City Cast Pittsburgh turned four this month! To celebrate, we're sharing recommendations for marking your milestone birthday in style, from a sloth encounter at the National Aviary to a tiki cruise down the Allegheny River. Whether you're turning 21 or 50, there's so much to do besides going out for a fancy meal. (Though we have some suggestions for that too, like dining inside a castle!) Learn more about the sponsors of this January 12th episode: AIDS Free Pittsburgh PA Preferred P3R Special Olympics Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

The first week of the new year brought a lot of changes for Pittsburgh. Corey O'Connor was sworn in as mayor, the Block family announced that it's shutting down City Paper and the Post-Gazette, and the Steelers made it to the playoffs thanks to a divine intervention. Host Megan Harris is joined by City Paper's former news editor, Colin Williams, and Axios Pittsburgh's Ryan Deto to talk about O'Connor's first week in office, what the loss of two local papers means for the city, and whether the Steelers could win a playoff game for the first time in nearly a decade. They also discuss Pittsburgh's connection to the hit show "Heated Rivalry" and another Bucco Brick fiasco. Then, producer Sophia Lo joins Colin and Megan to run through a few things to look forward to (or dread) as we go through 2026. Notes and references from today’s show: Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper? [NiemanLab] An open letter to the Block family [Breathing Space] Mayor-Elect Corey O'Connor Inauguration Ceremony [YouTube] O’Connor tours Downtown with an eye to fixing it up [TribLive] The story behind the Steelers' blessed end zone [Axios Pittsburgh] 'Heated Rivalry,' the gay hockey romance taking over the internet, finds love in Pittsburgh [P-G] Reports: Fenway Sports Group reaches agreement to sell Penguins [TribLive] Pirates fan receives hilarious replacement Bucco Brick [Reddit] Pittsburgh's 2026 is bigger than you can fathom [Axios Pittsburgh] Your Last Minute Guide to Pittsburgh's Best Paczki [City Cast Pittsburgh] Pittsburgh Lenten Fish Fry Map [Hollen Barmer] Learn more about the sponsors of this January 9th episode: Heinz History Center The Frick PA Preferred Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re also on Instagram @CityCastPgh!

Pittsburgh's largest, oldest newspaper is shutting down. The Post-Gazette will publish its last issue and cease operations on May 3. Its owners, Block Communications, Inc., say they've lost hundreds of millions of dollars over the past 20 years, and their decision comes after they lost a legal battle against the Newspaper Guild. Andrew Conte, managing director of Point Park University's Center for Media Innovation, joins host Megan Harris to talk about what we know so far and their hopes for the future of Pittsburgh media. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 8th episode: Heinz History Center The Frick PA Preferred Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. 

It's a new year full of new dreams and goals, and for us, that includes putting together a list of restaurants to try throughout 2026. Post-Gazette dining critic and City Cast contributor Hal B. Klein rounded up some of the best new restaurants of 2025, and he's sharing his favorites with host Megan Harris and producer Sophia Lo. Plus, Hal's got the details on what other restaurants are opening soon and what spots he wants to revisit. If you enjoyed today's interview with Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 7th episode: Heinz History Center The Frick PA Preferred Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Season 2 of "The Pitt" drops this Thursday at 9 p.m., and our team has some ideas about what storylines should be included. (You can't set a show in Pittsburgh during the 4th of July without at least one medical emergency involving a furry!) The City Cast Pittsburgh team is sharing our predictions, plus discussing our favorite local homages and Easter eggs from the first season, debating the authenticity of charge nurse Dana's accent, and more. Haven't watched the show yet? The first half of our episode is spoiler-free! And once you're finished bingeing, read up on a few things "The Pitt" gets wrong about PA's medical and privacy laws. **This episode originally aired on April 24, 2025.  Notes and references from today’s show: How Real Doctors Brought 'The Pitt' To Life [Science Friday] Learn more about the sponsors of this January 6th episode: Heinz History Center The Frick PA Preferred Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter here. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Nobody understands a city’s pulse quite like a City Cast host — and that makes them the best predictors for 2026’s biggest local stories. City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris joins CEO David Plotz and the other 12 hosts from across the network to talk about the big changes coming to our cities, from political shifts to data centers. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 5th episode: ⁠⁠Heinz History Center ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠The Frick⁠⁠ ⁠⁠PA Preferred⁠⁠ Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at ⁠⁠membership.citycast.fm⁠⁠. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning ⁠⁠Hey Pittsburgh⁠⁠ newsletter. We’re on Instagram ⁠⁠@CityCastPgh⁠⁠. Text or leave us a voicemail at ⁠⁠412-212-8893⁠⁠. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. 

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 from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm/  If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Pittsburgh community.  For even more tips on how to make the most out of January in Pittsburgh, check out our website for another take on what to do this month. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Reach us at pittsburgh@citycast.fm.

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 something broken, and whether it's even worth the risk to be placing bids. **This episode originally aired on March 18, 2024. Notes and references from today’s show: 2022 Retail Returns Rate Remains Flat at $816 Billion [National Retail Federation] M@C Discount Business Profile [Better Business Bureau] Inside the booming business of reselling returned merchandise [Marketplace] This Is What Happens to All the Stuff You Don’t Want [The Atlantic] Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

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' secret weapon, and whether this anthem produces tangible results or is all just superstition. **This episode originally aired on September 1, 2022. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. 

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. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

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 in the years ahead, and whether he has any regrets. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. 

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,' share some local movie recommendations for the holiday break, and talk about the things that are bringing us joy this week. Notes and references from today’s show: New details emerge about Maryland investigation of Jason Lando, O'Connor's pick for Pittsburgh police chief [TribLive] From not wanting to leave to coming home: Police Chief Jason Lando leaves the comfort of Maryland for the uncertainty of Pittsburgh [Post-Gazette] PODCAST: Does 'The Pitt' Get Pittsburgh Right? [City Cast Pittsburgh] 5 Things ‘The Pitt’ Gets Right and Wrong About Pittsburgh [City Cast Pittsburgh] The Best Pittsburgh(ish) Holiday Movies [City Cast Pittsburgh] Immortalizing Forbes Field: MGM Drafts Pittsburgh for Big Film [Heinz History Center] Pittsburgh is just a bunch of mutual friends for real [Instagram] Learn more about the sponsor of this December 19th episode: Heinz History Center Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. 

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 cost, the mission, and how they’re feeling about people’s reaction to the ad. Check out Pittsburgh Tomorrow's guide to starting a new life in Pittsburgh or get in touch at hello@pittsburghtomorrow.org Learn more about the sponsors of this December 18th episode: Heinz History Center Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

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 & Guide. They're  sharing our city's history with the steps and tips for exploring them yourself.  Thanks to Laura Zurowski, Matthew Jacob, and Charles Succop for taking us on the field trip! **This episode originally aired on July 16, 2025. Learn more about the sponsors of this December 17th episode: Heinz History Center Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

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 finding free or very discounted winter gear. Learn more about the sponsors of this December 16th episode: Heinz History Center Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. 

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, food editor at Pittsburgh Magazine, to learn about why Eat'n Park created Pittsburgh's most enduring commercial and talk about why it's still on screens today. **This episode originally aired on December 9, 2024. Learn more about the sponsors of this December 15th episode: Heinz History Center Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. 

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 restrictions on GLP-1 drugs, the Terrible Towel's big milestone birthday, and your final opportunity to snag an exclusive City Cast Pittsburgh beanie. Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm Request a song for our holiday show! Call or text the HOLIDAY HOTLINE at 412-212-8893. Notes and references from today’s show: Our Ultimate Pittsburgh Gift Guide [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: 'Sloppy' City Budget, Zombie Studies & Giant Eagle vs. Everybody [City Cast Pittsburgh] Same budget, different universes: Pittsburgh council, mayor diverge on 2026 spending plan [TribLive] Pittsburgh City Council grapples with competing narratives surrounding budget [P-G] Sharply contrasting views of Pittsburgh budget emerge ahead of looming votes [WESA] Property Record Search [Allegheny County] PODCAST: Can Pittsburgh Afford the NFL Draft? [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: Are Pittsburgh Schools Closing Or Not?! [City Cast Pittsburgh] Without closures, Pittsburgh Public Schools projects $6M deficit with 4% tax hike [TribLive] Pa. cyber charter reforms give PPS budget unexpected 'wiggle room' amid last-minute revisions [WESA] Pennsylvania restricts weight-loss drugs for Medicaid patients amid budget woes [Spotlight PA] Pittsburgh-area ICE arrests through mid-October more than triple last year’s level [Public Source] PODCAST: What Actually Happens During an ICE Raid? [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: Lo que realmente ocurre durante una redada de ICE [City Cast Pittsburgh] HHS changed the name of transgender health leader on her official portrait [NPR] Former Gov. Wolf, Pa. Democrats slam deadname of Rachel Levine portrait [Go Erie] The Terrible Towel Turns 50 [Pittsburgh Magazine] Pittsburgh lands direct flights to Dublin [Axios Pittsburgh] Learn more about the sponsors of this December 12th episode: Fulton Commons Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

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.  What was your final score? Tell us how you did at our TRIVIA HOTLINE at 412-212-8893. Thanks to our guests Colin Williams at City Paper, John Rhoades at Next Pittsburgh, and Jeff Freedman at QBurgh, and special shout out to CCP contributor and quizmaster Kevin Gavin. Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm Notes and references from today’s show: PODCAST: The Story Behind Eat’n Park’s Iconic Christmas Commercial [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: Why Pittsburgh’s Menorah Went to the U.S. Supreme Court [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: The Best Holiday Pop-Up Bars in Pittsburgh in 2025 [City Cast Pittsburgh] Find Holiday Cheer at These Pittsburgh Pop-Up Bars [City Cast Pittsburgh] Learn more about the sponsors of this December 11th episode: Fulton Commons Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

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 was happening on a rushed timeline. Now the district is back to the drawing board and considering a tax increase. Host Megan Harris is with James Fogarty, executive director of A+ Schools, to explain what happened, what comes next, and why the fate of our local schools should matter to everyone who lives here. Want to learn more about the district, including its bright spots and successes? Read A+ Schools' latest report on PPS. Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm Learn more about the sponsors of this December 10th episode: Fulton Commons Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. 

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 Megan Harris to discuss his Class of 2015 series and share how spots like Senti and Scratch & Co. totally rocked our local dining scene. Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm or gift a membership at https://membership.citycast.fm/gifts. Learn more about the sponsors of this December 9th episode: Fulton Commons Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.