City Cast Pittsburgh

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...

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 d...

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...

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...

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...

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 Homew...

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 m...

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 tab...

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 ...

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. Wan...

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 se...

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 witho...

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...

You voted, let’s talk about it! Allegheny County is under new leadership. Hear all about who got to celebrate, who conceded, and what it all might mean for Allegheny County  Thanks to our guests: Kim Lyons, editor of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star Natalie Bencivenga, journalist, consultant, and City Cast contributor. Want some more Pittsburgh news?  Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pi...

To celebrate her 10-year anniversary in Pittsburgh, host Megan Harris is giving herself a challenge: learn how to say one sentence in a convincing Pittsburgh accent. Actor, voice coach, and speech teacher Don Wadsworth is here to provide a Pittsburghese lesson and break down what exactly makes the dialect so distinct. Don’t forget to vote today! Check out Hey Pittsburgh for a guide to all the voti...

If you spend all your time in your backyard birdwatching, you’re probably already halfway to contributing to a citizen science project. From listening to frog calls to catching lanternflies, there are so many ways anyone can collect data for researchers. Writer and museum educator Melanie Linn Gutowski has a list of wildlife-focused projects Pittsburghers can participate in, even with just 15 minu...

It’s a special Election edition of the Friday news roundup, and it’s our 412th episode! (We love a Pgh holiday.) The polls are open Tuesday in Allegheny County from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the City Cast crew is here to walk you through the region’s biggest races — what the offices do, who’s running, what’s at stake, and why a few of the nation’s top political wonks may be watching Pittsburgh for clu...

As Allegheny County’s Latinx population grows, we’re also seeing more restaurants reflecting our changing demographics. Luz Amanda Hank and Howard Alvarez from Pitt’s Center for Latin American Studies are helping shape Pittsburgh’s Latin American food scene — from organizing festivals to getting restaurants off the ground. Hear their top picks for new and traditional favorites — from the perfect r...

Pennsylvania’s laws can feel like they were written for another time, and that’s because many of them were. From a ban on fishing with dynamite, to a prohibition on for-profit fortune-telling, we get into some of the weirdest state laws still on the books. Host Megan Harris talks with City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri, plus reporter Harrison Cann at City & State PA. Check out Harrison’s reporting...

Happy Halloween! We’re celebrating with two twisted local tales that date back to the Prohibition era. First, folklorist and historian David Rotenstein breaks down the myths behind a Northside spot known as “America’s Most Haunted House” and shares what really happened at the site. Then, Print editor and writer Jan Kurth investigates the unsolved mystery of who is actually buried in William Beck’s...

Romance readers know the tropes — enemies to lovers, fake dating, there’s only one bed — but finding a story that centers LGBTQ+ identities and experiences isn’t always easy. If you’re looking for literary love and want to see your queer identity on the page, we’ve got the perfect book club for you! Thanks to Not “Gal Pals” founders Marylee Williams and Natalie Deluba for sharing their top picks. ...

It’s the Friday news roundup! The City Cast team is keeping it light heading into Halloween week. We’re bringing you some local lore, extremely insider-y Pittsburgh costume ideas, and our recommendations for lesser-known horror films shot in and around the city. Find more Hallo-weekend fun here: Subscribe to get Monday’s Hey Pittsburgh newsletter and see photos of the mysterious moving morgue Chec...

With fall in full swing, it’s soup season! Sarah McAlee, also known as brothmonger, is considered a soup-lebrity around town. She joins us to share tips for making your own delicious pot of soup or broth at home, plus her favorite spots to grab a warm bowl when you don’t feel like cooking. You can subscribe to the brothmailer newsletter for Sarah’s business updates and recipes, and check out her p...

Book bans have been cropping up all over the country, usually brought by conservative parent or community groups appealing to school boards saying they don’t want kids to have access to something for various reasons. Often it’s LGBTQ+ identifying characters, conversations about race, uncomfortable hardships, truths, or lived experiences that some people think students aren’t ready for. But while s...

George Romero’s 1968 movie, “Night of The Living Dead,” is a cult classic. The horror flick is considered the godfather of the flesh-eating zombie genre and it was filmed in Pittsburgh with local talent. As a Halloween season treat, we’re revisiting our conversation with Judith O’Dea — better known as Barbara — about what it was like to star in such an iconic film. **This conversation originally p...