City Cast Houston

It’s time to hash out the week’s news. Contributor Shiyam Galyon, producer AK Al-Moumen and host Lisa Gray discuss the biggest stories — and the ones that should have gotten more attention. This week's biggest stories: Texas and Florida are the future of the U.S. Harris County election post-mortem. Southwest Airlines has a meltdown over the holidays. This week's most underrated stories: 2 Texas Bu...

Usually the City Cast crew talks about Houston’s greatest stuff, the places and experiences you want to share with people you love. But life isn’t all Discovery Green and crawfish. Today the crew dishes about the experiences you’d wish on your archnemesis — the worst miseries that our city has to offer. Our morning newsletter Hey Houston brings updates on local news to you daily. Sign up here. Mak...

The Karankawa tribe was long thought to be extinct but Absolem Yetzirah, a Karankawa native and Council-member of the Five Rivers Council, proves the tribe is alive in the heart of the Houston metro area. It's a history that goes back to the first settlers of the gulf coast and the human cost of the founding of the State of Texas. Learn more about Karankawa History. Sign up for our morning newslet...

What do we want out of Houston this year? City Cast guests and contributors offer suggestions — and a few predictions. Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston Follow us on Twitter and Instagram Don’t have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts!

Houston rained victorious this year as the Astros took home the trophy for the World Series! With over 1 million fans lining the streets and hanging off the sides of the buildings just to get a view of the team - I think it's safe to say this was one of the biggest celebrations of 2022 - and our producers Carlignon Jones and AK AL-Moumen were there to capture it all. Sign up for our morning newsle...

Today, as we continue our celebration of 2022’s superlatives, we’re revisiting the show that made us hungriest. In September, Ope Amosu, the chef and businessman behind ChopNBlok, joined newsletter writer Brooke Lewis and host Lisa Gray — and explained how a former chemical engineer came to run one of Houston’s most celebrated new restaurants. Find out more about ChopNBlok here . Make sure you sig...

On today’s celebration of 2022 superlatives, we’ll hear from one of this year’s most entertaining guests — and also the one with the best Texas accent. In May, John Nova Lomax, who writes the newsletter “Ruckus,” joined producer Ferrill Gibbs and host Lisa Gray to talk about Houston accents. John Nova Lomax's newsletter Ruckus. Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter...

As we look back on 2022, we’re doing a week of superlatives! Today we give you the year’s biggest Houston dreamer: Don Hartsell, who we talked with in August. The founder and first commissioner of the World Air League, he aims to start the World Sky Race, a first-of-its-kind competition that would send blimps, Zeppelins, and other airships racing each other around the globe, jockeying to win a $5...

The City Cast crew looks back on the year’s most Houston moment, the city’s hottest hotspot, and more. The Most Houston Moment: Bun B’s first H-Town Takeover Concert at the Rodeo. Our 2022 Astros squad might be the best in the 21st century. Mo Amir used his Show to give love back to his Hometown, Alief. The unanimous hottest spot in Houston is: Post Houston. Our Most Impactful episodes: Two Texas...

For lots of Mexican-American families in Texas, Christmas is celebrated with tamales — often homemade ones. Adán Medrano, author of the cookbooks Texas Mexican Cooking and Don’t Count the Tortillas, has spent more than a decade celebrating comida casera, the homemade food that he grew up with. Behind those Christmas tamales, he says, is a history that stretches back hundreds of years. Plus, he tel...

Which Houstonians delighted us this year? And which ones deserve coal in their stockings? Texas Monthly staff writer Michael Hardy and host Lisa Gray offer Santa their guidance. Naughty List: Mattress Mack, for his open letter to Lina Hidalgo. Isabel Longoria, for botching the 2022 primary. Vidal Martinez. for falsely accusing Alex Mealer’s grandfather as a Castro supporter. Ted Cruz, because in A...

In the Houston area, winter is the best season to be outdoors. But if you want to immerse yourself in nature, where do you go? Consider the Big Thicket, a national preserve that’s less than two hours from Houston. Rice University biologist and City Cast contributor Scott Solomon explains. Learn more about the Big Thicket National Preserve. Our morning newsletter Hey Houston brings updates on local...

Time to recap the week’s Houston news! City Cast cultural contributor Antréchelle Dorsey joins producer Carlignon Jones and host Lisa Gray. Governor Abbott claims non-government agencies are assisting in border crossings. The rising numbers of border crossings. The demotion of the dean of the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Bun B's Trill Burger is opening its first location...

An out-of-state colleague recently tried Texans’ favorite fast-food chain and says that he can’t understand why it’s so popular. The City Cast crew explains. Find you a Whataburger. Some fun facts about Whataburger. Get deeper into the city by subscribing to our daily newsletter, Hey Houston! Follow us on Twitter to get updated on what we're doing! Follow us on Instagram to see what we're doing! L...

How do you get to be a Santa? Do you hang out with other Santas? Isn’t that suit hot? Santa Lance Mclean, sleighmaster of Lone Star Santas, gives us the low-ho-ho-ho-down. Want to hire Santa Lance  for your next private event? Also, check out Lone Star Santas ! Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston! here. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram  @CityCastHou...

Hot chocolate, snowmen, and a crackling fire in the hearth? Bah, humbug: Here in subtropical Houston, the azaleas are blooming, and linen fits the weather better than cashmere. So how can you get in a Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice/Kwanzaa kind of mood? Host Lisa Gray trades ideas with contributor Evan “Grinch” Mintz. Winter Lights Marriott. Galaxy Lights at NASA. Zoo Lights. Lightscape at Botanical...

In May inmate Gonzalo Lopez, a former member of the Mexican mafia, hijacked a Texas prison bus on its way to Huntsville. Weeks later, police shot and killed him in a standoff. But by then it was already too late: Lopez had killed a Tomball resident and the man’s four grandsons. What went wrong? And could it happen again? Our guest is Marshall Project corrections reporter Keri Blakinger, author of...

What happened this week in Houston? Lisa Gray, AK AL-Moumen, and Olivia Flores Alvarez process the week’s biggest stories. The Chron's reporting on Justin Verlander's exit from Houston. CNN's Live updates of Brittney Griner's release. Rolling Stone reporting on the arrest of the suspect in Migos member Takeoff's murder. Texas Tribune's reporting on Texas' $27 Billion surplus. Texas Monthly's piece...

The City Cast crew checks out Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and other worthy competitors. H-E-B. Central Market Houston locations. Trader Joe's Houston Locations. Whole Foods Houston locations. Hong Kong Market. Phoenicia Specialty Foods. La Michoacana. Wanna know what's happening around H-Town during the Holidays? Subscribe to our daily newsletter, Hey Houston to keep up to date! Follow our Twitter...

Usually we think of coral reefs — the oceans’ most thrilling displays of life — near exotic vacation destinations, such as Australia or the Caribbean islands. But not only are the Flower Garden Banks right here, off Texas’ Gulf Coast, they’re also among the healthiest reefs left. “The Flower Garden Banks are Astros-level,” says Rice University coral researcher Adrienne Correa. “They’re the world c...

What do the latest COVID numbers show? What’s the situation at Houston children’s hospitals? Houston Chronicle medical reporter Julian Gill tells us what’s going on, and what to expect. Julian Gill's article on the recent development on the "Tripledemic" issue. Keep up with swamp city by subscribing to our daily newsletter, Hey Houston! Follow us on Twitter for updates on us, show us you care! Fol...

The real-estate firm Concept Neighborhood aims to make The Plant/Second Ward, an area just east of downtown Houston, far more walkable, and to add lots of fizzy, interesting shops and places to hang out. Most shocking of all, they want to keep the neighborhood affordable for working-class Houstonians. Is that even possible? And how will they make money? Developers Jeffrey Kaplan and Monte Large ex...

What happened this week in Houston? Host Lisa Gray and University of Houston historian Raúl Ramos hash out the news. Conflict between Houstonians and state regulators over boil water notice. Issues continue after boil water notice is lifted. The statement by Governor Greg Abbott on "Defending Texas Against Invasion". The Texas Tribune reporting on the statement by Governor Abbott. New York Times s...

Could you, in a pinch, buy your holiday gifts at Texas’ biggest, beaver-iest roadtrip stop? The City Cast crew gives it a go, considering everything from $400 bluebonnet “paintings” to two-for-a-buck chocolates. Curious about what else Buc-ees may have to offer? Stop by and tell us what you found for the Holiday season. Sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston here, for more news from around...

Montrose — Houston’s most walkable neighborhood, full of interesting places to eat, drink, and hang out — remains the center of LGBTQ life in Houston. Rice professor Brian Reidel talks about Montrose’s past and its gentrified present. Want to explore the beauty of Montrose? Check out some of these places below! The Menil Rudyards Katz Deli Want to know more about the area and it's history? Check o...