PhoEverMore and Fantastea now open in Gibsonia, bringing pho, Korean food, bubble tea, and more.

PhoEverMore and Fantastea have now opened in Gibsonia. Signage first went up earlier this fall for the side-by-side spots, owned and operated by a Korean couple, though the pho restaurant seems to have gone through some different names in the planning phase. In addition to pho, the restaurant's menu includes Korean dishes and appetizers, Korean ramen, fried rice, hibachi rice and noodles, plus other Asian dishes. They are located at the Walnut Creek Plaza, 5316 William Flinn Highway (Route 8) (map).

Get a Grip Clawcade opens in West Mifflin (well, opened August 31).

Get a Grip Clawcade, "The Pittsburgh area's first clawcade experience," has opened in West Mifflin. This is not breaking news, as it opened August 31, but it was newly-posted to /r/pittsburgh. Get a Grip Clawcade contains over 70 claw machines and is located at 1860 Homeville Rd. (map), in The Village Shopping Center.

Spiral Symphony: A Chorus of Transformation and Renewal: The 28th Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Fair and Show, January 26.

The Carnegie Museum of Art will host "Spiral Symphony: A Chorus of Transformation and Renewal: The 28th Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Fair and Show" on January 26.

Inspired by the Year of the Snake, the 28th Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Celebration heralds the new year with a resplendent celebration of change and rebirth. Presented by the CASTP Organization, with support from Carnegie Museum of Art, this multicultural festival harmonizes ancient Lunar New Year traditions with global customs. Guests will embark on a mesmerizing journey through spiraling rhythms and evolving melodies, where the snake’s wisdom and symbolism come alive in spectacular performances and hands-on activities. This immersive experience invites attendees to shed the old and embrace the new, fostering a joyous chorus of global unity and growth as we step into the promising dawn of a new year.

The fair will be from 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 2:30 p.m.

Japanese metal band HANABIE。returns to Pittsburgh, March 12.

Japanese metal band HANABIE。will return to Pittsburgh on March 12, part of their US tour with Kim Dracula. Their Reddit fanpage provides an introduction:

Loud rock band HANABIE。formed at their school light music club in June 2015. Centering in Kichijōji, Tokyo, they started performing live around areas such as Shinjuku and Tachikawa.

The sound of Hanabie features the sound mixture of metalcore, hardcore, Hip-Hop, and J-POP. Their 1st album, "Girls Manifest" was released in 2020. With this album, they have established their own genre "HARAJUKUCORE"

Their live performances have a speed and power that exceeds expectations and captivates their audience. Yukina's powerful screaming/growling vocals never leave anyone without being amazed, along with this excellent melodic lines given by the clean voice of Matsuri, this is a complete basis for an amazing metalcore band but as for them it isn't enough they add different layers of voices between rap lines. If vocally they are great, in the instrumental part they're not left behind, aggressive, heavy, and dynamic. Certainly to define this band you need at least two words: dynamic and powerful.

The band played Preserving Underground in New Kensington in September 2023 and the Roxian Theatre in September 2024.

Ticket presale for the all ages show at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks (map), 6:30 pm, is happening now.

1962 Japanese film Harakiri (切腹) in Pittsburgh, January 9 - 15.

The 1962 animated film Harakiri (切腹) will play in Pittsburgh from January 9 through 15.

In 18th-century Edo, a masterless samurai (Tatsuya Nakadai) wanders into the virtuous House of Iyi, asking to commit ritual seppuku (suicide). He is met with skepticism by the clan’s retainers, who have learned of drifting ronin making similar requests as a means of extortion. Nevertheless, the samurai promises to disembowel himself, but not before imparting the tragic circumstances that have led him to this final act. Adorned by stunning chiaroscuro compositions, an unnerving Toru Takemitsu score, and a bitingly acerbic script by Kurosawa scribe Shinobu Hashimoto, director Masaki Kobayashi’s slow-burn rebuke of authority culminates in a scathing takedown of the bushido code and the shallow valor it vowed to uphold.

It plays in Japanese with English subtitles at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets are available online.

Pittsburgh Japanese School still recruiting new teachers.

The Pittsburgh Japanese School, which provides Japanese-language education on Sundays to kids from preschool through high school, is still recruiting teachers and volunteers, particularly those qualified to teach preschool and elementary school level. A Pennsylvania teaching certificate is not required, but requirements beyond native-like fluency include work authorization in the United States and a college degree with a demonstrated ability to teach Japanese.

国際社会の未来を担う子供達を育てる、やりがいのある仕事です。

◆常勤講師３名

• • 幼稚部1名

  • 小学部2名　（高学年を担当できる方　国語と算数）

︎米国内で就労可能なビザ(E2,L2を含む)またはグリーンカードを有している方。

︎短大卒以上で日本語での指導が確かな方。

︎教員免許がなくても子供が好きで教育熱心な方。

︎平日に仕事を持っていても、開校日のために授業の前準備や採点処理が出来る方。

Tuvan throat singers Alash Ensemble return to Pittsburgh, March 7.

Alash Ensemble will return to perform in Pittsburgh on March 7.

Alash are masters of Tuvan throat singing, a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. Masters of traditional Tuvan instruments as well as the art of throat singing, Alash are deeply committed to traditional Tuvan music and culture. At the same time, they are fans of western music. Believing that traditional music must constantly evolve, the musicians subtly infuse their songs with western elements, creating their own unique style that is fresh and new, yet true to their Tuvan musical heritage.

The group will perform at the First Unitarian Church in Shadyside (map) from 7:30 pm. Tickets are available for purchase at Jerry's Records, Vinyl Remains, Long Play Cafe, Government Center, and online for $25, or for $30 at the door.

Sumi's Cakery in Squirrel Hill closes.

Sumi's Cakery, the first Korean bakery in Pittsburgh, has finally closed its doors for good. The bakery had been temporarily closed for much of this year, since opening a second location in the Strip District's Novo Asian Food Hall.

When Sumi's opened in March 2012 it was one of two Asian bakeries on the street, joining the Taiwanese bakery Bubble Pi and followed by Pink Box two-and-a-half years later. It brought Korean cakes, pastries, and patbingsu to the neighborhood, and the city, and was the only Korean bakery around until international chains Tous Les Jours and Paris Baguette opened earlier in 2024.

via @sumiscakery, from November 2023

Additional day added for album making-of documentary RM: Right People, Wrong Place (still playing) in Pittsburgh on December 14 and 15.

An extra day has been added for the album making-of documentary RM: Right People, Wrong Place, which played in Pittsburgh-area theaters on December 5 and 8 and will stay here on December 14 and, now, December 15.

A film that chronicles artist RM's eight-month production of his second solo album, “Right Place, Wrong Person,” while candidly recording the endless concerns of the person Kim Namjoon, and the things he immerses himself in and loves.

It plays on December 14 at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and on the 15th at the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Lunar New Year Celebration at University of Pittsburgh, January 22.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host a Lunar New Year Celebration on January 22.

Celebrate the Year of the Snake! Fun Activities & Delicious Snacks. Come join us and bring in the Lunar New Yeat with joy and excitement!

It runs from 12:00 to 1:30 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map), and is free and open to the Pitt community.

2006 Japanese animated film Paprika (パプリカ) in Pittsburgh, January 8, 9, and 12.

The 2006 Japanese animated film Paprika (パプリカ) will play in Pittsburgh on January 8, 9, and 12, part of the 2024-2025 Anime Expo Cinema Nights series.

Anime Expo Cinema Nights presents the 15th anniversary and a 4K restoration of the last film ever made by visionary director Satoshi Kon with his mind-bending thriller PAPRIKA. When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients’ dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson. Tickets are available online; the shows on the 8th and 12th are in Japanese with English subtitles, while the shows on the 9th are dubbed in English.

Miniso now open at South Hills Village Mall.

The much-anticipated Miniso at South Hills Village Mall is now officially open as of December 7, after a brief soft-opening period. Miniso is "a Japanese-inspired lifestyle product retailer offering high-quality household goods, cosmetics, and food at affordable prices," and has been described with terms like a Chinese Five Below or a Japanese Hot Topic with main attractions being Japanese snacks, figures, plushies, cosmetics, and more. It opened its first Western Pennsylvania location in Greensburg this summer, with locations at The Mall at Robinson and this South Hills Village one opening over the last few days.

2016 Japanese animated film A Silent Voice (聲の形) in Pittsburgh, December 15 and 16.

The acclaimed 2016 Japanese animated film A Silent Voice (聲の形) will return to Pittsburgh on December 15 and 16.

“A Silent Voice” follows the poignant and moving story of Shoya Ishida, a school bully, and Shoko Nishimiya, a young girl with a hearing disability. Their story begins in sixth grade when Shoko transfers to Shoya’s elementary school and quickly finds herself bullied and isolated due to her hearing disability. Years later, the tables turn, and Shoya finds himself the victim. “A Silent Voice” depicts the struggles and challenges of adolescence alongside coming-of-age outside the norm.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Concert film Babymetal: Legend-43 in Pittsburgh, December 11 and 15.

The upcoming concert film Babymetal: Legend-43 will play in Pittsburgh December 11 and 15.

Anime Expo Cinema Nights Presents a special concert film of the band BABYMETAL with their worldwide tour Legend-43. In April 2023, SU-METAL (Vocal, Dance), MOAMETAL (Scream, Dance), and MOMOMETAL (Scream, Dance) entered a new stage as the newly born BABYMETAL. Since then, they have embarked on their largest world tour, "BABYMETAL WORLD TOUR 2023 - 2024," which took them to 25 countries, including Japan. The headline tour, excluding festivals and guest acts, drew a cumulative audience of more than 280,000 people for a total of 98 performances. The final chapter of the world tour, the first Okinawa performance "TOUR FINAL IN JAPAN LEGEND - 43", has been fully filmed. The film is BABYMETAL's first live film that allows viewers to experience all of the diverse music, unique worldview, production that only a tour final can offer, and the overwhelming performance of BABYMETAL, which has evolved even further during their world tour.

Babymetal performed in the Pittsburgh area in September 2023. The movie is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

NCT Mystery Lab: DREAM( )SCAPE in Cinemas in Pittsburgh-area theaters, December 11 and 14.

The concert film NCT Mystery Lab: DREAM( )SCAPE in Cinemas will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters on December 11 and 14.

NCT DREAM’s third world tour, ‘THE DREAM SHOW 3: DREAM()SCAPE,’ is coming to the big screen once again, bringing back the vibrant world bathed in Pearl Neo Champagne! Join the journey as the story of the Mystery Lab unfolds—a special laboratory where the secrets of growth are discovered on the path to one’s dreams, and where the prescription for comfort and healing is shared. Captured from Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome, witness their breathtaking performances that radiated youthful energy, plus the passionate efforts behind the scenes. Don’t miss NCT DREAM Mystery Lab: DREAM()SCAPE in Cinemas—a stage for both escaping into dreams and embracing new beginnings.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC CLassic Westmoreland, and the Cinemark theater in Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Concert Seventeen [Right Here] World Tour in Japan: Live Viewing in Pittsburgh-area theaters, December 14.

Seventeen [Right Here] World Tour in Japan: Live Viewing will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters on December 14.

The Kyocera Dome Osaka concert of K-pop icon SEVENTEEN’s world tour ‘SEVENTEEN [RIGHT HERE] WORLD TOUR IN JAPAN’ will be broadcast live in cinemas in the US and Canada on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 7PM (local time)!

From the newest track to iconic hits and hidden gems, SEVENTEEN’s unique and diverse performances that audiences around the world have been waiting for will come to life in cinemas across various countries and regions, with large screens and high-quality sound!

Get ready to experience the powerful energy, infectious humor, vibrant charm, and unit stages full of personality as SEVENTEEN bring an unparalleled, cohesive performance on screen that only they can deliver.

It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets for the 7:00 pm shows are now available online.

Miniso now open at The Mall at Robinson.

via @shoprobinsonmall

The much-anticipated Miniso at The Mall at Robinson opened yesterday for a soft opening. Miniso is "a Japanese-inspired lifestyle product retailer offering high-quality household goods, cosmetics, and food at affordable prices," and has been described with terms like a Chinese Five Below or a Japanese Hot Topic with main attractions being Japanese snacks, figures, plushies, cosmetics, and more. It opened its first Western Pennsylvania location in Greensburg in June and a South Hills Village Mall location is still under development. 

Charm Thai Cuisine PGH (ชามไทย พิตต์สเบิร์ก), offering Thai street food, now open for takeout in North Oakland.

Charm Thai Cuisine PGH (ชามไทย พิตต์สเบิร์ก) has just opened in North Oakland at The Mill Food Co. "From the vibrant streets of Bangkok to the heart of Pittsburgh," the website says,

our journey is a celebration of Thai culinary traditions. Inspired by the rich flavors of my hometown, I opened this kitchen to share my passion for authentic Thai food. Join us as we blend heritage and heart in every dish.

It will open at 451 Melwood Ave. (map) and is one of the takeout restaurants at The Mill Food Co, a newish food hall in North Oakland that seems to have a rotation of restaurants.

At The Mill Food Co, our mission is to become your go-to spot for to-go meals. We are a restaurant co-op that's modernizing the traditional food hall experience. From online web ordering to touchscreen kiosks, we make it easy to order from our 20+ partner restaurants.

1988 film My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ) in Pittsburgh-area theaters, December 7 - 11.

The 1988 film My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ) will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from December 7 through 11 as part of this year's Studio Ghibli Fest.

From the legendary Studio Ghibli and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, comes a classic tale of magic and adventure for the whole family. When Satsuki and her sister Mei move with their father to a new home in the countryside, they find country life is not as simple as it seems. They soon discover that the house and nearby woods are full of strange and delightful creatures, including a gigantic but gentle forest spirit called Totoro, who can only be seen by children. Totoro and his friends introduce the girls to a series of adventures, including a ride aboard the extraordinary Cat Bus, in this all-ages animated masterpiece[.]

It plays locally in many area theaters, including Cranberry Cinemas, Waterworks Cinemas, AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC CLassic Westmoreland, and the Cinemarks in Monroeville and Robinson. Some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles while others are dubed in English, and tickets are available online.

"Korean Literature in the World Today" with author Han Junghyun, December 3 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh Asian Studies Center will present "Korean Literature in the World Today" on December 3 with author Han Junghyun.

Join us for a talk by Han Junghyun, a fiction writer from South Korea, as she discusses contemporary Korean literature and her role in shaping it. Her debut short novel, The Language of Adolf and Albert, won the Dong-a Ilbo New Writer’s Contest in 2015. Since then, she has received several prestigious awards, including:

• Today's Writer Award for Juliana Tokyo (2019)
• Young Writer's Award and Queer Literature Award for Our Wish is a Science Boy (2020)
• Kim Yu Jeong Literature Award and BUMA Democratic Uprising Literary Award for Kyoko and Kyoji (2021)

Join us to hear more about her literary journey!

It runs from 5:00 to 6:30 pm in 4130 Posvar Hall (map). 

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from December 7.

via the Republic of Korea's Flickr page.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Oakland will resume its free "We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes Saturdays from December 7 through February 22, after finishing its most recent session on November 16.

Miniso in Robinson still coming soon, misses November target.

The Miniso at the Mall at Robinson, one of two of the Chinese-owned Japanese specialty stores under development in the area, remains coming soon. It had announced earlier this month a November opening, but appears to be at least a few days away. It was first announced for the mall in October, and would be the third Miniso in the area, along with the location in Greensburg and the yet-unopened South Hills Village Mall location.

Compilation film Solo Leveling: ReAwakening, featuring first two episodes of season 2, in Pittsburgh, from December 5.

The compilation film Solo Leveling: ReAwakening will play in Pittsburgh from December 5.

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- features a catch-up recap of the first season coupled with an exclusive sneak peek of the first two episodes of the highly anticipated second season in one momentous theatrical fan experience. Over a decade has passed since a pathway called a "gate" which connects this world and another dimension suddenly appeared, and people with superhuman powers called "hunters" have been awakened. Hunters use their superhuman powers to conquer dungeons inside the gates to make a living, and Sung Jinwoo, a hunter of the lowest rank, is considered the Weakest Hunter of All Mankind. One day, he encounters a double dungeon, a high-level dungeon hidden inside a low-level one. In front of a severely wounded Jinwoo, a mysterious quest window pops up. On the verge of death, Jinwoo decides to take on the quest, which makes him the only person who can level up.

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

NCT Mystery Lab: DREAM( )SCAPE in Cinemas in Pittsburgh-area theaters, December 11 and 14.

The concert film NCT Mystery Lab: DREAM( )SCAPE in Cinemas will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters on December 11 and 14.

NCT DREAM’s third world tour, ‘THE DREAM SHOW 3: DREAM()SCAPE,’ is coming to the big screen once again, bringing back the vibrant world bathed in Pearl Neo Champagne! Join the journey as the story of the Mystery Lab unfolds—a special laboratory where the secrets of growth are discovered on the path to one’s dreams, and where the prescription for comfort and healing is shared. Captured from Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome, witness their breathtaking performances that radiated youthful energy, plus the passionate efforts behind the scenes. Don’t miss NCT DREAM Mystery Lab: DREAM()SCAPE in Cinemas—a stage for both escaping into dreams and embracing new beginnings.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC CLassic Westmoreland, and the Cinemark theater in Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便), Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ), Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し), and The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか) comprise Studio Ghibli Week at Row House Lawrenceville, from November 29.

The Row House Lawrenceville will feature four films for its annual Studio Ghibli Week starting November 29: 1998's Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便), 1984's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ), 2001's Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し), and 2023's The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか).

Studio Ghibli Week runs through December 5. Tickets and movie information is available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

Album making-of documentary RM: Right People, Wrong Place in Pittsburgh, from December 5.

The upcoming film RM: Right People, Wrong Place will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from December 5.

A film that chronicles artist RM's eight-month production of his second solo album, “Right Place, Wrong Person,” while candidly recording the endless concerns of the person Kim Namjoon, and the things he immerses himself in and loves.

It plays locally December 5 through 8, and December 14, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Page Turners Book Club: Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, December 12 in Oakland and online.

The December installment of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Page Turners Book Club is Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, held on December 12 at the Main branch in Oakland and online.

Join us once a month for discussions as lively as the page-turning titles we read!! December’s discussion will be on the Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, translated from the Japanese by Eric Ozawa.

Note: This book discussion is a hybrid event. Attendees are welcome to join in-person, which takes place in the Director’s Conference Room on the first floor of CLP-Main Library, or virtually using the link provided in your RSVP confirmation email. Some copies of the title will be available at CLP-Main at the New & Featured desk. Newcomers are always welcome!

This title is available for checkout in our Catalog, and also as an eBook on Hoopla and as an eAudio on Hoopla.

The event runs from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. A synopsis:

1994 film Pom Poko (平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ) in Pittsburgh-area theaters, November 26.

The 1994 film Pom Poko (平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ) will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters on November 26, part of this year's Studio Ghibli Fest.

From the legendary Studio Ghibli and Academy Award®-nominated director Isao Takahata, comes an action-packed ecological fable about the clash between nature and human civilization. The tanuki (raccoon dogs) of Tama Hills find their fun-loving community under attack when their quiet woodlands are threatened by encroaching developers looking to create still more houses and shopping malls. Desperate to survive, the tanuki band together and learn the ancient art of transformation, shape-shifting into a comical variety of humans and spirits as they undertake a last-ditch plan to scare away the humans and save their home, in this deeply affecting, funny and heartfelt look at what it means to live in the modern world.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the CHartiers Valley Luxury 14, and tickets are available online.

2013 film Tale of Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語) in Pittsburgh area theaters, November 25 and 27.

The 2013 film Tale of Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語) will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters on November 25 and 27, part of this year's Studio Ghibli Fest.

From the legendary Studio Ghibli comes a powerful and sweeping epic that redefines animated storytelling and marks a triumphant highpoint within an extraordinary filmmaking career for Academy Award®-nominated director Isao Takahata. Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her – but ultimately, she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime.

It plays at many local theaters, including the AMC Loews Waterfront, the GQT Pittsburgh Mills, Chartiers Valley Luxury 14, and the Cinemarks in Monaca, Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Concert Seventeen [Right Here] World Tour in Japan: Live Viewing in Pittsburgh-area theaters, December 14.

Seventeen [Right Here] World Tour in Japan: Live Viewing will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters on December 14.

The Kyocera Dome Osaka concert of K-pop icon SEVENTEEN’s world tour ‘SEVENTEEN [RIGHT HERE] WORLD TOUR IN JAPAN’ will be broadcast live in cinemas in the US and Canada on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 7PM (local time)!

From the newest track to iconic hits and hidden gems, SEVENTEEN’s unique and diverse performances that audiences around the world have been waiting for will come to life in cinemas across various countries and regions, with large screens and high-quality sound!

Get ready to experience the powerful energy, infectious humor, vibrant charm, and unit stages full of personality as SEVENTEEN bring an unparalleled, cohesive performance on screen that only they can deliver.

It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets for the 7:00 pm shows are now available online.

Compilation film Solo Leveling: ReAwakening, featuring first two episodes of season 2, in Pittsburgh, from December 5.

The compilation film Solo Leveling: ReAwakening will play in Pittsburgh from December 5.

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- features a catch-up recap of the first season coupled with an exclusive sneak peek of the first two episodes of the highly anticipated second season in one momentous theatrical fan experience. Over a decade has passed since a pathway called a "gate" which connects this world and another dimension suddenly appeared, and people with superhuman powers called "hunters" have been awakened. Hunters use their superhuman powers to conquer dungeons inside the gates to make a living, and Sung Jinwoo, a hunter of the lowest rank, is considered the Weakest Hunter of All Mankind. One day, he encounters a double dungeon, a high-level dungeon hidden inside a low-level one. In front of a severely wounded Jinwoo, a mysterious quest window pops up. On the verge of death, Jinwoo decides to take on the quest, which makes him the only person who can level up.

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

Registration now open for newest sessions of Adult Mandarin Classes through the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning.

Registration is now open for newest sessions of Adult Mandarin Classes through the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning.

Embark on an extraordinary linguistic journey by learning Chinese! Because of this incredible support, we’ve crafted an environment that goes beyond language acquisition—it’s an adventure into the heart of Mandarin-speaking culture. Seize the opportunity to not just learn a language, but to unlock a world of possibilities and enrich your personal and professional journey. Don’t miss out on the chance to thrive in a community where language and culture converge seamlessly. Join us and let the language of opportunity be your guide!

Classes are Sundyas from 10:00 am to 12:45 pm at South Hills Middle School (map), and the next sesion runs from January 12 through April 6, 2025. The cost is $120 per term, with discounts for referrals available. Space is limited and registration can be completed online.

Keshi performing in Pittsburgh, July 23, part of Requiem World Tour.

Vietnamese-American singer-songwriter Keshi will perform in Pittsburgh on July 23, 2025. A BuzzFeed interview this fall he touches upon his sound the directions it's taken, and the way it's been categorized:

My music has taken a lot of shapes ever since I started. I started in Lo-Fi, and then I started writing lyrics to my music that was kind of emo — very emotionally driven and bittersweet — because that's the kind of emotion that I like to write about and tap into. And then it was just "Oh yeah, this music's for the sad boys." Then, I was like, okay, well, let me make some songs where I'm a little bit more confident, that harkens back to R&B and feeling sexy. So then I came out with "Beside You" and then "Somebody" on Gabriel, and then suddenly public perception shifted to a fuckboy narrative. And I was super confused by that.

The concert will be at Stage AE on the North Shore, and tickets will go on sale November 22.

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from December 7.

via the Republic of Korea's Flickr page.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Oakland will resume its free "We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes Saturdays from December 7 through February 22, after finishing its most recent session yesterday. ;

Work progresses on national ramen chain KYURAMEN (九汤拉面) and bubble tea place T-Baar in Cranberry, but in a different spot.

When national ramen chain KYURAMEN (九汤拉面) was announced for Cranberry in September, the township listed the address as a storefront in the Cranberry Mall. Howevr, it was recently updated to a strip mall a mile further north, where signage is up and work is still underway. It will open in the "Streets of Cranberry" development, between Condado Tacos and Rally House. As for the East Liberty location, the joint KYURAMEN-TBaar spot there was most recently aiming for a Fall 2024 opening and is currently hiring for all positions.

Comedian Ronny Chieng in Pittsburgh as part of The Love To Hate It Tour, November 30.

Comedian Ronny Chieng will perform in Pittsburgh on November 30.

Ronny Chieng is a stand up comedian, actor and Correspondent on "The Daily Show". In addition to two Netflix stand-up comedy specials, Ronny has starred in "Crazy Rich Asians", Marvel's "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings", "M3GAN", "American Born Chinese", "Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.", "Vacation Friends 2", "Joy Ride" and will star in the upcoming Hulu series "Interior Chinatown".

The show will be held at the Byham Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) at 7:00 pm, and tickets are available online.

2019 Korean film Parasite (기생충) in Pittsburgh, from November 22.

The 2019 Korean film Parasite (기생충) will play in Pittsburgh from November 22, part of Row House Lawrenceville's "Family Am I Right?" film series.

Bong Joon-ho’s brilliant social commentary turned thriller returns to Row House. All unemployed, Ki-taek’s family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.

It plays through the 28th and tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

2016 Japanese animated film A Silent Voice (聲の形) in Pittsburgh, December 15 and 16.

The acclaimed 2016 Japanese animated film A Silent Voice (聲の形) will return to Pittsburgh on December 15 and 16.

“A Silent Voice” follows the poignant and moving story of Shoya Ishida, a school bully, and Shoko Nishimiya, a young girl with a hearing disability. Their story begins in sixth grade when Shoko transfers to Shoya’s elementary school and quickly finds herself bullied and isolated due to her hearing disability. Years later, the tables turn, and Shoya finds himself the victim. “A Silent Voice” depicts the struggles and challenges of adolescence alongside coming-of-age outside the norm.

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

Four films comprise this year's Studio Ghibli Week at Row House Lawrenceville, from November 29.

The Row House Lawrenceville has announced its lineup for Studio Ghibli Week starting later this month: 1998's Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便), 1984's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ), 2001's Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し), and 2023's The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか).

Studio Ghibli Week begins November 29 and runs through December 5. Tickets and movie information is available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

Asian beauty store Maison Beauty opening in Squirrel Hill on November 16.

Asian beauty store Maison Beauty will open in Squirrel Hill on November 16, and will have a number of specials to mark the occasion.

Grand Opening Day Special Offers: First 48 customers who spend $25 or more will receive a free keyring lip gloss!! Available in two different colors!!
First 25 customers who spend $40 or more will receive 5% off their purchase!!

It describes itself as "Pittsburgh’s one stop shop for all Asian Beauty products," and signage went up for it earlier this month at 2021 Murray Ave. (map). It will open at 11 am on the 16th.

2024 Japanese animated film Ghost Cat Anzu (化け猫あんずちゃん) in Pittsburgh, from November 14.

The 2024 Japanese animated film Ghost Cat Anzu (化け猫あんずちゃん) will play in Pittsburgh from November 14. A synopsis, from the distributor:

Precocious tween Karin finds herself abandoned by her father in rural Japan. Living in a temple with her grandfather, she meets Anzu, a giant “ghost cat” and notorious layabout tasked with looking after her. Distrustful of her new guardian, Karin sabotages Anzu’s odd jobs for the townsfolk and befriends the eccentric local forest spirits. In an effort to win Karin over, Anzu accidentally makes a deal with the devil, and all Hell breaks loose. 

Ghost Cat Anzu is co-directed by renowned artist Yoko Kuno, who makes her feature directorial debut, and Nobuhiro Yamashita, the acclaimed director of Linda Linda Linda. Co-produced by Shin-Ei Animation and Miyu Productions with music by legendary musician Keiichi Suzuki (EarthBound), Ghost Cat Anzu is a wildly funny ride in the countryside.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online. Please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles, while others are dubbed in English.

Japanese animated movie OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom (劇場版 オーバーロード 聖王国編) in Pittsburgh through November 20.

The upcoming Japanese animated movie OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom (劇場版 オーバーロード 聖王国編), which oepned in the Pittsburgh area on November 7, will remain here through at least November 20.

After twelve years of playing his favorite MMORPG game, Momonga logs in for the last time only to find himself transported into its world playing it indefinitely. Throughout his adventures, his avatar ascends to the title of Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown. Once prosperous but now on the brink of ruin, The Sacred Kingdom enjoyed years of peace after construction of an enormous wall protecting them from neighboring invasions. But, one day this comes to an end when the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth arrives with an army of villainous demi-humans. Fearing invasion of their own lands, the neighboring territory of the Slane Theocracy is forced to beg their enemies at the Sorcerer Kingdom for help. Heeding the call, Momonga, now known as the Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown, rallies the Sorcerer Kingdom and its undead army to join the fight alongside the Sacred Kingdom and the Slane Theocracy in hopes to defeat the Demon Emperor.

It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and, until the 14th, the Cinemark theater in Robinson. Some screenings are in Japanese with English subtitles while others are dubbed in English, and tickets are available online.

Andrea Gevurtz Arai and "The 3.11 Generation: Changing the Subjects of Gender, Labor, Environments" at Pitt, November 14.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Dr. Andrea Gevurtz Arai and her talk "The 3.11 Generation: Changing the Subjects of Gender, Labor, Environments" on November 14.

Andrea Gevurtz Arai teaches Japan and East Asia anthropology and society courses in the Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington. Arai’s first book, The Strange Child: Education and the Psychology of Patriotism in Recessionary Japan (Stanford U. Press, 2016) is a long-term multi-site fieldwork study of the social and cultural effects of the bursting of the financial bubble in the early 1990s in Japan and the protracted recession that followed. This ethnography delves deeply into how the recession provided the conditions for government and corporate “neoliberalization,” replacing former support and security in education and labor with new logics of self-responsibility, self-development and patriotism, privatizing public services; shifting cultural ideologies and producing a profound “uneasiness” about everyday life. The book traces the way that the young became the subjects of these unfamiliar or “strange” conditions and the objects of blame for not being able to fulfill new requirements of human capital development. The Strange Child tracks the hardships of this altered national-cultural environment as well as introduces some of the surprisingly creative responses of the recessionary generations.

Upcoming Philippine film Hello, Love, Again in Pittsburgh, from November 14.

The upcoming Philippine film Hello, Love, Again will play in Pittsburgh from November 14.

After fighting for their love to conquer the time, distance and a global shutdown that kept them apart, Joy and Ethan meet again in Canada but realize that they have also changed a lot, individually.

It plays locally at the Cinemark theater in Robinson, in Tagalog with English subtitles, and tickets are available online.

"Sounds Upstairs: Flying Strings Youth Ensemble," November 10 in Oakland.

The Flyinkg Strings Youth Ensemble will perform November 10 at the Carnegie Library in Oakland.

The Flying Strings Youth Ensemble is a talented group of musicians blending traditional Chinese and Western music. With members from across the U.S. playing diverse instruments, including pipa, guzheng, erhu, zhongruan, flute, violin, cello, and piano, the ensemble is committed to both musical excellence and community service. This program takes place in the South Wing Reading Room

The event runs from 2:00 to 3:00 pm and is free and open to the public. The Oakland branch of the Carneige Library of Pittsburgh is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. (map), accessible by numerous city bus lines.

Album making-of documentary RM: Right People, Wrong Place in Pittsburgh, from December 5.

The upcoming film RM: Right People, Wrong Place will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from December 5.

A film that chronicles artist RM's eight-month production of his second solo album, “Right Place, Wrong Person,” while candidly recording the endless concerns of the person Kim Namjoon, and the things he immerses himself in and loves.

It plays locally December 5 through 8, and December 14, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.