City Cast Portland

Snowshoeing – essentially hiking with the enormous winter clown shoes – is a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors in peace and quiet, with a whole new terrain. Today we’re listening back to a conversation with expert outdoor adventurer Norther Emily of Wild Solitude Guiding. She answers all our questions for where to have the best snowshoeing experiences in and around Portland. And yes, you can sta...

Winter is here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a meal outdoors. Portland’s heated patios, fire pits, and other amenities make dining outside a year-round endeavor. Today, we’re listening back to a conversation with host Claudia Meza and producers John Notarianni and Giulia Fiaoni to share with you the best spots to eat, drink, and be merry throughout the city.  This conversation first...

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about the federal government investigating several companies in our Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub (CEI Hub), reported UFO sightings in Eugene skies, and the drama surrounding Portland’s public campaign finance management. Joining host Claudia Meza on this year’s final Friday news roundup are City Cast’s director of digital strategy, Bryan M. Vance, a...

Portland is widely known for its coffee and craft beer, but did you know we also have an amazing tea scene? Our city has a long history as a home to both successful international tea brands and well-loved independent teahouses. Today we’re talking with local tea expert Percy Scoffern about the ins and outs of Portland’s gongfu-style tea scene and what makes it worth sipping on.    Discussed in thi...

Portland dive bars are just built differently. Our city’s sticky-floored neighborhood spots are community staples. Today we’re talking with Portland Monthly’s food and drink editor Alex Frane about his list of Portland’s most quintessential dive bars. He has some pretty hot takes on what even constitutes a dive bar — and even hotter takes on why he left some very popular picks off the list.  Featu...

If you’re looking to pick up a low-impact winter sport, then cross-country skiing might be for you. In addition to experiencing our beautiful wilderness during one of its most magical seasons, it’s also a pretty great workout. Rebecca Jacobson recently published a beginner’s guide to the sport for Portland Monthly. Today she’s here to help first-timers navigate getting out on the trails and glidin...

For those of you who still have a few white elephant gift exchanges or stockings that still need stuffing, we might be able to help: Today we’re revisiting a conversation with Taylor Valdes about operating what could be the most quintessential Portland enterprise: The Venderia. This conversation first aired on November 29, 2023 Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and s...

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about the difficulties our city and the U.S. Department of Justice have had keeping the Portland Police Bureau accountable for their actions, the new threat some small towns along the Columbia River Gorge are facing, and why so many cash-strapped public school districts in Oregon are turning their noses up to state funding. Joining host Claudia Meza on th...

It’s easy to see why locals gush about Lents: the East Portland neighborhood is home to incredible parks, great food, and everyone’s favorite collegiate summer baseball team, The Portland Pickles. We’re continuing our neighborhood guide series with OPB "All Things Considered" host (and self-described Lents evangelist) Crystal Ligori. Mentioned in this episode: Lents Park Hong Phat Supercenter Lent...

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about what our outgoing and incoming mayors are saying about the city’s transition to its new form of government, and the feathers Mayor-elect Keith Wilson might have already ruffled before his first day on the job. Plus, we have updates to stories and notes from our listener mailbag. Joining host Claudia Meza is our very own executive producer, John Nota...

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 talking with Eliza Aronson who investigated the issue for Willamette Week. She spoke to neighbors,...

Did you know that Portland is the largest U.S. city without fluoride in its drinking water? Since 1965, voters have consistently rejected it. Portland isn’t alone: Lebanon, Oregon, recently voted to stop adding fluoride to drinking water, and Hillsboro rejected a proposal to introduce it. With fluoride in the spotlight, we’re asking: Is it really that bad? Why are we so resistant to fluoridated wa...

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about the ongoing racism football players from an East Portland high school are facing, the proposed updates to Oregon’s Bottle Bill that downtown retail stores are sending to the Legislature, and a look into how prepared Portland is for incoming winter weather storms. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week’s Friday news roundup are Willamette Week cannab...

From exploding whales to cement milkshakes, Portland generates a lot of meme-worthy news that often finds its way into the national headlines. Today, we're breaking down some of our city and state’s most memorable viral moments.  Discussed in today’s episode: The Exploding Whale: An Infamous Moment in Oregon History Creates a Strangely Beloved Icon The Assault of Nancy Kerrigan Expose Yourself to...

For years, food critics and pizza experts have been calling Portland one of the best pizza cities in the country, maybe even the world. So when the Oregonian recently dropped its list of the city’s top 15 pizzerias, we knew there was a lot to discuss. Today, we’re talking with Oregonian food critic Michael Russel about the city’s best pies — from the old-school legends to the places that are pushi...

It’s a big week for us at City Cast Portland: in a few days, we’re hitting the show’s second anniversary! For two years, City Cast Portland has been your guide to all things Portland, and if there’s one thing we’ve all learned, it’s that the city has its own set of unwritten rules: Even our street names have unique pronunciations. Today, we’re listening back to a conversation host Claudia Meza had...

From making a delicious homemade Douglas fir liqueur to putting your songwriting on display at an open mic night, there’s no shortage of things to do this month in Portland. So the City Cast Portland team is here to narrow down your December plans to the must-dos, like watching in 200 tubas playing holiday songs! Two bonus suggestions from our episode archive: Cozy Restaurants and Bars to Get You...

Today we’re talking about President-elect Trump nominating an Oregon Republican, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, for United States secretary of Labor, and what the repercussions could be for our city, state, and country. We’re also digging into our mailbag and hearing from you, our listeners. Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on Cit...

A customer survey conducted earlier this year by TriMet found that about half of riders don’t feel safe using public transit in Portland. But TriMet has quadrupled its safety budget in recent years, and both calls for police assistance and operator assaults are down. So is riding the bus and MAX actually getting safer? Today, we’re talking with Andrew Wilson, TriMet’s executive director of safety...

A trip to Kenton is like taking a time machine to the Portland of 20 years ago, according to resident (and NPR “Wild Card” podcast supervising editor) Dave Blanchard. Today we’re continuing our neighborhood series where we talk with Portlanders about the good, bad, and ugly of where they live with a visit to this North Portland neighborhood. Mentioned in today’s episode: North Portland Tool Librar...

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about the future of the state kicker tax refund, what our new City Council’s policy interests could look like, and several businesses downtown that are being forced out of their building. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week’s Friday news roundup are Willamette Week City Hall reporter Sophie Peel and City Cast director of digital strategy Bryan M. Vance...

Oregon has a reputation in popular culture for its long and weird history with cults. Whether it was for the cheap abundant land, mystic moody vibes, or just the lack of competition from organized religion, many groups have come to our state and set up new eyebrow-raising belief systems. Today, we’re talking with Kick Ass Oregon History podcast host Doug Kenck-Crispin about the impact of a few of...

Portland Public Schools started enforcing strict policies for cellphone-free campuses in response to concerns over teachers struggling to hold students’ attention. But is it working? Today, we’re talking with Willamette Week arts and culture reporter Rachel Saslow. She visited one of the high schools with an active phone ban and has an inside look at how everyone is adjusting to their new reality....

Today on City Cast Portland, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D, Ore.) is talking to us between sessions to share his thoughts on Portland’s new form of city government, what Oregon can do to brace itself for another Trump administration, and his next steps as he approaches retirement. Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on Cit...

Hiking during the rainy season can be a tough sell, because let’s be real: No one likes getting soaked outdoors. But once you know how to do it, going for a hike in the rain comes with some perks you won’t get at any other time of year. Today, we’re revisiting a conversation with Norther Emily of Wild Solitude Guiding. She has some picks for where you should visit when the rain falls — and how to...