City Cast Philly

South Street is where you go when you’re visiting from out of town, where you go when you’re a suburban kid looking for some counter-cultural grittiness, and where you go see your favorite band at the TLA and eat your favorite cheesesteak at Jim’s afterward. In the second part of our series on Philly's most iconic street, we’re looking at what has drawn people to South Street for centuries: Entert...

Today is the launch of our three-part series on the history and future of Philly's most iconic street: South Street. You've probably danced and shopped on it. You've definitely gotten a beer and eaten a cheesesteak on it. But this one-lane, one way strip from the Schuylkill to the Delaware has seen Philly history happen. In this episode we're going back to colonial times to understand how South St...

It’s the Friday News Roundup! We’re talking about full SEPTA service for Eagles ticket-holders – but not for the rest of us. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz also report on the crowded Democratic race for the 3rd congressional seat, a cyclist killed in Fairmount Park, the possible deployment of federal troops to the city, and our neighborhoods getting upgrades for America’s 250th...

Super Bowl MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts – plus Saquon Bakley and AJ Brown and Lane Johnson – start tonight on the path to another championship. Can the Eagles do it again? Let’s at least beat the Dallas Cowboys tonight in the season opener! Host Trenae Nuri is here with City Cast Philly sports contributor O.J. Spivey, who covers the team for The Philadelphia Tribune, with season predictions, stadiu...

A transit crisis with SEPTA that has led to crowded buses and canceled routes. A labor strike with city workers that left trash piled up on our streets. What does all this say about Philly and Pennsylvania politics? And what should we be expecting this fall? City Cast Philly’s politics contributor, Lauren Vidas, joins us for a rundown in our Wednesday politics episode.  Get Philly news & events in...

As summer winds down, there’s still time to enjoy a nice meal or a drink under the sunshine. Philly’s got plenty to offer when it comes to outdoor dining options whether that's a rooftop deck, shaded outdoor patio, garden, or sidewalk seating. To help you make some reservations, host Trenae Nuri and our City Cast Philly food contributor Alisha Miranda talk through some of the best restaurants, bar...

It’s our Friday News Round up. We’re talking about why everyone arrived late to work and school this week, more SEPTA cuts happening September 1, Philly public school teachers have a tentative deal (but school SAFETY officers are threatening to strike), and where you can get the new $100 cheesesteak. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz chat about these stories and more.     Our Frida...

Philly welcomes fall in September, so we’ve curated a list of ways to enjoy early autumn in the city. In this episode you’ll hear about a new museum, a cheesy cheesesteak deep dish pizza, and car-free zones. For even more tips on how to make the most of September in Philly, check out Hey Philly’s take on what to do this month.  If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you...

In our weekly Wednesday politics episode we’re taking a look at a business curfew bill aimed at curbing violence around businesses in Kensington, Germantown, Mt. Airy and parts of North Philly. If the bill sponsored by Council Member Quetcy Lozada is signed into law, businesses in these areas will be forced to close between 11pm and 6am. It’s a crackdown on what the city calls “nuisance” businesse...

Whether it's a birthday cake or a pick-me-up brownie, Philly knows how to do sweet treats. Host Trenae Nuri navigates the classic Italian bakeries and contemporary dessert landscape with food journalists for The Infatuation Philadelphia, Candis McLean and Alison Kessler. Plus, sliced cakes are back.  Get Philly news & events in your inbox with our newsletter: Hey Philly Call or text us what you’re...

Philly’s mass transit system has been upended. The first wave of SEPTA service cuts went into effect yesterday, but there will be more soon and fares will increase on September 1. While Harrisburg continues to be at odds over how to fund mass transit in the Commonwealth, the way hundreds of thousands of people travel in our city and region has been decimated. So how did things get so bad? Host Tre...

It’s the Friday News Roundup! We’re talking about the first wave of SEPTA service cuts, how Philly is planning to move about in the city and throughout the region with these cuts, Frankford High School reopens after closures due to asbestos, and Xfinity Live! Gets a name change. Host Trenae Nuri is joined by producer Abby Fritz to talk this all out, plus what they found about the mixed messaging a...

This week, news broke that McGlinchey’s would close permanently after tomorrow. But the owner, Sheldon Sokol, told Philadelphia Business Journal, he wants to stay open but close for a vacation at the end of the week, then sell the bar and retire. So what’s all the fuss about this place? McGlinchey’s is a long-standing dive bar on South 15th Street downtown. It’s also one of the few bars that still...

Councilmember Isaiah Thomas is brimming with ideas, mostly centered on the youth of the city, and he has 19 interns in his office this summer who are actually working on turning those ideas into policy. In this wide-ranging interview with host Trenae Nuri at City Hall, Thomas talks about continuing to coach basketball and raising kids in the city, and the various issues that animate him – includin...

In Philly, there’s a saying: “No one likes us and we don’t care!” It’s generally used by Philadelphians when an out-of-towner is throwing shade. So, while we’re still enjoying warm weather, host Trenae Nuri, executive producer Matt Katz, producer Abby Fritz, and Hey Philly newsletter editor Siani Colón read one-star reviews of our public parks. And, of course, push back on the hate.  Parks we ment...

Philly is home to one of the largest urban parks in the country, Fairmount Park. And some neighborhoods have created even more green space by making community gardens – like Heroic Gardens out in the Northeast. Host Trenae Nuri went out to this sunflower garden and spoke with Collie Turner, founder and executive director, and Salome Hall, a Navy veteran and founder of Sisters Affirming Sisterhood...

It's the Friday News roundup! Life-changing SEPTA cuts are happening – host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz explain why. We also talk about how Pat Dugan, who challenged District Attorney Larry Krasner for the Democratic primary, is switching teams. Plus: The fate of the Frank Rizzo statue, a new doggy social club, and our favorites from the Best of Philly Soiree at the Philadelphia A...

Philly loves to socialize and drink, whether we’re getting a good happy hour deal, sipping our favorite crafted cocktails or mocktails on a rooftop, or chugging a cold one while watching the Eagles. Here’s another spot to consider: Hotel bars. Host Trenae Nuri sits down with our City Cast Philly food contributor Alisha Miranda to talk about why Philadelphians should be drinking at hotel bars even...

Tomorrow is the deadline SEPTA set for Harrisburg to fund public transportation and prevent major service cuts to our transit system. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz have the latest developments and analysis on what needs to happen to avoid a transportation crisis in Philly.  We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey...

President Trump’s recently approved bill known as the Big Beautiful Bill eliminated a program called SNAP-Education, which funds nutrition education programs across the country. One local nonprofit hit by the funding cuts is Vetri Community Partnership, which teaches Philadelphians how to cook healthy meals. It faces a $700,000 loss in funding for nutritional programs for schools, though its ⁠free...

Will Philly public school teachers strike after the first week of school? That’s what their union, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, is threatening. Trenae Nuri visits the union offices in Center City to talk to PFT President Arthur Steinberg and LeShawna Coleman, PFT’s chief of staff, to find out what the teachers want in their new contract.  We’re doing our annual survey to learn more abo...

It's the Friday News Roundup! SEPTA still doesn't have funding and service cuts could start next week if the budget isn't passed. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz also discuss a suspect that's been arrested for multiple sexual assaults and a court opinion that canceled Indigenous Peoples Day. Plus, Eagles preseason is here! Our Friday news roundups are powered by great local journ...

As we wait to find out if state legislators will bail out SEPTA and prevent drastic transit service cuts and cancellations, we’re sharing conversations that we had with Philadelphians earlier this summer about how they get around town. There are many variables that determine how we get where we’re going, beyond the availability of SEPTA. This was recorded at the Franklin Institute’s Second Thursda...

The Committee of Seventy was founded more than 120 years ago to make Philly politics less corrupt. So is Philly less corrupt than it was then? Would abolishing the Sheriff’s Office, ending judicial elections, and imposing term limits fix our politics? Host Trenae Nuri visits Lauren Cristella, president and CEO of the Committee of Seventy, for our weekly Wednesday politics episode to find out how t...

As we say goodbye to some coffee shop favorites like The Monkey and The Elephant and Tela's Market & Kitchen, some new shops have entered the scene. Out West off of 52nd Street and Haraz Coffee House in University City have become new coffee staples. We're revisiting a conversation from last year with host Trenae Nuri, executive producer Matt Katz, and producer Abby Fritz at Mr. Rabbit Coffee in F...