boise

Boise

chicago

Chicago

denver

Denver

houston

Houston

lasvegas

Las Vegas

madison

Madison

philly

Philly

pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

portland

Portland

saltlake

Salt Lake

We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Philly

of pickleball play coming from courts in Center City and Northwest Philly. Pickleball is 

, so City Cast Philly wanted to learn what all the fuss was about. 

We recently hit the court with USA Pickleball ambassador and local instructor Andrew Freedman to get 

 on how you can start playing in the city.

The game is a mix of ping-pong, badminton, and tennis, and it originated in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Washington. Freedman said families were seeking fun ways to entertain their restless kids during the summer. They incorporated different elements of each sport, and boom: pickleball was born 🏓

Pickleball doesn’t require much gear, and it’s quite affordable. All you need is a paddle (which 

 for under $100), and a pickleball (you can 

 and play with fellow enthusiasts through October.

If you’re not naturally athletic, don’t worry. Pickleball is light on running, beginner-friendly, and accessible for people of all ages. We believe in you! 💪

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, so City Cast Philly wanted to learn what all the fuss was about.

Your Guide to Pickleball in Philadelphia 

Philly, Explained

Philly-area natives have plenty of unique slang. If you’re new to the city, here’s a quick breakdown of some common words and phrases you need to know:

In the Philly dialect, “water” is pronounced “wooder.” And of course, the city’s favorite frozen treat is commonly called “wooder ice” 🍧

The first ATMs in Philly were called MAC, which stands for Money Access Center. MAC machines are no longer around, but many still use the term, like West Philly native and “Abbott Elementary” creator 

These are just super quick ways of saying “did you eat?” or “did you eat yet?”  What we’re really asking is if you want to join us on a Wawa run to get a 

“Bul” or “youngbul” refers to a boy or young man. This one has a lot of 

This term, which is rooted in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and 

” can basically mean anything. It’s a multipurpose noun replacement. A car, a 

, an Eagles jersey, all of these are jawns.

Learn more about the history of this term and 

dig into the debate around language ownership and identity

 with linguist Dr. Taylor Jones. [City Cast Philly 🎧]

” and your thoughts could be featured in an upcoming Hey Philly jawn! 🗣️

Philly-area natives have a distinct way of speaking, and plenty of unique slang. If you’re new to the city, here’s a quick breakdown of some common words and phrases you need to know. 

Your Guide to Philly Slang

Translating Philly Speak

, but some residents find companionship with exotic wildlife. Just last August, Philly resident Joie Henney was spotted walking 

“Wally,” his emotional support alligator

, it’s illegal to own most exotic pets, like monkeys, wolves, and certain endangered reptiles, in Pennsylvania.

But with the proper permits, you can own a pet tiger, an alligator, or even a leopard. In order to own an exotic pet, you 

must obtain two years of hands-on experience

 with care, feeding, handling, training, and husbandry. The permit is $50 annually.

Hedgehogs (when purchased within the state)

Non-native venomous reptiles (boas, pythons, anacondas)

Large felines (tigers, jaguars, cougars, etc.)

Keep in mind: owning an exotic pet requires a lot of research, time, and money. If you’re looking to bring home a unique pet, visit the 

Do you own any exotic pets?

Exotic Pets Allowed in Pennsylvania

There’s not really a “classic” Philly-style pizza. In fact, our city does many different styles well. Food blogger 

 recently joined City Cast Philly to dish on the best spots for 

whatever type of pie you’re looking for

. Keep scrolling down for a map with picks from Dave and host Trenae Nuri!

This trendy style has a thick, crispy, and chewy crust, and comes in a rectangular pan.

Find some great local examples of this classic style!

Chain restaurants (that are actually good)

Hear us out. Chain pizza can be good when the ingredients are fresh and you get to see it made right in front of you.

When you’re hungry after a night out, or just seeking a midnight snack, here are some spots open until the early morning.

In the mood for some heavenly combinations? 

. You can get jalapeños, onions, cilantro, spicy chicken, and paneer cheese as toppings. 

 has al pastor pizza, which comes with adobo braised pork, salsa verde, cilantro, lime, pineapples, and cotija cheese.

We had too many recommendations to categorize. Here are a few more!

 (Dave Wez recommends getting the hoagies and cheesesteaks at Angelo’s, too.)

What's your favorite Philly pizza place?

Explore Philly’s Pizza Scene 

City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri and producer Abby Fritz recently took a trip to Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park with Lynn Landes, the creator of 

Here are some of Landes' tips for finding useful, edible plants in the city:

 from March to November where you can learn about the uses of local wild plants.

Landes also suggests that aspiring urban foragers start by downloading a plant identification app. Once you have the name of a plant, head over to the 

 website to discover its uses. She says PFAF is the “gold standard” for foragers.

Paper mulberry can be used to make paper and cloth

Wineberry, similar to a raspberry, can be used in 

Never consume any plant that you haven’t first identified. Even after you’ve identified it, eat it slowly. Some people might want to rub the plant or leaf on the back of their neck or under their chin to check for a potential allergic reaction.

It’s illegal to forage on city property, but plucking up plantain and dandelion leaves in moderation is okay.

“If you’re just going to pluck a flower here or there and take some mulberries from a mulberry tree, they're not going to object to that,” Landes says.

Your Guide to Urban Foraging in Philadelphia 

With 38 public green spaces and historic landscapes, the Greater Philadelphia region is 

 in Southwest Philly is the nation’s oldest preserved botanical garden. It’s home to more than 2,000 plant species, including the 

 takes visitors through 17th-century Japanese architecture. You can tour the house and courtyard garden and explore the koi pond, which sits underneath a 75-year-old weeping cherry tree.

 features 56 acres of open meadows, farmland, woods, ponds, and rolling hills. The site also hosts art exhibitions, concerts, foraging workshops, and more.

 is a must-visit for nature enthusiasts. It has more than 9,000 species and varieties of plants. It’s always a good time to visit, as it hosts hundreds of events throughout the year, like gardening demos, live performances, and children’s activities.

Guide to Public Green Spaces in Philadelphia 

Philly kicked off Pride Month over the weekend with a lively festival, featuring performances, community resources, and a 200-foot Pride flag. The fun continues throughout the month of June. Here's where to celebrate and support Philly’s LGBTQ community.

🪩 Bring the family to the Please Touch Museum on Saturday, June 10 for a 

 including face painting, a disco dance party, yoga, and music. [$19, West Philly]

🐅Enjoy Pride decorations and learn about the wide spectrum of LGBTQ relationships in the animal kingdom at 

 will make an appearance from 12 to 1 p.m. [free with admission, West Philly]

 on Saturday, June 10, featuring local queer bands, musicians, DJS, and drag performers. Shop from vendors selling art, crafts, and vintage items. [pay-as-you-go, Gayborhood] 

 featuring South Philly-based comedian Alejandro Morales. [$25-$150, Manayunk]

 and enjoy exclusive drink specials and free cover to drag shows at spots including Tabu and Howl at the Moon. Twenty percent of all proceeds will benefit the William Way LGBT Community Center. [$20-$25, Gayborhood]

 and watch a fabulous drag show at Barra Rossa. [$25-$250, Midtown Village]

Guide to Philly Pride Month Events

Are you ready to celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 22? Here’s a few ways you can get your thumbs green and send some major love to Mother Earth this week and weekend.

🌳Join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society from April 20-24 in planting more than 1,400 trees. No experience is necessary for volunteers. 

 to find a planting event near you. Make sure to wear closed-toe shoes, and bring hand sanitizer, gloves, a water bottle, and a shovel if possible.

🚮Get active with Terril Haigler, aka ‘

,’ at his second annual 5k Trash Walk in Kensington. The cleanup begins at 11 a.m on Sunday, April 23 and lasts about three hours. Supplies and refreshments will be provided. 

, rock decorating, and workshops with local vendors and community groups at the Fishtown Rec Center at 10 a.m. on Sat, April 22. Learn from three Philly installers about solar energy.

Guide to Earth Day in Philly

Philly is not exactly known for its pizza, but we actually have the world’s first museum dedicated to one of 

 culinary innovations. We may not be able to compete with New York City or Chicago, but Philly has 

the largest collection of pizza memorabilia

Back in 2012, friends Brian Dwyer, Joe Hunter, and Ryan Anderson opened 

” that would capture the American culture of enjoying that ideal combo of cheese and sauce.

🍕 Sword-wielding Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figurines sporting Pizza Hut sweaters

🍕 An entire wall lined with pie-themed album covers

🍕 Pizza-related films on VHS like ‘Pizza Man’ and ‘Mystic Pizza’

Plus, Pizza Brain doubles as a pizzeria, so you can indulge in some cheesy goodness before or after you explore the museum. Try the Barbie pie: it has BBQ chicken, fontina, banana pepper, red onion, mozzarella and BBQ sauce. 🤤

What's The Deal With Pizza Brain?

If you’ve ever been to Washington Square Park, you’ve probably seen the Moon Tree Plaque. But what exactly is the moon tree? It has a fascinating history, so buckle up!


 took a voyage to the moon on Apollo XIV carrying with him hundreds of tree seeds. Roosa, who was a former member of the 

could help plant these seeds across the country

In this way, they could scatter little pieces of “the moon” across the U.S to honor the space exploration program. Guess where the first moon tree was planted? Yep, right here in Philadelphia!  

In the mid 1970s the small sycamore tree was planted a block south of Independence Hall, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the United States.

Unfortunately, the original tree died in 2008 and was replaced by a clone from the 

. Now all that remains is the Bicentennial Plaque which reads “Honoring Earth’s green world of trees.”  

 was created to keep his legacy alive. NASA has been keeping track of the trees and published a list of more than 

 that are still live. Most of them are in the states, but some were sent to Brazil and are still thriving. Now you know! 🌳🌝