How to Have a Great Dry (or Damp) January in Pittsburgh
It’s our birthday! City Cast Pittsburgh is celebrating two years making podcasts for yinz — 458 so far — plus well over 500 newsletters! So we’re celebrating by popping a bottle with our city’s pioneering nonalcoholic space. The Open Road in Allentown is the oldest (still open) NA specialty retailer in the nation, lined with zero-proof spirits, botanical and CBD seltzers, and even dry versions of your favorite classics. We visited the shop to talk to owner Mel Babitz about how this booze-free business is growing, the toughest alcoholic drinks to recreate, and how to pick your perfect NA adult beverage. Plus, we’re sharing a few of our favorite strategies for folks like us who are trying out Dry January, or just feel sober curious for 2024.
**Editor’s note: A portion of this episode originally published Thursday, July 27, 2024.
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 on Instagram @CityCastPgh.
- Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Respect the Parking Chair! Plus More Essential Pgh Rules
Pittsburgh is full of unwritten rules and weird quirks, like reserving your parking space with a rickety chair, taking a left turn the mo...

Ranking the Restaurants at Rivers Casino
If you're making a trip to Rivers Casino, it's probably not for the food, but City Cast Pittsburgh contributor and Post-Gazette dining cr...

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...

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...

‘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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

