Brief PennsylvAsia hiatus in May.

I will be taking some time off from this month to work on various other things, so I am afraid I may miss breaking news on any new Korean bakeries, or new Asian groceries, or matcha ice cream shops, or Chinese blockbuster movies. There are a number of things to keep an eye on for May, however, until I can update again:

• University of Pittsburgh’s Asian Studies Center presents Daughter of the Dragon: Anna May Wong’s Rendezvous with American History Book Discussion, May 2 and 15 at two Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branches.
• 2023 Japanese + Wim Wenders film Perfect Days at Row House Lawrenceville, May 3 - May 9
• Advocacy through MUSIC - An introduction to those Taiwanese pioneers, May 4 in Squirrel Hill
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (機動戦士ガンダムSEED FREEDOM), May 7 and 8
• Imprinting in Their Time: Japanese Printmakers, 1912–2022 at Carnegie Museum of Art through May 12
• 2023 Japanese film Evil Does Not Exist ( 悪は存在しない) in Pittsburgh, from May 16
• Howl's Moving Castle at Rangos Giant Cinema, May 17
• Teen Time sessions inspired by the work of Jasmine Cho, May 2 - 21 at various Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branches
• Korea's Brush Theater returns to Pittsburgh's Children's Theater Festival with "Poli POP!" May 17 - 19.
• Asian Festival Night, May 19 at Carnegie Mellon University.
• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ)  May 19 and 21 and Castle in the Sky (天空の城ラピュタ) May 20 and 22 in many local theaters, part of Ghibli Fest 2024.
• Impression of Taiwan: TenDrum Art Percussion 十鼓擊樂團, May 22, part of Pittsburgh Taiwan Night.
• 2023 movie Sight, based on the life of eye surgeon Dr. Ming Wang, from May 23.
• Korean pop rock band Lucy (루시), May 30

2023 Japanese animated film Spy x Family Code: White (劇場版 SPY×FAMILY CODE: White) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) May 8.

The 2023 Japanese animated film Spy x Family Code: White (劇場版 SPY×FAMILY CODE: White), which opened in Pittsburgh on April 18, will stay here through at least May 8.

He's a spy. She's an assassin. Together, Loid and Yor keep their double lives to themselves while pretending to be the perfect family. However, their adopted daughter Anya, a telepath, knows both of their exciting secrets unbeknownst to them. While under the guise of taking his family on a weekend winter getaway, Loid's attempt to make progress on his current mission Operation Strix proves difficult when Anya mistakenly gets involved and triggers events that threaten world peace!

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC CLassic South Hills, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online: please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles and others are dubbed in English.

Franchisee aims to open five Paris Baguette cafes in Pittsburgh.

While searching for updates on the two Paris Baguette cafes in progress in Pittsburgh I found an online interview with Ali Shah, the franchisee behind these two restaurants. The chain's official publicity outlet delves a little into his background and motivations:

Asif Shah, a long-time entrepreneur who has owned both gas stations and restaurants for nearly 20 years, is bringing Paris Baguette, the global bakery café franchise, to Pittsburgh with a five-unit agreement. The first café is projected to open at 8013 McKnight Road in May with a second at 5514 Walnut Street following later this year.

Partnering with his daughter, Shah says he looks forward to bringing the Paris Baguette experience to a neighborhood that has nothing like it. Compared to the drive-thru and pick-up models that run rampant today, Paris Baguette provides “a more beautiful experience,” he said.

. . .

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Shah: In Pittsburgh, we have Starbucks and Panera. They are okay, but it’s totally different at Paris Baguette. Paris Baguette wants to make sure guests come in and take a look at what we have. We want the guest to walk into the café and stay a while. I really like that model.

Walking in, looking around and picking your own pastries from a buffet-style display, then being able to sit down and relax to enjoy your food… It’s a more beautiful experience.

Paris Baguette is a chain of bakeries ubiquitous throughout South Korea that has over 150 locations across the United States. The menu boasts a wide variety of cakes, baked goods, sandwiches, juices, and coffees, in addition its eponymous French bread.

2024 Japanese animated film Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (機動戦士ガンダムSEED FREEDOM) in Pittsburgh, May 7 and 8.

The 2024 Japanese animated film Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (機動戦士ガンダムSEED FREEDOM) will play in Pittsburgh on may 7 and 8.

C.E. (Cosmic Era). An era in which there are human beings called Coordinators, born with superior physical and mental abilities thanks to genetic modification, and humans called Naturals who are born naturally. The “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED” series depicts the conflict between Coordinators and Naturals within this C.E. setting. “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED” (2002~2003), set in the year C.E.71~, and “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY” (2004~2005), which depicted C.E.73~, were broadcast as TV animation. The story then continued in various other media. Now “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM,” depicting an entirely new story set in C.E.75, will make its long-awaited theatrical debut featuring a special introduction from the director and voice cast.

It is scheduled to play locally at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online: the May 7 shows play in Japanese with English subtitles, while the May 8 shows are dubbed in English.

2004 Hayao Miyazaki film Howl's Moving Castle at Rangos Giant Cinema, May 17.

The 2004 Hayao Miyazaki film Howl's Moving Castle will play at Rangos Giant Cinema at the Carnegie Science Center on May 17.

In Hayao Miyazaki’s latest animated masterpiece, journey beyond imagination and enter a “breathtaking fantasy world” (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) filled with adventure, humor, and heart. Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl’s magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell. Featuring the voice talents of Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, and Billy Crystal, Miyazaki’s artistry comes to life on DVD with inventive characters, unique storytelling, and richly detailed animation.

The show starts at 7:00 pm and tickets will be available for purchase four weeks before the event. The Rangos Giant Cinema, says its website,

is the most technologically advanced motion picture experience in Pittsburgh, boasting a 71-by-39-foot Certified Giant Screen, crystal-clear images, brilliant colors, and rich surround sound. It features two industry-leading Christie® laser-illuminated 4K laser digital projectors and a premium Dolby Atmos® surround sound system with 49 speakers.

The cinema and the Carnegie Science Center are located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on the North Shore (map).

Korea's Brush Theater returns to Pittsburgh's Children's Theater Festival with "Poli POP!" May 17 - 19.

South Korea's Brush Theater will once again appear as part of Pittsburgh's Children's Theater Festival with "Poli POP!" from May 17 - 19.

Poli and Pola don't want to go to sleep. The siblings start off playing with toys in their bedroom, competing against each other to be the leader of the room, but then their imagination takes them on a surreal dreamlike journey full of surprise and joy. BRUSH Theatre uses incredible technology and special effects to transform the set from an empty room to far away islands, roaring seas, the Egyptian desert, busy cities, dance parties, and more! But the duo don’t know there’s something else lurking in the shadows… a ferocious alien monster! What will they do?

A wonderful follow up to BRUSH's recent Doodle POP, this colorful and playful new theater production uses live musicians who perform the accompanying score and sound effects, stunning interactive animations and painted projection mapping, and an abundance of theatrical imagination.

The duo performed "Doodle POP" here in 2022. The performances are at the Pittsburgh Playhouse on the Point Park University campus downtown (map), and tickets are available online.

Asian Festival Night, May 19 at Carnegie Mellon.

The Organization of Chinese Americans and Win-Win Kung Fu Cultural Center will present Asian Festival Night on May 19.

OCA Pittsburgh and Win Win Kung Fu invite you to Asian Festival Night on May 19th, 4-6pm at:

CMU McConomy Auditorium

Jared L. Cohon University Center

5032 Forbes Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Enjoy cultural performances from Asian American groups in our community: OCA Performance Ensemble, Win Win Kung Fu, BCAP, FAAP, Geeta Tahiliani-Bolly Rangeela, PAPAGP, Pittsburgh Taiko, Silk Elephant, Zang Taekwondo. Sponsored by CMU Chinese Studies Program, Dept of LCAL.

Tickets are $5 flat rate

Join us in three week to spend the Asian Festival Night!!!

It runs from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at McConomy Auditorium in the second floor of the Jared L. Cohon University Center on the Carnegie Mellon University campus (map).  

Progress at Pittsburgh's first Paris Baguette, coming soon to McKnight Road.

Temporary window signage has recently gone up for what aims to be Pittsburgh's first Paris Baguette, coming soon to The Block Northway on McKnight Road. Paris Baguette is one of the largest of the Korean bakery chains that has expanded worldwide, and finally its first Pittsburgh location in August 2023. It aims to open in May, though work on the interior is in the very early stages. A Shadyside location was announced in January 2024.

Paris Baguette is a chain of bakeries ubiquitous throughout South Korea that has over 150 locations across the United States. The menu boasts a wide variety of cakes, baked goods, sandwiches, juices, and coffees, in addition its eponymous French bread.

Asian Granite & Cabinet in the North Hills hiring bilingual Mandarin-English office assistant.

Asian Granite & Cabinet in the North Hills is hiring a bilingual Mandarin-English office assistant.

Our Granite & Cabinet shop needs an additional sales associate.

We are looking for vibrant, energetic friendly people to join our team!

Sales/customer service experience preferred, but we are willing to train.

Skill: Basic excel, typing.

Education: High school diploma or GED.

Language skills: Bilingual , Mandarin and English speaking.

2001 Japanese animated film Spirted Away (千と千尋の神隠し) in Pittsburgh April 27 - May 1, part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2024.

The 2001 Japanese animated film Spirted Away (千と千尋の神隠し) will play in Pittsburgh from April 27 through May 1 as the next installment of the yearlong Studio Ghibli Fest 2024. A synopsis from the distributor:

Winner of the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature, Hayao Miyazaki’s wondrous fantasy adventure is a dazzling masterpiece from one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animation.

Chihiro’s family is moving to a new house, but when they stop on the way to explore an abandoned village, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba. Put to work in a magical bathhouse for spirits and demons, Chihiro must use all her wits to survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents and return to the normal world. Overflowing with imaginative creatures and thrilling storytelling, Spirited Away became a worldwide smash hit, and is one of the most critically-acclaimed films of all time.

It plays locally at most area theaters and tickets area available online. Please note, the shows on April 27, April 29, and May 1 are in Japanese with English subtitles, while the shows on April 29 and April 30 are dubbed in English.