Monday, January 26, 2026

Lunar New Year at Phipps, February 21.


Phipps Conservatory and Chinese Association for Science and Technology-Pittsburgh Chapter (CASTP) will present a Lunar New Year celebration and event at Phipps on February 21.

On Sat., Feb. 21, Phipps Conservatory and The CASTP Organization are proud to present the 29th Lunar New Year celebration, all under Phipps' historic glasshouse! This event will host a variety of food and craft vendors, unique performances and educational resources to learn more about this beloved Chinese celebration. Plus, guests can also experience the lovely Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show: Blooming with Love during the celebration.

This event is included in regular Conservatory admission. Members and children under two are free.

Some tickets still remain for 2026 Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Gala (大匹兹堡地区马年春节晚会), February 7 at Pittsburgh Playhouse.


The 2026 Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Gala (大匹兹堡地区马年春节晚会) will be held February 7 at Pittsburgh Playhouse.
The 2026 Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Gala, presented by the Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center (PCCC), will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, PNC Theater. Free cultural activities open to the public will begin at 4:00 PM, followed by the main performances at 6:00 PM.
As the largest and most influential Lunar New Year celebration in the Greater Pittsburgh region, the Gala brings together leaders and audiences from government, universities, corporations, and communities, serving as a key platform for cultural celebration and cross-cultural connection.

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center to start Chinese (Mandarin) for Daily Conversation & Kung Fu / Tai Chi class with free trial lesson on February 8.

Squirrel Hill's Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center will start a new Chinese (Mandarin) for Daily Conversation & Kung Fu / Tai Chi class with free trial lesson on February 8.The coursses will run on Sundays starting February 15.

🎉 Our Chinese (Mandarin) Language Course for Daily Conversation & Kung Fu / Tai Chi Training is starting soon — and we invite you to a FREE trial class on Sunday, February 8, 2026! 🎉

This course focuses on practical Chinese (Mandarin) for daily communication as well as Kung Fu and Tai Chi training, helping students build real-world language skills while deepening their understanding of martial arts practice and culture.


🥋 What Makes This Course Special

Students learn useful, everyday Chinese (Mandarin) alongside Kung Fu / Tai Chi terminology, commands, and concepts—allowing language to be naturally applied both inside and outside the training studio.


👥 Who Is This Course For?

Adults
• Learn Chinese (Mandarin) for daily conversation and martial arts training
• Practice common phrases alongside Kung Fu / Tai Chi terminology
• Explore the cultural background and philosophy behind Chinese martial arts

Teens & Kids
• Learn Chinese through movement, Kung Fu, and Tai Chi practice
• Enjoy games, stories, and hands-on cultural activities
• Strengthen understanding of movements, concepts, and techniques
• Build confidence, focus, and coordination
• Designed to be fun, age-appropriate, and pressure-free


⭐ Course Highlights

• Daily conversation Chinese (Mandarin) + Kung Fu / Tai Chi training language
• Martial arts culture, stories, and traditions
• Interactive, fun, and hands-on learning
• No prior Chinese experience required
• Class duration: 45 minutes

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Peregrination: Xiaojing Yan 闫晓静 exhibition at Contemporary Craft, February 6 through May 2.


Peregrination, an exhibition by Chinese Canadian artist Xiaojing Yan (闫晓静), will open at Contemporary Craft on February 6 and run through May 2.

Peregrination, a long and meandering journey… 

This exhibition features work by Toronto based artist, Xiaojing Yan. Through the lens of personal migration and cultural hybridity, Yan explores the evolving relationship between identity, tradition, and the natural world. Yan’s art reflects a journey of transformation – an intricate weaving of folklore, ritual, and nature into a symbolic and dreamlike representation of lived experience. 

Drawing from ancient Chinese myths and customs, Yan reinterprets traditional narrative through a contemporary lens, reflecting on the fluidity of cultural memory. Her practice is both a tribute and a reimagining, examining how heritage can be at once rooted and reshaped – especially through her choices of materials and processes. Natural motifs, often deeply embedded in Chinese folklore, emerge in her work as metaphors for movement, adaptation, and belonging. Mountains, rivers, and celestial elements echo the rhythms of migration, symbolizing the passage between worlds – both physical and spiritual. 

Through meticulous craftsmanship and layered symbolism, her work becomes a meditation space – where the past converses with the present. Laden with symbolism, her creations remain as resonant today as they were historically, also engaging with contemporary concerns. In this act of peregrination, Yan constructs a landscape uniquely her own, evoking poetic and philosophical reflections on humanity’s connection to the natural world.

The opening reception is on February 6, 5:30 to 8:30 pm, and is free and open to the public. Other free associated events, for which reservation is required, include an Artist Talk on February 7, a guided tour on March 21, and a guided tour on May 2. Contemporary Craft is located at 5645 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).

Pittsburgh Pirates sign 6-foot-7, 17-year-old Chinese pitcher Mingxuan Zhang (张铭轩).


The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed 6-foot-7, 17-year-old Chinese pitcher Mingxuan Zhang, according to reporter Francys Romero on X.com. The signing was announced on the 15th, but made official with the literal signing yesterday.

The Pirates have had other Chinese prospects in their system, including Hai-Cheng Gong of the Shanghai Golden Eagles who was signed in 2017 at 18, but none have made the big league roster.

2025 documentary The Rose: Come Back to Me, on Korean indie band The Rose, in Pittsburgh from February 14.


The 2025 documentary The Rose: Come Back to Me, on Korean indie band The Rose, will play in Pittsburgh from February 14 through 16.
The Rose: Come Back To Me is an intimate documentary showcasing the dramatic rise of The Rose, the Korean indie rock band with roots in the K-pop training system. After cultivating a millions-strong global fanbase, a label dispute forces them into a years-long hiatus. Now, they are back, with an electrifying tour—on their own terms.
It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theater in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

2026 New Year's Banquet Gala with OCA Pittsburgh, February 21 at Szechuan Spice.


The 2026 New Year's Banquet Gala with the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) Pittsburgh will be held on February 21 at Szechuan Spice in Shadyside. 

Celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Horse with a ten course banquet.

The Lunar New Year began in China more than 4,000 years ago and is widely observed in East and Southeast Asia. Over the years, the festivities have spread around the world. It is now celebrated by millions of people all over the United States, including here in Pittsburgh!

Come celebrate Lunar New Year with OCA Pittsburgh! Eat a 10 course meal, watch cultural performances and participate in a raffle!

OCA Banquet is our fundraiser that makes it possible for OCA to provide advocacy and services for Asian Americans in Pittsburgh.

If you are not currently an active member, we invite you become one. Your membership supports the important work we do as well as access to benefits. Please use this link to sign up.

Tickets are currently available, $110 for a seat or $1,000 for a table. The event runs from 5:00 to 10:00 pm at Szechuan Spice, 5700 Centre Ave. in Shadyside (map). More information is available at the event link.

2025 Japanese animated movie Scarlet ( 果てしなきスカーレット) in Pittsburgh from February 6.


The 2025 Japanese animated movie Scarlet ( 果てしなきスカーレット) will play in Pittsburgh from February 6.
A sword-wielding princess embarks on a dangerous quest to avenge the death of her father. She soon meets an idealistic young man who shows her the possibility of a future free of bitterness and rage.
It plays locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront through the 10th and the AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg from the 12th, and tickets are available online.

January Guest Chef Dinner featuring Wei Zhu from Chengdu Gourmet, January 29 at Community Kitchen Pittsburgh in Hazelwood.


Community Kitchen Pittsburgh will host Wei Zhu of Chengdu Gourmet for the January installment of the Guest Chef Dinner on January 29.

Get ready for a bold, unforgettable evening as we welcome Chef Wei Zhu of Chengdu Gourmet for a "One Night Only" dinner celebrating the depth and soul of authentic Sichuan cuisine.

Known for his masterful balance of heat, spice, and complexity, Chef Wei brings the flavors that have made Chengdu Gourmet a regional favorite, earning him national acclaim, including multiple James Beard Award nominations.

Recently selected as an official vendor for the NFL Draft, Chef Wei's cooking represents the very best of Pittsburgh's food scene, blending tradition, technique, and unmistakable flavor. You'll enjoy a thoughtfully-curated menu showcasing Sichuan classics and signature dishes, each telling a story of heritage, craft, and community.

Upcoming documentary on Japanese baseball Homecoming: The Tokyo Series in Pittsburgh, February 23 and 24.


The 2026 documentary Homecoming: The Tokyo Series, referring to the Major League Baseball series played in Tokyo at the start of the 2025 season, will play in Pittsburgh from February 23 and 24.
Homecoming: The Tokyo Series explores Japan’s profound bond with baseball, culminating in the 2025 MLB Opening Day games in Tokyo, when hometown heroes Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shota Imanaga, Seiya Suzuki, and Roki Sasaki return to the field where their journeys began. Through the lives of those shaped by the game, the film reveals how baseball bridges generations, shapes identity, and illuminates the connection between tradition and modern life. More than a chronicle of a sporting event, it is a portrait of a nation’s enduring love for baseball and the pride of watching its stars come home. Alongside the film, the filmmakers captured man-on-the-street interviews with American fans inside the Tokyo Dome who traveled to Japan for the games.
It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, the AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, the GQT Cinemas at the Pittsburgh Mills, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

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