City Cast Pittsburgh logo
November 29, 2022

How the Pittsburgh Glass Center Has Blown Up

City Cast Pittsburgh

How the Pittsburgh Glass Center Has Blown Up

00:00:00
View all City Cast Pittsburgh episodes

The Pittsburgh Glass Center may be the hottest recurring character on reality shows this year. The local institution has been renowned in the glass art community for years, but the average Pittsburgher might not have realized what a gem we had in our city. That changed with shows like Netflix’s “Blown Away” and the Disney+ Christmas Special “Best in Snow,” which feature glass artists from the center.


Heather McElwee, the executive director of Pittsburgh Glass Center, joins us to talk about what the exposure has meant for the art studio, what it was like to be a guest judge on "Blown Away," and how Pittsburghers can try their hands at glassmaking this holiday season.


Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh!

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
August 12

Can Waymo Crack Pittsburgh?

Have you had a Waymo sighting lately? It suddenly seems like these robotaxis are everywhere. Pittsburgh has been a testing ground for aut...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 11

Restaurant Week, '90s Nostalgia & Cathy's 100th Birthday

One of Pittsburgh's most iconic buildings is 100 years young. Host Megan Harris and audience development manager Rachel Carlson share wha...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 10

Pittsburgh's Grocery Store Showdown

Giant Eagle has long been the main grocery game in town — it's celebrating 95 years in the Burgh with special merch — but that's about to...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 7

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Naked Neighbors, Unwelcome Pets, and Other City Life Dilemmas — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

As much as you love Pittsburgh, city living inherently means sharing space and resources with your neighbors, and y’all certainly have co...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 6

Pittsburgh’s Measles Risk, Explained

Measles cases are ⁠on the rise in Pennsylvania⁠. We just notched 200 cases, with more than 45 reported in the last week alone. This is es...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 5

Sports Villains, Redemption Arcs, and the One Man We'll Never Forgive

Is it villainous to avoid Pittsburgh for over a decade? To get rich off our sports teams but never try to win? If a celebrity claims us,...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 4

What Happened to Station Square?

Station Square has been many things: a festival marketplace ("think outdoor shopping mall with razzamatazz"), a home to megaclubs and war...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 3

Your Guide to August 2026 in Pittsburgh

Whether you want to board a pontoon boat, catch free live music in the park, or follow up a round of mini golf with an ice cream sandwich...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
August 2

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One City Beat Restrictive Zoning — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

Do you know how zoning laws affect Pittsburgh’s housing costs? New Haven, CT, has been governed for years by restrictive zoning that made...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
July 26

‘Your City Could Be Better’: The Trick to Getting People To Volunteer — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

It’s not a given that every Pittsburgher will chip in to help their community. In this episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with writ...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art