City Cast Pittsburgh City Cast

Summer is here, and it’s the perfect season for curling up in a hammock with a good book. If you need an extra incentive to get started, our county library system’s adult summer reading programs offer lots of prizes. Bellevue librarian Erin Thompson explains how you can earn rewards for getting lost in a beach read, plus she’s sharing a few hacks for getting the most out of your library card. 
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Tours of the Carrie Blast Furnaces are a great way to connect with our region's steel-making legacy. Rivers of Steel offers different kinds of tours — the Industrial Tour highlights the site’s iron-making technology, its workers, and their culture, and the Black Experience shares how the Great Migration shaped the workforce and our surrounding communities. Check them out at https://riversofsteel.com/tours


Liberty Magic is the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s premier speakeasy theater dedicated to the art of elevating magic. In his one-person comedy magic and variety show, The Zabrecky Hour, multiskilled artist Rob Zabrecky invites audiences into his remarkably curious world through storytelling and magic. Get tickets at https://trustarts.org/magic before they disappear.

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Introducing Encounter Animals Ethically with Alison Hermance from Via Podcast.
Follow the show: Via Podcast
On the next episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks get up close and personal with a few cuddly critters—and a few not-so-cuddly—on a virtual visit to ethical animal sanctuaries.

Guest Alison Hermance chats about how to interact with animals ethically, and with their best interest in mind, whether at a sanctuary or in the wild, and shares cool facts about the abundance of fascinating creatures in the West.

Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

It’s the Friday news roundup! City leaders are really stoked about landing the 2026 NFL Draft, and they want to spruce up the place before an estimated 750,000 people come to visit. We’re talking about plans to revitalize Downtown — again — plus, Eat’n Park’s 75th anniversary and the AC fire that displaced nearly 200 unhoused people from the Second Avenue Commons shelter.
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Eat’n Park turned 75 this week! The local chain started on Saw Mill Run Blvd in 1949. Check out the ad from when the chain first opened in 1949. Fun fact: The Smiley cookie came way later in 1986.

Local leaders have some big ideas for revitalizing Downtown — hopefully ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft — including making Market Square more pedestrian-friendly and adding a lot more green space. Right now, we have really pretty plans, but not a lot of details about the price tag or funding sources.

This week’s fire at Second Avenue Commons probably started from an AC unit on the roof, and there may be water and smoke damage. There’s still no timeline for cleanup or reopening. 

People staying there say they weren’t able to grab things like family photos, medical devices, or medication. 


Pittsburgh Mercy is taking donations on their website and in-person, and the Our Streets Collective is connecting folks to mutual aid groups in our area, as well as helping with services and supplies on the ground.

The county just unveiled its new “500 in 500” plan, which they’re defining as creating or identifying 500 units of subsidized, affordable housing in the next 500 days. The county says it’s been in the works for awhile, but the fire gave it more urgency.

The pro-Palestine protest on the Cathedral of Learning lawn ended Tuesday morning. City leaders seemed to take credit for a “peaceful” resolution following a lengthy statement from Pitt’s chancellor. Student organizers held a press conference about why the encampment disbanded, and they’ve refuted many of her claims.

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Heinz Ketchup has a chokehold on this city. From stadiums and museums to our own home pantries, it’s the ketchup brand on the table and in any good Pittsburghers’ fridge. But in honor of National Ketchup Day, we’re seeing if our team can actually tell the difference between our hometown brand and the competition. We’re pitting the local OG against a few other ketchups in a blind taste test – and hoping we don’t upset any yinzers along the way.
Check out our episode on Heinz ketchup’s rise to prominence.
If you enjoyed the interview with Rivers of Steel Director of Historic Resources and Facilities, Ron Baraff, learn more here.
Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.
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Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893.

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For years now, there’s been a Juneteenth celebration in Pittsburgh – marking the date when the last enslaved people in this country finally learned that they were free. But this year, the city is also holding its own event. City Council is expected to cast another vote today toward funding both celebrations. Julia Felton, city hall reporter for TribLive, has been following the whole back-and-forth and joins us to explain.
Check out Julia’s reporting on both Juneteenth celebrations.
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Our local parks got good marks from a national nonprofit, but they’re throwing us shade in one category. Pro-Palestine protesters were back in Oakland this weekend, and if you’re looking for a new rental or dealing with an iffy landlord, we’ve got some pro-tips to share.
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A record number of people showed up to Pittsburgh’s Pride Parade on Saturday, and First Lady Jill Biden also made an appearance.

The pro-Palestine encampment returned to Pitt’s campus this weekend, and one person was arrested while trying to deliver food and water to protestors.

Pitt Divest put out a statement about the encampment’s return, and social media posts documented the police getting physically violent with protesters and one officer confirming that he had turned off his body camera.

Pitt’s chancellor, Joan Gabel, sent out a message to students, faculty and staff in response to the encampment.

Weapons experts told CNN that US-made munitions were used in the bombing of a refugee camp in Rafah. President Biden briefly paused weapons shipments to Israel, but the House overturned his decision. 

Having issues with your landlord? Just Mediation Pittsburgh offers an alternative to going to court.

Pittsburgh’s city parks rank among the nation’s best, and the Pittsburgh Park Conservancy’s Summer Programming Guide has ways to explore them. 

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