City Cast Portland

It’s the beginning of peak barbecue season in Portland, when we all dream of lazy afternoons spent grilling meats and veggies in the backyard with friends. But the process can be a bit intimidating for the newbie: What kind of gear do you actually need? How do you plan the perfect menu? Charcoal or propane? Today, we’re revisiting a conversation with Zeph Shepard, owner of Proletariat Butchery in...

On today's midweek roundup, we’re talking about the nearly half a billion dollars of unspent money from Multnomah County’s Preschool for All program, the kitchen fire that closed a beloved steakhouse, the death of an iconic Portland folk singer, and the most recent battles to keep Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge safe for all the animals that inhabit its wetlands. We’re also hearing from you, our liste...

Now that outdoor season is finally upon us, getting out of the city and going car camping is seriously underrated. Today, executive producer John Notarianni talks with Norther Emily of Wild Solitude Guiding, who's a car camping expert. She knows the best places to camp and has some hacks to help you get the most out of your trip. Discussed in today's episode: Silver Falls State Park Cape Lookout S...

Eastmoreland and Westmoreland are often overshadowed by neighboring Sellwood, but there's a lot to love in this idyllic corner of Portland. Today, Willamette Week culture reporter Rachel Saslow joins executive producer John Notariani to talk about "The Morelands," aka Eastmoreland and Westmoreland. We learn about must-dos and fun spots to visit, plus why the neighborhood has its own dedicated cryi...

There’s an effort underway to revise the city’s subjective noise code. Oregon legalized recreational marijuana, but black markets are still thriving. And lawmakers are considering allowing police to gather DNA from suspects before they're convicted – plus using drones to investigate crimes. Executive producer John Notarianni joins Willamette Week reporter and author Brianna Wheeler and our very ow...

In the past five years, the number of illegal massage parlors in Portland has tripled from an estimated 36 to at least 114 different locations. According to state regulators and nonprofits, these parlors engage in illicit operations, including trafficking and abusing undocumented women. Today, we’re revisiting a conversation with Eliza Aronson, who investigated the issue for Willamette Week. She s...

Earlier this year, Portland saw an alarming spike in cases of shigellosis, which you probably recognize by its less-specific, historical name: dysentery. Why did an illness most closely associated with the Oregon Trail pop up in modern-day Portland? Today, executive producer John Notarianni talks with Oregonian homelessness and mental health reporter Lillian Mongeau the connection to our growing u...

Ever since the late ’90s when specialty roasters like Stumptown took over, Portland has been known as a coffee town. But now that we have hundreds of shops in town to choose from, which ones are the best? Today, host Claudia Meza talks with producers John Notarianni and Giulia Fiaoni, alongside sharing picks from our audience, about our city’s ultimate coffee shops. Discussed in today's episode: H...

In a city that prides itself on vegan eats and unfussy dining, you may be surprised to hear that our steakhouses are actually some of the most resilient spots in our restaurant industry. Portland's old-school steakhouses have been around for decades and remain a vital part of our city's identity. So what is it about our steakhouses that keeps Portlanders coming back? Today on City Cast Portland, h...

ODOT is moving forward on the I-5 Rose Quarter expansion plan, despite still being short on the funding necessary to complete the project. Demand for detox beds has dropped. And Portland City Council is struggling to find space for public comment. City Cast director of digital strategy Bryan Vance and KBOO news director Althea Billings join executive producer John Notarianni for our Friday news ro...

Portland is facing a sizable budget deficit, with $93 million in general fund cuts needed to balance next year's budget. We got our first look at what those cuts could mean a few weeks ago, when Portland's new City Administrator Michael Jordan released his preliminary budget recommendations. Today on City Cast Portland, Jordan talks with host Claudia Meza about his proposal to the mayor and City C...

Today we’re talking about how a lot of Portlanders are feeling better about our city these days. That's despite the fact that a lot of metro-area voters don't quite seem to know what local government does. Plus, we dive into our mailbag to hear from you, our listeners. Joining executive producer John Notarianni on this week's midweek news roundup is senior producer Giulia Fiaoni Discussed in Today...

From savoring slices during Portland Pizza Week to racing around in the city’s most delightfully chaotic cycling event, The Ladds 500, April offers plenty of excuses to step outside and embrace the springtime vibes. City Cast Portland has handpicked the absolute best of the month’s food, entertainment, and community happenings, so you won’t miss a thing. And if you’re celebrating an April birthday...

We've all heard stories of small crimes like robberies or vandalism that are just never investigated by the Portland Police Bureau. Why is that? How does the department prioritize calls — the ones that get a swift response and the ones that just go nowhere? Today we're talking with Portland Police Chief Bob Day and Sergeant Matt Jacobsen, who heads up the Major Crimes Unit. Together they're going...

Mayor Wilson is considering the new tax to fund our crumbling streets. The federal government is opening an investigation into an Oregon student athlete. And Portland’s "Boom Loop" is imminent, thanks to a possible new waterfront park. Oregonian City Hall reporter Shane Dixon Kavanaugh and senior producer Giulia Fiaoni join host Claudia Meza for the Friday news roundup. Discussed in Today's Episod...

In celebration of The Korean Mama landing the cover of Portland Monthly’s spring issue, we’re revisiting a conversation we had back in the summer with the always delightful Jane Kim and her son Ed Kim. They have more than a million followers on social media watching as they enthusiastically dine at Portland-area restaurants. Today on City Cast Portland, we’re asking The Korean Mama and The Korean...

With the price of everything skyrocketing and yet another Northwest winter behind us, many of us are craving a quick little getaway but aren't sure where to start. Today our resident fun expert Eden Dawn, co-author of The Portland Book of Dates, shares some ideas for luxurious, budget-friendly staycations — from a night away at a local winery's villa to a bike ride along a beautiful waterfront. Di...

North Portland's Overlook neighborhood might be one of the most transit-rich parts of the city, thanks to its great network of bike routes and public transportation options. Today we’re continuing our neighborhood guide series with Overlook residents Jenna Phillips, known for her TikTok channel Jenna Bikes, and Nic Cota, a civil engineer and the Overlook Neighborhood Association transportation cha...

Portland may not be known as a 24-hour city, but a strong bar, live music, and strip club scene are still key to its culture. About 16 U.S. cities have hired night time economy directors, or “night mayors,” to manage and boost nightlife, and it’s paying off. Today we're talking with Philadelphia's night time economy director Raheem Manning about how he keeps his city going after dark, and whether...

Our restrictive city tree code might be causing more harm than good. Our school district might have too many public high schools. And two of our city councilors have an ambitious plan to finally get some sidewalks for East and West Portland. Host Claudia Meza is joined by Willamette Week City Hall reporter Sophie Peel and our very own executive producer John Notarianni on this week’s Friday news r...

Our state is facing an unprecedented housing crisis. And experts say here in Portland, it's still getting worse: permits for new constructions have actually dropped in recent years, and everything from tariffs to budget cuts at both the federal and city levels could slow down housing production even more. Today we’re talking with state Senator Khanh Pham, chair of the Oregon Senate’s Housing & Dev...

Today we’re talking about the community centers targeted for potential closure in our city and Portland General Electric being given the green light to cut down more trees in Forest Park. Plus, we dive into our mailbag to hear from our listeners. Joining host Claudia Meza on the midweek roundup is executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed in Today’s Episode: Portland City Councilors Respond t...

Between tariff battles, government layoffs, the stock market sinking, and Elon Musk waiving around a chainsaw, there's plenty to worry about in the national headlines.  One of our highest-ranking Oregonians is in the thick of it all: As a leader of the Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has a front row seat to many of these complex, crucial issues. Today Senator Wyden joins us to sha...

Portland and Oregon are surprisingly popular locations to film in: There’ve been over 500 films and TV shows shot in our region! Today we’re talking with Katie Rasmussen, a location manager who’s worked with big-budget movies and TV shows like "Grimm" and the upcoming Amazon Prime series "Criminal." She’s discussing how the places we all know and love get translated onto the big screen, and why Or...

Oregon’s voter-approved gun control measure gets one step closer to enforcement, Mayor Wilson expands the role of Portland Street Response, and two audacious headlines with neighbors trying to cancel children’s dance parties and retaliating against an Oswego Lake kayaker. Host Claudia Meza is joined by Oregonian courts reporter Zane Sparling and our very own executive producer John Notarianni for...