City Cast Pittsburgh logo
December 5, 2025

Fireball, Ferris Wheel & More Self-Driving Cars

City Cast Pittsburgh

Fireball, Ferris Wheel & More Self-Driving Cars

00:00:00
View all City Cast Pittsburgh episodes

The Esplanade development finally broke ground in Chateau, after nearly a decade of planning, which means we're one step closer to a permanent Ferris Wheel on the North Side. Plus, there are fresh hopes and dreams for Station Square now that a new developer is taking over. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and producer Sophia Lo discuss what they'd like to see on the riverfront site, why alcohol sales are dipping in PA (and why Pennsylvanians can't get enough of Fireball and pink lemonade vodka), and why you'll soon see driverless taxis cruising down city streets.

How should Pittsburghers be celebrating their milestone birthdays? Call or text the BIRTHDAY HOTLINE at 412-212-8893.

Notes and references from today’s show:

  • Shapiro calls $740M Esplanade Project a 'game changer' as Pittsburgh project breaks ground [TribLive]
  • Developers break ground on historic Esplanade project [P-G]
  • PODCAST: Restaurants, Party Barges & Bathrooms on the Riverfront [City Cast Pittsburgh]
  • PODCAST: Can the North Side Get a Ferris Wheel & Still Stay Affordable? [City Cast Pittsburgh]
  • PODCAST: Coffee, Corn Dogs & The Latest on Manchester’s Freeman Family Farm [City Cast Pittsburgh]
  • Station Square primed for next act as developer with waterfront expertise buys iconic destination [Business-Times]
  • PA wine, spirits sales slip as tariffs, dwindling bar crowds take toll [TribLive]
  • PODCAST: What Tariffs Mean for Pittsburgh Wine [City Cast Pittsburgh]
  • PODCAST: Why Pittsburgh's a Pioneer in Non-Alcoholic Drinks [City Cast Pittsburgh]
  • Are Americans drinking less? New data says yes, but not by much [Reuters]
  • Costco pursues liquor license for Cranberry store amid grocery competition [Business-Times]
  • New Mosaic Apartments in Oakland aim to be welcoming to LGBTQ+ seniors [WESA]
  • Shapiro signs CROWN Act against hair discrimination [TribLive]
  • PODCAST: Grabby Boss? Racist Landlord? This Pittsburgh Office Can Help [City Cast Pittsburgh]
  • Nonprofit asks Pittsburghers to clean out play rooms, donate to kids in need [WESA]
  • Drop off locations for Play it Forward Toy Drive [Play it Forward]
  • What's new on the slopes this season at Seven Springs, Hidden Valley and other resorts? [P-G]
  • 23rd Annual Gingerbread House Display & Competition [City of Pittsburgh]

Learn more about the sponsors of this December 5th episode:

AIDS Free Pittsburgh

The Frick Pittsburgh

Honeygirls Wraphaus

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.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Pittsburgh

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
September 1

Your Guide to September 2026 in Pittsburgh

September in Pittsburgh means fall is coming! Check out a new regal-looking harpy eagle at the National Aviary, drive some golf balls off...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 31

Pittsburgh’s High-Speed Rail Fantasy

Should Pittsburghers stop dreaming about high-speed rail and start celebrating the trains we already have? The reality of having one is a...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 30

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Is PIT the Gold Standard?

Pittsburgh’s airport might not be the international hub it once was (RIP USAir), but it stands alone in a newer, lesser-known way: having...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 28

Did Disney Do Us Dirty? Plus, Guerilla Crosswalks & Capo's Investigation

A new collaboration pairs Disney characters with every NFL team, and the choice to represent the Steelers has been… controversial. Did Di...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 27

Your Guide to Making Friends in Pittsburgh

It can be daunting to make new friends in Pittsburgh. Lots of people are still tight with their buddies from kindergarten, and it's not a...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 26

Is Flooding Getting Worse in Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh is on track to have its wettest August on record, which is especially concerning since flooding is our most frequent natural d...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 25

Taco Bell Lawsuit, Unsafe Sidewalks & Cryptid Dance Party

Is a local woman suing Taco Bell and Taylor Farms over cyclosporiasis? Is Downtown finally getting a grocery store in the form of Trader...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 24

Where To Eat Late in Pittsburgh

Back-to-school season means late nights are back — and sooner or later, you’re going to get hungry. We’re revisiting our 1,000th episode,...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 23

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Portland Made Its River Cool — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

How often are you out in nature in Pittsburgh? It’s not always easy to know which natural resources are clean and safe to use in an urban...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 21

Pablo Pledgescobar, Impounded E-Scooters & Shapiro’s Data Center Play

Penn State frats are facing yet another scandal –– this time a cocaine trafficking ring that investigators say involved students, alumni,...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art