Bad Activist: Story, Song, and Spectacle with the "Vietnamese Lady Gaga" at Pittsburgh Humanities Festival, March 25.

The Pittsburgh Humanities Festival announced its line-up today and will feature "Bad Activist: Story, Song, and Spectacle with the 'Vietnamese Lady Gaga'" on March 25.

Bad Activist is a multimedia musical performance dramatizing the true story of singer-songwriter/activist Mai Khoi (dubbed “the Vietnamese Lady Gaga”) and her journey from pop stardom to purpose. Performed by Khoi herself, it incorporates storytelling, live video, archival footage, and original animation in a bold evocation of her past, present and future hopes.

Work progresses on new Many More Asian Market location in Strip District.

Work continues on the new location for Many More Asian Market at 2767 Liberty Ave (map), into first-floor warehouse space measuring over 24,000 square feet. It was announced last fall that it will move to a new location a few blocks southwest from its current spot at 3050 Smallman St. near the border of Lawrenceville and the Strip District (map). The store says the plan to open at the new location in the summer, and information about the project is available from the City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning, where the floroplan and lot design plans are detailed.
The proposed floorplan of the new site is below. The entrance and exit will be on 28th street. The lot will also feature on-site automobile and bicycle parking:

Many More Asian Market opened in October 2013. It will be one of several Asian groceries to move to bigger spaces lately: Oriental Market in the North Hills moved to a larger space on McKnight Road in March 2021, and Panda Supermarket in Squirrel Hill moved a few storefronts down to a two-story space in September 2021.

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center 2023 Summer Intensive Program for kids' fitness, culture, and language training, now accepting applications; $30 discount with registration by May 31.

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center in Squirrel Hill is now accepting registration for its 2023 Summer Intensive Program, with a $30 discount on weekly tuition for registrations made by May 31.

Benefits of Win-Win Kung Fu Summer Intensive Program

Major

• Learn Kung Fu, free style Chinese kickboxing (sanda) and other forms of Chinese martial arts and Chinese language daily, with strong emphasis on the basics.

• Focus greatly on exercise and conditioning and gain skills needed for other sports and activities as well.

• Improve your concentration and focus with authentic Chinese martial arts training.

• Boot camp for beginners

• Intensive training for intermediate and advanced Wushu as well as a boot camp for beginners.

The 98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine soft opening today, January 29.

The 98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine is holding its soft open today in Fox Chapel. Run by the owner of Took Took 98 in Squirrel Hill, it's located at 1034 Freeport Rd. (map), until recently home of one of three Thai Place locations around the city. Banners went up for the restaurant in September.

2022 documentary Free Chol Soo Lee, followed by virtual discussion with directors, February 9.

The 2022 documentary Free Chol Soo Lee will play in Pittsburgh on February 9.

FREE CHOL SOO LEE tells the story of a Korean American death row inmate convicted of a 1973 Chinatown gangland murder in San Francisco, and the activists who led a pan-Asian American movement to free him. Spanning the late 1970s to the early ’80s, this movement would for the first time bring together young, third-generation Asian American activists, many of them politically radical, with older, conservative Korean immigrants. Their unlikely victory, with Lee walking into freedom in 1983 after 10 years in prison, would inspire many young supporters to pursue careers dedicated to social justice. The screening will be followed by a (virtual) discussion with directors Julie Ha and Eugene Yi and an in-person discussion with 1Hood Media.

It played here last August, and returns now at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map). Tickets are available online.

Pirates welcome new pitching prospect Shim Jun-seok (심준석) to Pittsburgh.

18-year-old pitching prospect Shim Jun-seok (심준석), who the Pirates signed earlier this month out of Duk-soo High School, arrived in Pittsburgh for a introductory press conference and photoshoot yesterday.

2022 Japanese animated movie Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of Deep Night (劇場版 ソードアート・オンライン -プログレッシブ- 冥き夕闇のスケルツォ) in Pittsburgh from February 3.

The 2022 Japanese animated movie Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of Deep Night (劇場版 ソードアート・オンライン -プログレッシブ- 冥き夕闇のスケルツォ) will play in Pittsburgh from February 3. A synopsis, from the distributor, on the next film installment in the series based on a manga:

This may be a game, but it’s not something you play. The world’s first VRMMORPG (Sword Art Online) became a game of death. Over a month has passed since 10,000 users were trapped inside the game world. Asuna, who cleared the first floor of the floating iron castle of Aincrad, joined up with Kirito and continued her journey to reach the top floor. With the support of female Information Broker Argo, clearing the floors seemed to be progressing smoothly, but… Conflict erupts between two major guilds who should be working together – the top player groups ALS (the Aincrad Liberation Squad) and DKB (the Dragon Knights Brigade). And meanwhile, behind the scenes exists a mysterious figure pulling the strings…. In a dangerous battle of death, there is an assault that differs from the threat, and it will involve Asuna and Kirito…!

It plays locally on February 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9 at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless and Monroeville and tickets are available online.

Alash Ensemble Tuvan Throat Singers in Shadyside, February 3.

The Alash Ensemble Tuvan Throat Singers will perform in Pittsburgh again on February 3.

Alash are masters of Tuvan throat singing (xöömei), a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. What distinguishes this gifted trio from earlier generations of Tuvan throat singers is the subtle infusion of modern influences into their traditional music. One can find complex harmonies, western instruments, and contemporary song forms in Alash’s music, but its overall sound and spirit remain decidedly Tuvan.

The performance will be at First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh in Shadyside (map) from 7:30 pm (doors open at 7). Tickets are available at the door for $30 or for $25 in advance at Jerry's Records in Squirrel Hill or Government Center Records on the North Side. (The ensemble's official site points to an online ticket seller, but the poster says they are no longer using Brown Paper Tickets.)

Everything Everywhere All at Once back in Pittsburgh-area theaters, from January 27.

The 2022 Daniel Kwan movie Everything Everywhere All at Once, nominated for 11 Oscars this year, will return to Pittsburgh-area theaters from January 27.

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as Daniels, the film is a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese American woman (Michelle Yeoh) who can't seem to finish her taxes.

It will play locally at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monaca, Monroeville, and Robinson, and the Chartiers Valley Luxury 14, and tickets are available online.

2023 Chinese film The Wandering Earth 2 (流浪地球2) in Pittsburgh, from January 25.

The 2023 Chinese film The Wandering Earth 2 (流浪地球2) plays in Pittsburgh from January 25. A synopsis, from the distributor:

The much-anticipated prequel to 2019 sci-fi blockbuster THE WANDERING EARTH—the #5 highest-grossing non-English film of all-time—lands in North American theaters just in time for Chinese New Year.

In the near future, after learning that the sun is rapidly burning out and will obliterate Earth in the process, humans build enormous engines to propel the planet to a new solar system, far out of reach of the sun’s fiery flares. However, the journey out into the universe is perilous, and humankind’s last shot at survival will depend on a group of young people brave enough to step up and execute a dangerous, life-or-death operation to save the earth.

The movie was the highest-grossing film in China during the Lunar New Year holiday this month. It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Monroeville, and tickets are available online.