芋见BAO to take over Lulu's Noodles spot in Oakland.

芋见BAO will move into the Lulu's Noodles spot in Oakland after the latter's owner sold the restaurant. 芋见BAO, opened at its current location at 114 Atwood St. in early 2021 and offers a menu of dim sum, noodle dishes, bubble tea, and more. A Pittsburgh City-Paper review last September wrote:

Dim sum are small dishes that originated in Guangzhou in southern China. The phrase typically calls to mind dumplings, buns, starchy or glutinous cakes, and light desserts, and 芋见BAO’s dim sum menu covers all of these. To try as wide a variety as possible, I ordered with my partner and we shared the dim sum dishes, which came with enough pieces for us to enjoy at least one or two of everything.

The name of the restaurant refers to 芋, or taro, a tropical root vegetable common in African, South Asian, and Oceanic cuisines. While 芋见 translates directly to “seeing taro,” it’s also a homophone for “meet” or “come across,” creating a secondary phrase “come across bao,” or “come across steamed buns.”

Living up to its name, 芋见BAO has several bao options, including Pork Buns 肉包, Vegetable Buns 菜包, and Pork and Dry Bamboo Buns 笋干肉包. Each comes with six buns and has the option between steamed or pan fried preparation. I opted for steamed Pork Buns 肉包, and the pillowy dough and subtle sweetness combined with a more robust savory flavor in the meat filling was an excellent start to the meal.

There is no timetable yet for Bao's opening. The Lulu's Noodles spot is located at 400 S. Craig St. (map).

Japanese guitarist Miyavi returns to Pittsburgh, October 15.

Japanese guitarist Miyavi will perform in Pittsburgh on October 15, part of his 20th anniversary North American tour.

MIYAVI is a musician, actor, and philanthropist, bridging cultures across the globe with his music and message. His unique style of guitar playing has taken him on 8 world tours in over 30 countries. Fans refer to MIYAVI as the “Samurai Guitarist.” He has released 13 studio albums.

In December 2018, MIYAVI released the groundbreaking collaborations album Samurai Sessions Vol. 3: Worlds Collide on Universal Music Group. The stellar list of U.S.-based collaborators included Oscar-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson, Grammy nominated R&B artist Gallant, Grammy nominated Pop artist Mikky Ekko, Grammy winning producer RAC, Malaysian born R&B songstress Yuna, South Central LA rapper DUCKWRTH, “Hood EDM” rapper Bok Nero, “laptop punk” artist NVDES, and Australian born Pop artist Betty Who.

MIYAVI returned to his releasing solo albums with 2019’s NO SLEEP TILL TOKYO kicked off by a concert at Los Angeles Dodgers Stadium followed by the 2020 release of Holy Nights. On September 15, 2021 MIYAVI released his latest album Imaginary with features from KPOP star Kang Daniel and Grammy winning pop artist Kimbra.

The concert takes place at the Thunderbird Cafe, and tickets for the 18+ show are available online. Miyavi last performed in Pittsburgh, at the Thunderbird Cafe, in October 2021. The Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall is located at 4023 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).

2020 Japanese film True Mothers (朝が来る) free at Northland Public Library, July 20.

Northland Public Library will present the 2020 Japanese film True Mothers (朝が来る) as part of its next Movie Matinee.

After a long and unsuccessful time to get pregnant, a young couple decide to adopt. Six years after a young woman claims that she is the biological mother and wants him back. A deeply touching and compassionate celebration of two mothers.

So come join us. No registration required.

It runs from 1:30 to 3:30 pm and is free and open to the public. The library is located off of McKnight Road and Rt. 19 in McCandless Township (map).

Pitt (still) hiring Assistant Instructor in Korean Studies.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures is still hiring an Assistant Instructor in Korean Studies.

The University of Pittsburgh’s Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures seeks an Assistant Instructor in Korean Studies to teach/instruct graduate and undergraduate courses. Will also be responsible for: (i) preparing for and teaching all levels of Korean classes as required, (ii) training and observing less experienced instructors, (iii) coordinating teaching and work with the Korean coordinator and other instructors, (iv) evaluating student performances and assign grades, (v) meeting with students as needed to advise study progress, (vi) assessing program performance, (vii) holding office hours, (viii) participating in department service and professional development.

Must have a master’s degree (or foreign equivalent degree) in Korean Languages or a related field plus one (1) year of experience teaching Korean at the college level in a North American institution of higher learning.

Must also have any experience with or knowledge of: (i) Korean and foreign language pedagogy in American higher education setting; (ii) linguistic knowledge of the Korean language; (iii) pedagogical technology; (iv) excellence in teaching as measured through student evaluations; (v) research in the field of Korean as a foreign language; (vi) teaching courses related to the Korean language (e.g., hanja); and (vii) coordination and administrative.

Must also be fluent in Korean (speaking, reading, and writing).

Experience can be concurrent.

Pitt hiring professor with focus on East Asian media studies.

The University of Pittsburgh is hiring an appointment-stream (non-tenure track) professor focused loosely on East Asian media studies for a position shared among the School of Computing and Information, the Department of Communication, and the Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures.

The School of Computing and Information and the Dietrich School of Arts and Science at the University of Pittsburgh invite applications for a joint Teaching Assistant Professor position, pending budgetary approval. This is a full-time, appointment stream position. The initial appointment is for three years and will begin on September 1, 2022. The course load is six courses per year, divided among the School of Computing and Information (3 courses), the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures (1 course), and the Department of Communication (2 courses).

The ideal candidate will address the curricular needs in an interdisciplinary area of media studies in East Asia, including issues such as privacy, social, political, and ethical implications of data in today’s society, media and consumer culture, data privacy, and data-oriented courses that may use quantitative methodology.

Asian Lantern Festival returns to Pittsburgh Zoo, August 12 - October 30; tickets available from July 1 for members.

The Pittsburgh Zoo will host the second annual Asian Lantern Festival from August 12 through October 30.

Something big is roaring back to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium this fall: the Asian Lantern Festival will return with an all-new display!

Explore the Zoo at night among more than 50 glowing, larger-than-life handcrafted sculptures, featuring extinct and endangered animals. Learn about Asian culture and enjoy themed food and entertainment.

You won’t want to miss the all-new Asian Lantern Festival, select nights Friday, August 12 – Sunday, October 30.

Tickets for members are available July 1.

Japanese animated films Belle (竜とそばかすの姫), Paprika (パプリカ), The Deer King (鹿の王), Panda! Go Panda! (パンダ・コパンダ) at Row House Cinema, from July 15.

The Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville will present a collection of Japanese animated films from July 15 as part of an Anime film series. Belle (竜とそばかすの姫), Paprika (パプリカ), and The Deer King (鹿の王) will play from July 15 through 21, while 1973's Panda! Go Panda! (パンダ・コパンダ) will play on the 21st only. Tickets are now available online.

The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

2016 Japanese film One Piece Film: Gold (ワンピースフィルムゴールド) in Pittsburgh, July 24 and 26.

The 2016 Japanese film One Piece Film: Gold (ワンピースフィルムゴールド) will play in Pittsburgh on July 24 and 26. A synopsis from the distributor:

The glittering Gran Tesoro, a city of entertainment beyond the laws of the government, is a sanctuary for the world’s most infamous pirates, Marines, and filthy rich millionaires. Drawn by dreams of hitting the jackpot, Captain Luffy and his crew sail straight for the gold. But behind the gilded curtains lies a powerful king whose deep pockets and deeper ambitions spell disaster for the Straw Hats and the New World alike.

It plays locally at the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson, and tickets are available online. The July 24 shows are dubbed in English while the July 26 shows are in Japanese with English subtitles.

2022 Japanese animated film Fruits Basket: Prelude (フルーツバスケット－prelude－) in Pittsburgh, June 25, 28, 29.

The 2022 Japanese animated film Fruits Basket: Prelude (フルーツバスケット－prelude－) will play in Pittsburgh on June 25, 28, and 29. A synopsis, from the distributor:

Before there was Tohru and Kyo – there was Katsuya and Kyoko. Discover the turbulent beginning of Tohru’s mom’s dark past, and the man who breathed new hope into her. Watch the evolution of their love story and the birth of the Honda family, as this chapter completes the full adaptation of the heartwarming Fruits Basket story.

It will play locally at the Cinemark theater in the North Hills, and tickets are available online. The shows on the 25th and 29th are dubbed in English while the shows on the 28th are in Japanese with English subtitles.