Taiwan Aloha Hosts Rakuten Girls Cheerleaders Meet & Greet at The Block Northway, September 2.

Taiwan Aloha will bring the Rakuten Girls Cheerleaders to The Block Northway on September 2, ahead of Taiwan Community Day / Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Night at PNC Park on the 3rd. From The Block Northway press release:

Taiwan Aloha, in partnership with The Block Northway and Sesame Inn, is excited to present a special Meet & Greet with the Rakuten Girls cheerleaders from Taiwan. Fans will enjoy a short performance, autographs, photos, and interactive experiences with this internationally renowned cheer team.

Event Details:

• Date: September 2, 2025
• Location: The Block Northway
• Time: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

The Rakuten Girls, cheerleaders for Taiwan’s Rakuten Monkeys baseball team, have gained a global following for their high-energy performances and cultural influence. Their Pittsburgh appearance is expected to draw strong community interest, bringing together families, baseball fans, and members of the AAPI community, while also supporting local businesses at The Block Northway.

Tina Chuang, President of Taiwan Aloha, commented:

"We are thrilled to welcome the Rakuten Girls and share this cultural experience with Pittsburgh, in partnership with The Block Northway. This event celebrates community, culture, and local business."

 The Block Northway is a shopping center located at 8013 McKnight Rd. in the North Hills (map).

1962 Japanese film Sanjuro (椿三十郎) in Pittsburgh, September 4 through 7.

The 1962 Japanese film Sanjuro (椿三十郎) will play in Pittsburgh from September 4 through 7, the fourth in a series of five classic Kurosawa films at the Harris Theater July through September.

Toshiro Mifune swaggers and snarls to brilliant comic effect in Akira Kurosawa's tightly paced, beautifully composed Sanjuro. In this sly companion piece to Yojimbo, jaded samurai Sanjuro helps an idealistic group of young warriors weed out their clan's evil influences, and in the process turns their image of a "proper" samurai on its ear. Less brazen in tone than its predecessor but equally entertaining, this classic character's return is a masterpiece in its own right.

Tickets for the film are available online. The Harris Theater is located at 809 Liberty Ave. in downtown's Cultural District (map).

Casting call for Chinese speakers for upcoming student film We All Leave at the End of the Night.

An upcoming student film by University of Pittsburgh student Freya Norwood, We All Leave at the End of the Night, has an open casting call for three roles and is accepting applications through September 8.

Are you, or someone you know, a Chinese speaker in the Pittsburgh area who always loved the tale of Chang’e flying to the moon as a kid? Are you interested in acting in a student film and trying your hand at calligraphy? Are you prone to melancholic musings and enjoy sharing mooncakes?

There are three roles:

Chang’e 嫦娥: 18-22, female, Chinese, the immortal woman on the moon from Chinese legend, Chinese speaking role (long undyed hair preferable)

Leah: 20-23, female, a half-Chinese college senior split between enjoying time with her friends and missing her family afar, English and Chinese speaking role

Jiejie 姐姐: 20-25, female, Chinese, the playful but imperious older sister of Chang’e, Chinese speaking role (undyed long hair preferable) 

 Those interested should apply via this Google Form.

11 classic Hong Kong films from 80s and 90s in Pittsburgh, September and October, part of Hong Kong Cinema Classics series at Harris Theater.

The Harris Theater will screen 11 classic Hong Kong films as part of its Hong Kong Cinema Classics series starting in late-September.

• A Better Tomorrow (英雄本色) - September 27 - October 1
• A Better Tomorrow 2 (英雄本色2) - September 28
• Peking Opera Blues (刀馬旦) - September 28 - October 6
• A Chinese Ghost Story (倩女幽魂) - September 29 - October 3
• City on Fire (龍虎風雲) - September 29 - October 8
• A Chinese Ghost Story 2 (倩女幽魂 II：人間道) - September 30
• A Better Tomorrow 3: Love & Death in Saigon (英雄本色3-夕陽之歌) - September 30
• A Chinese Ghost Story 3 (倩女幽魂 III：道道道) - October 1
• The Killer (喋血雙雄) - October 3 - October 7
• Hard Boiled (辣手神探) - October 4 - October 8
• Bullet in the Head (喋血街头) - October 5 - October 7

Tickets and showtime information is available online. The Harris Theater is located in downtown's Cultural District (map). 

English dub of 2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海) stays in Pittsburgh-area theaters through (at least) September 4.

The English dub of the 2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海), which which opened in Pittsburgh-area theaters on August 21, will remain here through at least September 4.

A rebellious young boy, Ne Zha, is feared by the gods and born to mortal parents with wild, uncontrolled powers. Now he's faced with an ancient force intent on destroying humanity, he must grow up to become the hero the world needs.

It is scheduled to play in Digital 3D, Real 3D, and Standard Formats in several local theaters at different points throughout its run, including the Manor Theater in Squirrel Hill, the AMC Loews Waterfront, the AMC Classic South Hills Village, AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, the Waterworks Cinemas, the Chartiers Valley Luxury, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless and Robinson, among others. Tickets are available online.

Four Japanese animated films at Row House Lawrenceville for Takahata Week, September 26 - October 2.

The Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville will present four Japanese animated films in "a celebration of Isao Takahata – one of Japan’s greatest directors/screenwriters" from September 26 through October 2. Pom Poko (平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ), Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓), Only Yesterday (おもひでぽろぽろ), and The Tale of Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語) will comprise this fall's Takahata Week. Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

Koi Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Monroeville to soft open August 28, hold a Grand Opening on August 30.

Koi Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Monroeville has announced its soft opening on August 28 and its Grand Opening from August 30. It is located at 1782 Golden Mile Hwy (map), in what was most recently Golden Palace Restaurant. 

I started my journey as a private chef, bringing the excitement of hibachi cooking directly into people’s homes. Now, I’m thrilled to bring that same passion, flavor, and fun to this beautiful community with Koi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar.

In the past, I’ve also volunteered my time and skills as a chef to support local events and help those in need. I’m new to Monroeville, and I want to give back to the community. If you’re organizing any volunteering events, shelters, or community programs, feel free to reach out—I’d love to help.

Soft Opening: Thursday, Aug 28, 2025 @ 3 PM

Grand Opening: Saturday, Aug 30, 2025

Oak Shopping Center – 1782 Golden Mile Hwy, Monroeville, PA 15146

Grand opening Vouchers Valid only from 28th August to 5th September 2025

In addition to the restaurant, you can also book me as your private hibachi chef for parties and special occasions!

Visit Hiroshihibachi.com to learn more.

Please share this post with your friends and family—I can’t wait to serve you, both at Koi and at your own special gatherings!

The menu is hundreds of items long, consisting of a variety of hibachi items, poke bowls, sushi, rolls, standard Chinese and Thai entrees, boba tea, and more. 

'Our Robots Love the Dirty, Dull, and Dangerous!' An Ethno-Historiography of Human-Nuclear Relations and the technology of Distantiation, September 4 at Pitt.

via Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

The University of Pittsburgh's World History Center and Asian Studies Center will host Dr. Ryo Morimoto from Harvard University and his talk "'Our Robots Love the Dirty, Dull, and Dangerous!' An Ethno-Historiography of Human-Nuclear Relations and the technology of Distantiation" on September 4, part of the Industrial Heritage in Pittsburgh and Japan programming from September 3 through 5.

What is the ongoing global significance of the 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima and its impact on Japan’s reputation as a leading robotics nation? Join anthropologist Dr. Ryo Morimoto (Harvard University) for a talk on the co-evolution of the international nuclear industry and robotics, from the development of gloveboxes and arm manipulators in the 1940s to modern applications of mobile robots—physical AIs—in the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F) and other radioactive sites.

The talk runs from 4:30 to 6:00 pm in 4130 Posvar Hall (map) and is free and open to the public.

Fourth BTS film added to series playing in Pittsburgh: BTS 2016 Live The Most Beautiful Moment in Life On Stage: Epilogue Remastered plays here September 24 and 28.

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A fourth film has been added to the series of BTS concert films playing in Pittsburgh-area theaters: BTS 2016 Live The Most Beautiful Moment in Life On Stage: Epilogue Remastered will play here September 24 and 28.

The grand finale of “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life” series by BTS, where the story of youth shines brightest— it’s . From the lingering tenderness of “Autumn Leaves” and “Butterfly” to the explosive performances of “FIRE,” “Save ME,” and “EPILOGUE: Young Forever,” the story of youth that defined BTS as we know today, is vividly brought to life on screen!

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

"Chinese Mid-Autumn and Global Food Festival" at Carnegie Mellon University, October 1.

The Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics’ Chinese Studies program at Carnegie Mellon University and Pittsburgh’s Organization of Chinese Americans will present the 2025 Chinese Mid-Autumn and Global Food Festival on October 1.

Celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and explore culinary traditions from around the world at this vibrant cultural event!

Free and open to the public, attendees will enjoy live performances that showcase music, dance and storytelling from East Asian cultures. Sample delicious global cuisine, connect with the greater-CMU community and take part in a joyful evening of community, culture and conversation. All are welcome — come hungry and curious!

The event runs from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Cohon University Center's Rangos Ballroom on the Carnegie Mellon campus in Oakland (map), and is free and open to the public.

2025 Chinese animated film The Legend of Hei II (罗小黑战记2) in Pittsburgh, from September 4.

The 2025 Chinese animated film The Legend of Hei II (罗小黑战记2) will play in Pittsburgh from September 4.

When an attack shatters the fragile peace between the spirit world and humanity, Hei teams up with Luye, the last disciple of his Shifu Wuxian, to expose a conspiracy that threatens both realms - and the bond they've sworn to protect.

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

Remastered BTS concert films from 2017, 2019, and 2021 in Pittsburgh in September and October.

Three older BTS concert films will play in the Pittsburgh area in September and October. BTS 2017 Live Trilogy EPISODE III THE WINGS TOUR THE FINAL Remastered plays September 25 and 28:

BTS cemented their global status with their first Billboard Music Award win, and their meteoric rise is powerfully captured in . Individual and unit performances reveal a spectrum of charms through velvety vocals and poetic rap, while the electrifying performances of “Blood Sweat & Tears,” “DNA,” and “MIC Drop” showcase the tour’s expanded scale! A pivotal chapter in BTS’s journey unfolds vividly on screen.

BTS 2019 WORLD TOUR ‘LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF’ LONDON Remastered plays October 1 and 5:

A breathtaking expression of true love and the meaning of existence beneath a star-filled sky—A breathtaking expression of true love and the meaning of existence beneath a star-filled sky—. A powerful blend of emotion and energy, brought to life through top-notch production and stunning LED visuals. This historic night marked BTS as the first Korean act to headline London’s Wembley Stadium, and their heartfelt voices that once echoed across the globe now come vividly alive on screen.

BTS 2021 MUSTER SOWOOZOO Remastered plays October 2 and 5.

A one-of-a-kind “FESTA” that transcended time and space, uniting BTS and ARMY as one — A spectacular open-air performance that captured the spirit of a true festival. The warmth and joy of their 8th anniversary celebration return to the screen, as vibrant and unforgettable as ever.

So far showtimes have only been announced for the Cinemark theater in Monroeville, but those tickets are available online.

2025 Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival, September 27 at North Park.

The 2025 Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival will be held on September 27 at North Park. The event runs from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on North Park Lake (map), and in addition to the races that support breast cancer survivors, there will be a lion dance, food trucks, vendors, and activitiy tables including the Chinese Heritage Room (from the Pitt Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Program), OCA, the Pittsburgh Chinese School, and the Pittsburgh Taoist Tai Chi Society. The event is free for spectators, and registration remains open for teams of paddlers through August 31.

Meet Pho now open in Oakland, in old Meet Bao spot on Atwood St.

Meet Pho is now open in Oakland, and has a menu available online, via Fantuan. It is located at 114 Atwood St. (map), in the spot formerly occupied by Meet Bao, which had announced what they said was a temporary closure over the summer months. Meet Bao opened in 2021 in what was briefly Night Market Gourmet and TOP Shabu Shabu, and before that was perhaps best known as Pizza Sola.

2016 film Shin Godzilla (シン・ゴジラ) playing in Pittsburgh area in black and white, August 31.

An orthochromatic release of the 2016 film Shin Godzilla (シン・ゴジラ) will play in the Pittsburgh area on August 31.

In SHIN GODZILLA:ORTHOchromatic, Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi’s 2016 feature is reborn in stunning black and white. Released in Japan in 2023 in the leadup to Godzilla’s 70th anniversary, this version adds new dimensions to the film’s visual impact by rendering it in orthochromatic (“ortho” for short) black and white, a type of monochrome inspired by the texture of traditional orthochromatic film, characterized by starker contrasts and more pronounced blacks. The results are awe-inspiring and presents SHIN GODZILLA as never seen before.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark in Robinson at 6:30 pm, and tickets are available online. The 4K release of Shin Godzilla is playing locally here through at least the 27th.

Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea (一芳台灣水果茶) to hold Grand Opening for its first Pittsburgh-area location, August 23 and 24, with buy-one-get-one free specials.

Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea (一芳台灣水果茶), which soft opened its first Pittsburgh-area location in Squirrel Hill last month, will hold its Grand Opening on August 23 and 24.

🎉 GRAND OPENING in PITTSBURGH! 🎉
We’re celebrating our GRAND OPENING on August 23 & 24, 2025 with your favorite YiFang drinks 🍍✨
Buy One, Get One FREE – both days long!

💛Yifang Fruit Tea
🍍 Pineapple Green Tea
🍯 Green Plum Green Tea
🧋Brown Sugar Pearl Latte
🍓 Strawberry Latte
🌿 Sugarcane Mountain Tea

📍 YiFang Taiwan Fruit Tea – Pittsburgh
5825 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Grab a friend and celebrate with us! 💛

Work first began on Yi Fang back in October 2024, and the new spot joins several other famed Asian dessert and beverage chains that have opened recently in the neighborhood, like Tiger Sugar, Mango Mango, and Kyo Matcha.

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck at Ross Park Mall, October 4.

via @HellyKittyCafeTruck

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will return to Ross Park Mall on October 4.

Hello Pittsburgh! The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is returning to Ross Park Mall on Saturday, 10/4! Come say hello to us near The Cheesecake Factory & LL Bean between 10am-7pm and pick up some supercute treats & merch, while supplies last! See you there!

More information about the truck and its tours available via Sanrio. Ross Park Mall is located in Ross Township in the North Hills, just off McKnight Road (map).

More theaters and showtimes for KPop Demon Hunters A Sing-Along Event in Pittsburgh, August 23 and 24.

The feature-length film KPop Demon Hunters A Sing-Along Event will play in the Pittsburgh area on August 23 and 24.

When they aren't selling out stadiums, Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey use their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat. Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet -- an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise.

The 95-minute film plays locally at the Waterworks Cinema, Cranberry Cinemas, Cinemark theaters in Monaca, Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

First batch of films for 2025 SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival, running September 20 through 28, announced.

SCREENSHOT has announced the first batch of films for its 2025 SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival, running from September 20 through 28. The initial lineup consists of 12 films, with more to be announced later, including

• A Better Tomorrow (英雄本色) - 4K restoration of 1986 Hong Kong film
• A Useful Ghost (ผีใช้ได้ค่ะ) - 2025, Thailand
• Blue Sun Palace (蓝色太阳宫) - 2024, United States
• Daughter's Daughter (女兒的女兒) - 2024, Taiwan
• Missing Child Videotape (ミッシング・チャイルド・ビデオテープ) - 2024, Japan
• Mixed Modern (ミックスモダン) - 2025, Japan
• Pavane for an Infant (搖籃凡世) - 2024, Malaysia
• The Botanist (植物学家) - 2025, China
• Winter in Sokcho - 2024, France

Ticket and showtime information will be announced later, with screenings to be held around Oakland and the downtown Cultural District. SCREENSHOT: ASIA, which puts on the annual festival along with other Asian programming,

is a joint project from the Film and Media Studies Program and the Asian Studies Center that brings together students, faculty, and community members to create a shared awareness of Asian and Asian American experiences through contemporary film and media. Using film, video, and other on-screen arts, the series provides a forum to learn about Asian art, whether it is a classic work of cinema, a film by an emerging director, or a documentary addressing contemporary social concerns. The programming allows us to reflect on the importance of visual arts, current arts technology, and the place of cultural experiences in a global educational experience.

Work progresses on Lao Sze Chuan, a chain of Szechuan restaurants opening its first Pittsburgh-area location in Cranberry.

Work progresses on Lao Sze Chuan, a chain of Szechuan restaurants set to open its first Pittsburgh-area location in Cranberry.

The very first Lao Sze Chuan opened in 1998 in Chicago’s Chinatown and has since become one of the most beloved Chinese restaurants nationwide. The brainchild of Sichuan-born Chef Tony Hu, Lao Sze Chuan prides itself on providing traditional Sichuan cuisine with high-quality ingredients. In 1999, Lao Sze Chuan was recognized by the Chicago Tribune as “One of the Best,” receiving a “three fork” rating that was considered a prominent accomplishment for Chinese restaurants at that time.

Although Lao Sze Chuan has flourished since humble beginnings, our mission to offer, elevate, and promote gourmet authentic Chinese cuisine and provide exceptional customer service has never wavered. Our Grade A chefs are skillfully trained in Sichuan cuisine to provide the most authentic flavors at all locations. To this day, Lao Sze Chuan lives by the mantra “One Style For One Dish, A Hundred Dishes Have A Hundred Different Tastes,” a saying that keeps our most frequent customers coming back for more.

It will be located at 936 Sheraton Dr. in Mars, in what was most recently Max & Erma's (map). Work began on the spot in November 2024. This location is coming to the area by the restauranteur behind Wild Ninja Asian Grill in Oakland (2021-2022) and Dagu Rice Noodle in Squirrel Hill (2020-2025), in addition to Lao Sze Chuan, KyuRamen, Shinto, and Dagu Rice Noodle locations in Ohio.

2008 Hayao Miyazaki film Ponyo (崖の上のポニョ) in Pittsburgh, from August 23.

The 2008 Hayao Miyazaki film Ponyo (崖の上のポニョ) will play in Pittsburgh from August 23 through 27, part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2025.

Ponyo is a spunky little goldfish who swims to the beat of her own tune. One day, Ponyo escapes the grip of her overbearing father and is found washed ashore by a human boy named Sosuke. But when Ponyo makes a wish to become human herself, she throws the entire balance of nature into turmoil. With direction from Academy Award® winner Hayao Miyazaki and a delightful score from Golden Globes® nominee Joe Hisaishi, Ponyo’s whimsical narrative and popping colors are masterfully woven with resonant themes of environmental preservation and self-actualization.

It plays locally at the Waterworks Cinema, the Chartiers Valley Luxury + PTX, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets are available online; please note, some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Oakland's Smile Thai & Sushi closes.

Smile Thai & Sushi, which opened in October 2024 in the spot formerly occupied by Spice Island Tea House, appears to have closed over the summer. It opened with great fanfare, replacing the 29-year-old restaurant Spice Island, but was beset by poor health inspection reports and bad reviews.

Free "We Learn: Basic Japanese Language and Culture," Fridays at downtown Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, from October 3.

"Osaka, Japan" by Pedro Szekely (Creative Commons).

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's downtown branch will host "We Learn: Basic Japanese Language and Culture" on Fridays from October 3 through November 7, after the previous session ended on June 6.

Enjoy learning the basics of the Japanese language and culture from a certified, native Japanese instructor. We will learn greetings, etiquette and manners, survival phrases for traveling to Japan, visiting interesting tourist locations, and ordering food and shopping. We will also learn reading and writing – Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji, Emoji, Anime and Manga. Each session is designed to be interactive and fun. The agenda can vary based on the interests of the students.

 

We Learn groups are volunteer-facilitated peer learning groups. We Learn Groups meet in person but use a hybrid model with online learning materials. This Group meets on Fridays: Oct 3, Oct 10, Oct 17, Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7.

Registration is required and can be completed online. The classes run from 11:00 am, and the library is located at 612 Smithfield St. (map).

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from September 13.

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 September 13 through November 15, after finishing its most recent session on August 16.

Lucky Bites to hold Grand Opening tomorrow, August 16, in Bellevue, serving boba and poke bowls and featuring Steel Dragon lion dance performance.

Lucky Bites, a new restaurant coming soon to Bellevue featuring boba and poke bowls, will hold its Grand Opening tomorrow, August 16, at 3:00 pm.

Delicious poke bowls, refreshing boba, and a variety of Asian treats!

The opening will feature a lion dance from Steel Dragon and will coincide with traffic closures for Rhythm and Brew from 4 to 9.

Lucky Bites held its soft opening(s) on August 13 and 14. The restaurant is hiring, and those interested may send their resume to hello@luckybitespgh.com. The new spot is located at 549 Lincoln Ave. (map), the former home of Dietz Floral and Gifts.

English dub of 2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海), the highest-grossing animated film of all time, in Pittsburgh from August 21.

The 2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海), which played here in February and March, returns to the area from Augsut 21, this time dubbed in English.

A rebellious young boy, Ne Zha, is feared by the gods and born to mortal parents with wild, uncontrolled powers. Now he's faced with an ancient force intent on destroying humanity, he must grow up to become the hero the world needs.

It is scheduled to play in Digital 3D, Real 3D, and Standard Formats in several local theaters, including the Manor Theater in Squirrel Hill (from the 22nd), the AMC Classic South Hills Village, AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, the Waterworks Cinemas, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

2025 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編) in Pittsburgh area, from September 11.

The 2025 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編) will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from September 11.

The Demon Slayer Corps plunge into Infinity Castle to defeat Muzan. However, the remaining Hashiras and the Demon Slayers who survived Tanjiro's Final Selection are pitted against the remaining members of the Twelve Kizuki first.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Classic Westmoreland and the Cinemark theaters in Monaca, Monroeville, and the North Hills. Tickets are available online.

Moochi & You, a new dessert place featuring mochi donuts, corndogs, and boba, set to open August 15 in Bellevue.

Moochi & You, an Asian dessert place, is set to open in Bellevue tomorrow. It will be located at 601 Lincoln Ave. (map), in what was most recently Valkyrie Doughnuts.

The shop, located in the heart of the neighborhood, will feature donuts as well as Korean corn hot dogs. Also on the menu will be classic boba, also known as bubble tea, a popular Asian drink that often consists of a milky sweet tea and tapioca pearl balls.

Moochi & You will offer a variety of flavors.

Moochi & You uses Ghirardelli chocolates and top the donuts with pistachios, Oreos and other goodies. The hot dogs are all beef and they have spicy options.

Also on the menu will be coffee and different tea flavors. All of the tea is brewed fresh. The fresh milk tea is made with organic whole milk.

Signage went up earlier this summer. The Moochi & You owner was one of the co-founders of China Star in the North Hills, which expanded to a second location in Squirrel Hill that eventually rebranded to become Sichuan Gourmet.

Tickets still remain for "Joe Hisaishi Conducts the PSO," September 13 and 14.

Japanese conductor and composter Joe Hisaishi will conduct the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) on September 13 and 14.

Globally renowned award-winning composer, musical director, conductor and pianist, Joe Hisaishi, make his long-awaited debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Hisaishi, who is best known for his epic concert works as well as enchanting film scores, takes to the podium to conduct his own compositions including a new concert version of music from the 2023 Golden-Globe winning Studio Ghibli Film, “The Boy and the Heron,” and the US Premiere of Hisaishi’s work, The End of the World. The PSO will be joined onstage by the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.

The suite The End of the World by Joe Hisaishi was inspired by his visit to New York in the fall of 2007. He began composing the work in 2008. The suite explores the theme of "anxiety and chaos" resulting from the collapse of world order and values caused by the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Joe Hisaishi says : “I am honored to join Pittsburgh Symphony this Fall for the first time. The centre of the concert, my End of the World Suite was written for the people of the USA and I’m excited to make the US premiere of this work in Pittsburgh alongside pieces that reflect on this mood as well as new music which I hope this audience will enjoy”

The performances will be September 13 at 7:30 pm and September 14 at 2:30 pm at Heinz Hall in downtown's Cultural District (map). Tickets are available online.

Taiwanese short film Stills Moving (停格人生) in Pittsburgh September 5, and virtually September 5 - 11, as part of ReelAbilities Pittsburgh Film Festival.

The 2024 Taiwanese short film Stills Moving (停格人生) will play in Pittsburgh on September 5, and virtually from September 5 through 11, as part of the ReelAbilities Pittsburgh Film Festival. A synopsis, from the filmmaker:

A sculptor was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), facing this inevitable pain, the artist put her heart into her next work, a female figurine. As her body weakened, the sculpture, starts moving and open her eyes.

It plays on September 5 along with five other short films at Pittsburgh Playhouse downtown (map). Tickets for the in-person and virtual screenings are available online.

2023 Celine Song Oscar-nominated film Past Lives in Pittsburgh, September 12 - 18.

The 2023 Celine Song Oscar-nominated film Past Lives will play at the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville from September 12 to 18, part of the theater's The Immigrant Experience film series.

Subtle and moving, Greta Lee stars in Celine Song’s deeply human story of two childhood friends who are reunited in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life.

Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

C.Ryu and Kayla Tange Presents: Futurity of the Womb: Myth of the Cyborg Kisaeng, August 30 at Kelly Strayhorn Theater.

The Kelly Strayhorn Theater will host "C.Ryu and Kayla Tange Presents: Futurity of the Womb: Myth of the Cyborg Kisaeng" on August 30.

Futurity of the Womb: The Myth of the Cyborg Kisaeng is an experimental, 60-minute multimedia performance that reimagines Korean history through the lens of feminist mythology. Blending ritual, burlesque, speculative fiction, and mythology, the piece unfolds in four sections, interweaving live performance, video projection, and audience interaction. 

Traditionally, kisaengs were enslaved Korean courtesans, forced to entertain those in power while mastering the arts. Futurity of the Womb is a time-traveling performance that redefines the kisaeng’s legacy beyond the constraints of history. The cyborg becomes a vessel for interrogating our codependence with technology and identity, reflecting on power manufactured by human limitations. 

• Mudang Jenn Kim, a Korean-American shaman, invokes the first cosmic mother of Korea, MAGO,  who was shamed for her larger-than-life power.
• Kayla Tange merges the kisaeng and abandoned Princess Bari to explore grief and adoption as a portal, dwelling in the space between the living and the dead.
• C. Ryu reimagines the gumiho, a nine-tailed fox demon that consumed men’s livers and hearts to survive, as a cyborg—alchemizing complicit desire.

Futurity of the Womb offers not a single narrative, but a timeline rewritten—a mythos where stories once censored emerge alive, electric, and here. This is not a return to history—it’s a reprogramming.

**Funding for the “Futurity of the Womb: Myth of the Cyborg Kisaeng” was provided by the Exposure Artists Program of The Pittsburgh Foundation. An additional thank you for the support provided by the Pedantic Arts Residency. 

Photo Credit: Brendan Lott & C. Ryu

Content Warning: This event is for ages 18+ due to nudity, sex work, gore, and demonology storytelling.

Content Warning: This event includes strobing lights and loud sounds.

The performance runs from 7:30 to 8:30 pm and tickets are available online. The Kelly Strayhorn Theater's Alloy Studios are located at 5530 Penn Ave. in East Liberty (map).

 

1963 Japanese film High and Low (天国と地獄) in Pittsburgh, August 14 to 20.

The 1963 Japanese film High and Low (天国と地獄) will play in Pittsburgh from August 14 through 20, the third in a series of five classic Kurosawa films at the Harris Theater July through September.

Shoe company exec Toshiro Mifune is in the midst of a mortgage-everything takeover battle when the phone rings with a giant ransom demand for his son — but then in walks... Adapted from an Ed McBain 87th Precinct novel, this is the ultimate kidnap movie, with Kurosawa at the peak of his filmmaking powers: moral battles rage in a first hour almost totally confined to a single room jammed with distraught family, cynical advisers, and recorder-wielding cops led by super-cool detective Tatsuya Nakadai; the de rigueur money transfer aboard the Shinkansen (bullet train); sweaty police conferences shot in deep focus; a near-invisible drug pass in a jammed dance hall; and the jailhouse interview punctuated by the heaviest steel door closing in film history. High and Low is a virtuoso work that’s also a deeply moral one, exploring the meaning of “justice” in a society defined by vast economic disparity.

Tickets for the film are available online. The Harris Theater is located at 809 Liberty Ave. in downtown's Cultural District (map).

University of Pittsburgh to host Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) in December.

The University of Pittsburgh will host the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) on December 7, offering a rare opportunity for test-takers in and around western Pennsylvania. Registration is set to open August 13 for the highest level, N!, with other levels to open throughout the month.

The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) was developed in Japan, and has been offered since 1984 in countries all around the world as a means of evaluating the proficiency of non-native learners of Japanese.