2001 Japanese animated film Spirted Away (千と千尋の神隠し) in Pittsburgh April 27 - May 1, part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2024.

The 2001 Japanese animated film Spirted Away (千と千尋の神隠し) will play in Pittsburgh from April 27 through May 1 as the next installment of the yearlong Studio Ghibli Fest 2024. A synopsis from the distributor:

Winner of the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature, Hayao Miyazaki’s wondrous fantasy adventure is a dazzling masterpiece from one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animation.

Chihiro’s family is moving to a new house, but when they stop on the way to explore an abandoned village, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba. Put to work in a magical bathhouse for spirits and demons, Chihiro must use all her wits to survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents and return to the normal world. Overflowing with imaginative creatures and thrilling storytelling, Spirited Away became a worldwide smash hit, and is one of the most critically-acclaimed films of all time.

It plays locally at most area theaters and tickets area available online. Please note, the shows on April 27, April 29, and May 1 are in Japanese with English subtitles, while the shows on April 29 and April 30 are dubbed in English.

2023 Japanese film Evil Does Not Exist ( 悪は存在しない) in Pittsburgh, from May 16.

The 2023 Japanese film Evil Does Not Exist ( 悪は存在しない) will play in Pittsburgh from May 16.

In the rural alpine hamlet of Mizubiki, not far from Tokyo, Takumi and his daughter, Hana, lead a modest life gathering water, wood, and wild wasabi for the local udon restaurant. Increasingly, the townsfolk become aware of a talent agency’s plan to build an opulent glamping site nearby, offering city residents a comfortable “escape” to the snowy wilderness. When two company representatives arrive and ask for local guidance, Takumi becomes conflicted in his involvement, as it becomes clear that the project will have a pernicious impact on the community. Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s follow up to his Academy Award®-winning DRIVE MY CAR is a foreboding fable on humanity's mysterious, mystical relationship with nature. As sinister gunshots echo from the forest, both the locals and representatives confront their life choices and the haunting consequences they have.

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

2023 Japanese animated film Spy x Family Code: White (劇場版 SPY×FAMILY CODE: White) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) May 1.

The 2023 Japanese animated film Spy x Family Code: White (劇場版 SPY×FAMILY CODE: White), which opened in Pittsburgh on April 18, will stay here through at least May 1.

He's a spy. She's an assassin. Together, Loid and Yor keep their double lives to themselves while pretending to be the perfect family. However, their adopted daughter Anya, a telepath, knows both of their exciting secrets unbeknownst to them. While under the guise of taking his family on a weekend winter getaway, Loid's attempt to make progress on his current mission Operation Strix proves difficult when Anya mistakenly gets involved and triggers events that threaten world peace!

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC CLassic South Hills, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online: please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles and others are dubbed in English.

Impression of Taiwan: TenDrum Art Percussion 十鼓擊樂團, May 22, part of Pittsburgh Taiwan Night.

The Pittsburgh Taiwanese Association will bring Impression of Taiwan: TenDrum Art Percussion 十鼓擊樂團 to Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh Taiwan Night on May 22, part of 2024 Taiwanese American Heritage Week. The evening consists of opening remarks, an awards ceremony, a performance by local musicians, and a musical event by TenDrum Art Percussion 十鼓擊樂團. The evening starts at 6:30 pm at the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center in the North Hills (map). Tickets are available online.

Many More Asian Market eyeing June opening for its new location.

After nearly 18 months of development, Many More Asian Market is eyeing a June opening for its new location, it announced on social media this afternoon.

Hi everyone! For the question everybody been asking, “When will we be open?” it has been a long journey… since the first expected opening date dated back in …. Last years June ….. 🫠We are finally confident enough to tell you guys…. We are expecting to open around this year June!!!!!! wooo!🥳 can’t wait! Really excited!! 😆

Work began in October 2022, and initial delays were compounded by theft of materials last fall. The expanded location at 2767 Liberty Ave, Strip District (map) will feature not only more groceries and housewares but also a small food court.

Kick Rocks at Carnegie Museum of Art, featuring screenings of Virtually Asian and Everything Everywhere All At Once, April 27.

Kick Rocks, featuring screenings of Virtually Asian and Everything Everywhere All At Once, will be part of this year's Annual Film Series at Carnegie Museum of Art from April 27.

This program explores the worlds of science fiction and fantasy, and how these genres can serve as tools to question and understand the world around us. Astria Suparak, curator, artist, and programmer of the 2024 Carnegie Museum of Art Film Series, will introduce the films.

Kick Rocks runs from 2:00 to 5:00 pm and tickets are available online.

Tickets now available for Korean pop rock band Lucy (루시) in Pittsburgh, May 30.

The Korean pop rock band Lucy (루시) will play in Pittsburgh on May 30 as part of "Written by Flower," its first world tour. Tickets for the show at Thunderbird Music Hall are available as of the morning of April 19.

Meccha Matcha opening its first Pittsburgh location April 26, with a soft opening on April 24 and 25.

Meccha Matcha has just announced a grand opening for its first Pittsburgh location, coming to Squirrel Hill on April 26, with a soft opening on the 24th and 25th.

Wai Wai Chinese Cuisine to open second location in Greenfield.

Wai Wai, which currently operates a Chinese restaurant in Bloomfield, announced on social media they will open a second location in Greenfield in what was formerly China Star. The spot at 4219 Murray Ave. has held Chinese restaurants for decades, the last closing in February after a lengthy list of health violations.

Oscar-nominated 2023 Japanese + Wim Wenders film Perfect Days returns to Pittsburgh from May 3.

Advocacy through MUSIC - An introduction to those Taiwanese pioneers, May 4 in Squirrel Hill

Cafe Philo will host Justin Lin and his talk "Advocacy through MUSIC - An introduction to those Taiwanese pioneers" on May 4.

Advocacy through MUSIC - An introduction to those honorary Taiwanese pioneers

In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are excited to introduce audiences to the wide range of sounds and genres the independent and underground Taiwanese music scene has to offer. This event is more than just a musical showcase; it's a platform for pioneering artists who are using their voices to push for social change. Covering a broad spectrum of topics from politics and queer rights to indigenous culture and beyond, these musicians exemplify the power of music as a tool for advocacy and transformation. This event aims to enrich our understanding of the diverse and dynamic narratives that shape our world. Join us as we explore the rich musical landscapes and the compelling stories they tell, celebrating the spirit of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month through the universal language of music.

Come join us at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Squirrel Hill (Meeting Room B) for a special event celebrating the incredible impact of Taiwanese pioneers through music. Don't miss this unique opportunity to honor these remarkable individuals and be inspired by their stories. See you there!

The event runs from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill, and free tickets are available online.

2023 film Sight, based on life of Dr. Ming Wang, in Pittsburgh from May 23.

The 2023 film Sight, A Christian movie based on life of Dr. Ming Wang, will play in Pittsburgh from May 23.

Sight—starring Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning Greg Kinnear, and Terry Chen (Almost Famous, Falling)—is based on the true story of Dr. Ming Wang, a poor Chinese immigrant who defies all odds to become a world-renowned eye surgeon in the United States. Set in 1970s rural China, a young Ming faces persecution and despair at every turn; but with the support of his dedicated family and his own unwavering determination, he finds his way to America, attends Harvard and MIT, and helps develop an innovative technology that restores sight in millions. Taking on the seemingly impossible challenge of helping a blind orphan, the resilient Dr. Wang must reconcile with his own traumatic past and face the harsh reality that the strength of his own will can only go so far.

It plays locally in many local theaters, and tickets are available online.

aespa: World Tour in Cinemas in Pittsburgh April 24 and 27.

The concert film aespa: World Tour in Cinemas, featuring Korean pop group aespa, will play in Pittsburgh on April 24 and 27.

Global hitmaker aespa's first concert movie bursts onto the screen in cinemas worldwide! From February to September 2023 the group’s first world tour, aespa LIVE TOUR 2023 SYNK : HYPER LINE, visited 21 venues across four continents. Now, step into the final chapter of their global tour journey with aespa: WORLD TOUR in cinemas. Witness the unparalleled energy of aespa’s live performance captured from their electrifying show at London's O2 Arena, their first-ever UK show. With their futuristic stage visuals, high-energy choreography and captivating vocals, they fiercelycommanded the stage delivering fan favourites including ‘Next Level’, ‘Savage’, ‘Girls’, ‘Spicy’ and ‘Black Mamba’. The film also highlights individual performances by each member, complemented by exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews, offering a glimpse behind the curtain.

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

Revolving sushi planned for renovated Sushi Atarashi in Robinson, July 2024.

Sushi Atarashi has announced that its Robinson location will get a makeover to include a revolving sushi bar. The location temporarily closed in mid-March and aims to reopen in July. Sushi Atarashi is a small local chain of build-your-own sushi roll restaurants, formerly known as Sushi Fuku, with several locations in the area.

Korean rock band The Volunteers (더 발룬티어스) coming to Pittsburgh, July 17.

Korean rock band The Volunteers (더 발룬티어스) will play in Pittsburgh on July 17. They will also play at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Cente on July 18. Their Pittsburgh show is at the Roxian Theatre (map). Tickets go on sale at 10:00 am today.

SUGA | Agust D Tour 'D-Day' The Movie in Pittsburgh-area theaters through (at least) April 21.

The upcoming concert film SUGA | Agust D Tour 'D-Day' The Movie, with Suga of Korean pop gropu BTS, which opened in Pittsburgh-area theaters on April 10, will remain here through (at least) April 21.

The eagerly awaited film of BTS SUGA’s Encore Concert bursts onto the big screen worldwide! As the grand finale of the world tour, “SUGA | Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ THE FINAL” marked the culmination of 25 concerts held in 10 cities, which captivated a total audience of 290,000 throughout its run. Experience the pulsating energy and excitement of “D-DAY’ THE FINAL” on screen, everything from the exquisite sounds traversing the boundary between “21st Century Pop Icon” BTS member SUGA and solo artist Agust D, electrifying performance, explosive energy, to special duet stages featuring fellow BTS members RM, Jimin, and Jung Kook.

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

Meccha Matcha opening its first Pittsburgh location April 26.

Meccha Matcha has just announced a grand opening for its first Pittsburgh location, coming to Squirrel Hill on April 26, with a soft opening on the 24th and 25th.

Progress on Hong Kong Dim Sum, coming soon to Pittsburgh.

There has been some progress inside Hong Kong Dim Sum, coming soon to North Oakland. The development team sent this photo of framing inside the Centre Ave. ground floor of One On Centre (map). The new dim sum restaurant was announced for this spot back in September.

2023 Japanese animated film Spy x Family Code: White (劇場版 SPY×FAMILY CODE: White) in Pittsburgh from April 18.

The 2023 Japanese animated film Spy x Family Code: White (劇場版 SPY×FAMILY CODE: White) will play in Pittsburgh from April 18.

He's a spy. She's an assassin. Together, Loid and Yor keep their double lives to themselves while pretending to be the perfect family. However, their adopted daughter Anya, a telepath, knows both of their exciting secrets unbeknownst to them. While under the guise of taking his family on a weekend winter getaway, Loid's attempt to make progress on his current mission Operation Strix proves difficult when Anya mistakenly gets involved and triggers events that threaten world peace!

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC CLassic South Hills, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online: please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles and others are dubbed in English.

Meccha Matcha truly coming soon to Squirrel Hill.

Meccha Matcha's first Pittsburgh location appears to really be coming soon. It announced on social media today that an announcement about its opening date will come tomorrow.

Meccha Matcha is a small chain of matcha (green tea)-themed dessert items and drinks. It has displayed a "coming soon" sign at 2000 Murray Ave. in Squirrel Hill (map), in what was formerly Te Cafe, since last February. Pronounced approximately Mayt-cha---Japanese for very---rather than Meck-ah---as in a robot suit you wear into battle---the menu boasts "America's strongest matcha ice cream!" and offers green tea ice cream, green tea lattes, blended ice, and a few other non-matcha coffee and tea drinks. There are currently Meccha Matcha locations in California and Texas.

Gamelan Music and Dance of Indonesia: A Tribute Concert for Undang Sumarna, April 13 at University of Pittsburgh.

The University of Pittsburgh Department of Music will present the University of Pittsburgh Gamelan Ensemble and Gamelan Music and Dance of Indonesia: A Tribute Concert for Undang Sumarna on April 13.

The University Gamelan Ensemble plays the gamelan music of the Sundanese people. Pitt's gamelan group includes students as well as community members. Participants in the gamelan program are encouraged to use Sundanese processes of learning as much as possible; oral transmission of musical parts is preferred over written notation and working together as an ensemble is more important than developing individual talent.

The event starts at 8:00 pm in the Bellefield Auditorium at 315 S. Bellefield Ave. (map) and tickets are available online.

Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing Event) at North Park with Pittsburgh Sakura Project, April 14.

The Pittsburgh Sakura Project and the Japan American Society of Pennsylvania will host a Hanami, Cherry Blossom Viewing Event, on April 14 at North Park. It starts at 2:00 pm at Harmony Shelter (map) and RSVP is requested (RSVP details on the event page).

2024 Chinese film YOLO (热辣滚烫) returns to Pittsburgh, from April 12.

The 2024 Chinese film YOLO (热辣滚烫), which opened in Pittsburgh on March 7 and ran through March 27, will return for a showing the afternoon of starting April 12.

Le Ying (played by Jia Ling) has been staying at home for many years, doing nothing in particular. After graduating from college and working for a while, Le Ying chooses to withdraw from society, closing herself off from social circles, which she believes is the best way to "reconcile" with herself. One day, after several twists of fate, she decides to live life in a different way. In cautiously venturing into the outside world, Le Ying meets boxing coach Hao Kun (played by Lei Jia-Yin). Just when she thinks life is about to take a positive turn, the challenges that follow far exceed her imagination, and her vibrant life is just beginning..

Yolo is the highest-grossing film of 2024 in China and is the 16th all time in that country, so far. It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

University of Pittsburgh’s Asian Studies Center presents Daughter of the Dragon: Anna May Wong’s Rendezvous with American History Book Discussion, May 2 and 15 at two Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branches.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host University of Pittsburgh’s Asian Studies Center presents Daughter of the Dragon: Anna May Wong’s Rendezvous with American History Book Discussion on May 2 and 15 at the Oakland and Squirrel Hill branches, respecdtively.

Join The Asian Studies Center team from the University of Pittsburgh for a discussion of Yunte Huang’s biography Daughter of the Dragon about Anna May Wong and her struggles for stardom in Hollywood and her fight against the Asian American stereotypes. [. . .] Recommended for adults. Contact the location to get free giveaway copies of the biography while copies last.

This is a public version of the Pitt-only book club running through the Asian Studies Center this spring. The May 2 event runs from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at the CLP Main Branch in Oakland, the May 15 event runs 6:00 to 7:00 pm in the CLP Squirrel Hill.

Korean pop rock band Lucy (루시) in Pittsburgh, May 30.

The Korean pop rock band Lucy (루시) will play in Pittsburgh on May 30. Tickets for the show at Thunderbird Music Hall will go on sale April 19.

Screening of 1929 silent film Piccadilly, starring Anna May Wong, April 16 at Pitt.

Silent Asia, part of the Screenshot: Asia programming organization at the University of Pittsburgh, will present a screening of the 1929 silent film Piccadilly, accompanied by musicians AppalAsia and Tom Roberts performing the original soundtrack.

A screening of E.A. Dupont's 1929 silent film Piccadilly, starring Asian American icon Anna May Wong. The screening will be musically accompanied by local musicians, Appalasia and Tom Roberts. Come immerse yourself in their original score and experience one of early Hollywood's finest stars at her finest.

The event starts at 6:30 pm in 125 Frick Fine Arts (map).

Korean singer BoyWithUke performing in Pittsburgh, April 27.

Korean singer BoyWithUke will perform in Pittsburgh on April 27 as part of his Lucid Dreams Tour. Ones To Watch summarized his sound in 2021:

While BoyWithUke’s music may drift toward popular indie and lo-fi sounds, incorporating his ukelele sets him apart from other artists heading down the same sonic path. In addition, his instrumental talent adds a fresh layer of artistry, blurring the line between acoustic and electronic beat sounds, often making you forget that one or the other is even there.

He will play at Stage AE and tickets for the 7:00 pm show are available online.

近江八景 Eight Views of Oomi, Japanese chamber music recital, April 20 at Pitt.

Local musicians devon osamu tipp, Kanoko Kamata, Trē Seguritan Abalos, and Satoshi Itoh will collaborate on a Japanese chamber music concert on April 20.The show is free from 5:00 pm in 205 Bellefield Hall in Oakland (map).

Filipino restaurant, from Rafael Vencio of Amboy Urban Farm, coming soon to Pittsburgh's North Side.

via @amboy_urbanfarm_pittsburgh 

Chef Rafael Vencio recently announced on social media that he is working on opening a Filipino restaurant on Pittsburgh's North Side. It will be located at 400 East Ohio St. (map), in what used to be a Subway but has been vacant for many years. Rumors of a possible Filipino spot here first turned up online last fall.

Vencio operates Amboy Urban Farm and has been visible in running various iterations of Filipino food pop-ups.

Kick Rocks at Carnegie Museum of Art, featuring screenings of Virtually Asian and Everything Everywhere All At Once, April 27.

Kick Rocks, featuring screenings of Virtually Asian and Everything Everywhere All At Once, will be part of this year's Annual Film Series at Carnegie Museum of Art on April 27.

This program explores the worlds of science fiction and fantasy, and how these genres can serve as tools to question and understand the world around us. Astria Suparak, curator, artist, and programmer of the 2024 Carnegie Museum of Art Film Series, will introduce the films.

Kick Rocks runs from 2:00 to 5:00 pm and tickets are available online.

Screening of Lost Soulz and panel discussion with director Katherine Propper, among others, April 5 at CMU.

On April 5 the Carnegie Mellon University International Film Festival will host a screening of Lost Soulz and a panel discussion with its Asian-American director Katherine Propper and actor Sauve Sidle, moderated by Jordan Montgomery, the CEO of Driving While Black Records.

Lost Soulz spins the poetic tale of rising rap sensation Sol, who abandons everything and everyone he knows to drift across the country in a once-in-a-lifetime road trip with some friends and mutual artists. Spurred on by producing original music and the constant thrill of seeking something more, Sol learns to make himself at home in strange places, and how to garner fame through epic (and oft-unconventional) means. But the truth remains that Sol is running from something, and the slow-burn pangs of a guilty conscience seem to chase his van down across the breadth of the Texas desert, even into California and the L.A. promised land.

The events start at 6:30 pm at the McConomy Auditorium in the Jared L. Cohen Center on the CMU campus (map), and tickets are available online.

Asia Pop Lecture Series: Xin Wang and Asian Futurism, April 10 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Xin Wang as the April 10 instsallment of the Asia Pop Lecture Series.

Xin Wang is a curator and art historian based in New York. A PhD candidate in Art History at New York University, writing a dissertation on Soviet Hauntology, she held curatorial and educational positions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art, and received the Warhol Foundation's Arts Writers Grant in 2021. Publications such as "Asian Futurism and the Non-Other" have been widely translated and taught in university curriculums. She has served on jury panels for The Shed, the Creative Capital Grant, and Anonymous Was a Woman, as well as a regular visiting critic at Yale University's MFA program in Photography. She served as the Chief curator of the 4th art and technology-themed biennial program - titled "To Your Eternity" - at Beijing's Today Art Museum in Fall 2023.

The talk starts at 6:00 pm in 202 Frick Fine Arts (map).

Playing Through Capitalism: Squid Game in/on Platform Economy, April 3 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures will present Dr. Seung-hwan Shin's colloquium Playing Through Capitalism: Squid Game in/on Platform Economy on April 3. It runs from 12:00 to 1:00 pm in 1219 Cathedral of Learning.

Pitt hosting Dr. Esther Kim Lee, author of Made-Up Asians: Yellowface During the Exclusion Era, April 11.

The University of Pittsburgh's Humanities Center will host Dr. Esther Kim Lee for a discussion of her book Made-Up Asians: Yellowface During the Exclusion Era on April 11, 2024.

The talk is based on the recently published book Made-Up Asians: Yellowface During the Exclusion Era, which traces the history of yellowface, the theatrical convention of non-Asian actors putting on makeup and costume to look East Asian. Using specific case studies from European and U.S. theater, race science, and early film, the book examines the development of yellowface in the U.S. context during the Exclusion Era (1862–1940), when Asians faced legal and cultural exclusion from immigration and citizenship. By examining the makeup technology of yellowface, the talk analyzes how theatre historians should rethink key foundational concepts and historical narratives. It questions the dominance of mimesis in discussions of acting and racialize performances and argues for a broader conceptualization of theatre history.

The talk runs from 12:30 to 2:00 pm and is hybrid, held in both 602 Cathedral of Learning and online via Zoom.

SUGA | Agust D Tour 'D-Day' The Movie in Pittsburgh-area theaters, from April 10.

The upcoming concert film SUGA | Agust D Tour 'D-Day' The Movie, with Suga of Korean pop gropu BTS, will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from April 10.

The eagerly awaited film of BTS SUGA’s Encore Concert bursts onto the big screen worldwide! As the grand finale of the world tour, “SUGA | Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ THE FINAL” marked the culmination of 25 concerts held in 10 cities, which captivated a total audience of 290,000 throughout its run. Experience the pulsating energy and excitement of “D-DAY’ THE FINAL” on screen, everything from the exquisite sounds traversing the boundary between “21st Century Pop Icon” BTS member SUGA and solo artist Agust D, electrifying performance, explosive energy, to special duet stages featuring fellow BTS members RM, Jimin, and Jung Kook.

It plays locally on April 10, 11, 12, and 13 at---on varying days---the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

2023 Japanese animated film Spy x Family Code: White (劇場版 SPY×FAMILY CODE: White) in Pittsburgh from April 18.

The 2023 Japanese animated film Spy x Family Code: White (劇場版 SPY×FAMILY CODE: White) will play in Pittsburgh from April 18.

He's a spy. She's an assassin. Together, Loid and Yor keep their double lives to themselves while pretending to be the perfect family. However, their adopted daughter Anya, a telepath, knows both of their exciting secrets unbeknownst to them. While under the guise of taking his family on a weekend winter getaway, Loid's attempt to make progress on his current mission Operation Strix proves difficult when Anya mistakenly gets involved and triggers events that threaten world peace!

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC CLassic South Hills, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online: please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles and others are dubbed in English.

2024 Japanese animated film Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (機動戦士ガンダムSEED FREEDOM) in Pittsburgh, May 7 and 8.

The 2024 Japanese animated film Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (機動戦士ガンダムSEED FREEDOM) will play in Pittsburgh on may 7 and 8.

C.E. (Cosmic Era). An era in which there are human beings called Coordinators, born with superior physical and mental abilities thanks to genetic modification, and humans called Naturals who are born naturally. The “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED” series depicts the conflict between Coordinators and Naturals within this C.E. setting. “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED” (2002~2003), set in the year C.E.71~, and “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY” (2004~2005), which depicted C.E.73~, were broadcast as TV animation. The story then continued in various other media. Now “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM,” depicting an entirely new story set in C.E.75, will make its long-awaited theatrical debut featuring a special introduction from the director and voice cast.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online: the May 7 shows play in Japanese with English subtitles, while the May 8 shows are dubbed in English.

Progress on Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill, coming soon to McCandless.

Permanent signage is up at Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill, coming soon to McCandless. There is a sign in English and a sign that says "shabu shabu" in Japanese at McCandless Crossing in the North Hills, in an outparcel across from Laroche University (map). Work has been underway there since last summer, but there was recently some mild concern online when the temporary signage went down, leading some to ask if this all-you-can-eat BBQ and hot pot place were not coming after all. There is another location set to open in Robinson, too, totalling six AYCE hot pot and BBQ places coming soon to Pittsburgh.

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.

2004 Hayao Miyazaki film Howl's Moving Castle at Rangos Giant Cinema, May 17.

The 2004 Hayao Miyazaki film Howl's Moving Castle will play at Rangos Giant Cinema at the Carnegie Science Center on May 17.

In Hayao Miyazaki’s latest animated masterpiece, journey beyond imagination and enter a “breathtaking fantasy world” (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) filled with adventure, humor, and heart. Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl’s magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell. Featuring the voice talents of Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, and Billy Crystal, Miyazaki’s artistry comes to life on DVD with inventive characters, unique storytelling, and richly detailed animation.

The show starts at 7:00 pm and tickets will be available for purchase four weeks before the event. The Rangos Giant Cinema, says its website,

is the most technologically advanced motion picture experience in Pittsburgh, boasting a 71-by-39-foot Certified Giant Screen, crystal-clear images, brilliant colors, and rich surround sound. It features two industry-leading Christie® laser-illuminated 4K laser digital projectors and a premium Dolby Atmos® surround sound system with 49 speakers.

The cinema and the Carnegie Science Center are located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on the North Shore (map).

Chia Kwa and "ASMR & How Strangers On The Internet Discovered It In Common" at Pittsburgh Humanities Festival, April 6.

Chia Kwa and their talk "ASMR & How Strangers On The Internet Discovered It In Common" will be part of the Pittsburgh Humanities Festival on April 6.

Chia Kwa, a specialist in immersive theater and experiential entertainment, leads a interactive demonstration and exploration on ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) with audience participation using silent disco headsets and additional audio technology.

ASMR is best known as a modern, online phenomenon where its fans watch hypnotic videos of brushing, tapping, waving, etc. in order to relax. But long before the term was coined online, people experienced it in their everyday lives... they just didn't know how to talk about it. Join Chia Kwa of Whisperlodge on an exploration of the power of words, and how finding the right ones allowed anonymous internet strangers to unite into a thriving community. This presentation will end with a live ASMR demonstration using binaural audio technology.

Whisperlodge has pioneered the practice and performance of live, in-person ASMR since 2016. They’ve completed 16 sold-out runs of their cult immersive show in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Singapore, and have been featured on Netflix, PBS, the New York Times, and more.

The event starts at 7:30 pm at the Greer Cabaret Theater in the Cultural District (map), and tickets are available online.

An Evening with Yunte Huang, Author of Daughter of the Dragon, April 3 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present "An Evening with Yunte Huang, Author of Daughter of the Dragon" on April 3.

A Guggenheim Fellow, Yunte Huang has taught at Harvard and the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he is a professor of English. The author of “Inseparable” and the Edgar Award-winning biography “Charlie Chan”-both National Book Critics Circle Award finalists-Huang speaks frequently about American popular culture. At once a reclamation of Wong’s life and a trenchant social commentary, “Daughter of the Dragon”, with its lyrical writing and period illustrations, becomes a truly resonant work of history that reflects the raging anti-Chinese xenophobia, unabashed sexism, and ageism toward women that defined both Hollywood and America in Wong’s too-brief time on earth.

The lecture starts at 6:00 pm in the Alcoa Room of the Barco Law Building (map).

Miyazaki film The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか) remains in Pittsburgh-area theaters through (at least) April 3.

The 2023 Hayao Miyazaki film The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか), which opened across Pittsburgh-area theaters on December 7, will continue in local theater throughs (at least) April 3. A synopsis of the movie, from the distributor:

Hayao Miyazaki's first feature film in 10 years, The Boy and the Heron is a hand-drawn, original story written and directed by the Academy Award®-winning director. Produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, the film features a musical score from Miyazaki's long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi. The theme song for the film "Spinning Globe" was penned and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.

. . .

A young boy named Mahito
yearning for his mother
ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead.
There, death comes to an end,
and life finds a new beginning.


A semi-autobiographical fantasy
about life, death, and creation,
 in tribute to friendship,
from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

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

Freshworks: Caroline Yoo and Davine Byon, April 5-6 at Kelly Strayhorn Theater.

The Kelly Strayhorn Theater will host "Freshworks: Caroline Yoo and Davine Byon" on April 5 and 6.

Prophecies & Soy Sauce Shots is an experimental performance with artists Caroline Yoo and Davine Byon. They dance together, rejecting the permanently aspirational future and reflecting on the consequences of ancestral dreamwork. The performance asks, are we dreaming in resistance of or within the confines of colonized standards of success? They move through three vignettes, using projections, sculpture, music, and the exchange of dreams. This new performance in process pieces together a messy, precious home in the diaspora, and asks whose dreams – past, present, and future – we are living for.

Freshworks is KST’s creative residency for Pittsburgh-based artists and collaborators. It supports playful exploration in performance through interdisciplinary work in contemporary dance, theater, music, and multimedia. The program provides artists with financial resources, studio space, production staff, lighting and sound design, professional development, and encouragement for creative risk-taking.

The shows run from 7:30 to 9:00 pm each night and include a post-show discussion. Tickets are available at "pay what moves you prices" online. The Kelly Strayhorn Theater is located at 5941 Penn Ave. in East Liberty (map).

Gamelan Music and Dance of Indonesia: A Tribute Concert for Undang Sumarna, April 13 at University of Pittsburgh.

The University of Pittsburgh Department of Music will present the University of Pittsburgh Gamelan Ensemble and Gamelan Music and Dance of Indonesia: A Tribute Concert for Undang Sumarna on April 13.

The University Gamelan Ensemble plays the gamelan music of the Sundanese people. Pitt's gamelan group includes students as well as community members. Participants in the gamelan program are encouraged to use Sundanese processes of learning as much as possible; oral transmission of musical parts is preferred over written notation and working together as an ensemble is more important than developing individual talent.

The event starts at 8:00 pm in the Bellefield Auditorium at 315 S. Bellefield Ave. (map) and tickets are available online.

New Korean movie Exhuma (파묘) stays in Pittsburgh through April 3.

The new Korean movie Exhuma (파묘), which opened in Pittsburgh on March 22, will remain here through (at least) April 3.

When a renowned shaman (KIM Go-Eun) and her protégé (Lee Do-hyun) are hired by a wealthy, enigmatic family, they begin investigating the cause of a disturbing supernatural illness that affects only the first-born children of each generation. With the help of a knowledgeable mortician (YOO Hai-jin) and the country’s most revered geomancer (CHOI Min-sik), they soon trace the affliction’s origin to a long-hidden family grave located on sacred ground. Sensing an ominous aura surrounding the burial site, the team opts to exhume and relocate the ancestral remains immediately. But as something much darker emerges, they soon discover what befalls those who dare to mess with the wrong grave.

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

2024 Vietnamese movie Mai, Vietnam's highest grossing film of all time, continues in Pittsburgh through April 3.

The 2024 Vietnamese movie Mai, which opened in Pittsburgh on March 21, will continue here through at least April 3.

Restlessly haunted by the past, Mai is greeted by a new dawn when she reluctantly befriends the neighborhood ladies’ man. But when her yesterday catches up to her today, what will become of her tomorrow? Starring Phuong Anh Dao and Tuan Tran, directed by Tran Thanh, produced by Tran Thanh Town and CJ HK Entertainment, with a North American & European release by 3388 Films.

It plays locally at the AMC Classic South Hills Village and tickets are available online.