Saturday, May 9, 2026

Reading & Conversation: M Lin "The Memory Museum" (with Robert Yune), May 16 at White Whale Bookstore.


White Whale Bookstore will present Reading & Conversation: M Lin "The Memory Museum" (with Robert Yune) on May 16.

It is our joy and honor at White Whale to celebrate debut authors! We are thrilled to welcome M Lin to White Whale to celebrate her debut, The Memory Museum, an expansive, unforgettable short story collection centering the lives and experiences of Chinese millennial women. Her story “Shangri-La” is set in Pittsburgh! M Lin will be joined in conversation by Robert Yune. 

“An astounding talent with an unforgettable voice. The Memory Museum is a book for the ages.”—R. O. Kwon, author of Exhibit

Stretching from the present to the future, from China to America and beyond, M Lin’s piercing debut collection depicts characters finding beauty amidst the disorientation of migration, the contradictions of living between cultures, the perverse realities of race and class, and the delicate dance between survival and resistance. In “Scenes from Childhood,” an elderly woman in a dystopian reality is visited by forgotten memories of her grandfather’s village. In “Magic, or Something Less Assuring,” a fraying couple goes on a divorce honeymoon in Morocco to surprising results. “You Won’t Read This in the News” imagines four migrant workers and petty thieves who forge an unshakable connection across one desperate night. A filmmaker thwarted by censorship untangles her fraught relationship to motherhood and artmaking in “Tough Egg.” And in a newly instated Memory Museum generations into the future, two sensory architects weave a moving tapestry of love and radical hope. Brimming with joy, insight, and emotional power, The Memory Museum unveils M Lin as an irresistible new talent with fearless political and stylistic imagination.

The event runs from 7 to 8:00 pm both in-store and online; both options require registration. The bookstore is located at 4754 Liberty Ave. in Bloomfield (map).

Friday, May 8, 2026

KPop Demon Hunters at Row House Hollywood, June 16.


The 2025 movie KPop Demon Hunters will play at the Row House Hollywood on June 16.
When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey aren’t selling out stadiums, they’re using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats in this Netflix super smash.
The Row House Hollywood is located at 1449 Potomac Ave. (map), one block south of the Potomac T Station. Tickets are not yet available. This is in addition to the KPop Demon Hunters A Sing-Along Event at select local theaters on June 15, 17, and 18.

Thursday, May 7, 2026

2010 Japanese film The Secret World of Arrietty (借りぐらしのアリエッティ) in 4K in Pittsburgh, May 19.


The 2010 Japanese film The Secret World of Arrietty(借りぐらしのアリエッティ) will have a special 4K screening in Pittsburgh on May 19.
In a secret world hidden beneath the floorboards, tiny people called Borrowers live out of sight of humans. But when brave Arrietty is out gathering supplies, she is discovered by Shawn, a human boy, and they begin to form a friendship that blossoms into a heartwarming adventure.
There are two shows at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online. The 1:00 pm show is dubbed in English while the 4:00 pm show is in Japanese with English subtitles.

2006 Japanese animated film Tekkonkinkreet (鉄コン筋クリート) in Pittsburgh for 20th anniversary, May 31 and June 1.


The 2006 Japanese animated film Tekkonkinkreet (鉄コン筋クリート) will have special 20th anniversary screenings on May 31 and June 1.
Black, a boy who seeks to bend the city to his will through strength, and White, his innocent counterpart, are two orphaned street kids living in the slums of Treasure Town. When real estate developers threaten to transform Treasure Town into a massive theme park, its very existence is put at risk. Determined to protect both White and their city, Black takes on the yakuza and assassins, gradually losing his innocence as he confronts a dark manifestation within himself. Featuring dynamic visuals from STUDIO4? (Mind Game) and based on the legendary manga by Taiyo Matsumoto, Tekkonkinkreet remains a beloved cult classic to this day. Set in a world that cannot escape change, it tells a story of unwavering love, complementary bonds, and a prayer that must never be lost. Now beautifully remastered in stunning 4K.
It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Robinson, and tickets are available online. Some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

2026 TXT MOA CON IN JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh, May 24.


2026 TXT MOA CON IN JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING will play in Pittsburgh on May 24.
'2026 TXT MOA CON IN JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING’ is coming to cinemas worldwide! A special concert prepared exclusively for MOA to celebrate TOMORROW X TOGETHER's 7th debut anniversary, [2026 TXT MOA CON]. Experience a powerful live band performance and special solos, showcasing each member’s unique talent. Following the exciting concerts in Seoul, the tour heads to Nagoya, marking the opening of 2026 TXT MOA CON IN JAPAN. You can experience all the intensity and excitement of the concert in your local cinema! Feel the energy of five members transformed into powerful rock stars, brought to life on the big screen. Join us on May 24th for a live viewing from the Aichi’s IG Arena in Nagoya, Japan, to cinemas worldwide!
It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

2026 Japanese animated movie That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea (劇場版 転生したらスライムだった件 蒼海の涙編) continues in Pittsburgh through May 14.


The 2026 Japanese animated movie That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea (劇場版 転生したらスライムだった件 蒼海の涙編), which opened in Pittsburgh on April 30, will remain here through at least May 14.
After concluding the opening ceremony of the Demon Kingdom Federation Tempest, Rimuru and his companions are invited by the Celestial Emperor Hermesia of the great elven nation – the Magi Dynasty Salion – to visit her private resort island. As the group enjoys their brief vacation, a mysterious woman named Yura appears. A new incident unfolds against the backdrop of the boundless azure sea.
It will play locally through May 6 at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill opens in McCandless after coming soon for 1,000 days.

Via Town of McCandless Open Discussion Facebook Group

After a wait of over 1,000 days, Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in McCandless opened on May 5. Work had been underway since Summer 2023 on the second Shabu Shabu location in Pittsburgh, after its first opened in Robinson in June 2025. It occupies a building shared with Midwest Shooting Center across from LaRoche University (map).

A big Pittsburgh restaurant trend in 2023 and 2024 was planning, and sometimes opening, all-you-can-eat Korean-style BBQ and hot pot places. Several places did ultimately open, like Hong BBQ on McKnight Road, a second Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in Robinson (which has since become the first), among a couple others, while Korean BBQ in Oakland was famously delayed and the Kpot in Squirrel Hill ultimately pulled the plug in 2025 after two years of inactivity.

2024 film Didi (弟弟) returns to Pittsburgh, May 13.


The 2024 Sean Wang film Didi (弟弟) will return to Pittsburgh at the Kamin Science Center's Rangos Giant Cinema on May 13.
Sean Wang makes his directorial debut with “Didi,” a film for anyone who’s ever been a teenager. Set in 2008, this film follows the summer of a 13-year-old Taiwanese-American boy as he navigates life as a first generation American, changing friendships, and the dawn of social media. Don’t miss this 2024 Sundance Film Festival winning feature when it comes to the Rangos Giant Cinema on Wed., May 13 at 7 p.m.
It previously played here in August and September 2024. The Kamin Science Center, formerly known as the Carnegie Science Center, is located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on the North Shore (map).

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Yo! Brew nears completion on Duquesne University campus.


Signage is up for Yo! Brew, a bubble tea place and bakery opening soon on the Duquense University campus. 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, and onership says it intends to open very soon, with a soft opening date to be announced shortly.

Work progresses on YangGuoFu Mala Tang in Squirrel Hill.


Permanent signage is up on YangGuoFu Mala Tang in Squirrel Hill, where work has been underway since late fall on the new Chinese chain with locations in California, New York, and elsewhere in the US.
Indulge in the perfect blend of fresh ingredients and bold flavors, combined to create a dining experience that transcends the ordinary. Our Mala Tang offerings are carefully crafted for those seeking a healthy yet delicious meal option.
It will be located at 5870 Forbes Ave. (map) in what was most recently Evelyn James Interiors. It was initially eyeing openings in January and March.