Tuesday, June 18, 2024

2024 Hong Kong film Crisis Negotiators (談判專家) in Pittsburgh from June 21.


The 2024 Hong Kong film Crisis Negotiators (談判專家), starring Sean Lau and Francis Ng, will play in Pittsburgh from June 21.
Senior Negotiator Cheuk Man Wai accidentally becomes the number one suspect in a murder case. He is forced to occupy the police station and take the police hostage. He also appoints former negotiator Tse Ka Chun to talk to him.
It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

2024 Japanese animated film Haikyu! The Dumpster Battle (劇場版ハイキュー!! ゴミ捨て場の決戦) continues in Pittsburgh for two more days, June 21 and 22.


The 2024 Japanese animated film Haikyu! The Dumpster Battle (劇場版ハイキュー!! ゴミ捨て場の決戦) will continue here through June 19 and for two additional days, June 21 and 22.
Shoyo Hinata joins Karasuno High's volleyball club to be like his idol, a former Karasuno player known as the "Little Giant." But, Hinata soon finds that he must team up with his middle school nemesis, Tobio Kageyama. Their clashing styles turn into a surprising weapon, but can they beat their rival Nekoma High in the highly anticipated "Dumpster Battle," the long awaited ultimate showdown between two opposing underdog teams?
It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online; please note, some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Monday, June 17, 2024

Pittsburgh Kyūsha and Senpai Party present Japanese Car and Cosplay Night, June 22 (and July 20, August 24) at Voodoo Brewing West Pike.


Pittsburgh Kyūsha and Senpai Party will present Japanese Car and Cosplay Night on June 20 at Voodoo Brewing in Houston, PA (between Pittsburgh and Washington, PA) from 6:00 to 10:00 pm.
No matter what side of the car you drive on or what make you love, come show off your rides, feel free to wear your favorite cosplay, and join us!

June 22nd, July 20th, and August 24th 6pm-10PM

As always, please be respectful of our gracious hosts and their lot. See you there!
Additional Japanese Car and Cosplay Night events will be held on July 20 and August 24. Voodoo Brewing West Pike is located at 23 W. Pike St. in Houston (map).

Friday, June 14, 2024

Taiwanese bubble tea chain Gong cha's first Pittsburgh location to open June 15.


Pittsburgh's first Gong cha is set to open on the South Side on June 15. It will be located at 1303 E. Carson St. (map). Its official site tells the story of the chain, which has locations around the world:
Founded in 2006 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Gong Cha, which translates to “tribute tea for the emperor” opened its doors to the bubble tea market. Gong cha’s success in Taiwan launched our stores all over the globe with customers loving our premium quality tea, products & services:
  • Fresh Tea brewed throughout the day 
  • Pearls (bubbles) freshly prepared to perfection continuously through the day 
  • Tea sourced from the finest tea estates in Taiwan 
  • Strict quality controls for all ingredients 
Gong cha is known across the world for its signature Milk Foam. Its creamy, sweet and savory flavor balance and whipped texture make it the perfect complement to our freshly brewed teas. Our delicious milk foam is hand-crafted for each customer and made from the freshest milk and highest quality, signature ingredients.
There are obviously dozens upon dozens of bubble tea places around Pittsburgh, but recently these have started to include national and international chains like Tsaocaa, Wushiland, Tiger Sugar, Chatime (since rebranded), and now Gong cha.

Registration for Yanlai Dance Academy Chinese Culture Summer Camp in August.


Registration is open for the Yanlai Dance Academy Chinese Culture Summer Camp which will run two sessions on August 12 - 16 and August 19 - 21.
Partnering with Pittsburgh Academy of Chinese culture and Language, this camp included traditional Chinese folk dance, Chinese paper arts and crafts, and other cultural activities.
The cost is $250 for the first week or $150 for the shorter second session. Those interested should contact PACCL.edu [at] gmail.com.

Yanlai Dance Academy is a dance school in the North Hills specializing in traditional and contemporary Chinese dances for all ages, as well hosting as Kpop sessions and adult dance troupes. It is located at 2260 Babcock Blvd. (map).

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

2024 Japanese animated film Haikyu! The Dumpster Battle (劇場版ハイキュー!! ゴミ捨て場の決戦) continues in Pittsburgh through June 19.


The 2024 Japanese animated film Haikyu! The Dumpster Battle (劇場版ハイキュー!! ゴミ捨て場の決戦) will continue here through at least June 19.
Shoyo Hinata joins Karasuno High's volleyball club to be like his idol, a former Karasuno player known as the "Little Giant." But, Hinata soon finds that he must team up with his middle school nemesis, Tobio Kageyama. Their clashing styles turn into a surprising weapon, but can they beat their rival Nekoma High in the highly anticipated "Dumpster Battle," the long awaited ultimate showdown between two opposing underdog teams?
It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and, through the 12th only, at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online; please note, some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Many More Asian Market to have limited soft opening at its new location, June 15.

Many More Asian Market announced this afternoon that it will have a limited soft opening at its new location on Saturday, June 15.
Guess what??? bad news… Our refrigeration line exploded!!! 😂 but thankfully, it happened outside and no one was hurt. We'll have to redo the entire process, meaning no cooler/frozen items can be added, and the food court will remain closed...also more bad news… someone took down the new cherry blossom tree we just planted!! (What did our baby tree ever done to deserve this ? They are so small and just started to meet this world…😭 )
Despite this and that, some good news!! we're still excited to announce our soft opening this Saturday at our new, bigger, and better location! It is not what we are hoping for, not 100% ready, but we still are excited to just be able to open the door and see you guys! lots of items to buy and check out! So comeeeeeee~~~ 😆 We are hoping to have our grand opening next month, complete with lion dance and an opening ceremony! Woo! Thank you!! See you guys!
New location:
2767 liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh , Pa 15222
Date:
Saturday, June 15, 2024

The new location has been beset by challenges since plans were first announced back in October 2022, troubles that delays and theft of equipment and appliances. The new location remains one of the most anticipated openings due to its expanded footprint and its food court, as it will the first large Asian grocery in the Pittsburgh area to incorporate one.

Monday, June 10, 2024

Miniso opens store in Greensburg's Westmoreland Mall.

Chinese retailer Miniso opened a store on June 1 somewhat locally in Greensburg's Westmoreland Mall. It is part of a US expansion that includes 13 new stores around the country in 2024. As to why it opened in Greensburg ahead of Pittsburgh, the reason may be due to agreements with CBL Properties, which manages scores of indoor and outdoor malls around the country, with the nearest being in Monroeville.
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.

Newest big plans for the Kbox site.


For almost as long as Kbox has been in operation as an Asian karaoke place in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood there have been plans to redevelop the site. Recently, the latest designs under review have called for replacement of its wood building with a two-story structure and a rehabilitation of the formerly residential structure behind it into apartment bulidings. Mike Wu, whose family owns a number of restaurants in the area and who is leading the redevelopment, said during a meeting this spring that the restaurant will play with three concepts, including an Asian restaurant and possibly a bakery. No further details were made available, though Wu reiterated that the space will not be occupied by chain restaurants, which would be a welcome development for the neighborhood.

A business formerly in Wu's portfolio is Pink Box Bakery, and the earliest plans for redevelopment 10 years ago involved a Pink Box that would be four times the size of the Squirrel Hill location. The first logos of Pink Box, which opened in Squirrel Hill in 2014, featured addresses for both Oakland and Squirrel Hill. The idea was to open the second location in late-2014 or 2015, but this never came to pass.

The next concept came in 2019, when Wu and Fisher ARCHitecture imagined a five-story structure replacing both buildings. More information about the design is available from Fisher ARCHitecture.

The project will be discussed at a Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on June 13. Those interested in learning more about the project, including a video walkthrough of the proposal and architectural designs for the space, can do so online via the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation.

Sunday, June 9, 2024

2024 Japanese animated film Blue Lock: Episode Nagi (劇場版ブルーロック -EPISODE 凪) in Pittsburgh, from June 27.


The 2024 Japanese animated film Blue Lock: Episode Nagi (劇場版ブルーロック -EPISODE 凪) will play in Pittsburgh from June 27.
"That's a hassle." That was second-year high schooler Nagi Seishiro's favorite phrase as he lived his dull life. Until Mikage Reo, a classmate who dreamed of winning the World Cup, discovered Nagi's hidden skill, inspiring him to play soccer and share his outstanding talent. One day, he receives an invitation to the mysterious BLUE LOCK Project. What awaits him there is an encounter with the finest strikers assembled from across the country. Nagi's dream of becoming the best, alongside Reo, will take this prodigy to a world he's never known. A prodigy can only be shaped when someone discovers him... now, striker Nagi Seishiro's incredible talent and persona will set the soccer world ablaze.
The movie is the 13th-highest grossing film this year in Japan, where it was released in April. It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

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