2023 Lunar New Year Parade, February 25 in Squirrel Hill.

Pittsburgh's Lunar New Year Parade will return in 2023 on February 25, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm in Squirrel Hill.

We're back! Come celebrate the Year of the Rabbit @Squirrel Hill with the biggest gathering of Pittsburgh's Pan Asian Community Organizations and Friends!

And "We proudly honor Pittsburgh's Buddhist Tzu Chi Organization as our 2023 Grand Marshal for their invaluable work assisting our Asian immigrant community members!" The parade will start at Teppan BBQ, 2209 Murray Ave., and progress up Murray Hill to the intersection of Murray and Forbes (map).

Many More Asian Market shares news on its upcoming move to a bigger space (and its food court!)

via @manymoreasianmarket

Yesterday Many More Asian Market shared updates on its upcoming move to a larger space this summer, to a building that will include not only larger floor space for inventory but also a food court.

Some of you might have already heard the news from the post we were tagged in…. Yes! We are moving into a bigger, newer, and more spacious location down the street at 2767 Liberty Ave Pittsburgh, Pa 15222.

During the move, our current location will still operate as normal.

The planned move will happen between June-August. The new space will accommodate not only Many More Asian Market that now carries both Asian and Western groceries , it will include a food court as well. The food court will feature an Asian bakery, bubble tea, Chinese BBQ, and Sushi stalls etc…Expect to enjoy delicious cake and drinks, freshly made roast duck and Char Siu, fresh sushi, and MANY MORE FOODS!!!! Yayyyyyy~~

Woooow! It’s crazy how time flies! We remember when the store first opened, we didn't even have a pos system yet…. Literally, did a soft opening with sticky notes everywhere, price tag stickers on items, checking out customer with a calculator and an old fashioned cash register. Back then, we thought to ourself while looking at the still half empty shelves “Wow, how much more stuff will we have to be able to sell in order to fill this store up?” Feeling anxious and nervous…. Then here we are today….Wayyyyyy out grew from where we were. Now our store feels tiny!!!!! Ahhhhhh!!

Thank you everyone, especially those who have been with us from the beginning when everything felt like chaos! You guys helped us grow into what we have become today! As a family owned business, we’ve been lucky to have shared our customers’ stories such as finding their first jobs, just getting married, starting a family etc… Seeing those families grow and come to the market, the feeling of being able to be a tiny part of our customers' lives means so much to us…. We hope you guys also feel great to be a huge part of our stories.

We really appreciate all of you. This will be a huge “next chapter” for our store! We have been through a lot together, especially when the pandemic hit. We’re very glad we made it and you guys are still with us! This new location will be more spacious (no more squeezing through the store! Yay!) and have better air circulation ! With these updates we can better serve our customers for a long long long time ahead!!

via @manymoreasianmarket

2023 Chinese film Hidden Blade (无名), starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Wang Yibo, in Pittsburgh, from February 17.

The 2023 Chinese film Hidden Blade (无名) will play in Pittsburgh from February 17.

During World War II, at the height of China’s war of resistance against Japan, a group of courageous citizens develops a top-secret underground espionage network right under the nose of the newly established puppet regime. At increasingly great peril to their own lives, the double-agents masterfully extract classified information from deep behind enemy lines, an effort that gives rise to the united front that will help turn the tide of the conflict.

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

Dr. Patrick Galbraith speaking about otaku culture, erotica manga at Pitt and CMU, February 21 and 22.

Dr. Patrick Galbraith will give two talks next week about otaku culture and erotica manga at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, respectively. He will speak on "Anime at War and Peace: On the Otaku Turn" on February 21 at Pitt, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in 5201 Posvar Hall, as part of this term's Asia Pop Lecture Series. He will then speak at CMU on February 22, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in Posner Grand Room 340, on "Erotic Comics in Japan: An Introduction to Eromanga."

2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (臥虎藏龍) in Pittsburgh, February 17 through 22.

The 2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, starring Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun-fat, and Zhang Ziyi, will play in Pittsburgh from February 17 through 22. A synopsis from the distributor:

Named "Best Picture of the Year" by over 100 critics nationwide! Two master warriors (Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh) are faced with their greatest challenge when the treasured Green Destiny sword is stolen. A young aristocrat (Zhang Ziyi) prepares for an arranged marriage, but soon reveals her superior fighting talents and her deeply romantic past. As each warrior battles for justice, they come face to face with their worst enemy - and the inescapable, enduring power of love. Set against 19th-century China's breathtaking landscape, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON is the action-packed, box office smash from acclaimed director Ang Lee (Sense and Sensibility, The Ice Storm) featuring stunning martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo Ping (The Matrix).

It plays locally at the AMC theaters at the Waterfront and in Greensburg, and tickets are available online.

2013 film Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (明天记得爱上我 明天記得愛上我) in Pittsburgh, February 22.

Reel Q Stories will present the 2013 Hong Kong film Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (明天记得爱上我 明天記得愛上我) on February 22 at the City of Asylum.

Reel Stories is a free monthly film series dedicated to showcasing international queer cinema presented in partnership with Reel Q, Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Starting in 1985, Reel Q’s mission is to increase the availability and accessibility of queer film in Pittsburgh and its surrounding region, highlighting the diverse experiences of our worldwide community. Reel Q is one of the oldest LGBTQ+ film festivals in the world.

February’s screening presents Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?, a 2013 romantic comedy directed by Arvin Chen. The film follows introverted optometrist Weichung who begins to question his marriage after learning his wife wants to have another baby. Weichung soon bumps into his old friend Stephen, who, though also married, lives the unconstrained life of a young gay bachelor. When Stephen teases Weichung for his newly straight-laced lifestyle, dormant emotions stir in Weichung, setting him off on a quest for true romance and desire.

The event starts at 7:00 pm and is free, both in person and online, though tickets are required. City of Asylum's Alphabet City is located at 40 W. North Ave. on the North Side (map).

Meccha Matcha coming soon to Squirrel Hill.

Meccha Matcha is opening a Pittsburgh location soon at 2000 Murray Ave. in Squirrel Hill (map), in what was formerly Te Cafe. Pronounced May-cha---Japanese for very---rather than Meck-ah---as in a robot suit you wear into battle---the menu boasts "America's strongest matcha ice cream!" and offers green tea ice cream, green tea lattes, blended ice, and a few other non-matcha coffee and tea drinks. There are currently Meccha Matcha locations in California and Texas.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village- (「鬼滅の刃」上弦集結、そして刀鍛冶の里へ) in Pittsburgh, from March 3.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village- (「鬼滅の刃」上弦集結、そして刀鍛冶の里へ) will play in Pittsburgh on March 3 and 4. Writes Cruncyroll:

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-, distributed by Aniplex of America and Crunchyroll, is a feature-length cut of Episodes 10 and 11 of the Entertainment District Arc and the extended Episode 1 of the upcoming Swordsmith Village Arc in 4K with remastered audio.

And a synopsis, from the distributor:

After his family is viciously murdered, a kind-hearted boy named Tanjiro Kamado resolves to become a Demon Slayer in hopes of turning his younger sister Nezuko back into a human. Together with his comrades, Zenitsu and Inosuke, along with one of the top-ranking members of the Demon Slayer Corps, Tengen Uzui, Tanjiro embarks on a mission within the Entertainment District, where they encounter the formidable, high-ranking demons, Daki and Gyutaro.

It is scheduled to play (so far) from March 3 through 9 at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monaca, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

2003 movie Godzilla: Tokyo SOS (ゴジラ×モスラ×メカゴジラ 東京SOS) in Pittsburgh, March 22.

The 2003 movie Godzilla: Tokyo SOS (ゴジラ×モスラ×メカゴジラ 東京SOS) will play in Pittsburgh on March 22. A synopsis, from Toho Kingdom:

A year after the battle between Godzilla and Kiryu, Japan has begun repairs on the damaged mech. Work is focused on the damaged arm and chest areas, with weapon improvements planned. Meanwhile, Mothra's Shobijin meet with an old acquaintance, Doctor Shinichi Chujo. They warn that the dead should not be disturbed and the bones of the original Godzilla, which are inside Kiryu, should be returned. The message comes with a ray of hope: that Mothra will fight Godzilla on Japan's behalf if the request is met. However, if Japan ignores the request, then Mothra will once again become an enemy of humanity. Japan's government agrees that Kiryu's creation raises a moral question. They refuse to decommission it, though, feeling that it is the last hope against Godzilla. Meanwhile, the King of the Monsters first kills Kamoebas and then destroys a nuclear sub out at sea. Japan realizes Godzilla's arrival is imminent, raising into question who will fight who should Kiryu and then Mothra arrive...

Poet Paul Tran at Pitt, March 28.

The University of Pittsburgh's Writing Program will have several events around visiting poet Paul Tran on March 28, open to the Pitt community. From their official site:

Paul Tran is the author of the debut poetry collection, All the Flowers Kneeling, published by Penguin. Their work appears in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Best American Poetry, and elsewhere. They earned their BA in History from Brown University and MFA in Poetry from Washington University in St. Louis. Winner of the Discovery/Boston Review Poetry Prize, as well as fellowships from the Poetry Foundation, Stanford University, and the National Endowment for the Arts, Paul is an Assistant Professor of English and Asian American Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Events on the 28th include:

All events are open to members of the Pitt community

• 12pm Lunch and Q&A in CL 501
• 2pm Craft Workshop in CL B50
• 6pm Reading and book signing CL B50

Please reach out to Diana K Nguyen with any questions at dianakhoi@pitt.edu