Enson Market, previously known as Fresh International Market, now aims to soft open its Pittsburgh location on June 6.

After a couple of years of delays and false starts, Enson Market will soft open in Point Breeze's Rockwell Park on June 6. Previously going by its parent company name Fresh International Market, Enson Market and Ineffable Cà Phê "will bring fresh groceries, prepared foods, and Asian-inspired dishes to the heart of Point Breeze North," according to the latest press release.

Located inside the historic Apollo building at 7511 Thomas Blvd, the 40,000 square foot space has been fully restored and reimagined as a modern grocery and café destination. It’s a big moment for the neighborhood—and for anyone looking for quality ingredients, ready-to-eat meals, and something a little different for dinner.

. . .

Enson Market will offer a wide selection of fresh produce, meats, and seafood, along with everyday grocery items and unique international finds. You’ll find snacks, sauces, and prepared foods that introduce new flavors, while still being able to shop for your regular weekly staples—all in one place.

With a fresh bakery, hot food counter, and grab-and-go meals like sushi and spring rolls, the store is set up for convenience, discovery, and everyday use.‍

Just beyond the grocery aisles, Ineffable Cà Phê adds another layer to the experience. Known for its original Lawrenceville location, the café will serve Vietnamese coffee, bánh mì, phở, rice bowls, and weekend brunch. It’s a place to grab breakfast, meet a friend, or wind down with a beer or glass of wine.

The release did not give an explanation for the new name, which had been used in recent weeks on job advertisements for the store. The Pittsburgh branch of this US-based chain of Asian grocery stores was first announced for Pittsburgh in March 2023 with a Summer 2024 target, and will be among the largest Asian groceries in the region. It had previously announced openings for February, April, and May 2025. It will be located at 7511 Thomas Blvd. (map).

Pittsburgh Bonsai Society's 44th annual Bonsai Show, June 7 and 8.

The Pittsburgh Bonsai Society will hold its 44th annual Bonsai Show on June 7 and 8. Guests may:

• View a beautiful gallery of unique varieties and different styles of bonsai 
• Start your own collection and purchase trees, starter material, tools and supplies 
• Watch tree styling demos throughout the day 
• Bring in your own tree and get help from the experts. 

The event is free at the Millvale Community Center (map), 10 to 5 on Saturday and 10 to 4 on Sunday.

Additional date for concert film Ado SPECIAL LIVE "Shinzou" in Cinemas, in Pittsburgh, May 28 and May 31.

The Ado concert film SPECIAL LIVE "Shinzou" in Cinemas will play in Pittsburgh on May 28 and May 31, the latter a newly-added date.

In 2020, on the eve of her 18th birthday, Ado sent shockwaves through the music industry with the release of her debut song "Usseewa," a record-breaking hit that cemented her reputation as a revolutionary artist. She continued her rise with chart-topping tracks such as "Gira Gira" and "Odo." In 2022, she was chosen to perform a total of seven songs including the theme song for the renowned anime film "ONE PIECE FILM RED," further solidifying her status as a top-tier artist. Beyond anime, she has contributed theme songs to various films and TV dramas and in 2023, her song "Show" marked a two-year consecutive collaboration with Universal Studios Japan, proving her unwavering popularity. Ado has also actively pursued live performances, achieving a national arena tour in just two years with shows such as "Kigeki," "Campanella," "Shinkirou," "Mars," "Shinzou," and "Profile of Mona Lisa." Her success has extended beyond Japan, captivating audiences worldwide with her first-ever global tour, "Wish." Now, in celebration of her second world tour "Hibana," which marks the largest-scale global tour by a Japanese artist, the legendary solo live concert "Ado SPECIAL LIVE 2024 'Shinzou,'" which drew 140,000 attendees over two days and left audiences in awe, is set to hit select theaters as a theatrical release: "Ado SPECIAL LIVE 'Shinzou' in Cinema"! For the first time, a recording of Ado's solo live performance will be screened in theaters. The audio has been remastered for cinematic release, bringing a newly enhanced "Shinzou" to the big screen!

This concert film will not only be released in Japan but will also have a global theatrical release, bringing "Shinzou" to fans around the world who have been eagerly awaiting the "Hibana" tour! The concert's immersive atmosphere will be recreated through a large-scale cinematic experience with 5.1ch surround sound, while the Dolby Atmos® edition will provide an unparalleled, deeply immersive audio experience. Experience this 140-minute spectacle of world-class performances in the ultimate audiovisual environment.

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

j-hope Tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh, May 31 and June 1.

The concert film j-hope Tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING will play in Pittsburgh on May 31 and June 1.

Following its February kickoff in Seoul and spanning across North America and Asia, j-hope’s first solo world tour has captivated audiences with 31 concerts in 15 regions. Now, the grand finale of ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ will be broadcast live in cinemas worldwide! Witness the powerful moment of j-hope sharing his hopes, wishes, and dreams with audiences through his debut solo tour. Don’t miss this long-awaited opportunity to see ‘j-hope on stage’! Experience his electrifying performances, including title tracks from his solo albums - MORE,’ ‘Arson,’ and ‘NEURON (with Gaeko, yoonmirae)’ - as well as recent releases unveiled during the tour like ‘Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)’ and ‘MONA LISA’! Broadcast live exclusively in cinemas worldwide - experience j-hope’s inspiring solo performances on the big screen.

It plays locally at the Cinemark theater in Robinson and tickets are available online.

New Vietnamese film Detective Kien: The Headless Horror (Thám Tử Kiên: Kỳ Án Không Đầu) in Pittsburgh, from May 29.

The 2025 Vietnamese film Detective Kien: The Headless Horror (Thám Tử Kiên: Kỳ Án Không Đầu) will play in the Pittsburgh area from May 29. From the distrubtor:

Detective Kien investigates a headless body found in a rural Vietnamese village during the Nguyen Dynasty. As supernatural elements emerge, he faces chilling twists in this 19th-century mystery.

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

Korean boy band POW in Pittsburgh area, August 20.

The Korean boy band POW (파우) is scheduled to perform in the Pittsburgh area on August 20. Tickets for the show at The Oaks Theater in Oakmont will go on sale May 30.

Pittsburgh! K-pop boy group POW are coming on their debut tour 2025 POW TOUR: POWERFUL YOUTH IN NORTH AMERICA! See them live this summer at The Oaks Theater! 

POW (파우) is a 5 member boy group consisting of Jungbin, Yorch, Hyunbin, Dongyeon, and Hong.

Tickets for 2025 POW TOUR: POWERFUL YOUTH IN NORTH AMERICA will go on sale Friday May 30 at 10:00AM CST.

General Admission: $50 - This is a first come first serve ticket to see POW on their debut tour.



Documentary Nurse Unseen at Pitt, May 30.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and the Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh will present a screening of the 2023 documentary Nurse Unseen on May 30. From the documentary's website:

NURSE UNSEEN explores the little-known history and humanity of the unsung Filipino nurses who risked their lives on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic while facing a resurgence of anti-Asian hate in the streets.

The movie starts at 6:30 pm in 121 Lawrence Hall (map), will be accompanied by snacks from FAAP, and will be followed by a discussion.

2001 Hayao Miyazaki film Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) at Rangos Giant Cinema, May 30.

The 2001 film Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) will play at the Rangos Giant Cinema on May 30, the final installment of the theater's Ani May series.

In Hayao Miyazaki’s unforgettable film, “Spirited Away,” audiences are transported along with Chihiro to an otherworldly bath house occupied by strange spirits. Join her on her journey to reunite with her parents and return to her own world on Fri., May 30 at 7 p.m.

The cost is $10 for museum members and $12 for non-members. The movie starts at 7:00 pm, and the theater is inside The Carnegie Science Center, which is located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on the North Shore (map).

Fresh International Market and Ineffable Cà Phê aiming for May 30 soft opening in Point Breeze.

Photo via Ineffable Cà Phê. 

Fresh International Market and Ineffable Cà Phê are aiming for a May 30 soft opening, if all goes according to the latest plan. Fresh International Market, a US-based chain of Asian grocery stores, was first announced for Pittsburgh in March 2023 with a Summer 2024 target, and the 23,000 square foot store would be among the largest Asian groceries in the region. The Vietnamese coffee shop Ineffable Cà Phê, which currently has a spot in Lawrenceville, was later linked to the site, as Fresh International Market locations often have a bakery---such as Paris Baguette, in other spots---inside. From a February 2025 Pittsburgh Magazine article ahead of its latest potential opening date earlier this year:

Known for its unique selection of international ingredients and authentic Asian cuisine, Fresh International Market imports products from more than 28 countries. This will be the 10th location, with stores located in Illinois, Nebraska, Texas, Michigan, Indiana, North Carolina and Florida. The first store was founded in Lansing, Michigan in 2011 by Bowen Kou; the company is now headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Also opening at Rockwell is the second location of Ineffable CaPhe, a Lawrenceville coffee shop offering a variety of Asian items such as bubble tea, banh mi sandwiches and rice bowls, Al Lardo, Rockwell Park’s principal, said in an interview. It will operate out of the grocery store rather than being a separate tenant at Rockwell.

He noted his family’s roots are in Wilkinsburg, where his wife’s family had a business for 80 years and his father owned rental properties. He told the Business Times that he looks forward to the new opportunity that the store will bring to residents in Wilkinsburg as well as Homewood to be able to buy healthy and fresh foods that are affordably priced.

“The location [of the Fresh International Market] is especially good because of the busway,” Lardo said in an interview. which is just a half-mile walk from Rockwell Park. “There’s a lot of people who don’t have cars in Wilkinsburg.”

The store will open at 7511 Thomas Blvd. (map), located roughly a block from the East End Food Co-op and Construction Junction. While this will be the region's first Fresh International Market, though the chain was loosely linked to Pittsburgh in 2021 as a finalist for the former Hill District Shop n' Save location that was later occupied, and vacated, by Salem's Market.

Both Fresh International Market (see here) and Ineffable Cà Phê (see here) are hiring.

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from June 14.

Photo via the Korea Tourism Organization.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Oakland will resume its free "We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes Saturdays from June 14 through August 16, after finishing its most recent session on May 17.

Concert film Ado SPECIAL LIVE "Shinzou" in Cinemas in Pittsburgh, May 28.

The Ado concert film SPECIAL LIVE "Shinzou" in Cinemas will play in Pittsburgh on May 28.

In 2020, on the eve of her 18th birthday, Ado sent shockwaves through the music industry with the release of her debut song "Usseewa," a record-breaking hit that cemented her reputation as a revolutionary artist. She continued her rise with chart-topping tracks such as "Gira Gira" and "Odo." In 2022, she was chosen to perform a total of seven songs including the theme song for the renowned anime film "ONE PIECE FILM RED," further solidifying her status as a top-tier artist. Beyond anime, she has contributed theme songs to various films and TV dramas and in 2023, her song "Show" marked a two-year consecutive collaboration with Universal Studios Japan, proving her unwavering popularity. Ado has also actively pursued live performances, achieving a national arena tour in just two years with shows such as "Kigeki," "Campanella," "Shinkirou," "Mars," "Shinzou," and "Profile of Mona Lisa." Her success has extended beyond Japan, captivating audiences worldwide with her first-ever global tour, "Wish." Now, in celebration of her second world tour "Hibana," which marks the largest-scale global tour by a Japanese artist, the legendary solo live concert "Ado SPECIAL LIVE 2024 'Shinzou,'" which drew 140,000 attendees over two days and left audiences in awe, is set to hit select theaters as a theatrical release: "Ado SPECIAL LIVE 'Shinzou' in Cinema"! For the first time, a recording of Ado's solo live performance will be screened in theaters. The audio has been remastered for cinematic release, bringing a newly enhanced "Shinzou" to the big screen!

This concert film will not only be released in Japan but will also have a global theatrical release, bringing "Shinzou" to fans around the world who have been eagerly awaiting the "Hibana" tour! The concert's immersive atmosphere will be recreated through a large-scale cinematic experience with 5.1ch surround sound, while the Dolby Atmos® edition will provide an unparalleled, deeply immersive audio experience. Experience this 140-minute spectacle of world-class performances in the ultimate audiovisual environment.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront at 7:00 pm and tickets are available online.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Night, September 3 at PNC Park as Pirates play the Los Angeles Dodgers.

September 3 is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Night at PNC Park as the Pittsburgh Pirates play the Los Angeles Dodgers. Several local groups are organizing outings, including the Japan Association of Greater Pittsburgh and Taiwan Aloha (which is looking to organize an annual Taiwan Community Day at the ballpark), though members of the general public can also purchase tickets and be eligible for an AAPI Pirates hat.

Experience a unique blend of sports, culture, and community during AAPI Heritage Night at PNC Park!

Join us in celebrating the AAPI community on September 3rd as the Pirates take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. This special offer includes an exclusive Pirates co-branded AAPI hat and loaded value, good to use on concessions and merchandise on the day of the game. Also, a portion of each ticket will be donated to a local AAPI charity!

The game is notable because the Dodgers feature three star Japanese players---Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki---and because Sophiyah Liu, Taiwan's first female baseball umpire, will throw out the first pitch.

Free beginner-level Chinese classes at Carnegie Library in East Liberty, Saturdays from June 21.

via Khun Hans Photography (Creative Commons)


The Carnegie Library branch in East Liberty will start a free "We Learn: Beginner-Level Chinese Language" class on Saturdays from June 21.

Welcome to the Chinese language learning circle! This is a beginner-level class, so you do not need to have any prior experience with the language. The focus will be on basic spoken Mandarin, but we might also learn some things about the writing system if there is enough interest.

Course materials we'll use

Course materials will be provided by Mango Languages, which is available for free through the library. We will also add other materials according to the learners' interests.

Registration is required. Classes are held from 3:00 to 4:00 pm in Meeting Room 2 over eight weeks, and the library is located at 130 S. Whitfield St. (map).

Comedian Fumi Abe in Pittsburgh, July 18.

Japanese-American comedian Fumi Abe will perform at the Bottlerocket Social Hall on July 18.

Fumi Abe is a Japanese-American stand-up comedian/writer based in Los Angeles who recently made his TV debut on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

He has written for NPR’s “Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!”, was part of the 2020 Comedy Central Digital Creators Program, and is currently a staff writer on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

He produces and hosts a comedy podcast titled "Asian Not Asian", which was most recently included in Vulture’s Comedy Podcast Roundup as well as The AV Club’s Podcast series highlights.

The show starts at 8:00 pm and tickets are available online. Bottlerocket Social Hall is located at 1226 Arlington Ave. in the Allentown neighborhood (map).

1985 Akira Kurosawa film Ran (乱) in Pittsburgh, from May 24.

The 1985 Akira Kurosawa film Ran (乱) will play in Pittsburgh from May 24 through June 4, part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's occasional International Art House Classics series.

The 1985 New York Film Festival opened with Akira Kurosawa’s astonishing medieval epic, inspired by the life of Mori Motonari, a 16th-century warlord with three sons. It was only after he began writing that the filmmaker started to see parallels with King Lear. It took a decade for Kurosawa to bring his grand conception to the screen—he actually painted storyboards of every shot along the way, and made another great film, Kagemusha, as a dry run. The finished work he eventually gave us is, to put it mildly, a mind-blowing experience. Tatsuya Nakadai is the warlord, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, and Daisuke Ryu are his sons, Mieko Harada is the terrifying Lady Kaede, the score is by Toru Takemitsu, but the dominant force looming over every single element of this film, down to the smallest detail, is Kurosawa himself. The color palette of Ran is unlike that of any other movie made before or since, as you’ll see in this newly restored version.

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

2016 film A Silent Voice (聲の形) at Rangos Giant Cinema, May 23.

The 2016 film A Silent Voice (聲の形) will play at the Rangos Giant Cinema on May 23, the third installment of its "Ani-May" series.

Shouya Ishida starts bullying the new girl in class, Shouko Nishimiya, because she is deaf. But as the teasing continues, the rest of the class starts to turn on Shouya for his lack of compassion. When they leave elementary school, Shouko and Shouya do not speak to each other again…until an older, wiser Shouya, tormented by his past behavior, decides he must see Shouko once more. He wants to atone for his sins, but is it already too late…?

“A Silent Voice” is a film that transcends genre, with a story that audiences from all walks of life can relate. The heartfelt and beautifully animated journey of redemption, forgiveness, and adolescence comes to The Rangos Giant Cinema on Fri., May 23 at 7 p.m.

The cost is $10 for museum members and $12 for non-members. The movie starts at 7:00 pm, and the theater is inside The Carnegie Science Center, which is located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on the North Shore (map).

DAN DA DAN: Evil Eye in Pittsburgh, from June 6.

The Japanese animated movie DAN DA DAN: Evil Eye will play in Pittsburgh from June 6.

In celebration of the return of DAN DA DAN, the theatrical premiere, releasing as DAN DA DAN: EVIL EYE, kicks off the thrillingly eerie EVIL EYE arc, which began in the last episode of the first season. The DAN DA DAN: EVIL EYE theatrical event screens last season’s start of the EVIL EYE arc, along with the first three episodes of the new second season, in addition to an exclusive interview with series co-directors Fuga Yamashiro and Abel Gongora. DAN DA DAN follows Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult geek. In this new arc, Momo and Okarun set out on their latest adventure, traveling to a hot springs town home rented by Jiji, Momo’s childhood friend and former crush, with the goal to solve the mystery surrounding his family. When they arrive, strange locals derail their investigation before it can begin, and the group soon learns there’s more lurking under the surface of the town than they could possibly have imagined.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theater in Robinson and the AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, and tickets are available online.

keshi's July 23 show in Pittsburgh cancelled.

Vietnamese-American singer-songwriter keshi's July 23 show at Stage AE has recently been cancelled due to low ticket sales.

There’s a few shows that’ll be coming down (detroit, columbus, pittsburgh, philadelphia, denver, & phoenix) because we weren’t able to sell enough tickets. As much as I wanted to play for y’all we weren’t able to make it happen this time around, but I’ll do my best to come back for you in the future. You’ll be automatically refunded within 30 days.

1989 Japanese animated film Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便), in Pittsburgh, from May 17.

The 1989 Japanese animated film Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便) will play in Pittsburgh May 17 through 21, the first installment of Studio Ghibli Fest 2025. A synopsis, from the distributor:

Celebrate this beloved coming-of-age story from the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, about a resourceful young witch who uses her broom to create a delivery service, only to lose her gift of flight in a moment of self-doubt. It is a tradition for all young witches to leave their families on the night of a full moon and fly off into the wide world to learn their craft. When that night comes for Kiki, she embarks on her new journey with her sarcastic black cat, Jiji, landing the next morning in a seaside village, where her unique skills make her an instant sensation. Don’t miss this delightfully imaginative and timeless story of a young girl finding her way in the world[.]

It plays locally at most Pittsburgh-area theaters, and tickets are available online.

New signage up for Taiwanese chain Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea (一芳台灣水果茶) in Squirrel Hill.

New signage is up in Squirrel Hill for Taiwanese chain Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea (一芳台灣水果茶), coming soon to Murray Ave. The US-based Taiwanese fruit tea chain put up window signage at 5825 Forbes Ave (map) in October, in what has been empty for a couple years but what was most recently Classic Lines bookstore. Paperwork and planning for the new tea spot---which will join Mango Mango, Tiger Sugar, Tsaaoca, and Meetcha on the same block---started back in April. Yi Fang currently has locations throughout California, the East Coast, and elsewhere in North America.

1973 movie Enter the Dragon at Rangos Giant Cinema, June 20.

The 1973 movie Enter the Dragon, starring Bruce Lee, will play at the Rangos Giant Cinema on June 20 as part of its June Action-Packed Series.

“Enter the Dragon” is often hailed as one of the most influential action films of all time, along with being credited for majorly contributing to the global mainstream popularity of martial arts films long after its release in 1973. Legendary martial arts master Bruce Lee seeks revenge for the death of his sister at the hands of a dangerous narcotics dealer by entering a kung fu competition with his partners, Roper and William. Come see Bruce Lee’s martial artistry on a screen that’s bigger than life at The Rangos Giant Cinema on Fri., June 20, at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available onlline, $10 for Carnegie Science Center members and $12 for non-members. The Carnegie Science Center is located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on the North Shore (map).

"The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac" at Byham Theater, March 14, 2026.

"The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac" will be performed at the Byham Theater on March 14, 2026, part of the Trust Family Series of performances aimed at younger audiences.

Join Freddie and Ivy alongside their grandparents, Po Po and Kung Kung, as their Chinese New Year celebrations take a turn from dumpling-making to discovering the incredible origin story of the Chinese Zodiac!

When the Jade Emperor needs a way to tell time, he decrees that the first twelve animals to cross the race’s mighty river will have a year named after them and will mark the passage of a 12-year cycle.

Learn which animals win & what traits helped their success, why the rat and cat are enemies, and how each animal earned their place in the Zodiac while enjoying traditional Chinese movement, music and martial arts!

The booking agency says the performance is best for kids in kindergarten through grade 3. Individual tickets are scheduled to go on sale today at 10:00 am EST. The show starts at 2:00 pm, and the Byham Theater is located at 101 6th Street in downtown's Cultural District (map).

Let's Sushi, offering "unlimited Japanese fusion," coming to Wexford.

Signage is up for Let's Sushi in Wexford Plaza in the North Hills (map). The restaurant offering "unlimited Japanese fusion," according to a sign in the window, will be located in the spot formerly occupied by Nakama. Paperwork indicates Let's Sushi is owned by the properietor behind other Asian buffets that used to operate in the area: Misaki, Yamato Hibachi Grill, and Old Town Buffet.

More dates announced for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) in Pittsburgh, May 14, 16, 18, and 19.

The 2021 Japanese movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) will play in Pittsburgh from May 14, with additional showtimes announced for May 16, 18, and 19.

After completing their rehabilitation training, Tanjiro and his comrades arrive at their next mission on the Mugen Train, where over 40 people have disappeared. Together with one of the most powerful swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, they face the nightmare on board.

The film played here throughout Summer 2021. It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Vietnamese movie The Ancestral Home (Nha Gia Tien) continues in Pittsburgh through May 21.

The Vietnamese movie The Ancestral Home (Nha Gia Tien), which opened in Pittsburgh on May 9, will remain here through at least May 21.

A Gen Z video creator returns to her ancestral home in search of viral supernatural content, only to encounter the ghost of her tragically deceased brother. To fulfil his wish, they must join hands to uncover the truth behind his untimely death while safeguarding the family's fortune and ancestral home from their greedy relatives.

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

Sunday Fun Day: Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage, May 18 at Westmoreland Museum of American Art.

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art will host Sunday Fun Day: Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage on May 18.

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage at The Westmoreland with special performances and engaging hands-on activities. Fun for all ages!

Enjoy captivating performances by Tuika’s Polynesian Island Magic and Pittsburgh Xiaobo Waist Drum Dance Group with special guests. Experience Kamishibai, the traditional Japanese art of storytelling, presented by the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library. Take part in engaging hands-on activities, including Chinese calligraphy and art-making, and savor a variety of delicious cultural cuisine.

1997 Japanese animated film The End of Evangelion (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン劇場版 Air/まごころを、君に) at Rangos Giant Cinema, May 16.

The 1997 Japanese animated film The End of Evangelion (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン劇場版 Air/まごころを、君に) will play at the Rangos Giant Cinema on May 16, the second installment of its "Ani-May" series.

In the epic finale to one of anime’s greatest sagas, humanity’s survival hangs by a thread on more than simply battles. SEELE orders an all-out attack on NERV, aiming to destroy the Evas before Gendo can advance his own plans for the Human Instrumentality Project. Shinji is pushed to the limits of his sanity as he is forced to decide the fate of humanity.

Come see “Neon Genesis Evangelion: End of Evangelion” and experience its stunning visuals and phenomenal storytelling like never before at The Rangos Giant Cinema on Fri., May 16 at 7 p.m.

The cost is $10 for museum members and $12 for non-members. The movie starts at 7:00 pm, and the theater is inside The Carnegie Science Center, which is located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on the North Shore (map).

Ocean Vuong, "The Emperor of Gladness" Reading and Conversation, May 20.

White Whale Bookstore will present Ocean Vuong and his "The Emperor of Gladness" Reading and Conversation at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall in Oakland on May 20.

White Whale Bookstore is thrilled to welcome bestselling author, award-winning poet, and MacArthur Genius Ocean Vuong back to Pittsburgh in celebration of his latest novel, The Emperor of Gladness! Join us May 20th at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall for an unforgettable evening.

Tickets are required to attend this event. Each ticket—except discounted student tickets— will include a signed copy of The Emperor of Gladness, to be picked up at the event. The author will not be personalizing books, or signing any books brought from home.

Can't attend this time? You can preorder The Emperor of Gladness here. For every confirmed preorder of this book, Penguin Press will donate $0.50 to Queer Liberation Library. Let them know you preordered here.

. . .

Ocean Vuong returns with a bighearted novel about chosen family, unexpected friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive

One late summer evening in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on the edge of a bridge in pelting rain, ready to jump, when he hears someone shout across the river. The voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing to dementia, who convinces him to take another path. Bereft and out of options, he quickly becomes her caretaker. Over the course of the year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond, one built on empathy, spiritual reckoning, and heartbreak, with the power to transform Hai’s relationship to himself, his family, and a community on the brink.

Following the cycles of history, memory, and time, The Emperor of Gladness shows the profound ways in which love, labor, and loneliness form the bedrock of American life. At its heart is a brave epic about what it means to exist on the fringes of society and to reckon with the wounds that haunt our collective soul. Hallmarks of Ocean Vuong’s writing—formal innovation, syntactic dexterity, and the ability to twin grit with grace through tenderness—are on full display in this story of loss, hope, and how far we would go to possess one of life’s most fleeting mercies: a second chance.
 

OCEAN VUONG is the author of the critically acclaimed poetry collections Night Sky with Exit Wounds and Time Is a Mother, as well as the New York Times bestselling novel On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. A recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship and the American Book Award, he used to work as a fast-food server, which inspired The Emperor of Gladness. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, he currently splits his time between Northampton, Massachusetts, and New York City.

The event runs from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, and tickets may be purchased online. The Carnegie Library Lecture Hall is located in Oakland, accessible via numerous city buses (map).

Vietnam 9 Vietnam now open in Oakland.

New Vietnamese restaurant Vietnam 9 Vietnam has recently opened in Oakland. Signage went up for the new place in February at 338 S. Bouquet St. (map), in what was most recently Beta Bytes. Vietnam 9 Vietnam, also stylized Vietnam Vietnam 9, has online ordering set up, and its menu features an assortment of pho, banh mi, bun bo hue, com dia, bun, chao, heo kho, and bo kho.

Kpot now coming to Pittsburgh . . . never.

The "coming soon" sign has come down from the former Eat n' Park in Squirrel Hill, where the highly-anticipated Kpot was supposed to open a while ago. It has been replaced by a For Lease sign. I actually had a post set to publish on May 28 to mark the second anniversary of "coming soon" signage with absolutely no updates or movement, so I've needed to modify that now.

While driving to work on May 28, 2023 I passed by workers putting up a "Kpot Coming Soon" sign on the old Eat n' Park in Squirrel Hill. (You may have seen the photo when other local news sites lifted it without attribution.) Over the last two years, however, almost no activity has taken place in the large Murray Avenue restaurant space, which led most people to doubt whether Kpot would ever open at all.

The "Pittsburg" location was long listed as "coming soon" on the website as well, but all my inquiries to Kpot always received the same response:

At this time we do not have a definitive date as to when this location will be open. All new location openings will be announced on our FB and IG, stay tuned!

In 2023 and 2024, a number of all-you-can-eat Hot Pot and Korean BBQ places were announced with great fanfare: besides Kpot there was Hong Hot Pot & BBQ on McKnight Road, Korean BBQ in Oakland, Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ on the South Side, Running Dish at the Waterfront, and Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in McCandless and Robinson, plus a couple others announced this year. Hong Hot Pot & BBQ is the only one to open so far, while the others remain in various stages of (in)completion, months and sometimes years after initial target opening dates. To editorialize for a moment, I have to wonder if the growing costs of construction and ingredients---which will only continue to climb under Trump---paired with adminsitrative delays have made owners second guess the feasibility of these restaurant concepts. While Korean BBQ is of course popular throughout the US, one of the appeals to these places in Korea is how cheap and ubiquitous they are; families may bristle at spending $150-$200 for a night out, particularly as we enter an economic recession or depression.

HK Dim Sum holds Grand Opening in Oakland today, May 8.

HK Dim Sum, also stylized Hong Kong Dim Sum, has officially grand opened today in North Oakland. It soft opened back on April 15 and is located at 4520 Centre Ave. in North Oakland's One on Centre complex (map). The menu features a variety of dumpling, dim sum, and dessert dishes in addition to more commonly-found rice and noodle entrees, and the space features a large dining room plus three private rooms for events. Announced back in September 2023, HK Dim Sum was aiming to help fill in one of the remaining gaps in Pittsburgh's Asian food scene. Its hours are currently 11:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration, May 18 at Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History.

The Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History will host an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration on May 18.

Carnegie Museums is thrilled to honor and celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Join us and our community partners throughout the day for guided tours, activities and performances.

Razin M. Karu, Executive Director PA Governor’s Advisory Commission on AAPI Affairs, will be reading a proclamation from Governor Shapiro on Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month.

11:45 a.m.-12 p.m.  Opening Remarks and Proclamation from the Govenor read by Razin M. Karu in the Hall of Sculpture

12 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Performances in the Hall of Sculpture and Sculpture Court

1:45 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Performances in the Hall of Sculpture and Sculpture Court

11:00 a.m.-3 p.m. Tabling and activities throughout the Sculpture Court and the Scaife Hallway Activities include: Calligraphy, Dynasty Costume Try on, Cultural Crafts, and storytelling

1:15 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Screenings of The Last Mayor of Chinatown in Earth Theater (Run Time: 13:34 minutes)

Performers for the event include: BCAP, OCA Pittsburgh, Silk Elephant Thai Dance Troupe, Geeta Tahiliana-Bollywood, PCCC Art Group, Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh, and DnB Magnets. It runs from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and is free with museum admission.

Win-Win Kung Fu in Squirrel Hill offering six-week summer camp for kids' martial arts, fitness, culture, and language training; $30 discount extended through May 31.

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center's annual summer camp returns for six weeks of programming in July, and the school has extended its $30-per-week discount for registrants through May 31.

 Camp Schedule:

• Week 1: July 7 – 11
• Week 2: July 14 – 18
• Week 3: July 21 – 25
• Week 4: July 28 – August 1
• Week 5: August 4 – 8
• Week 6: August 11 – 15

 Location: Squirrel Hill Studio – 2705-2707 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
 Time: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (optional extended care until 5:30 PM)
 Ages: 5 – 15 years

 What to Expect

 Learn Kung Fu/Wushu/Tai Chi from champion masters
 Train in martial arts fundamentals
 Boost focus, fitness, and confidence with intensive training
 Dive into Mandarin language, Chinese culture, games, and movies
 Have fun in a supportive and engaging environment

 Tuition & Registration

• $240 per 5-day week (Save $30 when you register by May 31!)
• 10% discount for siblings
• New students: One-time $90 registration fee (includes a pair of training shoes, T-shirt, and training pants)
• Free registration for current Win-Win students
• Only 25 spots per week – First Come, First Serve!

 How to Register
 Current Win-Win students: Complete the selection form and submit a 20% tuition deposit.
 New students: Fill out the registration form, sign the waiver, complete the selection form, and submit a 20% tuition deposit along with the $90 registration fee.

Seats fill up fast, so don’t miss out on a summer of fun and learning!

For questions or to register, call (412) 336-8898 or email masters [at] winwinkungfu.com.

The studio is located at 2705 Murray Ave., on the ground floor of the Morrowfield building in Squirrel Hill South (map).