BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN GOYANG: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh, April 11.

BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN GOYANG: LIVE VIEWING will be held in Pittsburgh-area theaters on April 11.

Pop Royalty BTS returns to the global stage with their highly anticipated world tour, marking their first large-scale tour in approximately four years. Spanning 34 cities across the world with a total of 82 shows, the tour opens with landmark concerts in Goyang, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan, marking a new record for the most tour dates by a K-pop artist. Don’t miss your chance to experience two full-length concerts, presented live in cinemas worldwide. Titled ARIRANG, BTS’s world tour accompanies their fifth full-length album, which reflects the group’s identity through honest introspection and universal emotions such as longing and deep love, woven into music that defines them on their own terms. Featuring a spectacular 360-degree in-the-round stage design, the show delivers an immersive experience that places audiences at the very center of the performance. Share the electrifying moments of BTS’s defining cultural comeback together on the big screen worldwide.

It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monaca, Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Shows are 4:00 pm and 7:45 pm, and tickets are available online.

2025 Japanese animated movie ChaO (チャオ) in Pittsburgh, from April 9.

The 2025 Japanese animated movie ChaO (チャオ) will play in Pittsburgh from April 9.

In a fantastical future, humans and mermaids share a troubled coexistence. Stephan, an anxious employee at a shipbuilding company, has big ideas to save the sea. But his life explodes into ecstatic chaos when bubbly mermaid princess Chao proposes marriage out of the blue. Between shopping sprees, giant robots, and actual fireworks, the unlikely pair flounder through their new romance and unlock their true feelings. Crafted over 7 years by the acclaimed STUDIO4°C and veteran animator Yasuhiro Aoki, ChaO is an inventive and genre-defying delight bursting with color and character. Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, ChaO’s singular narrative is an ode to boundless love.

It is scheduled to play locally at the Cinemark theater in Monroeville and, from the 10th, at the Row House Hollywood in Dormont.

2025 documentary Queer as Punk in Pittsburgh, April 11.

The 2025 film Queer as Punk will play in Pittsburgh on April 11, a collaboration between SCREENSHOT: ASIA, JADED, and Aquarius (AQUARIUS (Alliance of Queer Underrepresented Asians in Recognition of Intersectionality to Uphold Solidarity). A synopsis, from the Singapore International Film Festival:

Openly queer punk-rock band Shh… Diam! turns up their music against rising conservatism and political upheaval in Malaysia.

Since meeting at a pool party in 2009, Faris, Yon and Yoyo have become a household name for their daring and snarky anthems celebrating queer desire and rage. Just as Faris begins his gender transition, Yon prepares to welcome a child and Yoyo considers migration, Malaysia escalates its rhetoric on purity and begins enacting corporal punishment on LGBTQ individuals. Through it all, the trio endeavours to continue their song.

Queer as Punk is a frank and immersive look at the private lives of the Shh… Diam (Malay for “keep quiet”) members on their world tour. More than a document of the times, the documentary elucidates and affirms the choice to leave for safety, or stay to continue resisting.

The free screening starts at 11:00 am at Frick Fine Arts Auditorium in Oakland (map) and is followed by a Q&A with AQUARIUS.  

K-POP FUN FACTORY, a family-friendly Kpop event, April 12 at Enclave.

Enclave will host K-POP FUN FACTORY, a family-friendly K-pop fest, on April 12.

family fest! Live DJ, dancers, face painting, photo booth & meet-and-greet with Rumi — Sunday, April 12th, 12PM–3PM

Get ready for an unforgettable family-friendly K-Pop event in Pittsburgh! 🎤✨
K-POP FUN FACTORY is the ultimate interactive kids and family experience combining music, dance, entertainment, and magical moments all in one high-energy celebration. Join us on Sunday, April 12th from 12:00 PM–3:00 PM at Enclave (1602 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh) for a vibrant afternoon designed for K-pop fans, families, and young performers alike.

This exciting Pittsburgh kids event features a live DJ spinning upbeat tracks, professional K-pop dancers leading an interactive dance-along, colorful face painting, and a fun photo booth to capture memories. Plus, don’t miss the exclusive meet-and-greet with The Lead Huntress, where kids can say hello, take photos, and experience the magic up close. It’s the perfect weekend activity for families looking for fun things to do with kids in Pittsburgh.

ONE OK ROCK Detox Japan Tour 2025 at Nissan Stadium, in Pittsburgh from April 30.

The concert film ONE OK ROCK Detox Japan Tour 2025 at Nissan Stadium will play in the Pittsburgh area April 30, May 2, and May 4.

ONE OK ROCK DETOX JAPAN TOUR 2025 AT NISSAN STADIUM IN CINEMAS unleashes the raw pulse of a career-defining night—documenting the band’s commanding takeover of Japan’s iconic Nissan Stadium—where thunderous riffs, soaring vocals, and 70,000 voices collide into something electric, forging an unbreakable bond between the band and their worldwide legion of fans.

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

2025 Japanese film Exit 8 (8番出口) in Pittsburgh, from April 10.

The 2025 Japanese film Exit 8 (8番出口) will play in Pittsburgh from April 10.

A man becomes increasingly desperate when he realizes he is trapped in a subway station, needing to complete a mission to get out.

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

SILENT: Asia presents 1926 Japanese silent film A Page of Madness (狂った一頁), April 14 at Pitt.

SILENT: Asia, part of the University of Pittsburgh's SCREENSHOT: ASIA film festival and programming, will present the 1926 Japanese silent film A Page of Madness (狂った一頁) on April 14. A synopsis from the Row House Cinema, where the film played in 2021:

Set within the walls of a mental asylum in Japan, the film follows the story of a janitor (Masao Inoue) who takes a job at the institution in order to be closer to his wife (Yoshie Nakagawa), a former performer who has been institutionalized after suffering a mental breakdown. As the janitor navigates the eerie corridors of the asylum, he encounters a cast of characters haunted by their own inner demons, including patients, doctors, and nurses.

It will play at 6:30 pm in Frick Fine Arts (map) and is free and open to the public.

Shoku Next Door soft opens in Cranberry.

Shoku Next Door has soft opened in Cranberry Mall, after work began last autumn.

We’re your new neighborhood spot for quality sushi and casual dining. Grab a quick take-out on busy days or relax and dine in with friends — always delicious, always welcoming. Stop by and discover your next favorite sushi place, right next door!

It has a menu featuring sushi, hibachi and ramen, and is located in space 103 of Cranberry Mall (map).

2026 Vietnamese film Bunny!! (Thỏ Ơi!!) in Pittsburgh, from April 3.

The 2026 Vietnamese film Bunny!! (Thỏ Ơi!!) will play in Pittsburgh from April 3. A synopsis, from the distributor:

A popular relationship advice host finds her carefully curated life upended when she meets a guest with a mysterious personal story, taking them both down a rabbit hole that leads to unimaginable consequences. Directed by Tran Thanh, produced by Tran Thanh Town, Galaxy Studio & HK Film, with an international release by 3388 Films.

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

PGHwrites: Jade Song’s “I Love You Don’t Die” (Book Launch), April 6 at City of Asylum and online.

City of Asylum will present a book launch event with Jade Song's I Love You Don't Die on April 6, part of its PGHwrites series.

Though many of us are still reeling from her explosive debut novel, Chlorine, a force like Jade Song cannot be stopped. We are thrilled to welcome Pittsburgh-native Jade back to City of Asylum for the launch of her sophomore novel, I Love You Don’t Die, a coming-of-age for a new generation, in the vein of Sally Rooney and Ottessa Moshfegh.

Jade’s new work introduces us to a macabre young woman named Vicky. For as far back as she can remember, Vicky has been fascinated and obsessed with death as the only inevitable thing in life. From living above a Chinatown funeral parlor to working at a celebrity start-up for bespoke urns, she has surrounded herself with death—in her home, in her work, and in her ever-growing collection of zhizha, paper creations meant to be burned for the dead. When it comes to life and the living, however, she struggles to have meaningful connections—or find any meaning at all.

That changes when a dating app leads her into a throuple with an artist and a labor organizer, who offer exactly the kind of love she needs. For some time, it’s perfect, but no one understands better than Vicky that all things must end. With everything beginning to feel hollow and temporary, Vicky must decide how to keep moving forward. To try and hold on to what she has, or to once again do what she does best: destroy.

Please join Jade and program moderator Marina Fang after the reading for a public reception celebrating this hometown writing phenom!

You can purchase a copy of Jade’s book, I Love You Don’t Die, at City of Asylum Bookstore.

About the Author:

Jade Song is a writer, filmmaker, and artist whose first novel, Chlorine, was lauded as “visionary and disturbing,” selected as a New York Times Editor’s Choice, awarded the Alex Award and the Writer’s Center First Novel Prize, and translated into multiple languages. Jade’s short story collection, Ox Ghost Snake Demon, is forthcoming in early 2027. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Jade has taught writing at organizations like Tin House, Morbid Anatomy, and Lighthouse Writers Workshop; she has received support from the Vermont Studio Center and the Black List, which selected her adapted screenplay of Chlorine for its annual Writers Lab.

The event is moderated by Marina Fang.

The book launch event runs from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Alphabet City on the North Side (map) and online; it's free, but registration is required.

Squirrel Hill's Viet Nom Nom closing March 30.

Squirrel Hill's Viet Nom Nom will close its doors on March 30. From its Instagram post today:

Graditude. Privilege. Friendship. And unmatched support are just a few words that describe what I feel when I look back on the last 15 years of being a restaurant owner in Squirrel Hill. There were a few hiccups with the transition but everything is finalized. Tomorrow will be my last day in business until I am ready to relocate. Remember friends, I’m a serial “pivot-er” so this isn’t Good bye… it’s a BRB !!! Love you all and thank you for your continuous support❤️

It briefly announced a closure last month, with some additional context:

There's a little sadness in letting go but there's plenty of beauty in starting over. Squirrel Hill was home to 2 of my businesses the last 14 years. This community has welcomed me with open arms as I introduced Vietnamese cuisine to the neighborhood with the opening of Tan Lac Vien in 2012. It was my first dine-in restaurant where i Offered more unique and authentic dishes. I had a great run. In 2023 I decided to down size to what is currently Viet Nom Nom. It was a fun, quirky and cozy spot. I offered quick and casual dine-in where I served no fuss dishes. I will forever be grateful for the patronage and friendships that I have created here over the years. I am honored to have served the Squirrel Hill community. Life is filled with changes and I have to allow my new priorities to align with my home and work balance. A reset is deeply desired, but Please don't worry because if any of you know me, you'll know that I am a "serial entrepreneur " - to be continued...

It opened January 2023 at 1711 Murray Ave (map). 

1989 Hong Kong film The Killer (喋血雙雄) in Pittsburgh, from April 5.

The 1989 Hong Kong film The Killer (喋血雙雄) will play in Pittsburgh on April 5, 7, and 8, part of a Hong Kong Cinema Classics series this year. A synopsis, from the distributor:

A Hong Kong hitman accidentally blinds an innocent woman during a hit. He is determined to get her surgery to help her regain her sight but he needs to complete one more hit first. He completes the job but then is ambushed as he tries to escape: someone wants him dead. Meanwhile a resourceful, unorthodox police detective is hot on his trail.

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

Laser K-Pop Demon Hunters at Kamin Science Center's Buhl Planetarium, from May 2.

The Kamin Science Center's Buhl Planetarium will present Laser K-Pop Demon Hunters from May 2 through June 26.

Dazzling lasers, harmonic melodies, and catchy lyrics you can’t help but sing along to. You know we’re going to be golden to protect the fans and seal the Honmoon! Inspired by the hit movie “K-Pop Demon Hunters.”

Opening weekend for the 25-minute show will be Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 pm. It plays weekdays from May 4 through June 26 (except May 13) at 2:00 pm, and weekends during that span at 1:00 pm. Tickets are available online. The Kamin Science Center, formerly known as the Carnegie Science Center, is located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on the North Shore (map).

1997 Satoshi Kon film Perfect Blue (パーフェクトブルー) in Pittsburgh, from April 3.

The 1997 Satoshi Kon film Perfect Blue (パーフェクトブルー) will play at the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville from April 3 through April 9, part of the theater's Girls Gone Mad film series.

This creepy and mind-bending thriller from Satoshi Kon follows a pop star who looks forward to a bright new career as an actress when she quits her chart-topping trio. Her first role in a sexually charged murder mystery blurs the lines of her reality and upends her once wholesome life.

Tickets and showtimes are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

Steel Love Kpop Meetup at the Park, March 28 at Schenley Plaza.

Steel Love Kpop will organize a Meetup at the Park from 1:00 to 3:00 pm on March 28 at Schenley Plaza in Oakland. From their announcement on Instagram:

✨ Kpop Meetup at the Park ✨
Hi guys I can’t wait to see you all for our next meetup!

✨ Be sure to bring your photo cards, pickets, and/or Kpop merch to trade, customize, or show your collection.

✨ There’s park benches, chairs, and a lawn so feel free to bring a blanket if you enjoy the grass.

✨There are several food options from vendors and there’s a restaurant in the plaza area or you can bring your own food and snacks if you’d like.

✨ Feel free to break off and have fun! Some might trade, some might dance, it’s your choice!

✨ For those who want to record dance content we can film short dance covers (the chorus section only) of the songs you’d like, let me know in the comments or by DM what songs you’d like to record. If you want to bring speakers for music in general or use them for the dance covers, feel free to bring those as well.

I’ll suggest some songs in the comments if you want to learn them and record them! Comment or send a DM of the song(s) you choose between now and the official meetup date.

We can always reschedule if the weather conditions aren’t very well.

See you all soon! 😇

Pitt Filipino Students Association (FSA) Barrio, featuring RC AVENUE, March 28.

The University of Pittsburgh's Filipino Student Association will present its annual Barrio on March 28, which will feature a performance by pop/R&B artist RC AVENUE. It runs from 5:00 to 9:00 pm in the Assembly Room on the first floor of the William Pitt Union (map). From the Asian Studies Center newsletter:

“Barrio” means neighborhood or community in Tagalog. Pitt FSA’s Barrio event shares and celebrates Filipino culture through special guest performances, delicious Filipino food, singing & dancing, and more!

 

Barrio will feature special guest RC AVENUE. They are a Pop/R&B artist based in Los Angeles with over 200k monthly listeners on Spotify.

The theme is Alamat, meaning “legend” or “folklore” in Tagalog. Alamat honors the stories that connect generations and communities, celebrating Filipino heritage while also recognizing the shared experiences and stories of those at Pitt.

Dress theme will be Traditional Filipino cultural attire (modern/precolonial), cultural mythology, or fairytale-inspired dress.

4K restoration of 1989 Japanese animated movie Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便) stays in Pittsburgh through March 31.

A 4K restoration of 1989 Japanese animated movie Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便), which opened in the Pittsburgh area from March 12, will stay here through (at least) March 31.

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

4K restoration of 1995 Studio Ghibli film Whisper of the Heart (耳をすませば) in Pittsburgh, April 21.

A 4K restoration of the 1995 Studio Ghibli film Whisper of the Heart (耳をすませば) will play in Pittsburgh on April 21.

A chance encounter with a mysterious cat sends Shizuku, a girl with her head in the clouds, on a quest for her true talent. Together with Seiji, a boy determined to follow his dreams, and enchanted by The Baron, an antique cat figurine who guides her to listen to the whispers of her heart, Shizuku embarks on a life-changing adventure that takes her beyond the boundaries of her imagination. Based on a screenplay and storyboards from Hayao Miyazaki, WHISPER OF THE HEART is a precious gem in the Studio Ghibli catalog, directed by veteran animator Yoshifumi Kondo.

It plays locally so far at the AMC Loews Waterfront, but there will likely be additional dates and theaters announced later.

Korean movie The King's Warden (왕과 사는 남자) stays in Pittsburgh through March 31.

The 2026 Korean movie The King's Warden (왕과 사는 남자), which opened in Pittsburgh on March 13, will stay here through (at least) March 31.

In a remote mountain village of 15th-century Joseon, a humble headman, Heung-do, hears a rumor that any village hosting an exiled nobleman will be blessed with abundance and fortune. Hoping to bring prosperity to his impoverished community, he eagerly submits a petition to host one—unaware that his guest is none other than the fallen monarch, the deposed boy-king Danjong. While an unlikely bond begins to form between the dethroned ruler and the man assigned to watch over him, the quiet village finds itself drawn into the perilous undercurrents of royal intrigue—where loyalty and survival collide.

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

2026 Chinese movie Pegasus 3 (飞驰人生3) remains in Pittsburgh through March 31.

The 2026 Chinese movie Pegasus 3 (飞驰人生3), which opened in Pittsburgh on February 27, will remain here through at least March 31. It is the highest-grossing film in China in 2026 thus far, and is the 10th-highest-grossing film in China of all time.

After the final stage at Bayanbulak, Zhang Chi (played by Shen Teng) is invited to compete in a brand-new event, the “Muchen 100 Rally,” as the head coach of the team. The once “wild” racer now steps onto the international stage. Facing a completely new course filled with top-tier competitors, Sun Yuqiang (played by Yin Zheng) and Ji Xing (played by Zhang Benyu) once again fight side by side with Zhang Chi. Powerful drivers such as Lin Zhendong (played by Huang Jingyu) are also invited to join, and a team built on top-level speed and shared belief is formed. However, Zhang Chi soon realizes that the true challenge does not seem to come from the race itself. Beneath the surface, tensions are rising beyond the track, casting uncertainty over their high-speed journey ahead.

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