Reading & Convo: Larissa Pham "Discipline" (w/ Santiago Jose Sanchez), April 7 at White Whale Bookstore (and online).

White Whale Bookstore will host Larissa Pham for a Reading & Convo around her debut novel Discipline on April 7.

Pop Song, Larissa Pham's book of essays on art and intimacy, was a staff fave at White Whale and made us want to live inside Pham's brilliant mind and read everything she put into print from then on. Her debut novel, Discipline, is just as stunning, and treads Pham's familiar themes of obsession, intimacy, and art. We're so excited to host Pham in store for this buzzy new release, along with Santiago Jose Sanchez, Pittsburgher and author of Hombrecito—which was also a staff pick! Sure to be a great night of fiction and craft talk!

More information at the White Whale Bookstore website, where her books are also available for purchase. The free event runs from 7:00 to 8:00 pm in person and online, and registration is required. The bookstore is located at 4754 Liberty Ave. in Bloomfield (map).

Asahi Ramen coming very soon to Brookline.

Photos posted by ownership to Google.

Work is nearly complete on Asahi Ramen, a new ramen restaurant coming very soon to Brookline and the old Oak Hill Post spot (map). Work began on the spot in December, and ownership has been aiming for a mid-march opening.

The restaurant has a website, but it gives security errors when attempting to open it. The menu lists Tonkotsu Ramen, Miso Ramen, Spicy Miso Ramen, Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen, and Vegetable Ramen, plus a variety of Japanese appetizers like agedashi tofu, takoyaki, karaage, tonkatsu, gyoza, edamame, and more. The Uber Eats page is just a generic Asian menu, apparently auto-generated. 

2024 Japanese animated movie Attack on Titan: The Last Attack (劇場版「進撃の巨人」 ～THE LAST ATTACK～) returns to Pittsburgh, May 18.

The 2024 Japanese compliation film Attack on Titan: The Last Attack (劇場版「進撃の巨人」 ～THE LAST ATTACK～) will play in Pittsburgh on May 18.

Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK brings together the last two episodes of the highly acclaimed anime series in the franchise's first-ever theatrical experience delivering the epic finale in a colossal-sized omnibus film. Humanity lived quietly behind massive walls built to protect themselves from the threat of monstrous creatures called Titans. Their century of peace was shattered by an attack on their city that left a young child, Eren Yeager, motherless and vowing revenge on the titans. Years after joining the Survey Corps, Eren finds himself facing a deadly foe, and ultimately gains a special ability that unveils a new truth about the world he knows. After venturing beyond the walls and separated from his comrades, Eren finds himself inspired by this new truth and plots the "Rumbling," a terrifying plan to eradicate every living thing in the world.

It played in Pittsburgh for ten days in February 2025. It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online.

2026 Chinese movie Pegasus 3 (飞驰人生3) remains in Pittsburgh through March 9.

The 2026 Chinese movie Pegasus 3 (飞驰人生3), which opened in Pittsburgh on February 27, will remain here through at least March 9. It is the highest-grossing film in China in 2026 thus far, and is the 13th-highest-grossing film in China of all time.

After the final stage at Bayanbulak, Zhang Chi (played by Shen Teng) is invited to compete in a brand-new event, the “Muchen 100 Rally,” as the head coach of the team. The once “wild” racer now steps onto the international stage. Facing a completely new course filled with top-tier competitors, Sun Yuqiang (played by Yin Zheng) and Ji Xing (played by Zhang Benyu) once again fight side by side with Zhang Chi. Powerful drivers such as Lin Zhendong (played by Huang Jingyu) are also invited to join, and a team built on top-level speed and shared belief is formed. However, Zhang Chi soon realizes that the true challenge does not seem to come from the race itself. Beneath the surface, tensions are rising beyond the track, casting uncertainty over their high-speed journey ahead.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

2024 Japanese animated movie Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era (ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 新時代の扉) remains in Pittsburgh through March 9.

The 2024 Japanese animated movie Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era (ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 新時代の扉), which opened in Pittsburgh on February 26, will continue playing here through (at least) March 9.

After witnessing Fuji Kiseki win a race, young Jungle Pocket is inspired to become the fastest horse girl alive. Training alongside Fuji and her veteran trainer, Pocket's goal looks to be within reach—right up until she encounters Agnes Tachyon. In the face of Tachyon's impossible speed and polar opposite personality, beating Tachyon becomes an obsession. But all too soon, that obsession becomes a looming specter—the final barrier that stands between Pocket and her dream.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, the Cinemark theater in North Hills, and AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, and tickets are available online.

2026 Japan Lecture Series – Carnegie's First Glimpse of Japan, March 12 in Braddock.

The Japan America Society of Pennsylvania will present "Carnegie's First Glimpse of Japan" on March 12, parts of its 2026 Japan Lecture Series.

Pittsburgh...October 17, 1878. Andrew Carnegie receives a telegram. If he can get to San Francisco by the 24th he can make the ship for Japan. With the new transcontinental railroad, the launching of transpacific steamship travel, and the opening of the Suez Canal, around-the-world travel was all the rage. Just in his early 40s at the time, Carnegie had begun to build his empire of steel but was little known beyond the Mon Valley. Japan was the first stop on his global excursion and began his life-long interaction with the first Asian powerhouse of the emerging international order.

Hear about his visit and his years of interactions with Japanese leaders from JASP member Sam Kidder, editor of Our First Glimpse of Japan: Prominent American Visitors to Japan in the 1870s. Experience our own fascinating local history at the newly renovated Carnegie One Braddock, the first U.S. library and community center of over 2,500 Carnegie funded worldwide.

Join the JASP for this free evening at Carnegie One Braddock on March 12, 2026. Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be provided. 

TEDxPittsburgh presents Jordan Wong, March 28.

TEDxPittsburgh has announced its speakers for TEDxPittsburgh 2026, which includes artist Jordan Wong (aka WONGFACE).

Jordan Wong is a Chinese American artist whose childhood was filled with anime, manga and video games inspires the work he creates. His artistry explores the hero’s journey, the game theory of leveling up in life, and the pursuit of the Ultimate Self.

He has exhibited at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, where his immersive work has engaged audiences of all ages, and his art is held in major public and private collections, including Meta.

Jordan was also one of seven artists selected for the Transformative Arts fund. An intiative that supports public art projects.

The event runs from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh's MuseumLab (map). Tickets are available online. Other speakers include journalist Ted Anthony, healthcare entrepreneur Anna Li, digital media entrepreneur Nicole Young Yurisko, and artist and musician Anyah Nancy.

Yo! Brew coming to Duquesne University, from Yotea & Yoka Kitchen and YOYO Panda team.

Yo! Brew, a bubble tea place and bakery, will be opening soon at Duquense University. It will be located on Locust St. under Brottier Hall. (map), in what was formerly a Subway, and comes via the team behind Yotea & Yoka Kitchen in North Oakland and YOYO Panda in Allison Park. Work began on the spot last spring.

Viet Nom Nom not closing after all.

On February 21 Viet Nom Nom, a Vietnamese restaurant in Squirrel Hill, announced its last day of operations would be February 28. Today, it announced it will not be closing after all. It is located at 1711 Murray Ave (map) and opened in January 2023.

2025 Taiwanese film A Foggy Tale (大濛) in Pittsburgh, March 7.

The 2025 Taiwanese film A Foggy Tale (大濛) will play in Pittsburgh on March 7.

《A Foggy Tale》Pittsburgh Film Screening

A 2025 Award‑Winning Taiwanese Film. A powerful journey through 1950s Taiwan.

Join us for a special screening of 《大濛 A Foggy Tale》, a 2025 film set in 1950s Taiwan during the White Terror era — a decades‑long period beginning in 1949, when the government imposed martial law and carried out widespread persecution of people it suspected of political dissent.

The film follows a young girl traveling across Taiwan to retrieve the remains of her brother, who was executed by the regime. Through her journey, 《A Foggy Tale》 reveals the everyday lives, moral struggles, and social atmosphere ordinary people faced under authoritarian rule.