pittsburgh have already tried it, including over in Lawrenceville, where residents helped pass an IZ requirement in 2019. Dave Breignan, executive director of Lawrenceville Unit...
Jan 15, 2025•28 min
There’s a lot of debate about how to make Pittsburgh a livable city for everyone and ensure that longtime residents of a neighborhood aren’t pushed out by rising home prices. Host Megan Harris is with TribLive reporter Julia Burdelski to talk about the two bills in front of City Council that aim to create more affordable housing and how these very different visions could impact our city’s approach to future development. Learn more about the sponsor of this January 14th episode: The Frick Pittsbu...
Jan 14, 2025•27 min
It’s been six months since the Highland Detention at Shuman Center reopened, with a new name and new, private, nonprofit management under Adelphoi, headquartered in Latrobe. Shuman was shut down in 2021 for “gross incompetence, negligence and misconduct.” While most of the facility is still being renovated, one pod is open with room for 12 children who’ve been charged with a crime. We’re talking to CEO Nancy Kukovich about how it’s going so far, the safety reporting requirements since the 50-yea...
Jan 13, 2025•39 min
It’s our first Friday news roundup of the new year, and we’re catching up on a bunch of stories, from detention and deportation to the governor’s sports tickets to higher turnpike tolls. Plus, we’ve got the latest on the PA Farm Show butter sculpture, an important “I Voted” sticker contest, and ways to watch Pittsburgh on TV while you’re staying in and staying warm. Notes and references from today’s show: This week’s Hey Pittsburgh trivia! Marc Fogel’s family says they have “more hope than we ha...
Jan 10, 2025•37 min
The end of every calendar year brings with it dozens of best-of lists, and our favorite ones to scroll through are all about the food. City Cast’s Megan Harris, Sophia Lo, and Francesca Dabecco are sharing their top picks from the best of 2024 lists released by blogs, reservation sites, and more local news outlets to help you figure out where to eat out in 2025. Can’t keep up with all the restaurants? We’ve selected our number one spots and all the roundups we referenced on our website. Become a...
Jan 09, 2025•32 min
If you’ve read the news lately, it feels like Downtown Pittsburgh keeps winning the lottery. There’s a $600 million plan to revitalize and transform the Golden Triangle, with tons of money going toward places like Point State Park and Market Square. But the investment isn’t so obvious along Smithfield Street — once the destination Downtown, now filled with vacant storefronts. Local journalists Adam Smeltz and Stephanie Strasburg tell us about efforts to make Smithfield Pittsburgh’s “it” spot aga...
Jan 08, 2025•29 min
President Joe Biden made good on his promise and blocked the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel, and now both companies are suing the federal government, a Cleveland-based steel rival, and the head of the United Steelworkers union. So what happens now? Can U.S. Steel leave Pittsburgh? Is Nippon, based in Japan, really a threat to our national security? And what does all this say about Pittsburgh’s place in our global economy? Host Megan Harris and executive producer Mallory Falk try to find answ...
Jan 07, 2025•24 min
The new year kicked off with a nice, bright snowfall. While it can be tempting to bundle up and hunker down when it’s chilly outside, there are lots of great outdoor winter activities in our region, from sledding to skiing to snow tubing. The team is sharing our tips and tricks for having the perfect snow day in Pittsburgh — plus a few hacks for dealing with the wintery weather. Wondering who’s in charge of snow removal on your street? Find out here. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at me...
Jan 06, 2025•24 min
From fixing bridges to keeping the T literally on its tracks, Pittsburgh depends on a lot of federal funding — and who’s in charge here regionally can help sway the conversation. Host Megan Harris is kicking off 2025 with PublicSource’s Rich Lord and 1Hood’s Miracle Jones to talk about the upcoming mayoral race and how a second Trump presidency could affect our region. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey ...
Jan 03, 2025•29 min
Welcome to 2025 in Pittsburgh! There are so many ways to kick off the new year, whether you’re looking to brave the cold or curl up with a nice, non-alcoholic drink. From a late night dance party at our art museum to a local book swap, we’re sharing the best ways to take advantage of our cold city this month. Plus, if you’re taking part in Dry January, check out our episode about The Open Road, a non-alcoholic bottle shop. If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, w...
Jan 02, 2025•26 min
Pittsburghers love to talk about all the iconic buildings that used to be there, and Century III Mall is about to be among them. The nostalgia-inducing Pittsburgh mall is being demolished after closing its last shop in 2020 and being condemned in 2023. Writer, publisher, and shopping mall enthusiast Matthew Newton is here to share our nostalgia and explain exactly what went wrong. Check out Newton’s beautiful tome “Shopping Mall,” which is usually available at White Whale Bookstore in Bloomfield...
Dec 30, 2024•20 min
The hottest restaurant in Pittsburgh? Chef Nik Forsberg’s pop-up turned brick and mortar, Fet-Fisk, was named one of America's best restaurants this year by both The New York Times and Eater. His Nordic-inspired cuisine prioritizes sustainably sourced seafood, local meats, and veggies from Nik’s own garden. So what does it take to turn a popular pop-up into a thriving local business? Hear what he grows, how he approaches his menus, and all the original plans behind Bloomfield’s buzziest restaura...
Dec 26, 2024•16 min
Earlier this year, Pittsburgh was rocked with a crazy mystery. Thousands of miniature Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads were stolen! How does that even happen? With the help of our friend Rob Rossi, senior writer at The Athletic, we broke down the heist that got the attention of Pittsburgh Penguins fans — and even the FBI! Check out Rossi’s play-by-play in The Athletic. This episode originally aired April 3, 2024. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh new...
Dec 23, 2024•16 min
There was a lot of news in our region this year, from the extended drama around selling the iconic U.S. Steel to a Japanese company to a presidential assassination attempt right in our own backyard. With so much news, there were bound to be stories that didn’t get their due. City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris and executive producer Mallory Falk are joined by contributor Meg St-Esprit to look back on some of the biggest, goofiest, and most underrated stories you may have missed in 2024. Learn...
Dec 20, 2024•39 min
The holiday season is all about cookies and Pittsburgh has so many great recipes and traditions. (We’re home to the cookie table, after all!) If you’re planning to bake some holiday treats and need a little inspiration, the team is sharing some of our favorite recipes, along with tips and shortcuts to make sure your cookies come out extra tasty. Don’t worry: we’ve got ideas for ambitious bakers and for anyone who simply needs to whip up an easy, last-minute gift. We used The Belt Cookie Table Co...
Dec 19, 2024•26 min
Getting behind the wheel in Pittsburgh is not for the faint of heart. From narrow streets to steep hills to ungodly merges, our city is challenging to navigate by car. Lucky for you, we teamed up with friend of the pod and former Uber driver Jakob Lazzaro to share 12 very important rules for driving in Pittsburgh and — of course — debate the efficacy of the Pittsburgh Left. Want to dive deeper into the history behind our city’s quirky layout and driving rules? Check out WESA’s reporting on our m...
Dec 18, 2024•29 min
It’s been a big year for Allegheny County. Our leaders added more housing, passed a budget with the first property tax increase in more than a decade, and even honored legendary hockey star Jaromir Jagr with a proclamation. We’re asking County Executive Sara Innamorato to look back on her first full year in office – and play a little game inspired by Spotify Wrapped. Learn more about the sponsor of this December 17th episode: Jones Dairy Farm Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership...
Dec 17, 2024•37 min
A new horse has entered the mayor's race. Corey O'Connor has been a city councilor, most recently, the Allegheny County controller — in charge of keeping track of how we spend (and should not spend) taxpayer money. And he's even former mayor Bob O’Connor’s son. Today we’re excited to share a conversation from our news partner Next Generation Newsroom and reporter Colleen Hammond, who talked to O'Connor on the eve of his big official announcement. Read Colleen’s reporting on O’Connor’s campaign h...
Dec 16, 2024•21 min
A suspect in the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO was arrested this week…in an Altoona McDonald’s. Did Luigi Mangione also spend time in Pittsburgh before he was detained — and if so, where did he go? We’re talking about how our region and Gov. Josh Shapiro were thrust into the spotlight this week. Plus, what changes to inclusionary zoning could mean for affordable housing in Pittsburgh, why we’re one step closer to a city budget for 2025, and how you can help your neighbors (and birds!!) thi...
Dec 13, 2024•31 min
The holiday season’s filled with lots of food and presents, so why not combine them both and give the gift of a cooking class? If you still need a gift for the foodie in your life, we’re sharing some of our favorite cooking classes and workshops all around Pittsburgh. Our picks include Our picks include pasta-making, focaccia baking, wine and cheese pairing, and creating a box of chocolate truffles from start to finish. Mark your calendars for Friday, December 20th. City Cast contributor Kevin G...
Dec 12, 2024•25 min
There are tons of holiday traditions in Downtown Pittsburgh, including a special ceremony to mark the start of Hanukkah. Each year, the mayor and community leaders light a 12-foot menorah in front of the City-County Building. But its place on government property wasn’t always celebrated. In 1986, a group of Pittsburghers brought a lawsuit against our local governments to remove both the menorah and the creche, which in those days sat outside the County Courthouse. We’re talking with one of the p...
Dec 11, 2024•20 min
Downtown is getting a makeover ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, and Market Square and Point State Park are first on the multi-million dollar to-do list. County Controller Corey O’Connor wants to be Pittsburgh’s next mayor; he and incumbent Ed Gainey will have a lot to do ahead of the primary election in May. Plus, you can help your neighbors stay safe this winter by volunteering as a city Snow Angel. Mark your calendars for Friday, December 20th. City Cast contributor Kevin Gavin is putting on his 4...
Dec 10, 2024•29 min
Pittsburgh has some really iconic commercials (Century III Chevrolet, anyone?) but there’s one ad that beats them all: the Eat’n Park Christmas star commercial. It’s one of the longest-running seasonal ads in the entire country, and it all started as a special thank you note to our city. We’re with Kristy Graver, food editor of Pittsburgh Magazine, to learn the story behind Pittsburgh's most enduring commercial and talk about why it still stands the test of time. By focusing on the stories and i...
Dec 09, 2024•19 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Allegheny County passed a compromise budget for 2025 with the first property tax increase in more than a decade. We’re explaining how we got here and where that money’s going. Plus, a state Supreme Court ruling means local gun reform probably isn’t in the cards, and President-elect Donald Trump is doubling down on his opposition to the U.S. Steel deal. Discussed in today’s episode: Official Max trailer for “The Pitt” [YouTube] Does Allegheny County Really Need a Tax...
Dec 06, 2024•33 min
Today marks 91 years since the end of Prohibition! To celebrate, we’re talking about ways to soak up Pittsburgh’s Prohibition history, how to learn more about the Whiskey Rebellion, and where to buy locally made ready-to-drink cocktails. Plus, we’re welcoming a new dog bar to the Strip District and other new restaurants around the city. Learn more about the sponsors of this December 5th episode: BetterHelp - get 10% off at betterhelp.com/CITYCAST Autism Pittsburgh Become a member of City Cast Pi...
Dec 05, 2024•20 min
It’s the best time of year, if your love language is giving and receiving gifts — or the worst, if finding the perfect present stresses you out. Whether this season brings you joy or anxiety, we want to make your holiday shopping a little smoother. City Cast Pittsburgh executive producer Mallory Falk and Hey Pittsburgh newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco are rounding up some of the best holiday markets for finding local gifts, from a ravioli spoon rest to art that pays homage to the Dirty O. Lea...
Dec 04, 2024•21 min
