City Cast Pittsburgh

Happy New Year! If your resolution is to explore more of Pittsburgh, you're in the right place. The City Cast team's here to talk about pinball machines popping up all around the city, specialty bakeries with delicious sweet and savory goods, and where you can ice skate with some of our favorite mascots. Plus, bundle up and enjoy this winter weather with some skiing, hiking, and more. Get more fro...

We hope you got everything on your wishlist for the holidays, but we also know that plenty of people are packing up Amazon returns and exchanging presents. Those items can end up at Mac. Bid, and if you're lucky, someone's return could be your next cheap find. City Cast's Elizabeth Kauma and Megan Harris are talking about how these warehouses got here, what you need to know so you don't buy someth...

The Steelers have had their ups and downs this year, and while Aaron Rodgers has been winning over at least some reluctant hearts, there was a moment this season when fans were so livid they booed our most beloved power anthem: Styx's 1979 hit "Renegade." To understand why this was such a big deal, we're revisiting our episode about why the song is so special here, how it became the Steelers' secr...

Gainey versus O'Connor. South Side business owners versus their clientele. Pirates fans versus Bob Nutting. There were so many juicy rivalries in Pittsburgh this year. Host Megan Harris is joined by City Paper's Colin Williams to discuss the biggest beefs of 2025 and share which feud they'd most like to see resolved in the new year. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm...

Mayor Ed Gainey has two weeks left in office, and one of his final decisions will be whether to approve or veto a 20% tax increase passed by City Council over the weekend. It's a dramatic end to his history-making turn as Pittsburgh's first Black mayor. Host Megan Harris sits down with Ed & Michelle Gainey to talk about their legacy, what he sees as the city's biggest opportunities and challenges...

Pittsburgh was in the national spotlight this week, when NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas broadcast live from the North Shore. But our hopes of being represented as more than just a football down were quickly dashed. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco discuss our city's primetime moment. Plus, we talk about the new trailer for the 'Pitt,' sh...

Pittsburgh Tomorrow recently placed a dog-friendly, holiday billboard in New York City’s Times Square, inviting the nearly 400,000 people who pass by every day to consider moving to Pittsburgh. While some locals say they don’t love it, head of storytelling Caroline Fisher says the city needs to take big swings if we want Pittsburgh’s stagnant population to grow. Host Megan Harris asks about the co...

After all the leaves fall, you can see what exactly sits on all of Pittsburgh's hills. You might be noticing steep steps all around the city, and these staircases were actually the city's first form of mass transit. Cataloging and preserving these steps is a relatively new priority, and the City Cast Pittsburgh team explored a set of steps with three authors of City Steps of Pittsburgh: A History...

Pittsburgh just got a nice, big snowfall, and if you're feeling inspired to get out in the cold there are plenty of options, from snowshoeing through our city parks to ice skating under the stars. Marcus Shoffner, founder of the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition, joins host Megan Harris to share his favorite spots for skiing, snowboarding, winter camping and more, plus his tips for staying warm and find...

While most of us aren't jumping at the chance to watch commercials, there's one holiday ad that Pittsburghers have loved for more than 40 years. When we hear the little flute melody leading into Eat'n Park's Christmas star commercial, we know those cozy feelings are coming — and it all started as the chain's special thank you note to our city. Executive producer Mallory Falk is with Kristy Graver,...

Your taxes could be going up. City Council and Pittsburgh Public Schools both officially proposed increases for next year. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and producer Sophia Lo explain how we got here and how much extra you might be paying if the tax hikes do, in fact, get approved. Plus, they discuss a new direct flight to one of Pittsburgh's favorite places, new state restri...

Are you the kind of Pittsburgher who always shows up to Light Up Night and puts up your holiday decorations right after Halloween? Today, we're bringing together a few local media outlets to see who knows the most about our city's seasonal traditions, and we want you to play along with us! We're asking questions about our prolific pop-up bars, iconic local commercials, and favorite winter events. ...

Pittsburgh Public Schools spent two years and a quarter million dollars on a plan to save money and make the district more equitable — only for the school board to reject it in the 11th hour. The controversial plan would've closed and consolidated a bunch of schools and made other dramatic changes to address declining enrollment, a growing deficit, and student achievement gaps, but many worried it...

Some of our favorite restaurants are celebrating their 10th anniversaries! That includes places like Driftwood Oven (home of the ever-popular sourdough pizza) and Butterwood Bake Consortium (known for its late night cakes). What was happening a decade ago that allowed these restaurants to flourish — and how did they change Pittsburgh's food scene? Post-Gazette dining critic Hal B. Klein joins host...

We are inching closer and closer to the holidays, and if you've been putting off your shopping, we want to help you find the perfect Pittsburgh gift! Host Megan Harris is with writer and historian Virginia Montanez, who's been putting together a yinzer gift guide for nearly two decades, to share their topics for 2025. Plus, the rest of the City Cast Pittsburgh team got in on the fun. Get our recom...

The Esplanade development finally broke ground in Chateau, after nearly a decade of planning, which means we're one step closer to a permanent Ferris Wheel on the North Side. Plus, there are fresh hopes and dreams for Station Square now that a new developer is taking over. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and producer Sophia Lo discuss what they'd like to see on the riverfront s...

If you love coffee and pizza, then you're in luck. Pittsburgh's got a bunch of new cafes and restaurants with plenty of warm drinks and delicious slices. Producer Sophia Lo and newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco are deep diving the menus, plus discussing other new eats around the city, from noodle shops to a Mexican spot. We're so sad Bae Bae's closed! Where should we be getting japchae instead?...

The 2026 Farmers' Almanac predicted that Pittsburgh would see its first snow around December 1, and if the rest of their forecast pans out, then we're in for a "chill, snow, repeat" winter. As we break out our shovels and salt, we've been wondering how often our region actually deals with this kind of winter weather and when it’s been bad enough to break records or shut down the city. Host Megan H...

Pittsburgh officials agreed to pay $6 million last year to make a master plan — a blueprint for how the city should grow and improve over the next 25 years. But now many months in, City Council and some community leaders say the contractor responsible for gathering ideas didn’t do enough. Should we have gotten more bang for our buck? And if Council quits now, how much money can we get back? Post-G...

We are in the thick of the holiday season here in Pittsburgh, and there's so many ways to bask in the glow of cheery light displays. Explore a photography exhibit, shop at seasonal markets, and consider getting a pretzel to celebrate New Year's. Plus, if you want to lean into the festive spirits, be sure to visit one of the city's many pop-up holiday bars. Want to make a request for our holiday mu...

Join City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris alongside fellow hosts from Austin, Chicago, DC, Denver, Las Vegas, Madison, Nashville, Philly, Portland, Salt Lake, Seattle, and the Twin Cities for a special episode that’ll help you knock out your holiday shopping early and support small businesses around the country. From a handlebar mount (and app!) that’ll turn your phone into a bike cam, to a must...

99% of Pittsburgh's businesses are considered "small," and so many of our favorite small businesses make about a third of their revenue for the whole year during the holidays. So while you might be tempted by Amazon's Black Friday Deals, consider perusing a neighborhood's main street on Small Business Saturday instead. Host Megan Harris is with YaJagoff's Rachael Rennebeck to make the case for sho...

It's Pittsburgh's birthday week! To celebrate, we're diving into some history about how our city spells its name. Today, we all agree that Pittsburgh ends with an H, but in our earlier days, people were very split on the issue. We’re bringing back a conversation between host Megan Harris and historian and author Virginia Montanez to learn about the basic rules of how we spell things (really), why...

Good news for food truck lovers! The city just made it easier for mobile vendors to set up shop. Host Megan Harris and executive producer Mallory Falk share why new rules could open the door for taco trucks, mobile pizza ovens, and more in your favorite city park. Plus, they dig into new reports about Pittsburgh's hottest housing markets and richest neighborhoods, explain why it's not entirely a g...

'Tis the season for grabbing a festive cocktail at one (or 10) of Pittsburgh's holiday pop-up bars. With so many to choose from, how do you decide what's worth a visit? Food influencer Karen Hoang joins host Megan Harris to share her favorite spots and tips for planning the ultimate festive night out – or even an elaborate bar crawl. Want even more recommendations? Check out our full list of local...