Free Chinese, Japanese, Korean classes at Oakland branch of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

As the new school year begins, a reminder that the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has free Korean, Japanese, and Chinese classes at its Oakland branch (map). Depending on the class and the particular volunteer teacher, the sessions range from a period of casual free talking to more rigorous class with workbooks and chalk-and-talk instruction on grammar and usage.

Here's a look at what's coming up:

* Chinese for Beginners (next meeting: September 11). Held the second and fourth Sunday of the month from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. The Squirrel Hill branch hosts a Chinese for Beginners class every Saturday at 2:00 pm, the next meeting being September 10.
* Kasper Hua Presents Let's Learn Chinese (next meeting: September 1). Held every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:00 pm in the Children's Library. Helping children learn Chinese language and culture through songs, stories, and more.
* Chinese II (next meeting: September 4). Held the first and third Sundays of the month from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in the Large Print Room.
* Chinese Conversation Club (next meeting: September 8). Held the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 6:00 to 7:00 in the Large Print Room. For intermediate and advanced learners.

* Japanese for Beginners (next meeting: September 12). Second and fourth Monday of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in Classroom A.
* Japanese II (next meeting: September 13). Second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in Classroom A. "Japanese II is geared toward those who already have a basic understanding of Japanese and are interested in increasing proficiency," says the library website. "Ability to read and write hiragana is required to take this class."
* Japanese Conversation Club (next meeting: September 6). Held on the first and third Tuesday of the month from 6:00 to 7:00. For intermediate and advanced learners.

* Korean for Beginners (next meeting: September 3). Every Saturday from 1:00 to 2:30 in the Large Print Room. Focuses on reading Hangeul and producing basic phrases.
* Korean II (next meeting: September 3). Every Saturday from 11:00 to 12:30 in the Large Print Room.

Students may join the class at any time of the year, though registration is now required for the classes. This can be done online by clicking on the class and submitting your name and email address. For more information about the courses, and to register for one, visit the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh homepage, click events, and search for Chinese, Japanese, or Korean.

[With Asian/Pacific Islander Beats] We Move Night Market, September 17 in Squirrel Hill.

The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition will present the [With Asian/Pacific Islander Beats] We Move Night Market on September 17. An excerpt from a forthcoming Squirrel Hill Magazine profile:

In July, as part of his Welcoming Pittsburgh Initiative, Mayor Bill Peduto announced the [ ] We Move series, an assortment of ten community-led cultural celebrations. The [ ] We Move events are focused on promoting immigrant, Latino and African American inclusion in Pittsburgh while celebrating our diverse cultures. The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition is proud to have been chosen to host one of these events and receive the $1000 mini-grant!

As a result, the last Night Market this summer will be an Asian/Pacific Islander inspired celebration: [With Asian/Pacific Islander Beats], We Move! Featuring special performances from the K-Pop Dance Club (KPDC) of Carnegie Mellon University and Steel City Ukuleles, the market will have you dancing in the streets!

. . .

Also scheduled are fun Asian games and traditions, such as the classic board game, Go, origami and a Kimono/Yukata photo booth! Market goers will also be able to experience a unique summer treat: Nagashi-somen. Part game, part dining experience, nagashi-somen is the act of catching noodles as they rush past on a water filled bamboo ‘stream’ before dunking them in sauce and devouring them. It promises to be a real treat!

The night market will also include some yet-unannounced performers of particular relevance tot he theme. It will run from 6:00 to 10:00 pm near the intersections of Forbes and Murray Aves (map), accessible via buses 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 64, and 74.

Chinese movie Time Raiders (盗墓笔记) in Pittsburgh from August 26.

The 2016 Chinese movie Time Raiders (盗墓笔记) starring Luhan and Jing Boran will play at the AMC Loews Waterfront from August 26. Wikipedia provides a plot summary:

Graduated from a top architect school, Wu Xie (Lu Han) is fascinated with old architecture and antiques. He was raised by his Uncle Wu Sanxing (Wang Jing Chun), a renowned archaeologist. One day, Xie heard that his uncle has gone missing. After some digging, Xie found a notebook which was full of secrets that belongs to Uncle Wu. Xie decides to find his uncle at all costs.

Surprisingly, Xie is not the only one who is looking for Uncle Wu. He teamed up with Uncle Wu’s best friend Chubby Wang (Zhang Boyu), Zhang Qiling (Jing Boran) & assistant Ning (Ma Si Chun). After much hardship, they found the place Uncle Wu last visited: The Heavenly Palace --- tomb of Ming dynasty Fengshui Guru Wang Canghai.

In spite of negative reviews for the plot and special effects, the movie is one of the most financially successful in Chinese history.

The theater is located at 300 West Waterfront Dr. in the Waterfront shopping complex in Homestead (map), across the Monongahela River from Greenfield, Squirrel Hill, and the rest of Pittsburgh.

Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓), Paprika (パプリカ) to round out Anime Film Series at Row House Cinema in October.

The Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville has added Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓) and Paprika (パプリカ) to an Anime Film Series that includes previously-announced movies 1973's Belladonna of Sadness (哀しみのベラドンナ), Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (カウボーイビバップ 天国の扉), and Millennium Actress (千年女優). The series will run from October 14 through 20, with ticket information and showtimes to come later. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

Former Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw on "Better Late Than Never", remake of South Korean travel comedy show "꽃보다 할배".

As we wrote last June, Terry Bradshaw, the Hall of Fame quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1970 to 1983, will be one of the stars of "Better Late Than Never", an upcoming reality show based off South Korea's "Grandpa Over Flowers" (꽃보다 할배).

Tickets now on sale for Korean troupe Bereishit Dance Company (브레시트무용단) at Byham Theater, March 4.

via FocusNews.

Tickets are now on sale for the Bereishit Dance Company's first performance in Pittsburgh on March 4 at the Byham Theater. From the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust:

In this first-ever Korean dance presentation for Pittsburgh Dance Council, the Seoul troupe Bereishit presents contemporary work that draws upon eastern Asian culture. Witness Bereishit’s amazing display of space and rhythms choreographed with kinesthetic clarity and power. Elements of street dance and multimedia add to Bereishit’s potency.

Sport meets dance in the rigorous male duet BOW, inspired by the Korean tradition of archery. The intensely physical Balance and Imbalance juxtaposes the dancers alongside some of Korea’s most revered traditional storytelling genre drummers and pansori vocalists.

Tickets range from $10 to $60. The theater is located at 101 6th St. in the Cultural District (map).

HOW: Hands-On Workshop Series—Chinese Paper Cutting with Tiantian, at Carnegie Library Oakland, November 1.

Chinese paper cut, by hto2008 (Creative Commons).

Advance notice for an upcoming Hands-On Workshop Series, Chinese Paper Cutting with Tiantian, at the Carnegie Library in Oakland on November 1.

Join us for HOW, a series of hands-on workshops for adults and teens. Learn from skilled craftspeople. Dig in and try things out in a creative, supportive environment. Join us for one or all of these free programs. Materials provided.

In China, the ancient art of paper cutting is used in festivals to symbolize good luck. Join us to make your own decorative cut-out.

No registration is necessary for these sessions. Seating for all workshops is available to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll want to come early to be sure you MAKE it on time!

The event is free and open to the public. Carnegie Library's main branch is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. in Oakland (map).

Superdry to open its first Pennsylvania location on August 20.

Superdry, a UK-based Japan-inspired clothing company, will open its first Pennsylvania location on August 20 in the King of Prussia Mall. One of its features is nonsensical Japanese, inspired by the Gibberlish seen throughout Japan and East Asia. It currently has stores in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Chicago, and Las Vegas. The King of Prussia Mall was the site of the first Uniqlo in Pennsylvania, and is located roughy 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

2016 Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival schedule announced.

The lineup of films for the 2016 Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival was released today, a list that includes movies from Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, the United States, and elsewhere.



Movies from East Asia in the 2016 festival include Ten Years (十年) from Hong Kong, A Girl At My Door (도희야) from South Korea, and Twisted Justice (日本で一番悪い奴ら) from Japan.

The festival runs from September 16 to September 25 at various theaters around the city. A complete schedule is available on the Silk Screen website.

Tan Izakaya to open August 28.

Tan Izakaya announced it will open for business on Sunday, August 28, at 11:00 am. The Japanese-style pub run by the proprietors of Everyday Noodles is located at 815 S. Aiken St. in Shadyside (map), and released its menu---featuring ramen, sake, and yakitori---in May.