City Cast Pittsburgh

So many new restaurants are popping up in Pittsburgh this spring, each fulfilling a specific craving. Longing for gumbo and jambalaya cooked by a true New Orleans chef? Check out Roux Orleans. Want to try Austrian and Hungarian food all in one sitting? Make a reservation at Titusz. Curious to try dishes that blend New Mexican flavor with Buffalo comfort food? Grab a table at the Eastman. Local jou...

Pittsburghers have a lot of pride in our city, including our weird quirks and unwritten rules. Like why do neighbors keep putting old folding chairs in front of their houses? And why do drivers immediately turn left instead of yielding at a green light? The City Cast Pittsburgh team is running through all the essential rules for surviving and thriving here in the city.  **This episode originally a...

Whether you're celebrating Mother's Day this Sunday or just want a weekend treat, there are so many great brunch options in Pittsburgh. Producer Sophia Lo and newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco are sharing some of our favorite brunch spots and items, including refreshing matchas, stuffed pancakes, and a croque monsieur with a Mediterranean twist.  Want the shortlist? Here are the four brunch spot...

Pittsburgh just proved we're able to throw a great party for the NFL Draft. Could the Super Bowl be next? Host Megan Harris talks with Sean Gentille, senior writer for the Athletic, about why the Steelers (and Pirates!) want taxpayer money for stadium upgrades; the prerequisites for hosting a Super Bowl; and the likelihood of that even happening if our stadium doesn't have a roof. Notes and refere...

Pittsburgh survived the NFL Draft! Executive producer Mallory Falk, interim social media manager Laura Tsutsui, and contributor Colin Williams are rounding up a few takeaways from the event, both good and bad. Colin's sharing what traffic enforcement could look like without the police, and after seeing Punxsutawney Phil throw the first pitch at PNC Park, we think his prognostication skills could b...

Pittsburgh really comes to life in the spring, so don't miss out on exploring the city this month. We're looking forward to the 59th Carnegie International, food trucks at the park, neighborhood music festivals, and so much more. Plus, farmers market season is kicking off, and if you need help navigating the space, check out our etiquette guide to Pittsburgh farmers markets. For even more tips on...

Pittsburghers can hold a real grudge. There are so many local personalities and entities that have drawn our ire, from a certain healthcare giant to the major airline that ditched us to the soon-to-be-former owners of the Post-Gazette. Host Megan Harris is joined by a very special guest — her husband and former political reporter and editor, Jeremy Boren — along with local historian and writer Vir...

On this bonus sponsored episode by the Grable Foundation, we're celebrating a Pittsburgh original. What if learning looked like meeting an alpaca, zip lining through a park, or building your first AR/VR game — and it was all free? Remake Learning Days is marking its 10th anniversary this year, and the festival has grown into something genuinely remarkable: 266 mostly free events, 240 organizations...

May 4 is the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania's 2026 primary election. Register to vote, check your status, and find your polling place on Allegheny County's website so you're all set for the primaries on May 19. We're kicking off our election coverage with the biggest race at the state level: the governor's seat. Incumbent Democrat Josh Shapiro's facing off against Republican challeng...

Local leaders hustled to fix sidewalks, fill storefronts, and revamp public spaces ahead of the NFL Draft. But what's in store for the Golden Triangle now that the party's over? How much will Pittsburghers continue to benefit from the big push to make everything pretty before company came to town? Host Megan met up with Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, to t...

Are DIY urban projects the key to improving the infrastructure in cities like Pittsburgh? The grassroots group To Nashville, With Love has built and installed 60 benches at bus stops around Nashville, all without government approval. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Nashville podcast host Marie Cecile Anderson about what this guerrilla campaign is doing, why it’s gotten pushback from...

The NFL Draft is finally here! Host Megan Harris, producer Sophia Lo and contributor Colin Williams share what we're looking forward to (a Pop-Tart sacrifice!), questioning (a crackdown on bootleg sports merch), and still waiting to see (a fully-open-to-the-public Arts Landing). Plus, we talk about a court ruling that strikes down a state ban on Medicaid-funded abortions, a hunger strike at PA's l...

It's the season to celebrate great books and music! In honor of Record Store Day, Independent Bookstore Day, and National Library Week, the City Cast Pittsburgh team is sharing our favorite spots to find your next read or listen — from one of the best record stores in the entire country (according to Rolling Stone) to two new romance book shops. Plus, we discuss all the things you can get from our...

The latest season of 'The Pitt' is a wrap! And we're still doing our best Nurse Dana, "Baby Jane Doe" impressions. City Cast's Megan Harris and Mallory Falk are with Josh Axelrod, a local film critic and comms director at the Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center. We're talking about our favorite moments of the season, how the writers room rep’ed Pittsburgh, and what we think just barely missed the...

Tomorrow is Earth Day, and we think the best way to celebrate is by visiting one of the city's 176 gorgeous parks. Plus, with so many parks in every corner of the city, there's sure to be one where you can escape into nature instead of sitting in traffic during Draft week! Producer Sophia Lo is with Matthew Hileman, the director of operations and visitor engagement at the Pittsburgh Parks Conserva...

Spring in Pittsburgh means one thing: it’s officially food fest season. From Vegan Restaurant Week and a mac-and-cheese marathon in the Strip to Greek festival favorites (yes, baklava sundaes included), host Megan Harris and producer Sophia Lo are sharing the can’t-miss spring food and drink events worth planning your weekends around right now. Learn more about the sponsors of this Monday, April 2...

Could public financing get more Pittsburghers involved in local elections? For the last decade, the City of Seattle has issued $100 in vouchers to every voter to donate to the candidate of their choice in municipal elections. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Seattle podcast host Jane C. Hu about how these Democracy Vouchers work, how many people are participating, and what the impact...

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is not shutting down after all! The Baltimore Banner's parent nonprofit just bought the paper from Block Communications Inc. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and contributor Colin Williams share the details. Plus, we celebrate Colin's return to the newly-revived City Paper, which started back up this week, and give an update on when to expect the alt-...

Mayor Corey O'Connor just reached his 100th day in office, and he's sitting down with host Megan Harris to talk about his main accomplishments so far, opportunities during the NFL Draft, and what's in store for Pittsburgh after the big party. Plus, we're bringing the mayor YOUR questions, like whether voluntary donations from some of the Big Five nonprofits are just bandaids, how the city can supp...

Company is coming, and a lot of out-of-town drivers don't know how to zipper merge. But let's be honest, some of yinz don't either! Driving down steep hills and navigating tight streets can be a challenge, and people have been complaining about our city's layout for decades. In the 1930s, renowned journalist Erine Pyle wrote, "Pittsburgh is the cockeyedest city in the United States. Physically it...

It's one of our most contentious debates: Can you get a good bagel in Pittsburgh? The City Cast Pittsburgh team is entering the fray and taste testing 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...

The NFL Draft is taking over Pittsburgh, and even if you're not a football fan, there's still probably something up your alley. We've got concerts, brunches, happy hours, block parties, and so many more activities, and there's even plenty to do beyond Downtown and the North Shore. To help you navigate it all, content creator Brenasia Ward-Caldwell created the Pittsburgh Draft Week Guide. Brenasia...

Pittsburghers, what do you do when your night life starts to dwindle? Nightlife is a huge economic driver for cities, but city offices are often closed when those businesses need help. That’s why Portland is considering hiring a Night Mayor. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Portland podcast host Claudia Meza about what this new position would do, and if it is the answer to the pandem...

The Michelin Guide is coming to Pittsburgh! The timing is kind of hilarious, since we just did an episode about why our city doesn't have — or need – Michelin star restaurants. Host Megan Harris and City Cast contributors Colin Williams and Hal B. Klein chat about this development, laugh about our clairvoyant conversation, and share which restaurants they think might (or might not) get a star. Plu...

While we have a growing number of delicious pizza joints in and around the city, our pizza scene just doesn't compare to New York — at least not yet. City Cast contributor and Post-Gazette dining critic Hal B. Klein is telling host Megan Harris how new technology and our collaborative culture makes Pittsburgh a "rising pizza powerhouse." Plus, Hal's sharing his favorite pizza places in Western Pen...