City Cast Pittsburgh
🚕 Autonomous taxis in Pgh?
December 4, 2025 · — Francesca Dabecco
Something fun! Oakland is hosting a neighborhood-wide winter light experience through February. Check out the kickoff celebration this Friday at 5 p.m. in Forbes Plaza. There will be live music, a stilt-walking performance, and animated light projections.
⭐ Explore more in my guide to Pittsburgh’s best holiday lights and displays.
What's CITY Talking About
Allegheny County Council OKs Budget
Council unanimously approved County Executive Sara Innamorato’s $3 billion proposal — a 1.5% increase from the 2025 budget. Unlike last year, the spending plan does not include a property tax increase; it also avoids program cuts and layoffs. See what’s in the budget. [TribLive]
Self-Driving Taxis Back in Pittsburgh
The autonomous vehicle company Waymo announced its expansion to Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Human-led test drives are expected to start Downtown this week. [KDKA]
- Pittsburgh has a history with self-driving cars. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]
More Oversight for Cyber Charter Schools
PA’s new state budget requires more transparency from cyber charter schools. It also includes new policies that lessen the financial burden on public schools, which are required to pay charter school tuition for students who live within their borders. [SpotlightPA]
- Here’s why Pittsburgh Public Schools and three other districts are suing PA’s largest cyber charter school. [WESA]
Bae Bae’s Closes in Downtown
The popular Korean eatery announced the closures of both its kitchen and sister cafe on Liberty Avenue — leaving a crispy-tofu-sized-hole in my heart. I’m sharing my ode to this local gem on today’s City Cast Pittsburgh podcast, plus a bunch new spots you have to try. [Bae Bae’s / 🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]
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What To Do
Thursday, Dec. 4
- 🔔 A Christmas Story at O’Reilly Theater — Dec. 21 (Downtown)
- ✨ Beverly Brite Night at Beverly Road Shops (Mt. Lebanon)
- 🎙️ Christmas Vacatyinz with Bricologe — Dec. 21 (Braddock)
- 🎊 The Jingle Bar at 11th Hour Brewing — Dec. 23 (Lawrenceville)
- 🖼️ Gift to America 2.0 at Frick Environmental Center — Mar. 19 (Squirrel Hill)
- 🎄 Gifts & Greens Market at Phipps Garden Center — Dec. 6 (Point Breeze)
- 🥾 Full Cold Moon Hike with 3ROC at Frick Park (Squirrel Hill)
- 🧗 Climbing Meetup at Iron City Boulders (Lawrenceville)
- 🚜 Holiday Wreath Workshop at Janoski’s Farm (Clinton)
- 💧 2025 Stormwater Symposium at Pitt (Oakland)
Friday, Dec. 5
- 🛍️ Handmade Arcade at the Convention Center — Dec. 6 (Downtown)
- 🪩 Jellyfish Dance Party at COBRA (Bloomfield)
- 🍹 Mele Kalikimaka Party at Golden Age — Dec. 7 (Homestead)
- ✨ Oakland Winter Lights Kickoff at Forbes Plaza (Oakland)
- 🎨 Art Battle at Atithi Studios (Sharpsburg)
- 🎥 It's A Wonderful Life at 3ROC (Point Breeze)
- 🖼️ First Fridays Art Crawl on Penn Ave (Bloomfield / Garfield)
- 🩰 The Nutcracker at Benedum Center — Dec. 28 (Downtown)
- 🌟 Light Up Night & First Friday (Hazelwood)
- 👋 Auto(nomous) Body Shop Fundraiser (Spring Hill-City View)
- 🎀 Bow Garland Workshop at War Streets Art Salon (North Side)
- 🎨 Group Art Show at Happenstance Cafe (Lawrenceville)
- 🎶 PCC Sounds of the Season — Dec. 7 (Downtown)
- 🖌️ Art Party at The Ripple (Lawrenceville)
- 🎁 Holiday Market at Steel Goat Marketplace (Penn Hills)
- 🍪 Cookie Decorating at Blythe Books (Brentwood)
- ❤️🩹 Crisis of Empathy Exhibit at Studio 4 — Dec. 7 (Bloomfield)
- 🩸 Community Blood Drive with YASU (Wexford)
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