The Art of Hitomoji, November 12 at University of Pittsburgh.

Visiting students from Yasuda Women's University will present "The Art of Hitomoji," a workshop on the meanings behind Japanese names, on November 12.

Join us for fun, creative workshop where you'll learn about Japanese naming culture, pick your favorite Kanji, and master the brush pen. You'll walk away with a beautiful, handmade book mark written on authentic Washi paper. Perfect for your favorite book!

✒️ The Art of Hitomoji (Tomorrow!)

📅 Thursday, November 12
🕒 3:00-4:00 PM
📍 Japanese Nationality Room, Cathedral of Learning 317

Learn about Japanese naming culture, pick your favorite kanji, and write it with a brush pen. You'll take home a handmade bookmark on authentic washi paper.

Filipino-Icelandic singer-songwriter Yaelokre performing in Pittsburgh, November 14.

Filipino-Icelandic singer-songwriter Yaelokre will perform in Pittsburgh on November 14.

If you ever feel as if music has lost its capacity for surprise, the beguiling wonder and infinite creativity of Yaelokre will respark your belief. The Filipino-Icelandic artist - real name Keath Ósk (they/it) - fuses three imaginative strands to their visionary expression: intimate, innocent folk infused with leftfield surrealism and instant pop accessibility; artwork which is intricately detailed and beautifully alluring; and storytelling which brings personal experience and poetry into rich, fable-like narratives. What’s more, all three of these elements are crafted by this one visionary artist.

The scale of the fantastical world they have created is vast, both in terms of narrative and lore. But its essence is relatively simple. The songs are set in the fictional world of Meadowlark and chart the adventures of four masked children who comprise a musical ensemble known at The Lark: Cole Seymour, Clémente Dearworth, Peregrine August, and Kingsley. They perform as representatives of The Harkers, mythical beings who express the fundamental principles of nature, wonder and chaos. What’s more, Yaelokre voices all of the different characters within their universe.

The show starts at 8:00 pm, doors at 7:00, at Mr. Smalls Theater in Millvale (map). Tickets are available online.

Ebisu Life Store Grand Opening in Cranberry scheduled for November 14.

The Pittsburgh area's second Ebisu Life Store will hold its Grand Opening on November 14 at its new Cranberry location.

Cranberry, it’s finally here! 🎉 Celebrate Ebisu’s grand opening Nov. 14–15!

🎁 Spend $39.99+ → Free snack pack
🎁 Spend $59.99+ → Gifts include an Ebisu tote + tissue pack or a gachapon capsule toy
🎁 Spend $99.99+ → Gifts include an Ebisu tote + blind box, lip balm, or a shampoo & conditioner set

Before tax. Gifts are Cranberry only. Limited quantities, first come, first served!

Deals & membership bonuses run Nov. 14–22 at both stores.

📍 20217 Rte 19, Suite 203, Cranberry Township, PA

It will be located in Cranberry Township, at 20217 Route 19 Suite 203 in a former Party City in a strip mall near the Walmart at the intersection of Route 19 and Old Freedom Rd. Ebisu Japanese Life Store is a Chinese chain specializing in Japanese goods, with its stores featuring cosmetics, snacks, homegoods, stationary, gacha machines, plushes, models, collectibles, Pokemon cards, and more. It opened its first area location in Squirrel Hill in October 2024. 

Six films from Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan comprise 12 Hour Martial Arts Kumite marathon, November 21.

Six films will comprise a 12 Hour Martial Arts Kumite marathon at the Row House Hollywood on November 21.

• 12:00 pm - Enter the Dragon (龍爭虎鬥), 1973
• 2:00 - The Street Fighter (激突! 殺人拳), 1974
• 3:50 - The Beautiful Boxer (บิวตี้ฟูล บ๊อกเซอร์), 2003
• 6:35 - The Raid, 2011
• 8:35 - The Legend of Drunken Master (醉拳二), 1994
• 10:45 - The Furious (火遮眼), 2026

Tickets are available online. The Row House Hollywood is located at 1449 Potomac Ave. (map), one block south of the Potomac T Station.

1993 Hong Kong film The Heroic Trio (東方三俠) in Pittsburgh, December 5.

The 1993 Hong Kong film The Heroic Trio (東方三俠)---starring Anita Mui, Maggie Cheung, and Michelle Yeoh---will play at the Row House Lawrenceville on December 5, part of the theater's Women in Action film series.

While one tough woman with an invisible robe has stolen 18 babies for her powerful master, two other tough women and the cops try to stop her.

It plays at 7:20 pm and tickets are available online. The Row House Lawrenceville is a single-screen theater located at 4115 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).

Opal Grand Buffet soft opening at the Waterfront, November 13.

Opal Grand Buffet has announced it will soft open at the Waterfront on Friday, November 13.

A world of flavor awaits at The Waterfront and Opal Buffet invites you for a first taste...

Starting this Friday, November 13th, we are opening the doors softly to give Pittsburgh a first taste of Opal Buffet. An exclusive selection from our menu will be available as our team refines the processes of service.

Soft Open Hours:
Lunch 11:30am - 3:30pm
Dinner 3:30pm - 9:30pm

Our official Grand Opening will be announced soon! In the meantime, please stay tuned to social media for hours and additional exciting updates. We invite you to share your opinion, so when you visit, please be sure to let us know how we are doing.

Introducing Opal Buffet!
Opal Buffet brings Brazilian churrasco, Southeast Asian grilled seafood, fresh sushi, and handcrafted desserts together in an elevated global dining experience, made for everyone. Featuring a striking black-and-gold design, a stylish central bar with inspired cocktails and private event space, Opal offers a welcoming setting for everything from casual lunches to memorable celebrations.

We can’t wait to welcome you during our soft open period!

It's opening in the former Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery spot (map). Work began on the new buffet in October 2025.

2025 Japanese animated film Dive in Wonderland (不思議の国でアリスと -Dive in Wonderland-) in Pittsburgh, November 16.

The 2025 Japanese animated film Dive in Wonderland (不思議の国でアリスと -Dive in Wonderland-) will play in Pittsburgh on November 16, part of Crunchyroll Anime Nights.

The world-famous classic Alice in Wonderland receives its first Japanese theatrical animated adaptation! Rise Azumino is a university student who feels lost in her life. One day, guided by an invitation letter left behind by her late grandmother, she enters “Wonderland”. She meets a girl named Alice there and they travel together. The Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat…the residents of Wonderland appear before Rise one after another and crazy commotion ensues! What kind of future will Rise choose in this crazy adventure with Alice?

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

International Poetry Forum Presents: Li-Young Lee, December 8 in Pittsburgh.

The International Poetry Forum will present a free reading with Li-Young Lee on December 8. The event starts at 7:00 pm at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall in Oakland (map), and tickets are available online.

A reading with one of the country's most celebrated writer-translators. Part of the International Poetry Forum's 60th Anniversary Season.

The International Poetry Forum is proud to present a reading by Li-Young Lee, acclaimed poet and translator of the Dao De Jing (Norton, 2024), at Carnegie Library Lecture Hall (Oakland) on December 8, 2026, 7:00 PM. This event is free, but tickets are expected to go quickly.

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from December 12.

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 December 12 through February 27, after its current session concludes on November 14. 

Soft opening of Pittsburgh's first YangGuoFu Mala Tang delayed until November 12.

YangGuoFu (also known as YGF Malatang), a chain of build-your-own malatang bowls, has announced a delay of the soft open of itss first Pittsburgh-area location in Squirrel Hill from November 8 to Thursday, November 12, at 11:30 am.

Founded in 2003 in Harbin, China, YGF Malatang began as a humble street-side stall built on one belief: great food should be fresh, flavorful, and uniquely yours. We handpicked ingredients, simmered broth daily, and let guests craft their own bowls — interactive, vibrant, and deeply personal. That founding spirit — individuality and flavor discovery — drives us today as we bring authentic Malatang to the Americas. At YGF, every bowl is crafted fresh and unmistakably yours.

It will be located at 5870 Forbes Ave. (map) in what was most recently Evelyn James Interiors. Signage first went up in Squirrel Hill in November 2025. There are over 6,000 YGF Malatang restaurants worldwide, and locations in New York, California, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Washington.

BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' IN KAOHSIUNG: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh, November 21.

The upcoming concert film BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' IN KAOHSIUNG: LIVE VIEWING will play in Pittsburgh on November 21.

The record-breaking journey continues as BTS’s history-making tour across Asia makes its way to the big screen. Join the roar of the crowds in Kaohsiung in November and experience the breathtaking performances and electrifying energy of BTS’s stadium tour. Don't miss your chance to witness BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' in all its glory in cinemas worldwide.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monaca, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are avialable online.

Upcoming Japanese film Godzilla Minus Zero (ゴジラ-0.0) in Pittsburgh, from November 5.

The upcoming Japanese film Godzilla Minus Zero (ゴジラ-0.0) will play in and around Pittsburgh from November 5.

War reduced Japan to zero, and Godzilla plunged it into minus. Two years have passed since then, and the country has faced agonizing struggles to achieve recovery and finally reclaim its daily life. Just as humanity managed to cling to a hard-won peace, a new threat strikes, crushing hope in an instant. There is no third time. Everything ends here.

It plays at most local theaters, including the AMC Loews Waterfront, Waterworks Cinema, GQT Pittsburgh Mills, Chartiers Valley Luxury 14 + PTX, the Squirrel Hill Manor, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

New Chinese movie Traces of Justice (神探之痕迹) in Pittsburgh, from November 13.

The 2026 Chinese movie Traces of Justice (神探之痕迹) will play in Pittsburgh from November 13.

Inspired by the extraordinary true story of Cui Daozhi, one of the pioneers of forensic investigation in China. Over six decades, he helped advance forensic science through his groundbreaking research into trace evidence and worked on numerous major and high-profile criminal cases. Having conducted more than 7,000 forensic examinations, he became known as the “Sherlock Holmes” of China’s criminal investigation field, renowned for uncovering decisive clues from the smallest traces.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront through the 18th and tickets are available online.

East Coast premier of 2026 Japanese animated film CHERRY AND VIRGIN in Pittsburgh, November 9, part of Three Rivers Film Fest.

The 2026 Japanese animated film CHERRY AND VIRGIN will play in Pittsburgh on November 9, part of Three Rivers Film Festival.

Erotic manga artist Ryo knows a lot about drawing sex, but when it comes to real life, he hasn’t had much luck. Ami, a “boys’ love” manga artist, is in much the same predicament. The two cynical, 30-ish virgins have all but given up on romance, until they connect through a dating app. As their two worlds collide, so do the distinctive animation styles associated with each character. Will Ryo and Ami be able to move their deepest desires from drawn daydreams into reality?

It will play at 7:00 pm at the Row House Hollywood in Dormont (map) and tickets are available online.

Four films comprise Studio Ghibli Week at Row House Lawrenceville, November 27 - December 3.

The Row House Lawrenceville's annual Studio Ghibli Week will run this year from November 27 through December 3 and will feature four films: Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便), Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城), The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか), and Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し). Tickets are available online. The Row House Lawrenceville is a single-screen theater located at 4115 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).

4K restoration of 2006 Korean monster movie The Host (괴물) at downtown's Harris Theater, November 21 - 23.

A 4K restoration of the 2006 Korean monster movie The Host (괴물) will play in Pittsburgh from November 21 through 23.

Careless American military personnel dump chemicals into South Korea's Han River. Several years later, a creature emerges from the tainted waters and sinks its ravenous jaws into local residents. It abducts Hyun-seo (A-sung Ko) the daughter of Kang-du (Kang-ho Song), who works at a food-stand on the banks of the river. The government announces that the monstrous thing is the Host of an unidentified virus. Having feared the worst, Kang-du receives a phone call from his daughter who is frightened, but very much alive. Kang-du soon makes plans to infiltrate the forbidden zone near the Han River to rescue his daughter.

The Harris Theater is located at 809 Liberty Ave. in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets are available online. The Host also plays at the Row House Hollywood on the 21st and 23rd.

Concert film Jeonghan x Joshua Journey into [DREAMING] in Pittsburgh, November 22.

The concert film Jeonghan x Joshua Journey into [DREAMING] will play in Pittsburgh on November 22.

Experience SEVENTEEN’s JEONGHAN and JOSHUA as the new unit JxJ in their special Japan concert at BELLUNA DOME! The second-day performance will be present in cinemas across Asia and North America. Don’t miss this special opportunity to experience their performance together with fellow fans on the big screen!

It plays locally, so far, at the Cinemark in Robinson township, and tickets are available online.

Concert film EXO PLANET #6 – ExhOrizon [dot] IN CINEMAS in Pittsburgh, November 8.

The upcoming concert film EXO PLANET #6 – ExhOrizon [dot] IN CINEMAS will play in Pittsburgh on November 8.

EXhOrizon [dot] is coming to the big screen! EXO-L, wherever you are—let’s meet at the cinema. 🌍✨ Feel every beat, catch every detail, and share every fan chant as EXO’s powerful performances and spectacular stage production come to life with cinema sound. Gather your fellow EXO-L and join fans around the world for the final chapter of EXO PLANET #6. One stage. A world of EXO-L. One unforgettable experience.

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

Pittsburgh's first YangGuoFu Mala Tang restaurant to soft open in Squirrel Hill, November 8.

Photo courtesy of reader.

YangGuoFu (also known as YGF Malatang), a chain of build-your-own malatang bowls, will soft open its first Pittsburgh-area location in Squirrel Hill on Sunday, November 8.

Founded in 2003 in Harbin, China, YGF Malatang began as a humble street-side stall built on one belief: great food should be fresh, flavorful, and uniquely yours. We handpicked ingredients, simmered broth daily, and let guests craft their own bowls — interactive, vibrant, and deeply personal. That founding spirit — individuality and flavor discovery — drives us today as we bring authentic Malatang to the Americas. At YGF, every bowl is crafted fresh and unmistakably yours.

It will be located at 5870 Forbes Ave. (map) in what was most recently Evelyn James Interiors. Signage first went up in November 2025, and they were initially aiming for a mid-January opening. There are over 6,000 YGF Malatang restaurants worldwide, and locations in New York, California, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Washington.

2026 Chinese film Where the Sun Shines Bright (阳光灿烂的地方) in Pittsburgh, November 6, part of Three Rivers Film Festival. Promo code and coupon for local Chinese restaurants available.

The 2026 Chinese film Where the Sun Shines Bright (阳光灿烂的地方) will play in Pittsburgh on November 6, part of Three Rivers Film Festival.

In an impoverished village in southern China, overpopulation is severe and many children are left alone while their parents are at work. An 18-year-old boy facing the uncertainty of adulthood finds his own story reflected in the lives of four children in the same village. Each of their journeys reflect how they were shaped through their experiences in this coming-of-age anthology..

The film is presented in partnership with SCREENSHOT: ASIA. It plays at 6:30 pm at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets are available online. Moviegoers can use promo code PCCC26 for $3 off this, or any other, film in the festival, and guests can show the flyer for 10% off select restaurants November 1 - 30.