Pepper Space grand opening in Oakland, September 2.

Pepper Space, a new Chinese restaurant in Oakland, will be holding its Grand Opening on Monday, September 2. It is located at 4609 Forbes Ave. (map), in the space near Forbes Ave. and S. Craig St. that was long occupied by Orient Express.

"From Cleveland to Japan: A Replica Returns to the Scene of the Original," September 12 at Carnegie Museum of Art.

The Carnegie Museum of Art will host "From Cleveland to Japan: A Replica Returns to the Scene of the Original" on September 12.

Join us on September 12 to explore the world of the Tsuzuri Project, which uses ultra-high-resolution photography in combination with classical painting and craft techniques to create singular objects based on Japanese folding screens in overseas collections.

This presentation focuses on Dragon and Tiger and the Arrival of the Southern Barbarians, two screen compositions in the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the logic behind their selection for the Project.

The talk will be held in the Carnegie Museum of Art Theater and will be followed by refreshments and a networking reception. Registration is free but donations are appreciated. Virtual attendance is also available but those who are able are encouraged to attend in person.

The event runs from 6:30 to 7:30 pm and registration is required. The Carnegie Museum of Art is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. in Oakland (map), accessible by a number of city buses.

2024 Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival (匹兹堡中华文化节将), September 21 in Mellon Park.

The 2024 Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival (匹兹堡中华文化节将) will be held September 21 in Mellon Park (map). Presented by the Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center, it will run from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm and feature vendor booths, cultural performances, music, food, and more. Details and schedules will be available closer to the festival. The festival grounds at Mellon Park---the southern portion, near the Rose Garden, not the northern portion near the baseball fields and spray park---are in Point Breeze near the intersectiosn of the Shadyside and Squirrel Hill neighborhoods.

Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration at Pitt, September 18.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Cener and Global Hub will host a Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration on September 18 from 1:00 pm.

Join the Asian Studies Center for a celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the Global Hub! Snacks and a themed activity will be provided! So, come ready to enjoy yourself and eat good food!

It will be held at the Global Hub, located on the 1st floor of Posvar Hall (map).

2023 Korean film The Tenants (세입자) in Pittsburgh, September 28.

The 2023 Korean film The Tenants (세입자) will play in Pittsburghon September 28 as another addition to the SCREENSHOT: Asia film festival.

In this Kafkaesque reality, a soon-to-be-evicted tenant employs a bizarre subletting scheme that may be his solution.

In a dystopian South Korean city, an office worker endures the tedium of his job in hopes of gaining a transfer to ‘Sphere 2’, where a supposedly better reality awaits. Facing eviction by his adolescent landlord, he decides to complicate the process by renting his toilet out to an eccentric couple, but their strange behaviours soon become unbearable.

It plays in 125 Frick Fine Arts on the University of Pittsburgh campus (map) and ticket information is forthcoming.

2024 documentary The Cats of Gokogu Shrine (五香宮の猫) at Pitt, September 26, as part of the SCREENSHOT: Asia film festival.

A screening of the 2024 documentary The Cats of Gokogu Shrine (五香宮の猫) has been added to the SCREENSHOT: Asia film festival at the University of Pittsburgh on September 26. A synopsis, from director Kazuhiro Soda's official site:

Gokogu is a small, ancient Shinto shrine in Ushimado, Japan, on the Seto Inland Sea. Home to dozens of street cats, it is also known as “Cat Shrine.”

Many people visit the shrine for various reasons: some to worship gods, others to enjoy gardening. Some people come to clean the shrine as volunteers while others just stop by on their way to fish Japanese sardinella –– and it is the perfect place for kids to play after school. In addition, some people visit Gokogu to feed the freely roaming stray cats. Others just come to see these cats or to take pictures of them. It is a heaven for cat-loving residents and visitors, but some residents complain about the waste the cats leave around the neighborhood. Gokogu looks peaceful on the surface, but it is also the epicenter of a sensitive issue that divides the local community.

In 2021, after living in New York City for 27 years, Kazuhiro Soda and Kiyoko Kashiwagi relocated to Ushimado where they had previously filmed Oyster Factory (2015) and Inland Sea (2018). As new settlers, the couple tries to blend into Ushimado’s local community, and gets caught up in the problem around the cats of Gokogu. The filmmakers started rolling their camera to observe and depict the aging, traditional community and its spiritual center Gokogu. The result is a beautiful and cruel, simple yet complex portrayal of the universe of Gokogu, interwoven with people, cats, and all living beings.

It plays in 125 Frick Fine Arts in Oakland, on the edge of the University of Pittsburgh campus, (map) and ticket information is forthcoming.

2024 film Didi (弟弟) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) September 5.

The 2024 film Didi (弟弟), which opened in Pittsburgh on August 8, will remain here through at least September 5.

In 2008, during the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love your mom.

It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, through the 4th, and The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center in Sewickley. Tickets are available online.

"Workshop with SWERY: The Power of Interactive Narrative, Worlds Only Games Can Create" for Pitt students, September 6.

Numerous campus and community groups are collaborating to present "Workshop with SWERY: The Power of Interactive Narrative, Worlds Only Games Can Create" at the University of Pittsburgh on September 6.

Join legendary video game designer Hidetaka 'SWERY' Suehiro in an intimate setting to hone your game design skills! SWERY will deliver a short lecture, followed by an hour of design workshop in small groups. SWERY and [Digital Narrative and Interactive Design] faculty will offer critique, advice and encouragement as you build the foundation of your own interactive narratives!

The event is limited to 50 Pitt students---it is not open to the pubilc---and will be held in 00G8 Cathedral of Learning from 5:00 pm.

2001 Japanese animated film Metropolis (メトロポリス) in Pittsburgh, November 4, 7, and 10.

The 2001 Japanese animated film Metropolis (メトロポリス) will play in Pittsburgh on November 4, 7, and 10 as part of an Anime Expo Cinema Nights series.

Anime Expo Cinema Nights Presents: Osamu Tezuka’s Metropolis, where it's man against machine in this film based on the classic manga (comic) by Osamu Tezuka, the godfather of Japanese anime and manga. In the late 1940s, long before Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion established Osamu Tezuka as one of the most influential animators of all time, the legendary illustrator created the classic manga Metropolis. Set in the future, Metropolis is a grand city-state populated by humans and robots, the cohabitants of a strictly segmented society. Detective Shunsaku Ban and his sidekick Ken-ichi search for a rebel scientist, to arrest him and seize his latest creation, Tima, a beautiful young girl. But when they locate him, Shunsaku quickly realizes that the eccentric genius is protected by a powerful man and beyond their reach. A retro-futuristic cautionary tale, Metropolis is spectacularly rendered, combining the best in Japanese cel animation with the latest in digital technology.

It it scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson. Tickets are available online; please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles while others are dubbed in English.

SCREENSHOT: Asia 2024 Film Festival schedule announced.

The SCREENSHOT: ASIA 2024 Film Festival schedule was announced this afternoon, with films out of Japan, China, Indonesia, and Taiwan helping to comprise the lineup. Selections include:

• A Great Absence (大いなる不在』予告編), Japan - September 29 at Frick Fine Arts (Pitt campus)
• Black Dog (狗阵), China - September 28 at Harris Theater
• Salli (莎莉), Taiwan - September 25 in Lawrence Hall (Pitt campus)
• Sweet Dreams, Indonesia - September 27 at Harris Theater

Tickets and showtime info is now available online. SCREENSHOT: ASIA, which puts on the annual festival along with other Asian programming,

is a joint project from the Film and Media Studies Program and the Asian Studies Center that brings together students, faculty, and community members to create a shared awareness of Asian and Asian American experiences through contemporary film and media. Using film, video, and other on-screen arts, the series provides a forum to learn about Asian art, whether it is a classic work of cinema, a film by an emerging director, or a documentary addressing contemporary social concerns. The programming allows us to reflect on the importance of visual arts, current arts technology, and the place of cultural experiences in a global educational experience.

Art Beyond Borders: The Global Networks of Satellite Art (1984–1988), September 26 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Humanities Center will present "Art Beyond Borders: The Global Networks of Satellite Art (1984–1988)" on September 26.

Hosted by the Humanities Center and graduate fellow, Vuk Vuković. Respondents include Mark Collins from the Geology and Environmental Science department and Joshua Ellenbogen from the History of Art and Architecture department. This event will be hybrid, so you can attend it either in person in 602 CL or via Zoom as you prefer.

In 1988, as Cold War tensions diminished and the digital revolution began, Korean-born artist Nam June Paik orchestrated a global collaboration with eleven broadcasting stations, including those in the Soviet Union and China, to create his final satellite work, Wrap Around the World (1988). Inspired by architect Buckminster Fuller's 1969 global electric grid concept, Paik aimed to transcend nationalism, merging architecture, design, and video to foster global interconnectedness. This colloquium will argue that Paik's satellite trilogy—Good Morning, Mr. Orwell (1984), Bye Bye Kipling (1986), and Wrap Around the World—employed simultaneous art broadcasts to connect nations across borders, fulfilling Fuller's unrealized vision.

Precirculated material for this colloquium will be available here about two weeks prior and up to the event.

The event will be held from 12:30 to 2:00 pm in 602 Cathedral of Learning or online via Zoom.

Whisper of the Heart (耳をすませば), The Cat Returns (猫の恩返し) in Pittsburgh for Studio Ghibli Fest 2024, from August 25.

The Japanese animated movies Whisper of the Heart (耳をすませば) and The Cat Returns (猫の恩返し) will play in Pittsburgh as part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2024, from August 25. A synopsis of the former, from the distributor:

Discover the brilliance of this heartwarming coming-of-age classic from the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of My Neighbor Totoro and the Academy Award®-winning Spirited Away.

A chance encounter with a mysterious cat sends Shizuku, a quiet schoolgirl, on a quest for her true talent. Together with Seiji, a boy determined to follow his dreams, and enchanted by The Baron, a magical cat figurine who helps her listen to the whispers of her heart, Shizuku embarks on a life-changing adventure that takes her beyond the boundaries of her imagination. This beautiful tale based on a screenplay from Hayao Miyazaki will delight and amaze audiences of all ages!

And the latter:

In this sequel to Whisper of the Heart, a quiet suburban schoolgirl, Haru, is pitched into a fantastical feline world and must find her inner strength to make her way back home. Walking with her friend after a dreary day at school, Haru eyes a cat with a small gift box in its mouth attempting to cross a busy street. The cat fumbles the package in the middle of the road as a truck is rapidly bearing down. Haru manages to scoop the cat away to safety. To her amazement, the cat then gets up on its hind legs, brushes itself off, and thanks her very politely.

Strange behavior indeed, but this is nothing compared to what happens later that evening when the King of Cats shows up in a feline motorcade replete with vassals, maidens, and even Secret Service cats. In a show of gratitude for saving his son’s life, the king cat showers Haru with gifts – including a large supply of individually wrapped live mice – and decrees that she shall marry the cat prince and come to live as a princess in the secret Kingdom of Cats.

WHisper of the Heart plays on August 25 and 27, while The Cat Returns plays on August 26 and 28. Tickets for the shows at most local theaters are available online, though please note some are in Japanese with English subtitles while others are dubbed in English.

R.F. Kuang in Pittsburgh as part of Ten Evenings series, April 28, 2025.

Author R.F. Kuang will speak in Pittsburgh as part of Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures' Ten Evenings series on April 28, 2025.

White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences… Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American–in this chilling and hilariously cutting novel from R.F. Kuang.

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.

When June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I. So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song–complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.

But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.

Rebecca F. Kuang is the #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Poppy War trilogy, Babel: An Arcane History, and Yellowface. Her work has won the Nebula, Locus, Crawford, and British Book Awards. A Marshall Scholar, she has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford. She is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale, where she studies diaspora, contemporary Sinophone literature, and Asian American literature.

Copies of the book are available to purchase at White Whale Bookstore, and tickets for the event are now available online. The event takes place at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland (map) and will also be livestreamed.

2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once returns to Pittsburgh for A24 x IMAX presentation, August 28.

The 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once will play in Pittsburgh on August 28.

When an interdimensional rupture unravels reality, an unlikely hero must channel her newfound powers to fight bizarre and bewildering dangers from the multiverse as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Winner of 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture, experience all universes at once in IMAX.

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

Cowboy Bebop LIVE, presented by Bebop Bounty Big Band, October 17 at Roxian Theatre.

The Roxian Theatre will host Cowboy Bebop LIVE on October 17.

Prepare to blast off into the cosmos with Cowboy Bebop LIVE, an electrifying tour produced by Live Nation and performed by the sensational Bebop Bounty Big Band. This one-of-a-kind multimedia experience celebrates the iconic anime series Cowboy Bebop by bringing its legendary soundtrack to life in a way that fans have never seen before.

Cowboy Bebop LIVE is more than just a concert, it’s an immersive experience that combines high-octane jazz with the gripping narrative of Cowboy Bebop projected on the big screen. Audiences will be transported through the solar system alongside Spike, Jet, Faye, Ed, and Ein as they track down intergalactic fugitives, and make a living in the vastness of space. The band’s 14-piece ensemble brings to life the critically acclaimed soundtrack that has captured the hearts of anime fans and jazz lovers alike.

The Bebop Bounty Big Band, comprised of world-class musicians, is here to take audiences on a journey through the stars. Handpicked by Cowboy Bebop LIVE curator and band leader, Corey Paul, each musician plays a pivotal role in recreating the magic of Cowboy Bebop’s unforgettable soundscape. Paul commented, “I’m truly honored to have put this live show together and perform the genius score of Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts, along with the genius storytelling of Watanabe’s Cowboy Bebop.”

Tickets for the all-ages show, starting at 7:00 pm, are now available online. The Roxian Theatre is located at 425 Chartiers Ave. in McKees Rocks (map).

Upcoming film Jung Kook: I Am Still in Pittsburgh, from September 18.

The upcoming film Jung Kook: I Am Still will play in Pittsburgh from September 18.

Jung Kook of BTS, the '21st Century Pop Artist,' ascended to global stardom with his debut solo single 'Seven (feat. Latto)' in July 2023. Achieving unprecedented success, Jung Kook became the first Asian solo artist to top the Billboard HOT 100, Global 200, and Global 200 Excl. US charts. His singles 'Seven,' '3D (feat. Jack Harlow),' and 'Standing Next to You' all reached the top 10 of the Billboard HOT 100, making him the only K-pop solo artist to achieve this feat. His album ‘GOLDEN’ also made history by staying on the Billboard 200 for 24 consecutive weeks. Through exclusive, unseen interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, alongside electrifying concert performances, this brand new film showcases Jung Kook’s eight-month journey, capturing his unwavering dedication and growth. Join Jung Kook as he shares his remarkable rise to fame and heartfelt moments with ARMY around the world in 'JUNG KOOK: I AM STILL'.

It runs select dates through September 29. Jung Kook: I Am Still is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson, with more theaters likely to be announced later, and tickets are available online.

2024 Chinese film Decoded (解密) in Pittsburgh, from August 22.

The 2024 Chinese film Decoded (解密), starring Liu Haoran and John Cusack, will play in Pittsburgh from August 22.

In the 1940s, the world was turbulent, and it was crucial to decipher enemy's communication codes timely and accurately. Rong Jinzhen showed a unique talent. He was noticed by more because he accidentally solved the difficult problem.

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

2024 film Didi (弟弟) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) August 29.

The 2024 film Didi (弟弟), which opened in Pittsburgh on August 8, will remain here through at least August 29.

In 2008, during the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love your mom.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and select dates at the Manor Theater in Squirrel Hill, and tickets are available online.

Bomb Chicken soft opens in North Oakland.

Bomb Chicken---serving assorted chicken dishes, bubble tea, and Chinese food---soft opened in Oakland on Saturday. It is from the same ownership as Hundred Miles Crepes, which operates in Oakland near the University of Pittsburgh campus. An open sign is illuminated and the interior is nearly done, but signage is not up yet and there is only a few counter spots available for seating, though the dining room should grow in time. It is the latest in a long line of Asian restaurants to open at 256 N. Craig St. (map) over the last decade, including Pad Thai Noodle, Chaing Mai Noodle, Miss Saigon88 Cafe, Ana's Vietnamese Cuisine, Tan Lac Express, and Pad Thai Noodle again.

Ramen King 2 coming soon to the North Hills.

A new ramen restaurant, Ramen King 2, is coming soon to the North Hills. It carries the "2" in its name, as the original Ramen King opened in Canonsburg in October 2022. Ramen King (2) is located in the McIntyre Square shopping center, next to Gabe's, off McKnight Road (map).

Japanese rock band BURNOUT SYNDROMES in Pittsburgh, August 24.

The Japanese rock band BURNOUT SYNDROMES will play in Pittsburgh on August 24.

BURNOUT SYNDROMES are a 3-piece rock band from Osaka formed in 2005 consisting of Kazuumi Kumagai on vocals/guitar, Taiyu Ishikawa on bass, and Takuya Hirose on drums. Their goal is to constantly push the limit of a 3-piece band and create precisely calculated sound to color the world.

In March 2016, to celebrate their 10th anniversary since forming and their major label debut, they released the single "FLY HIGH!!" with EPIC Records Japan. The nationwide tour held to promote their latest album "Meisei" sold out at all venues.

BURNOUT SYNDROMES has provided theme songs for numerous series such as "FLY HIGH!!" for Haikyuu!!, "Hana Ichi Monme" for Gintama, and "Good Morning World!" for Dr. Stone.

Tickets for the show at Mr. Smalls Theater in Millvale, 8:00 pm, are still available online.

2024 Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival, September 28.

The 2024 Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival will be held on September 28 at North Park. From its press release:

Get ready to paddle with a purpose and join the splash of excitement at North Park Lake! Pittsburgh Hearts of Steel Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Team invites you to a day of thrilling races, vibrant entertainment, delicious food, and family fun at our Sixth Annual Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival. The event runs from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! 

Mark your calendars for a spectacular day where community spirit meets fierce competition on the beautiful waters of North Park Lake. This year’s festival features spirited races with community teams, sport teams, youth teams, para-paddlers, all cancer survivors, and dedicated breast cancer survivor teams battling it out for glory. Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or a curious newbie, everyone is welcome to join in the fun. 

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan performing in Pittsburgh, November 16; tickets go on sale today.

The Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan will perform in Pittsburgh on November 16.

Claimed as “Asia’s leading contemporary dance theater” (The Times), Cloud Gate has set out to engage with local history, culture, and subject matter through classical, folk, and modern dance for over 50 years. Cloud Gate combines their practices in Qi Gong, martial artist, modern dance, street dance, and ballet—transforming ancient aesthetics into a thrilling celebration of motion.

Cloud Gate shares 13 Tongues by artistic director CHENG Tsung-lung, a work based on Bangka/Wanhua, the oldest district of Taipei, and legendary 1960s street artist “Thirteen Tongues”. Through imagination and storytelling recalling childhood memories and visual art, 13 Tongues evokes centuries of human endeavor, behavior, and belief.

The performance will be held at the Byham Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map). Group tickets are available for purchase now, but individual tickets will go on sale today, August 16.

RIIZE Fan-Con Tour 'RIIZING DAY' Finale in Cinemas in Pittsburgh, September 13.

The concert film RIIZE Fan-Con Tour 'RIIZING DAY' Finale in Cinemas will play in Pittsburgh on September 13.

The grand finale of K-pop boy band RIIZE's first world fan-concert tour, 2024 RIIZE FAN-CON 'RIIZING DAY' FINALE in SEOUL, will be broadcast live in cinemas! After touring through Seoul, Tokyo, Mexico City, L.A., Hong Kong, Taipei, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, and Jakarta in 2024, the first day of the FINALE in SEOUL will be presented live in cinemas across selected territories worldwide. Experience the magic of the 2024 RIIZE FAN-CON TOUR ‘RIIZING DAY’ FINALE IN CINEMA, featuring spectacular performances, including celebrated hits from their first mini album, RIIZING. On September 13th, BRIIZE can celebrate this unforgettable night together in cinemas. Don't miss out on the global celebration of RIIZE's 'RIIZING DAY' tour finale in Seoul on the big screen!

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

DAN DA DAN: First Encounter announced for additional Pittsburgh theaters, from September 13.

The new Japanese animated movie DAN DA DAN: First Encounter will play several Pittsburgh-area theaters from September 13. It was already announced for the Row House Lawerenceville's Anime Classics series. A synopsis, from the distributor:

DAN DA DAN follows Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult freak. The two of them start talking after Momo rescues Okarun from getting bullied. However, an argument ensues between them – Momo believes in ghosts but denies aliens, and Okarun believes in aliens but denies ghosts. To make the mutual deniers believe in each other, Momo goes to an abandoned hospital known for its UFO sightings, and Okarun goes to a tunnel that is said to be haunted. In each place, they encounter overwhelming paranormal activity that transcends comprehension. Amid these predicaments, Momo awakens her hidden power and Okarun gains the power of a curse to challenge the paranormal forces! Their fateful love begins as well!?

The story of the occult battle and adolescence starts!

Based on the popular manga by Yukinobu Tatsu, DAN DA DAN is an electrifying, action-packed love letter to sci-fi and horror with the heart of a ruthlessly funny teen rom-com. The directorial debut from Fuga Yamashiro is the latest series from cutting-edge animation studio Science SARU (The Colors Within, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off) with pulse-pounding original music from kensuke ushio (Chainsaw Man).

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

Korean singer Babylon (베이빌론) in Pittsburgh, October 20.

Korean R&B singer Babylon (베이빌론) will perform in Pittsburgh on October 20.

Babylon is a distinguished R&B musician known for his unique and classic vocal style, which has left an indelible mark on the music scene. Rising to prominence with his collaboration with Zico on "Boys and Girls," which dominated the annual charts, Babylon has since established himself as a significant force in the hip-hop and R&B genres. Each of his albums features a stellar lineup of collaborations, earning him the moniker "musician's musician."

With a career marked by innovation and excellence, Babylon recently garnered acclaim for his contemporary album EGO 90’S, which brings the essence of 90s music into the modern era. This album further solidified his reputation for musicality and artistry.

He performs at the Greer Cabaret Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets for the 7:30 pm show are available online. VIP Meet & Greet add-on passes are available as well.

Concert film Seventeen Tour "Follow" Again to Cinemas in Pittsburgh, from August 21.

The Korean concert film Seventeen Tour "Follow" Again to Cinemas will play in Pittsburgh from August 21 through 25.

“It feels like we’ve been working hard for this day.” Rewriting history every step of their way, SEVENTEEN’s first Seoul World Cup Stadium concert and encore tour [SEVENTEEN TOUR ‘FOLLOW’ AGAIN TO SEOUL] is coming to big screens worldwide this August! From the eagerly awaited full thirteen-member performances to the premiere of “MAESTRO” and unique unit performances of “Spell”, “LALALI”, “Cheers to youth”, the film captures these unforgettable moments with cinematic cameras from multiple angles, ensuring an immersive experience. This concert film begins with a powerful daylight performance that transitions into an event brimming with a diverse array of music. Culminating under a night sky illuminated by CARAT light sticks, it captures the essence of SEVENTEEN’s record-breaking nine-year legacy.

It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

芸［Gei] : The Beauty of Ephemeral and Eternal, September 13 - January 18 at Contemporary Craft.

Contemporary Craft will host the exhibition 芸［Gei] : The Beauty of Ephemeral and Eternal from September 13, 2024 through January 18, 2025, featuring a host of Japanese and Japanese-American artists and performers.

芸［Gei]: The Beauty of Ephemeral and Eternal invites viewers to explore the captivating duality of Japanese Sogetsu Ikebana and craft, highlighting the profound cultural connections woven through these art forms. Ikebana (生け花, living flowers), the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, captures the fleeting beauty of nature. Conversely, we celebrate the eternal through masterful craft objects. These objects embody enduring skill and meticulous attention to detail. From exquisite ceramics to intricate metal and wood sculptures, these crafts echo with the wisdom and patience of their makers, preserving techniques practiced over generations while celebrating individuality and collaboration.

 

Featured artists Tadao Arimoto, Yoko Sekino-Bové, Carol Kumata, and Miwa Neishi engage in dialogue with Sogetsu Pittsburgh, led by Reiko Nakajima and Atsumi Sewell. Embracing the notion of living sculpture in Sogetsu Ikebana, this juxtaposition prompts contemplation of time, materiality, processes, culture, and heritage. Ikebana celebrates simplicity and imperfection, while traditional crafts speak of a lineage committed to perfection and continuity, enriching our understanding of tradition and innovation.

 

芸［Gei] uncovers connective networks bridging natural forces with disciplined artistry. Through a community of hands and dedicated practice, these mycelial connections energize a diverse spectrum of artistic spirits. Join us in contemplating the harmony between impermanence and eternity, where fleeting blossoms and timeless crafts weave a narrative of Japan’s rich cultural tapestry—connecting past, present, and future.

Special events include:

• Opening Reception - Friday, September 13, 5:30 - 8:00 pm. Free and open to the public.
• Artist-Led Guided Tour - Saturday, September 14, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm. Free, though registration is required.
• Sogetsu Ikebana: Fundamentals & Techniques with Sogetsu Pittsburgh - Saturday, October 5, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.
• 茶道 [Japanese Tea Ceremony] – A Talk and Demonstration by Yoko Motoyama - Saturday, October 19, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm. Free, though registration is required.
• Sogetsu Ikebana: Freestyle & Form with Sogetsu Pittsburgh - Saturday, November 9, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.
• Guided Tour – 芸 [Gei]: The Beauty of Ephemeral and Eternal - Saturday, January 18, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm. Free, though registration is required.

Contemporary Craft is a gallery and creative space that broadly states its mission as "To engage the public in creative experiences through contemporary craft.." It is located at 5645 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).

Thai Tamarind in Glenshaw holding soft opening Thursday, August 15.

Thai Tamarind is soft opening its second location on Thursday, August 15, located at 2909 Mt. Royal Blvd. (map) in Glenshaw, in a building previously Le Thai Cafe. The original Thai Tamarind opened in Bellevue in August 2015. The new spot's soft opening will start at 4:00 pm.

Four Japanese animated films comprise Anime Classics series at Row House Lawrenceville, from September 13.

Ghost in the Shell (GHOST IN THE SHELL/攻殻機動隊), Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン劇場版 Air/まごころを、君に), Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (カウボーイビバップ 天国の扉), and 2024's DAN DA DAN: First Encounter will comprise the Anime Classics series at Row House Lawrenceville, from September 13. Tickets are available online; please note that not all films play all days. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

1993 Japanese animated movie Ninja Scroll (獣兵衛忍風帖) in Pittsburgh, from September 11.

he 1993 Japanese animated movie Ninja Scroll (獣兵衛忍風帖) will play in Pittsburgh on September 11, 12, and 15 as part of the distributor's celebration of the 30th anniversary of the film.

Anime Expo Cinema Nights Presents the classic anime Ninja Scroll’s 30th Anniversary with an all-new exclusive interview with director Yoshiaki Kawajiri. A mysterious vagabond sets out on a journey to confront his past. Little does he know he is up against a demonic force of killers, with a ghost from his past as the leader.

Tickets are available online. The September 11 and 15 shows are in Japanese with English subtitles while the September 12 shows are dubbed in English.

Miniso coming soon to South Hills Village Mall.

Chinese chain Miniso, "a Japanese-inspired lifestyle product retailer offering high-quality household goods, cosmetics, and food at affordable prices," is coming soon to South Hills Village Mall. The international chain arrived to western Pennsylvania in June with is Greensburg location, and is aiming to open in this suburban Pittsburgh mall in the fall.

MINISO is based on three core principles. Affordable high quality: guides our decisions from design to materials. Joy: the response our customers experience while in our stores. Lighthearted: the relaxed and happy feeling when encountering the large variety of goods available.
MINISO has collaborated with world-famous brands including Coca Cola, Marvel, Hello Kitty, Sesame Street, Mickey and Minnie, Pink Panther, We Bare Bears and Beijing’s Palace Museum, releasing playful crossover products that have been hugely popular with our young shoppers.

Miniso has been described as a "Japanese Hot Topic" or a "Chinese Five Below" and seems to specialize in kawaii products, plushies, Japanese snacks, and various Disney and Sanrio branded products, as well as other Asian products.

via miniso-us.com

2024 film Didi (弟弟) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) August 22.

The 2024 film Didi (弟弟), which opened in Pittsburgh on August 8, will remain here through at least August 22.

In 2008, during the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love your mom.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and select dates at the Manor Theater in Squirrel Hill, and tickets are available online.

"Stories that Reflect and Heal: Young Women’s Suicide and Care in South Korea," October 10 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Humanities Center will host Department of Anthropology PhD candidate Jung-eun Kwon and her talk "Stories that Reflect and Heal: Young Women’s Suicide and Care in South Korea" on October 10.

Hosted by the Humanities Center and graduate fellow, Jung Eun Kwon. Respondents include Olivia Bloech from the Department of Music and Chikako Ozawa-De Silva, Professor of Japanese Studies and Anthropology at Emory University. This event will be hybrid, so you can attend it either in person in 602 CL or via Zoom as you prefer.

Jung Eun Kwon’s research examines the stories and lived experiences of suicidality among young women in South Korea, encompassing suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts. She focuses on their narratives and care practices to explore how these stories both reflect sociocultural factors contributing to their distress and serve as tools of care. Based on these stories, Kwon suggests that the women encountered constant exposure to patriarchal relationships and normative ideologies, which led to the production and internalization of self-hatred. As a form of care, they engaged in various modes of writing, such as journaling and creating fictional narratives, to envision alternative futures.

The event is held in 602 Cathedral of Learning from 12:30 to 2:30 pm; the Zoom link is here for those interested in attending remotely.

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck coming to Ross Park Mall, September 28.

via @HellyKittyCafeTruck

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will return to Ross Park Mall on September 28.

Hello Pittsburgh! The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is returning to Ross Park Mall on Saturday 9/28! Come say hello to us between the Cheesecake Factory and LL Bean from 10am-7pm, and pick up some supercute treats & merch, while supplies last! See you there!

More information about the truck and its tours available via Sanrio. Ross Park Mall is located in Ross Township in the North Hills, just off McKnight Road (map).

2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once returns to Pittsburgh for A24 x IMAX presentation, August 28.

The 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once will play in Pittsburgh on August 28.

When an interdimensional rupture unravels reality, an unlikely hero must channel her newfound powers to fight bizarre and bewildering dangers from the multiverse as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Winner of 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture, experience all universes at once in IMAX.

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

Pepper Space coming soon to Oakland, replacing Orient Express.

Signage is up for Pepper Space, coming soon to Oakland in the spot long occupied by Orient Express. Orient Express, near the intersection of S. Craig St. and Forbes Ave., closed in May after 19 years of business. Though menu information is not yet available, if the logo is any preview it looks to promise some of the spicy Chinese cuisine that has grown in popularity in parts of Oakland and neighboring Squirrel Hill over the last decade. Pepper Space will be located at 4609 Forbes Ave. (map).

Japanese films Paprika (パプリカ), Dreams (夢) at Row House Lawrenceville from August 9.

Two Japanese films, 2006's Paprika (パプリカ) and the 1990 Akira Kurosawa movie Dreams (夢), will help comprise the Row House Dream Journal film series from August 9. The animated film Paprika runs from August 9 through 15:

Satoshi Kon’s anime thriller stars a young dream detective named Paprika, who must stop terrorists from using a stolen machine that allows therapists to enter their patients' dreams. The reality and dreams blur, and chaos breaks out in a not-so-far-off future.

Dreams plays the 10th and the 12th through the 15th:

Enter the dreams of Japan’s greatest directors in this deeply personal work. He explores the cost of war, the perils of nuclear power, and humankind’s need to harmonize with nature over the course of eight episodes rich in imagery and insight.

Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

Pho51 Cafe opens in Brentwood, another Vietnamese restaurant from team behind Saigon88 Express, Pho Saigon Cafe, and Pho Kim 88.

Pho51 Cafe opened last month in Brentwood in the South Hills. The restaurant, which has been in the works since last fall, features pho, bunbohue, spring rolls, and bobble tea, with an assortment of other Asian dishes and appetizers. It is run by the same ownership of Saigon88 Express in Robinson and Pho Saigon Cafe in Bethel Park, both of which have opened in the last five years, and Castle Shannon's Pho Kim 88, which opened in 2006.

Oakland's TW Kitchen to close; a second Norheastern Kitchen to take its spot.

TW Kitchen, a Taiwanese (primarily) take-out restaurant, announced on social media last night that it will close, its owners set to enjoy retirement. TW Kitchen opened in March 2019 on North Craig St. in North Oakland. It will be replaced by another spot called Northeastern Kitchen, which already operates a is independent from the spot in Squirrel Hill with the same name. Here is the announcement, from their Facebook:

【中文版在下面】

Dearest customers,

After 5 years of business, we are regretfully announcing the closure of TW Kitchen. We have been running restaurants in Pittsburgh for nearly 30 years now, and after these many years of hard work, we are looking forward to the calm of retirement. It has been a great pleasure to serve the residents of Oakland our authentic Taiwanese food, and we humbly thank all of you for your patronage.

A new restaurant, Northeastern Kitchen, will be coming soon later this month, specializing in dishes and dumplings from Northeastern China! Please give them your love and support. If you purchased a prepaid card from us, you can continue to use it at Northeastern Kitchen!

With deep appreciation,
Stephen and Jenny Chow

親愛的顧客，

經過這5年的營業，我們台味厨坊已於7月31日結束營業。我們總共在匹兹堡經營餐館接近30年，經過這些年的辛苦工作，我們決定退休過平靜的日子。非常榮幸這些年服務奧克蘭地區所有喜愛台灣料理的顧客們。非常感謝各位的支持與惠顧。

接下來【東北厨房】將繼續在這個地點服務各位，他們專精中國東北菜色，包括水餃，包子等等，請繼續給與他們支持。如果你有買我們的預付卡，也可在【東北厨房】繼續使用！

非常感謝各位，
Stephen and Jenny Chow