Kyo Matcha and Meetcha soft opening in Squirrel Hill today, holding Grand Opening on July 27 and 28.

Dessert spots Kyo Matcha and Meetcha are holding a soft opening in Squirrel Hill today followed by a Grand Opening this weekend. They'll be located at 5864 Forbes Ave. (map) in the former Footers Cleaners spot where signage first went up in October. Kyo Matcha, according to its official site,

is an international chain of Matcha desserts dedicated to creating top-quality raw materials. Due to the influence of the Japanese-style matcha culture, the Kyoto Matcha is based on the brand mission of “Let the Tea Return to the Forest”, rooted in the traditional Japanese tea culture and dedicated to the promotion of Matcha culture.

Meetcha is a bubble tea place. This is the latest in a recent batch of Asian dessert openings in Squirrel Hill, following Meccha Matcha, Mango Mango, and Tiger Sugar.

Concert film Blackpink World Tour (Born Pink) in Cinemas in Pittsburgh, from July 31.

The new Blackpink concert film Black Pink World Tour (Born Pink) in Theaters will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from July 31.

BLACKPINK’s BORN PINK tour that captivated the world comes to the big screen, celebrating the group’s 8th anniversary since their debut! Drawing an audience of 1.8 million and breaking global records for female group concert tours, experience the energy of the live performances in cinemas worldwide! Featuring the iconic ‘Hanok’ set that has mesmerized fans and press worldwide, the film shows unprecedented production scale, presenting exclusively arranged versions of BLACKPINK’s hit songs unique to this concert and encompassing performances from Seoul’s Gocheok Dome alongside footage from further cities across the global tour. Join us for all the exhilarating moments, premiering in over 110 countries, marking a first for a K-POP female group.

It will play locally in the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemarks in Monroeville, McCandless, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

University of Pittsburgh's Japanese Nationality Room turns 25 today.

The Japanese Nationality Room in the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning was dedicated on July 25, 1999. Located in room 317 on the Cathedral's third floor, the room is modeled after a traditional 18th-century minka. Wikipedia provides a good overview of the room's interior---which was largely built in Japan, disassembled, and rebuilt in Pittsburgh---while the 24-page program from the dedication ceremony, scanned and preserved by the university's Documenting Pitt archive, covers the ceremony as well as information on the budget, donors, and other contributors. At the time, it says, the total expenditure was $507,047.64, roughly 80% being building and building-related expenses.

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.

“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 is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Mongolian folk metal band The Hu returns to Pittsburgh, November 8, opening for Iron Maiden.

Mongolian folk metal band The Hu will return to Pittsburgh on November 8. The Hu opens for Iron Maiden, and tickets for the 7:30 pm show at PPG Paints Arena (map) are available online. A self-description, from their official site:

In 2019, an NPR story put a spotlight on “a band from Mongolia that blends the screaming guitars of heavy metal and traditional Mongolian guttural singing,” accurately highlighting the cultural importance and unique musical identity of THE HU. Founded in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, THE HU, Gala, Jaya, Temka, and Enkush, are a modern rock group rooted in the tradition of their homeland. The band’s two most popular videos, “Yuve Yuve” and “Wolf Totem,” were produced by the band’s producer Dashka. The band’s name translates to the Mongolian root word for human being, and their unique approach blends instruments like the Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle), Tovshuur (Mongolian guitar), Tumur Khuur (jaw harp) and throat singing withcontemporary sounds, creating a unique sonic profile that they call “Hunnu Rock.”

The Hu were last in Pittsburgh in September 2021.

Interactive "Summer in Japan, with Guest Speakers from the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania" informational event for kids and families, July 23 at Monroeville Public Library.

The Monroeville Public Library will host "Summer in Japan" on July 23.

Join us for an evening where Setsuko Hayes, the Operation Manager of the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania, will share information and hands-on activities about Kimonos, Yukata, and Happi and other experiences during the summer months in Japan! Children will have the opportunity to take turns to be dressed, and will be allowed to take photographs! Registration Required.

The event runs from 5:30 to 6:30, and registration can be completed online. The library is located at 4000 Gateway Campus in Monroeville (map).

Hana Vu with special guest Babebee in Pittsburgh, July 27.

Singer-songwriters Hana Vu and Babebee will perform in Pittsburgh on July 27. Doors open for the 21+ show at Club Cafe in the South Side (map) at 7:00 pm, show starts at 8:00 pm. Tickets are available online.

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).

Work progresses on KYURAMEN, TBaar, both coming soon to Pittsburgh.

Work is progressing on national ramen chain KYURAMEN and national bubble tea chain TBaar, both coming soon to East Liberty. KYURAMEN was announced last July for Eastside Bond in East Liberty. TBaar was not announced, though signage went up recently in the spot next door and on the signposts. In response to an inquiry, KYURAMEN ownership indicated a potential September opening.


The Eastside Bond building welcomed Tous Les Jour, the international Korean bakery, in March, the first of the huge Korean chains to open in Pittsburgh.

Kpop group Loossemble (루셈블) in Pittsburgh, October 14.

The Korean girl group Loossemble will perform in Pittsburgh on October 14, part of a nine-city US tour this fall. Tickets for the show at Roxian Theatre go on sale July 18 at 12:00 pm. The five-member group debuted in September 2023 but missed Pittsburgh on their inaugural eight-city tour last year.

Screening of 1959 film Floating Weeds (浮草) in Pittsburgh, July 19.

Grapow Asian Street Food opening July 17.

Grapow Asian Street Food will be opening in Oakland on July 17. Signage first went up in early June at 411 S. Craig St. (map) in what was briefly and most recently the neighborhood's second Chick'n. It will be open 11 am to 9 pm. Grapow is the name of a Thai street food dish, and sneak peeks at the menu are available on the restaurant's Instagram.

Annual "Ihaw-Ihaw at Halo-Halo and Fundraiser" with Philippine-American Performing Arts of Greater Pittsburgh, August 11.

The Philippine-American Performing Arts of Greater Pittsburgh will hold its annual "Ihaw-Ihaw at Halo-Halo and Fundraiser" on August 11 in North Park.

Sample Filipino homemade meal for only $10 each! Come and eat with your family and friends (and grab sweet desserts from our bake sale)!

It runs 12:00 to 8:00 pm at the Rose Barn in North Park (map).

Three-day "Crash Course in Chinese Medicine," July 19-21 in Oakland.

Source Pittsburgh will hold a three-day "Crash Course in Chinese Medicine" from July 19 through 21.

Learn Chinese Medicine in three days! Spend the weekend learning the theory and practice of Chinese medicine with this interactive course. If you're a novice with no prior knowledge or a veteran who want to brush up on your knowledge, this course will expand your insights and understanding of a traditional healing art.

The Introduction session on the 19th runs from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, while Diagnosis and Treatment Strategies on the 20th and 21st, respectively, run 2:00 to 6:00 pm. Registration can be completed online. Source Pittsburgh is located at 460 Melwood Avenue, Suite 211 in Oakland (map).

Itamae Thai & Sushi Bar now open in Mt. Lebanon.

Itamae Thai & Sushi Bar has recently opened in Mt. Lebanon, holding its Grand Opening on July 5. Mt. Lebanon Magazine profiled the restaurant on May 10 when it was still in the works:

Hungry for sushi? A new restaurant called Itamae is coming soon to 193 Castle Shannon Boulevard, replacing Yum Yum Asian Cuisine, which closed in February.

Itamae is Japanese for chef, or someone who works behind a cutting board. The new concept will be Thai and sushi. The decor will be Asian/Japanese.

Indonesian-born Vick Oktavian and his wife, Katie Kaewwangworn, are self-proclaimed foodies with years of culinary experience. “We love checking out different restaurants and trying different cuisine. We are firm believers that in order to make good food, we must train our taste buds by eating good food,” said Oktavian.

It is located at 193 Castle Shannon Blvd. (map).

Oakland's KBox, the area's first Asian karaoke spot, closes permanently.

Signage has gone up on the door of KBox, the area's first Asian karoke spot, announcing its permanent closure. Ownership posted on social media on May 3 that it would close soon after plans to redevelop the S. Craig St. spot had moved forward.


KBox opened September 16, 2012 in Oakland, hoping to appeal to the Asian students and KTV enthusiasts at Pitt and Carnegie Mellon. It was the first dedicated Asian singing room business in the area, where previously the only option was to rent a private room in a restaurant. The buliding was long in disrepair, though, and not only did it always appear closed from the outside, but the developer stated during the June Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting that it had been vacant for several years; that is not quite true, but the state of the landscaping, steps, windows, and exteriors would give that impression. As PennsylvAsia detailed in a June 2024 post, the site has been the topic of redevelopment plans for nearly as long as KBox was open: first as the home of a new, larger Pink Box Bakery; then, as the site of a five-story apartment building; finally, as the future home of a two-story restaurant once demolition and reconstruction is complete.

Seven Samurai (七人の侍) w. Sake Tasting, July 14 at Row House Lawrenceville.

The 1954 Akira Kurosawa film Seven Samurai (七人の侍) plays at Row House Lawrenceville from July 12 as part of the Samurai Remix Series, and the theater will host a sake tasting to accompany it on July 14.

Taste several different rice wines from Bierport’s premium sake collection before a screening of Akira Kurosawa’s epic film in a brilliant 4k restoration. Must be 21+

Special sake samples with a screening of the new restoration of Seven Samurai.

MUST BE 21 YEARS OLD OR OLDER

Tickets for the 5:00 pm event are availabble online, as are tickets for the other screenings of the film. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

Japanese metal band HANABIE。returns to Pittsburgh, September 22.

Japanese metal band HANABIE。will return to Pittsburgh on September 22, opening for Ukrainian metalcore band Jinjer. 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. Tickets for the all ages show at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks (map), 7:30 pm, are available online.

Korean rock band The Volunteers (더 발룬티어스) in Pittsburgh, July 17, with a venue change.

Korean rock band The Volunteers (더 발룬티어스) will play in Pittsburgh on July 17. Tickets for the show, which has been moved to Spirit Lounge, are available online.

PennsylvAsia has teamed with the promoter for a ticket giveaway via social media; detials are available on our Instagram and Facebook.

2024 film Didi (弟弟) in Pittsburgh, from August 8.

The 2024 film Didi (弟弟) will play in Pittsburgh from August 8.

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 tickets are available online.

1997 film Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫) in Pittsburgh, from July 13.

The 1997 film Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫) will play in Pittsburgh from July 13, the next installment of Ghibli Fest 2024.

From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, comes an epic masterpiece that has dazzled audiences worldwide with its breathtaking imagination, exhilarating battles, and deep humanity.

Inflicted with a deadly curse, the young warrior Ashitaka heads west in search of a cure. There, he stumbles into a bitter conflict between Lady Eboshi, the proud people of Iron Town, and the enigmatic Princess Mononoke, a young girl raised by wolves, who will stop at nothing to prevent the humans from destroying her home and the forest spirits and animal gods who live there.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, Waterworks Cinema, GQT Pittsburgh Mills, Chartiers Valley, and the Cinemarks 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.

Nayeon's "ABCD," Riize's "Boom Boom Bass" comprise next Yanlai Dance Academy Kpop Classes, July 13 and 16.

Yanlai Dance Academy is again running its Kpop Classes in July and August, with its first two installments Nayeon's "ABCD" on July 13 and Riize's "Boom Boom Bass" on July 16.

Let your inner idol shine! Learn popular Kpop dances this summer. Stay tuned for song announcements. Open to ages 10+.
Taught by Pahton Hulmes and Lucy Chen.
$18 to drop-in, $65 for any 4 classes, $120 for all 8 classes.
Payment accepted as venmo, cash, or check.
Registration and details at https://forms.gle/ToxJ9jjYVXa2JSu98.

Sessions run Saturdays and Tuesdays through August 3; Saturday classes are 3:00 - 4:15 pm, and Tuesday classes are 7:00 - 8:15 pm. The cost is $18 for an individual class, $65 for four classes, and $120 for all eight. Registration can be completed online. Yanlai Dance Academy is located at 2260 Babcock Boulevard in the North Hills (map).

One Piece Music Symphony with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, January 25 and 26.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will perform One Piece Music Symphony on January 25 and 26.

The most memorable moments of the beloved TV series will be projected on a giant screen to the sound of a 50-musician orchestra!

It is time for an epic array of music full of action and emotion! Immerse yourself in the magic of a full orchestra as it performs One Piece’s iconic music live on stage, while the greatest moments from the anime come to life on screen in perfect sync. Relive the thrilling adventures of the Straw Hat Crew, all set to the vibrant sounds of the series’ most memorable music!

Join us for a special anniversary world tour that showcases a brand-new program from the world of One Piece. Experience the highlights from 25 years of adventures, including unforgettable moments with the entire Straw Hat Crew, all presented in a film concert with a giant screen projection! The music program of the One Piece Music Symphony will feature fan favorite songs like “We Are!,” “Sai sai saikyo!!!,” “Oitsumerareta,” and “Binks no Sake”, along with some new pieces specifically made for this anniversary celebration.

2004 Japanese animated film Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (イノセンス) at Row House Cinema, July 11.

The Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville will show the 2004 Japanese animated film Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (イノセンス) on July 11.

Row House Spotlight Feature: This new series of one night only screenings is basically just films that are really awesome, but don’t necessarily fit in the week’s programming theme.

Cyborg detective Batou is assigned to investigate a series of murders committed by gynoids—doll-like cyborgs, which all malfunctioned, killed, then self-destructed afterwards. The brains of the gynoids initialize in order to protect their manufacturer’s software, but in one gynoid, which Batou himself neutralized, one file remains: a voice speaking the phrase “Help me.”

The movie starts at 7:10 and tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

2024 Japanese animated film Blue Lock: Episode Nagi (劇場版ブルーロック -EPISODE 凪) remains in Pittsburgh through July 10.

The 2024 Japanese animated film Blue Lock: Episode Nagi (劇場版ブルーロック -EPISODE 凪), which opened in Pittsburgh on June 27, will remain here through July 10.

"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.

2024 Korean movie Escape (탈주) in Pittsburgh, from July 5.

The 2024 Korean movie Escape (탈주) will play in Pittsburgh from July 5.

After completing his required decade of military service and being honored as a hero, a North Korean sergeant makes a sudden shocking attempt to defect to the South, risking life and limb for the chance to finally determine his own destiny.

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

Screening of 1959 film Floating Weeds (浮草) in Pittsburgh, July 19.

SCREENSHOT: Asia and Pittsburgh Sound+Image will present a screening of the 1959 Ozu Yasujirō film Floating Weeds (浮草) on July 19 (This is an update to the original date of July 18).

Pittsburgh Sound + Image and SCREENSHOT: Asia partner to bring you what is widely regarded as one of the great films of all time: Yasujirō Ozu's late career masterpiece Floating Weeds.

In the last five years of his life, Ozu made the transition to color filmmaking, and, in 1959, he remade his 1934 silent film A Story of Floating Weeds. The result is a sublime humanist drama. What's more: we'll be presenting the film from a very rare, low-fade 16mm print from the University of Pittsburgh Stark Media Collection!

Dr. Charles Exley (Associate Professor of Modern Japanese Literature and Film and Associate Director of Film and Media Studies at Pitt) will introduce the film.

The screening is at the Melwood Screening Room in Oakland (map) and tickets for the 7:00 pm show are available online.

Concert film Blackpink World Tour (Born Pink) in Cinemas in Pittsburgh, from July 31.

The new Blackpink concert film Black Pink World Tour (Born Pink) in Theaters will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from July 31.

BLACKPINK’s BORN PINK tour that captivated the world comes to the big screen, celebrating the group’s 8th anniversary since their debut! Drawing an audience of 1.8 million and breaking global records for female group concert tours, experience the energy of the live performances in cinemas worldwide! Featuring the iconic ‘Hanok’ set that has mesmerized fans and press worldwide, the film shows unprecedented production scale, presenting exclusively arranged versions of BLACKPINK’s hit songs unique to this concert and encompassing performances from Seoul’s Gocheok Dome alongside footage from further cities across the global tour. Join us for all the exhilarating moments, premiering in over 110 countries, marking a first for a K-POP female group.

It will play locally in the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemarks in Monroeville, McCandless, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Pitt hiring Visiting Instructor I for Korean Language Program.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures is hiring a Visiting Instructor I for its Korean Language Program.

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for the position of visiting instructor for its Korean language program, pending budgetary approval. The appointment will begin Fall 2024, and end Spring 2025. The candidate must hold an MA degree in teaching Korean as a second language, foreign language teaching, applied linguistics, or a related field by the time of appointment and possess broad competence in teaching Korean language courses. The successful candidate will teach six courses per year. The candidate must be a native or near-native user of Korean and English and should have at least two years’ experience teaching Korean language courses at a North American institution, preferably in person. Other duties may include mentoring students, holding office hours, developing teaching materials as needed, normal service duties in the Department, and working with other Asia specialists in the Department and on campus.

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, as well as an Interdisciplinary Master of Arts degree in East Asian Studies. We provide quality Korean language instruction to our students through a high number of contact hours (5 hours per week at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-year levels) and low maximum enrollments for our courses (maximum 12 students in recitation classes). Our programs are also supported by the University of Pittsburgh’s National East Asian Resource Center and Asian Studies Center.

If interested, please send your CV, a cover letter explaining your interest in the position, and contact information for two professional references by July 15, 2024. Candidates with desirable qualifications will be contacted for interviews. If you have any questions, please contact Mi-Hyun Kim at kimmh@pitt.edu.

2023 documentary Kim's Video in Pittsburgh, July 19 - 23.

The 2023 documentary Kim's Video will play in Pittsburgh from July 19 through 23.

An elegiac tribute to a vanished New York and endangered video store culture, part-documentary and part-heist drama, Redmon and Sabin’s film tells the story of the rise and fall of Korean immigrant Youngman Kim’s fabled video store empire—and that’s just the beginning. An investigation into the fate of the massive Kim’s collection, shipped to a village in Sicily following the last rental store’s closure and a deal with a shady politician, inspires a plot by the filmmakers to bring thousands of discs and VHS tapes back home, pulled off in a manner that must be seen to be believed.

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

Comedian Ronny Chieng comes to 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".

Tickets go on sale 10:00 am EST today, June 28. The show will be held at the Byham Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) at 7:00 pm.

Japanese rock band Boris (ボリス) returns to Pittsburgh, October 18, performing entirety of Amplifier Worship.

The Japanese rock band Boris (ボリス) will return to Pittsburgh on October 18 to perform "Amplifier Worship" in its entirety.

In 2024, Boris will undergo a tour performing all the songs off their first album. We have already reached a quarter-century since the release of that 1st album, “Amplifier Worship”. Boris has been in constant pursuit of their own ideal “heavy” since their formation in 1992. From the outset they became like a chimera, evolving at a rapid pace, establishing a unique style with extreme downtuning and megavolume. Their broad sense of “Heavy Rock” swelled grotesquely, as it engulfed powerviolence, ambient and drone, with a trance component of krautrock and so on.

Japanese rock band BURNOUT SYNDROMES in Pittsburgh, August 24.

The Japanese rock band BURNOUT SYNDROMES will play in Pittsburgh on August 24. Tickets for the show at Mr. Smalls Theater in Millvale will go on sale tomorrow, June 28.

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan performing in Pittsburgh, November 16.

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 August 16.

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka in Pittsburgh, November 2.

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka will perform in Pittsburgh on November 2.

Atsuko is growner than ever, having figured everything out from doing laundry to charcuterie platters to her relationship with her father. No notes or tweaks needed, she's a perfect human!!

ATSUKO OKATSUKA is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer based in LA. Atsuko was born in Taiwan and spent her childhood in Japan. Her debut standup special, THE INTRUDER – directed by Tig Notaro premiered on HBO, December 2022 and was named the "Best Debut Special of 2022" by the New York Times and one of the "Best Specials of 2022" by Vulture and Variety. She won the 2023 Gracie Award for "Best Special" and Atsuko was nominated for "Best Comedian" by the Wowie Awards. She was named one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch for 2022, and when she made her late-night stand-up debut on THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN, Vulture proclaimed she “won late-night.” She has performed to sold-out crowds all over North America on her 2023 theater tour, FULL GROWN, which she will be taking to Europe, Asia and Australia/NZ in 2024.

Atsuko is currently developing a half hour comedy series based on her life with FX. Her on-screen credits include HISTORY OF THE WORLD PT. II (Hulu), ROOM 104 (HBO), and THE SHOW NEXT DOOR WITH RANDALL PARK (ROKU+). Atsuko was recently featured on THIS AMERICAN LIFE with Ira Glass and told the story of how she got to the USA. She was raised by her grandmother, and they created the #DropChallenge together which has amassed more than 10 million views. Her unique upbringing brings an artfully-offbeat resilient persona which is perfectly embodied in her blunt bangs and bowl cut.

The performance is at the Byham Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets for the 7:00 pm show are available online.

Sushi Atarashi, Wushiland Boba to open in East End's Meridian development next spring.

Sushi Atarashi, a small chain of sushi restaurants in Pittsburgh, and national bubble tea chain Wushiland Boba are confirmed as tenants for the East End Meridian development in Shadyside set to open next spring, according to restaurant ownership and a June 25 Pittsburgh Business Times article.

Sushi Atarashi is the rebranded outcome of Sushi Fuku, as the two split back in 2015 with the S. Craig St. location in Oakland retaining the original name. Sushi Atarashi---atarashi means "new" in Japanese---has several locations around the Pittsburgh area in addition to the original Oakland Avenue location, and is aiming to open a revolving sushi restaurant in Robinson later this summer. Restaurant ownership confirms revolving sushi will be part of this new Meridian location as well. Wushiland Boba is a growing chain that opened its first Pittsburgh location in January. Sushi Atarashi and Wushiland Boba will join Market District, Shake Shack, and Barnes & Noble at The Meridian, which is replacing a small strip mall in Shadyside.

Spice Island Tea House holding its final take-out offer through 3 pm today, June 25.

Spice Island Tea House, the longtime Oakland restaurant that closed its doors on September 30, will hold its final take-out event through 3:00 pm today, June 25. The restaurant has been holding occasional pop-up events since the fall. Supplies and quantities are limited, but orders may be placed via their Squarespace site.

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.

2004 Japanese animated film Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (イノセンス) in Pittsburgh, June 23, 24, 26.

The 2024 Japanese animated film Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (イノセンス) will play in Pittsburgh on June 23, 24, and 26.

In the year 2032, the line between humans and machines has been blurred almost beyond distinction. A string of murders perpetrated by a prototype android model has drawn the attention of Public Security Section 9, a unit specializing in counter cyber-terrorism. With none of the victims' families pressing charges, suspicions arise regarding the nature of the androids and their production company. In the course of the investigation, the almost entirely cyber-bodied agent Batou, and his still human partner Togusa embark on a journey through a technological dystopia, taking on ferocious Yakuza thugs, devious hackers, government bureaucrats, and corporate criminals to uncover the shocking truth behind the crime. Acclaimed director Mamoru Oshii pushes further into the world and concepts first developed in his groundbreaking film Ghost in the Shell, considered one of the most important and iconic anime films ever made. With its thought-provoking speculations on artificial intelligence, which have only become more relevant in our present world, GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE celebrates its 20th anniversary returning to cinemas in a lustrous new 4K restoration.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson. Tickets are available online; some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Signage up at Shadyside's Paris Baguette.

Temporary window signage is up at 5514 Walnut St. (map), where a Paris Baguette is coming soon. It is one of two Pittsburgh-area locations for the Korean bakery chain, though the franchisee aims to open five throughout the region.

Paris Baguette will be the second international Korean bakery chain to open in Pittsburgh, following Tous Les Jours in March 2024. The bakeries are part of a recent wave of national and international chains finally opening locations in Pittsburgh after ignoring the area for years; these chains include Mango Mango, Tiger Sugar, Kpot, Kyuramen, Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ, and Wushiland Boba, among others. In my view these chains are a healthy, welcome complement to local restaurants and cafes, a sign that Pittsburgh is able and very willing to support the franchises we see in many larger or similarly-sized cities.

Bellevue's Thai Tamarind to open second location in Glenshaw.

A second Thai Tamarind location is coming soon to Glenshaw. It will be located at 2909 Mt. Royal Blvd. (map) in what is currently Le Thai Cafe. Expansion was foreshadowed by a new Thai Tamarind Noodle & Rice LLC created last month. Updates will be posted on its newly-created Instagram page.

1954 Akira Kurosawa film Seven Samurai (七人の侍) at Row House Lawrenceville, from July 12.

The 1954 Akira Kurosawa film Seven Samurai (七人の侍) will play at Row House Lawrenceville from July 12, part of the theater's Samurai Remix series.

We are thrilled to show the brand new 4k restoration of Akira Kurosawa’s thrilling, two-part masterpiece set in 16th century Japan that is widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made. When a village is invaded by bandits, they turn to seven samurai warriors for protection.

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