City Cast Houston

Houston finally has perfect spring weather so the City Cast Houston crew gathered to give their best recommendations for four categories to enjoy spring in H-Town. Newsletter editor Brooke Lewis, lead producer Dina Kesbeh, and host Raheel Ramzanali give out some uniquely Houston spots to enjoy before it gets too hot! Dig World Memorial Hermann Park Miller Outdoor Theater Local Foods Empire Cafe Keep up with what's going on in Houston by subscribing to our daily newsletter, Hey Houston! Keep up with us by following us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Keep us up with you, by leaving us a text or voicemail at +1 713-489-6972  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There have been wild lawsuits and stories making the headlines around town. From the state taking over HISD to the man suing his ex-wife’s friends for helping her get abortion pills. Host Raheel Ramzanali chats with media personality Charles Adams. He’s gone from HPD officer, presiding Municipal Judge, to now a practicing trial lawyer. Tune in for his unfiltered take on what's happening around town. Big Angry Law Big Angry Law Radio Keep up with what's going on in Houston by subscribing to our daily newsletter, Hey Houston! Keep up with us by following us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Keep us up with you, by leaving us a text or voicemail at +1 713-489-6972  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might not recognize the name Abbas Dhanani at first glance, but you’ve probably seen his content in your Instagram and TikTok feeds. He runs the popular account @HoustonEatz and the new smash burger restaurant Burger Bodega. City Cast Houston host Raheel Ramzanali chats with Abbas on his new restaurant and the best things to eat in Houston. Keep up with what's going on in Houston by subscribing to our daily newsletter, Hey Houston! Keep up with us by following us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Keep us up with you, by leaving us a text or voicemail at +1 713-489-6972  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shocker, a big corporation is adding more fees to our bills. Electric bills have been skyrocketing for Houstonians since Winter Storm Uri and now CenterPoint plans to add another fee to lease mobile generators. Texas Consumer Association’s Elyse Yates joins host Raheel today to talk about how the TCA is fighting back on behalf of Texans when it comes to those pesky fees on our bills. Keep up with what's going on in Houston by subscribing to our daily newsletter, Hey Houston! Keep up with us by following us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Keep us up with you, by leaving us a text or voicemail at +1 713-489-6972  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s finally Friday! Time to roundup some news from the week with political contributor Evan Mintz, producer Carlignon Jones, and host Raheel Ramzanali. The trio talk about bail reform in Texas, a massive new beach resort in Bolivar, the University of Houston’s new task force to address mental health and suicide prevention, and also former HISD teacher Shea Serrano’s new TV show on Amazon! Interested in knowing more about these stories? Read about them here! New beach resort  CenterPoint hidden fees Ramadan Iftar restaurants Fort Hood solider death investigation  U of H focusing on mental health  Houston Housing Authority votes to purchase 45 Third Ward properties to "reimagine" Cuney Homes Sempra will build $13B LNG facility in Port Arthur Keep up with what's going on in Houston by subscribing to our daily newsletter, Hey Houston! Keep up with us by following us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Keep us up with you, by leaving us a text or voicemail at +1 713-489-6972  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve been hinting at it for a few episodes and now the day is finally here! Our big surprise is revealed in today’s episode. Plus, Houston can get crazy at times so we’ve put together 16 tips to survive H-Town. Did we forget any? Share them with us on social media or email us at houston@citycast.fm! Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Twitter and Instagram  @CityCastHouston You can also leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Although Houston isn’t normally seen as a place for nature, the wildlife here is actually more unique than you think! All kinds of birds sore in our city, including one that is arguably one of the best fishing creatures on the planet! Producer AK AL-Moumen sits down with Cin-Ty Lee, author of Field Guide to North American Flycatchers and Scott Solomon, biology professor at Rice University, to find out more about the art of birding in Houston.  What to learn more? Check out Cin-Ty's book Field Guide to North American Flycatchers: Empidonax and Pewees You can also listen to Scott's podcast Wild World ! Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Twitter and Instagram  @CityCastHouston Don’t have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We continue our deep dive into the TEA takeover of HISD by looking at why the takeover may not be a good thing for students, schools, and teachers. Producer AK ALMoumen sat down with Jackie Anderson, President of the Houston Federation of Teachers, and asked her the same five questions he asked HISD Board Secretary Dr. Kendall Baker. Want to get involved with the the Houston Federation of Teachers? Check out there website! Our morning newsletter Hey Houston brings updates on local news to you daily. Sign up here. Make sure you stay connected to us by following us on Twitter and Instagram @CityCastHouston Or leave us a voicemail/text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! We love hearing from you!  Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week the Texas Education Agency announced it is officially taking over the Houston Independent School District effectively putting the 8th largest school district in the country in the state’s hands and it has generated a severe backlash from lawmakers, activists, teachers and parents. Producer AK ALMoumen sat down with HISD Board Secretary Dr. Kendall Baker who is optimistic about the takeover to understand how we got here and where do we go?  More Info: TEA will assume control in June. More information on what to expect in the coming months from TEA. CNN’s Reporting on the Takeover. Dr. Baker’s profile on the HISD website. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Twitter and Instagram  Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know! or leave us a voicemail/text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts, we love hearing from you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Saint Patrick’s Day and Friday, what a perfect combination! In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, we have a fantastic nomination for who should be Houston’s new face of Saint Patrick’s Day. Plus, how preservation districts are really backdoor zoning, the Texas Education Agency takeover of HISD, another Houston mayoral candidate emerges, Texas takes another step towards legalizing weed, and $275k art at the rodeo! Producer Carlignon Jones, politics contributor Evan Mintz, and producer AK ALMoumen recap the week that was in Houston. More information: Takeover of HISD is underway Former Metro chair, is running for Houston mayor pledging a 'shake-up' Houston Rodeo artwork breaks record  Preservation Districts in Houston Developing a neighborhood without gentrification Wildest food at the Rodeo Houston Rodeo guide with the City Cast Houston team The forgotten history of Freedmen’s Town Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Twitter and Instagram  Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know! or leave us a voicemail/text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts, we love hearing from you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the last weekend of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo so our intrepid producers Carlignon Jones, AK ALMoumen and Hey Houston newsletter editor Brooke Lewis went on a field trip to the Rodeo to taste test some of the more unique food options available at the fairgrounds. From fried cheesecakes to pickle pizzas to an ending that will make you question truly what food can be. Get you tickets for the Rodeo! Some other food recs from the fairgrounds. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston  Follow us on Twitter and Instagram  Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know! or leave us a voicemail/text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts, we love hearing from you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of Texans are known for riding horses or even riding sheep during the Mutton busting events at the rodeo, but not many people have the guts to get on a bull! It’s a craft that takes courage and passion, something that longtime bull-rider and owner of Bar-N-Bar Arena, Mutt Neuman said he’s had since a young age. Producer Carlignon Jones is sitting down with him today to find out what it really takes to be a bull-rider! Want to know more about Mutt's story? Check out these two articles: After half-century of rodeos, Dayton man is keeping up the cowboy way of life So you want to be a bull rider? Houston-area rodeo champion teaches the art of bull riding Keep up with what's going on in Houston by subscribing to our daily newsletter, Hey Houston! Keep up with us by following us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Keep us up with you, by leaving us a text or voicemail at +1 713-489-6972  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Wolfe is the owner of City Cellar HTX. It’s an upscale restaurant that offers a full brunch and dinner menu that spotlights a twist on some classics, like mac and cheese, and Chicken Parmesan. But his key component is that no kids are allowed in his restaurant. It’s nothing personal, he just wants all those coming in to have a dining experience that’s geared for those 21 and up. Lead producer Dina Kesbeh sits down with Daniel to ask him all about his inspiration for City Cellars HTX. Want to know more? Visit City Cellars HTX website! Our morning newsletter Hey Houston brings updates on local news to you daily. Sign up here. Make sure you stay connected to us by following us on Twitter and Instagram @CityCastHouston Or leave us a voicemail/text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! We love hearing from you!  Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Greg Abbott has been a fierce voice against diversity, equity and inclusion hiring programs, saying that these programs are not providing an equal opportunity for all. He has also pressured numerous universities in Texas, like the University of Houston, to backtrack their DEI programs. Lead producer Dina Kesbeh talks with Houston Chronicle reporter Jeremy Wallace, who has been following this story for a while, about what's going on. Jeremy also shares details from his conversation with Gov. Abbott about why the governor is against diversity hiring programs. Check out Jeremy’s latest article on this issue, featuring an exclusive with Gov. Abbott. Find out more here about Children’s Museum Houston’s Destination Celebration Spring Break Bash. Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston Follow us on Twitter and Instagram  Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know! or leave us a voicemail/text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts, we love hearing from you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a week of so much news in our city. From the TEA circling around HISD with a possible state takeover, to the women who are suing Texas over their abortion ban saying this ruling has put their lives at risk, to the two 13-year-old twin brothers that went missing while swimming near pleasure pier — and so much more. Catch up on all that you might have missed with producer Carlignon Jones, politics contributor Evan Mintz, and contributor Shiyam Galyon.  Sugar Land Native Makes History HISD State Takeover Nonprofit Lawsuit Missing Twin Brothers Abortion Lawsuit Our morning newsletter Hey Houston brings updates on local news to you daily. Sign up here. Make sure you stay connected to us by following us on Twitter and Instagram @CityCastHouston Or leave us a voicemail/text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! We love hearing from you!  Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We got an email from a listener who is 63 years old, asking us for help on how to meet people her age in Houston. So, lead producer Dina Kesbeh, producer Carlignon Jones, and newsletter editor Brooke Lewis talk about the best things to do and places to go that would help all our listeners make new friends in the city. Things to do that we mentioned in this episode: City Girls Who Walk Houston Jazzy Sundays Modern Ink Fine Art Gallery Eventbrite Houston Events 365 Things to Do in Houston Bayou City Outdoors Houston Rodeo (on 3/15, free admission before noon for seniors 60+ and kids under 12) Champion Wine Garden (at the Rodeo) Waters Edge Winery Sable Gate Winery Wine Vibes OMG Food Fest (3/11) Donut Fest Houston (4/30) Book Clubs at Lone Star College Houston Romance Book Club Fitness in the Park at Discovery Green Events at Levy Park Bingo in the Heights at Lodge 88 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Want more Houston news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Follow us on Twitter and Instagram  Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know! Or leave us a voicemail/text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts. We love hearing from you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some say the Houston Rodeo is a right of passage for any transplant or longtime resident. From the concerts to the food and the rides — there’s so much to experience. But, one of our team members has never been to the Rodeo. Listen to producers AK ALMoumen and Carlignon Jones document what it was like to spend an evening at the Rodeo. Get your rodeo on! Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @CityCastHouston Don’t have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our city is full of places to get your grub on, but what about places to satisfy your sweet tooth? Today lead producer Dina Kesbeh is talking dessert hidden gems with food blogger Sean The Food Sheep. Milk Mustache Raja Sweets Shun Japanese Kitchen Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @CityCastHouston Don’t have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From 2019 to 2021, six Houston-area refineries dumped 55 million gallons of chemicals into the Houston Ship Channel and other public waterways — and this was all done legally. Lead producer Dina Kesbeh and contributor Loren Steffy talk what implications this might have and how this is allowed. Learn more about the story by clicking here! Looking for more Houston news? Then sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Houston Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @CityCastHouston Don’t have social media? Then leave us a voicemail or text us at +1 713-489-6972 with your thoughts! Have feedback or a show idea? Let us know!  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Fri-YAY! Which means it’s time to dig deep into some Houston news! This week was packed with big stories, so hold tight as Lead producer Dina Kesbeh, producer Carlignon Jones, and contributor Evan Mintz break down all the headlines for you!  Stories: Legalizing Fentanyl Test Strips  Nonprofit to honor George Floyd’s memory!  Crosby ISD 4-Day School Week  “Food Not Bombs” Ticketed For Feeding the Homeless State takeover of Houston ISD by TEA Keep up with what's going on in Houston by subscribing to our daily newsletter, Hey Houston! Keep up with us by following us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook! Keep us up with you, by leaving us a text or voicemail at +1 713-489-6972  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Let’s Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices