City Cast Pittsburgh

Part of the Parkway East is closing tonight so PennDot can explode the old Commercial Street Bridge and slide a new one in its place. Traffic will be a nightmare and "demons shall walk the earth," but at least we can watch it on a live stream! Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and contributor and City Paper managing editor Colin Williams explain how, exactly, you move a giant bri...

Kroger may have just bought Giant Eagle, but this isn't the first time these two brands have been intertwined. Host Megan Harris and producer Sophia Lo are sharing what we know so far about the Giant Eagle sale, more changes coming to our region's grocery store scene, and what to look forward to during Picklesburgh even if you're not a fan of pickles. Plus, Megan talks with Marcus Shoffner, the pr...

There's never a bad time for a spa day, and if you're in need of a pick-me-up, we want you to treat yourself! The City Cast Pittsburgh team is rounding up some of the treatments we've tried around the city and planning our next self-care splurges. We're talking about mud wraps, massages, saunas, facials, LED red light therapy, and more.  Did we miss your favorite spa treatment? Swear by LED t...

Can you actually get a good bagel in Pittsburgh? The City Cast Pittsburgh team is on the case. We taste tested offerings from some of the most recommended brick-and-mortar spots: Pigeon Bagels, Balena Bagels, Three Brothers Bagels, Phat Bagel, and Burgh's Bagels. We share which bagels have the best texture, are the most flavorful, and meet producer Sophia Lo's strict criteria for "all around" seas...

Pittsburgh lost more than half its population since peaking in the 1950s, and our city has more than 20,000 vacant homes. How do we also have a housing crisis? Public Source's Charlie Wolfson joins host Megan Harris to explain why so many houses are sitting empty, what (if anything) the city can do about it, and why our neighbors in Cleveland are doing a much better job turning abandoned houses in...

See if your Pittsburgh knowledge serves you well! In the first-ever Your City Could Be Better trivia episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz goes head to head with journalist and historian Alexandra Petri to see who knows more about U.S. history, geography, and celebrities ahead of the country’s semiquincentennial. Sean McPherson, trivia wiz and City Cast Twin Cities host, leads four riveting rounds of...

If the hot weather has you considering a dip in the Allegheny, Mon, or Ohio, take heed! City Cast contributor Meg St-Esprit joins host Megan Harris to answer, once and for all, whether it's actually safe to swim in Pittsburgh's rivers. We're also talking about the curfews, chaperone policies, and restrictions making it harder for teens to exist and public, and sharing some fun events and attractio...

There's a heatwave, but there's also no shortage of things to do in Pittsburgh! City Cast's Megan Harris, Sophia Lo, and Francesca Dabecco are making their bucket lists with help from Francesca's newly published book, 100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die. We're also talking about the most refreshing drinks to keep you cool all summer, a goodbye party for a century plant at Phipps, and a b...

Ever wonder how exactly our city employees are using AI…and whether there are safeguards in place to make sure these tools are being used safely? How exactly will artificial intelligence shape our city's workforce in the coming years? In the second episode in our two-part series about Pittsburgh's biggest challenges on the eve of America's 250th anniversary, Technical.ly Pittsburgh's Alice Crow jo...

Pittsburgh is getting ready to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, and we’re partnering with Public Source and Technical.ly to explore some of our city’s biggest challenges in the years ahead. In the first episode in a two-part series, Public Source's Mia Hollie joins host Megan Harris to talk about the region's data center boom, whether we can do a better job holding onto tech startups, and th...

Just how good are the sidewalks in Pittsburgh? The state of a city’s sidewalks can be a good indicator of how healthy that city is — and pedestrian safety is just the beginning. In Denver, voters approved a new fee a few years ago to fund much-needed sidewalk repairs, and after a lot of back-and-forth, those repairs are finally underway. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Denver podcas...

Pennsylvania's state Supreme Court ruled that skill games — like those poker machines you see at gas stations — are effectively the same as gambling. City Cast's Megan Harris, Sophia Lo, and contributor and City Paper managing editor Colin Williams are talking about how and why Pittsburgh's city council is jumping in to set regulations before state legislators make their move. We're also explainin...

Pittsburgh's going all out for America250! We've got a Ferris Wheel on the North Side, a free Nelly and Third Eye Blind concert, and of course, the city's annual fireworks display, which is run by a company from Western Pennsylvania. But they're not the only fireworks team in town. We're bringing back a conversation from host Megan Harris and executive producer Mallory Falk, where we take a deep d...

Tired of sitting in traffic? Try biking instead! But if you need a pep talk to get on the road with all those cars, we're here to help. We're bringing back executive producer Mallory Falk's conversation with Ted King-Smith, education manager at Bike Pittsburgh, where he's explaining how cyclists can smoothly navigate the city. Plus, he's sharing what bikers and drivers need to know to safely share...

Earlier this year,ICE  bought two warehouses in Pennsylvania with plans to convert them into immigrant detention centers. Now they're looking to offload the buildings instead. Executive producer Mallory Falk and Sophia Lo explain what happened. Plus, we're sharing what you need to know about PRT's new payment system, the demolition of a major Pittsburgh bridge, and a potential redevelopment plan f...

If you're looking for a summer beach vacation but don't want to travel too far or spend a small fortune, consider a two-hour drive up north to Erie, PA! Whether you're looking for a bike ride along the bay or a roller coaster ride over a peninsula, there's so much to enjoy in the Gem City.  Rachel Carlson, City Cast Pittsburgh's new audience development manager and a born-and-bred Erieite, joins h...

It's backyard barbecue season, and no cookout feels complete without a big bag of chips. And if you like your summer snacks to be locally-sourced, you're in luck. Pennsylvania is actually considered the potato chip capital of the world! How did we earn this distinction, and which PA-made chips are the best? The City Cast Pittsburgh crew is joining forces with our friends at City Cast Philly to tas...

As Pittsburghers, we have so much pride in our city. After all, we're the City of Champions and the City of the Bridges! But can we really say we have the most bridges? And did we actually invent the rally towel? City Cast contributor and City Paper managing editor Colin Williams is joining host Megan Harris to set the record straight about Pittsburgh's favorite myths — and celebrating the wins an...

Pittsburgh International Airport (briefly) lost power during the big storm last week – something that wasn't supposed to happen because of our first-of-its-kind microgrid. With more bad weather on the horizon, host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and producer Sophia Lo explain how likely this is to happen again, and why PIT is usually the envy of other airports when it comes to back...

Still mourning Stuntpig's closure in Squirrel Hill? Executive producer Mallory Falk and producer Sophia Lo have recommendations for new sandwich shops and some hot takes about what's considered an ideal pool sandwich. We're also talking about Butcher and the Rye's triumphant return to Downtown, rumors that we may finally be getting a restaurant with a volcano, and why you should splurge on sour gu...

Do you know how many parks Pittsburgh has? Residents of Salt Lake County have wondered about their parks for years — that is, until City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta set out to catalog them all. Over the course of two years, she visited all 511 parks in the county, seeking to record their amenities (e.g., bathrooms, playgrounds), write helpful summaries, and track down the people in charge. Th...

You know you've messed up when both the National Weather Service and Mayor Corey O'Connor have to call you out for your lies! The City Cast Pittsburgh team is digging into the drama around country star Morgan Wallen's concert cancellation. Plus, we're discussing some new life for old spaces – including a slice of forest life at the North Side YMCA! – layoffs at UPMC, and new regulations for vape s...

Ordering chicken when you're eating out doesn't feel like the sexiest option, but City Cast contributor and Post-Gazette dining critic Hal B. Klein is here to change your mind. He's telling host Megan Harris about the best chicken dishes at our fine dining restaurants and why it's time to pick chicken over steak. Have a recommendation for Hal? Call or text our WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER hotline...

If you love scrolling through Pittsburgh's wildest Zillow listings, don't miss your chance to actually go inside some of those fancy homes. City Cast's Megan Harris and Francesca Dabecco are running through some of the best home and garden tours this summer, where visitors can peek through Victorian-style mansions, restored rowhouses, and edible gardens. Learn more about the sponsors of this Wedne...

Ever wanted to make public art or host an event in an abandoned lot? City Council is considering a proposal to let residents put vacant lots and underutilized park space to good use. Host Megan Harris and executive producer Mallory Falk explain the proposal, plus discuss the unannounced visit U.S. Reps. Summer Lee and Chris Deluzio made to Moshannon Valley Processing Center — the largest immigrant...