Lunar New Year at Phipps, February 21.

Phipps Conservatory and Chinese Association for Science and Technology-Pittsburgh Chapter (CASTP) will present a Lunar New Year celebration and event at Phipps on February 21.

Celebrate the year of the horse at Phipps Conservatory!Empty heading

On Sat., Feb. 21, Phipps Conservatory and The CASTP Organization are proud to present the 29th Lunar New Year celebration, all under Phipps' historic glasshouse! This event will host a variety of food and craft vendors, unique performances and educational resources to learn more about this beloved Chinese celebration. Plus, guests can also experience the lovely Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show: Blooming with Love during the celebration.

This event is included in regular Conservatory admission. Members and children under two are free.

Schedule of Events

Some tickets still remain for 2026 Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Gala (大匹兹堡地区马年春节晚会), February 7 at Pittsburgh Playhouse.

The 2026 Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Gala (大匹兹堡地区马年春节晚会) will be held February 7 at Pittsburgh Playhouse.

The 2026 Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Gala, presented by the Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center (PCCC), will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, PNC Theater. Free cultural activities open to the public will begin at 4:00 PM, followed by the main performances at 6:00 PM.

As the largest and most influential Lunar New Year celebration in the Greater Pittsburgh region, the Gala brings together leaders and audiences from government, universities, corporations, and communities, serving as a key platform for cultural celebration and cross-cultural connection.

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center to start Chinese (Mandarin) for Daily Conversation & Kung Fu / Tai Chi class with free trial lesson on February 8.

Squirrel Hill's Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center will start a new Chinese (Mandarin) for Daily Conversation & Kung Fu / Tai Chi class with free trial lesson on February 8.The coursses will run on Sundays starting February 15.

 Our Chinese (Mandarin) Language Course for Daily Conversation & Kung Fu / Tai Chi Training is starting soon — and we invite you to a FREE trial class on Sunday, February 8, 2026! 

This course focuses on practical Chinese (Mandarin) for daily communication as well as Kung Fu and Tai Chi training, helping students build real-world language skills while deepening their understanding of martial arts practice and culture.

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 What Makes This Course Special

Students learn useful, everyday Chinese (Mandarin) alongside Kung Fu / Tai Chi terminology, commands, and concepts—allowing language to be naturally applied both inside and outside the training studio.

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 Who Is This Course For?

Adults
• Learn Chinese (Mandarin) for daily conversation and martial arts training
• Practice common phrases alongside Kung Fu / Tai Chi terminology
• Explore the cultural background and philosophy behind Chinese martial arts

Teens & Kids
• Learn Chinese through movement, Kung Fu, and Tai Chi practice
• Enjoy games, stories, and hands-on cultural activities
• Strengthen understanding of movements, concepts, and techniques
• Build confidence, focus, and coordination
• Designed to be fun, age-appropriate, and pressure-free

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 Course Highlights

• Daily conversation Chinese (Mandarin) + Kung Fu / Tai Chi training language
• Martial arts culture, stories, and traditions
• Interactive, fun, and hands-on learning
• No prior Chinese experience required
• Class duration: 45 minutes

Peregrination: Xiaojing Yan 闫晓静 exhibition at Contemporary Craft, February 6 through May 2.

Peregrination, an exhibition by Chinese Canadian artist Xiaojing Yan (闫晓静), will open at Contemporary Craft on February 6 and run through May 2.

Peregrination, a long and meandering journey… 

This exhibition features work by Toronto based artist, Xiaojing Yan. Through the lens of personal migration and cultural hybridity, Yan explores the evolving relationship between identity, tradition, and the natural world. Yan’s art reflects a journey of transformation – an intricate weaving of folklore, ritual, and nature into a symbolic and dreamlike representation of lived experience. 

Drawing from ancient Chinese myths and customs, Yan reinterprets traditional narrative through a contemporary lens, reflecting on the fluidity of cultural memory. Her practice is both a tribute and a reimagining, examining how heritage can be at once rooted and reshaped – especially through her choices of materials and processes. Natural motifs, often deeply embedded in Chinese folklore, emerge in her work as metaphors for movement, adaptation, and belonging. Mountains, rivers, and celestial elements echo the rhythms of migration, symbolizing the passage between worlds – both physical and spiritual. 

Through meticulous craftsmanship and layered symbolism, her work becomes a meditation space – where the past converses with the present. Laden with symbolism, her creations remain as resonant today as they were historically, also engaging with contemporary concerns. In this act of peregrination, Yan constructs a landscape uniquely her own, evoking poetic and philosophical reflections on humanity’s connection to the natural world.

The opening reception is on February 6, 5:30 to 8:30 pm, and is free and open to the public. Other free associated events, for which reservation is required, include an Artist Talk on February 7, a guided tour on March 21, and a guided tour on May 2. Contemporary Craft is located at 5645 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).

Pittsburgh Pirates sign 6-foot-7, 17-year-old Chinese pitcher Mingxuan Zhang (张铭轩).

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed 6-foot-7, 17-year-old Chinese pitcher Mingxuan Zhang, according to reporter Francys Romero on X.com. The signing was announced on the 15th, but made official with the literal signing yesterday.

The Pirates have had other Chinese prospects in their system, including Hai-Cheng Gong of the Shanghai Golden Eagles who was signed in 2017 at 18, but none have made the big league roster.

2026 New Year's Banquet Gala with OCA Pittsburgh, February 21 at Szechuan Spice.

The 2026 New Year's Banquet Gala with the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) Pittsburgh will be held on February 21 at Szechuan Spice in Shadyside. 

Celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Horse with a ten course banquet.

The Lunar New Year began in China more than 4,000 years ago and is widely observed in East and Southeast Asia. Over the years, the festivities have spread around the world. It is now celebrated by millions of people all over the United States, including here in Pittsburgh!

Come celebrate Lunar New Year with OCA Pittsburgh! Eat a 10 course meal, watch cultural performances and participate in a raffle!

OCA Banquet is our fundraiser that makes it possible for OCA to provide advocacy and services for Asian Americans in Pittsburgh.

If you are not currently an active member, we invite you become one. Your membership supports the important work we do as well as access to benefits. Please use this link to sign up.

Tickets are currently available, $110 for a seat or $1,000 for a table. The event runs from 5:00 to 10:00 pm at Szechuan Spice, 5700 Centre Ave. in Shadyside (map). More information is available at the event link.

January Guest Chef Dinner featuring Wei Zhu from Chengdu Gourmet, January 29 at Community Kitchen Pittsburgh in Hazelwood.

Community Kitchen Pittsburgh will host Wei Zhu of Chengdu Gourmet for the January installment of the Guest Chef Dinner on January 29.

Get ready for a bold, unforgettable evening as we welcome Chef Wei Zhu of Chengdu Gourmet for a "One Night Only" dinner celebrating the depth and soul of authentic Sichuan cuisine.

Known for his masterful balance of heat, spice, and complexity, Chef Wei brings the flavors that have made Chengdu Gourmet a regional favorite, earning him national acclaim, including multiple James Beard Award nominations.

Recently selected as an official vendor for the NFL Draft, Chef Wei's cooking represents the very best of Pittsburgh's food scene, blending tradition, technique, and unmistakable flavor. You'll enjoy a thoughtfully-curated menu showcasing Sichuan classics and signature dishes, each telling a story of heritage, craft, and community.

Chinese teahouse Peel coming soon to Squirrel Hill.

Work continues on Peel, a Chinese teahouse coming soon to Squirrel Hill. It will be located at 5806 Forbes Ave., second floor, above Uncle Sam's (map). Permits were first issued for the spot back in April. Recently-added signage on the door advertises PEEL

is a (tea)house for drinks, eats, inquiries & play

Coming this winter

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh announces collection of "teen time" programming for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has announced lots of "teen time" creativity events for many of its branches for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in May 2026, featuring programs on Japanese book binding, shadow puppets, ceramics, Korean schoolyard games, and paper folding.

2025 Chinese film Resurrection (狂野时代) in Pittsburgh, January 17 - 28.

The 2025 Chinese film Resurrection (狂野时代) will play in Pittsburgh from January 17 through 28.

Unfolding over five chapters that feature a dazzling array of styles, Resurrection is a cascade of imagery united by a luminous mythopoetic conceit: in a sci-fi-coded world where people have lost the desire to dream in the hopes of prolonging life, rogue “fantasmers” continue to stoke their imaginations and exist within unreality. From this magical premise, the film sends its ever-morphing protagonist (Jackson Yee) through a series of genres, from Méliès-inflected silent fantasy to wartime thriller to con-artist buddy picture to millennial vampire romance—the latter depicted in one of Bi’s customary, and ever astonishing, single takes. Even within genre parameters, the director never takes the road well-traveled, offering jolts and marvels around every corner. Resurrection is one of the most audacious and ambitious gifts for cinematic thrill-seekers in many a moon.

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

Okane Sushi, featuring sushi tacos and omakase, set to open January 2 January 3 January 5 January 7.

Okane Sushi is set to open downtown on January 2 January 3 January 5 January 7, with a menu featuring set and customized sushi tacos on the first floor and a second floor dedicated to omakase (chef's choice of sushi). [Shipping delays have pushed the opening back a couple times, according to ownership.] It will be located at 245 4th Ave. (map), repacing Sushi i, which opened there in April 2025, and is from the team behind several new restaurants including Top Pot Hot Pot, Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, and the forthcoming Opal Buffet, among others.

Chinese movie Escape from the Outland (用武之地) in Pittsburgh, from January 9.

The 2025 Chinese movie Escape from the Outland (用武之地) will play in Pittsburgh from January 9.

Escape from the Outland delivers a gripping survival story with strong international appeal. Inspired by the true story of hostages who fought for survival, the film follows a Chinese journalist, his doctor wife, and an engineer who are kidnapped by a terrorist group amid sudden chaos in a war-torn region. Trapped with a fellow businessman, they endure 105 days of terror and defiance, risking everything in a desperate bid to escape their captors.

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

Okane Sushi, featuring sushi tacos, opening downtown January 2.

Okane Sushi is set to open downtown on January 2, with a menu featuring set and customized sushi tacos. It will be located at 245 4th Ave. (map), repacing Sushi i, which opened there in April, and is from the team behind several new restaurants including Top Pot Hot Pot.

Poke Bowl Express & Asian Cuisine now open in Greenfield.

Poke Bowl Express & Asian Cuisine has opened in Greenfield, in the spot across from Giant Eagle most recently occupied by Gold Ladle. Signage first went up earlier in December for "a Chinese restaurant to a Poke Bowl-focused Asian fustion restaurant (Japanese & Chinese)." Gold Ladle was the latest in a line of Chinese restaurants occupying 4219 Murray Ave. (map), dating back to at least the 1980s, but it closed in April 2025 due to fire after just six months in business. It took over the spot after a few months of Wai Wai, which took over that spot after China Star was shut down in February 2024 due to repeated health violations.

Poke Bowl Express has posted its menu online, and it includes set and customized poke bowls, sushi and rolls, and an assortment of Chinese and Asian dishes like kung pao chicken, pad thai, sweet sour chicken, and more.

2025 Chinese film Resurrection (狂野时代) in Pittsburgh, January 17 - 28.

The 2025 Chinese film Resurrection (狂野时代) will play in Pittsburgh from January 17 through 28.

Unfolding over five chapters that feature a dazzling array of styles, Resurrection is a cascade of imagery united by a luminous mythopoetic conceit: in a sci-fi-coded world where people have lost the desire to dream in the hopes of prolonging life, rogue “fantasmers” continue to stoke their imaginations and exist within unreality. From this magical premise, the film sends its ever-morphing protagonist (Jackson Yee) through a series of genres, from Méliès-inflected silent fantasy to wartime thriller to con-artist buddy picture to millennial vampire romance—the latter depicted in one of Bi’s customary, and ever astonishing, single takes. Even within genre parameters, the director never takes the road well-traveled, offering jolts and marvels around every corner. Resurrection is one of the most audacious and ambitious gifts for cinematic thrill-seekers in many a moon.

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

Upcoming Chinese film Gezhi Town (得闲谨制) in Pittsburgh, from December 25.

The upcoming Chinese film Gezhi Town (得闲谨制) will play in Pittsburgh from December 25.

The craftsman Mo Dexian settled down in the peaceful Gezhi town with his family, but the sudden arrival of an uninvited guest plunged their once peaceful and harmonious home into crisis.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront through the 30th, and tickets are available online.

Nami Japanese Kitchen & Bar, offering all-you-can-eat sushi, coming soon to Bridgeville.

Nami Japanese Kitchen & Bar, offering all-you-can-eat sushi, is coming soon to the Chartiers Valley Shopping Center in Bridgeville. The torii, and signage, is up in the former Vocelli Pizza spot.

A huge local restaurant trend in 2023 and 2024 was planning---and sometimes opening---all-you-can-eat hotpot and Korean-style BBQ places, while a trend for 2025 was opening all-you-can-eat sushi places: 8 Star in Gibsonia, Let's Sushi in Wexford, and Koi Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Monroeville opened over the past year, and Oyoshi in East Liberty is still under construction.

Lucy Chen's Dress in Red at Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, April 3 and 4.

The Kelly-Strayhorn Theater will present Lucy Chen's Dress in Red on April 3 and 4, part of its Freshworks series.

Femininity. Sexuality. Perception. Expectation. Dressed in Red explores these ideas and our shifting self and social identities through a blend of movement and video performance. Inspired by Classical Chinese dance and contemporary movement, Dressed in Red reflects on Lucy’s experience of the complex relationship between how we see ourselves, how we present ourselves, and how others see us. 

Utilizing video media and a costume that transforms throughout the performance, the dancers explore self-expression and connection/tension with their communities, within the lens of what it means to be feminine. Audiences witness an evolving narrative of feminine identity and are encouraged to contemplate their own experiences with their image, and how we perform our gender and sexuality.

The performances run 7:30 to 9:00 pm and include a post-show discussion. Tickets are available online. The Kelly-Strayhorn Theater's Alloy Studios is located at 5530 Penn Ave. in East Liberty (map).

Signage up for Poke Bowl Express & Asian Cuisine in Greenfield.

Signage is up for Poke Bowl Express & Asian Cuisine on Murray Ave. in Greenfield. Printed window signage went up 11 days ago announcing the arrival of "a "Poke Bowl-focused Asian fusion restaurant" coming soon to the spot most recently occupied by Gold Ladle. Gold Ladle was the latest in a line of Chinese restaurants occupying 4219 Murray Ave. (map), dating back to at least the 1980s, but it closed in April 2025 due to fire after just six months in business. It took over the spot after a few months of Wai Wai, which took over that spot after China Star was shut down in February 2024 due to repeated health violations.

Signage on the windows says

Dear Customers,

Our restaurant has been renovated and upgraded from a Chinese restaurant to a Poke Bowl-focused Asian fustion restaurant (Japanese & Chinese).

Coming Soon