Whither Mr. Dim Sum?

NextPittsburgh opined today that Pittsburgh really needs a dim sum place.

Pittsburgh has a lot of great Chinese food. Squirrel Hill, in particular, seems destined to add every regional style and flavor at some point, and we’re all for that. But for some reason, we’re a bit light in the dim sum department. If you’re not familiar, dim sum involves lots of little dishes of dumplings and a huge range of small, bite-sized, perfectly snacky things, usually brought to your table on a cart. It’s not entirely absent — I’ve had dim sum in Fox Chapel at Jimmy Wan’s (though their website currently makes no mention of it). But there’s nothing like dining in a place with an all-dim sum menu, where you can keep requesting bamboo steamer baskets full of goodness until you’re happily full.

Taiwanese film More Than Blue (比悲傷更悲傷的故事) in Pittsburgh, from March 15.

The 2018 Taiwanese film More Than Blue (比悲傷更悲傷的故事) will play in Pittsburgh from March 15. The Osaka Asian Film Festival provides a synopsis of the film, a remake of a 2009 Korean hit:

It seemed like fate when solitary student Zhang Zhe-kai met a rebellious girl named Song Yuan-yuan. These two lonely high school classmates find they become inseparable when they lose their family but their connection blossoms into a beautiful relationship, not quite lovers but very dependent upon each other. She names him “K” and chooses the name “Cream” for herself. They live together and go to college together and eventually get jobs together at the same record company. They are the perfect couple. Things come to a standstill when “K” is diagnosed with leukemia but he’s more concerned about Cream and wants to ensure her happiness before his time runs out by helping her find love little realising she may have already found it…

A glossy remake of the 2009 Korean film of the same name, it proves to be a real tearjerker thanks to the persuasive performances of lead actors Jasper Liu (“Take Me to the Moon” – OAFF 2018) and Ivy Yi-Han Chen who sell the idea of fidelity and timeless love.

The movie will play at the AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online. 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.

What is a Japanese Garden? at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, April 25.

Via Pittsburgh Business Times.

The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania and Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. will present Dr. Brenda Jordan and her talk "What is a Japanese Garden?" on April 25 at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden.

Dr. Jordan will present an overview of the varieties of Japanese gardens through history, the concept of “Japanese garden” that spread outside of Japan, and give some suggestions for the types of plants and features that can be used for a Japanese garden in southwest Pennsylvania. She specializes in the history of Japanese art, particularly the paintings and woodblock prints of the 19th century.

Meet our speaker, and enjoy light refreshments at a reception before the lecture.

It runs from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and is free, though registration is required. The Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is located at 799 Pinkerton Run Rd. in Oakdale (map).

"Learn to Play the Pipa (Chinese Lute) – 4 Class Series for Adults" free at Carnegie Library in Oakland in April.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's main branch in Oakland will host pipa soloist Yang Jin for a series of free pipa lessons for adults in April.

Renowned pipa performer Yang Jin will teach a series of 4 free pipa (Chinese lute) classes for adults beginning April 4. Pipa instruments will be provided during class. The classes, held Thursdays 6:30 – 7:30 PM, take place:

April 4 Adult Lesson 1

April 11 Adult Lesson 2

April 18 Adult Lesson 3

April 25 Adult Lesson 4

Registering for one class will register you for all 4 sessions in the series. The class is limited to 16 participants.

Registration is required and can be completed online. The library is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. in Oakland (map) and is accessible by buses 28X, 54, 61C, 61D, 67, 69, 71A, 71B, 71C, 71D, and 93.

Tickets still available for author Kevin Kwan and his talk "Crazy Rich Asians and the Power of Representation," March 22 at Byham Theater.

via @kevinkwanbooks

Tickets are still available for "An Evening with Kevin Kwan: Crazy Rich Asians and the Power of Representation" on March 22, part of the 2019 Pittsburgh Humanities Festival:

Kevin Kwan’s breakout debut novel, Crazy Rich Asians, has become something of a cultural phenomenon, topping bestseller lists worldwide, spawning two bestselling sequels and inspiring a #1 movie. Also the first romantic comedy from a major Hollywood studio to feature a lead actor and actress of Asian descent, the release of this film is now considered a watershed moment to many Asians and Asian-Americans.

In this interview, Kwan discusses the (unanticipated) cultural impact of his novels and describes how the climate in many industries, particularly entertainment, is already changing. Discussing the wide spectrum and multiple facets of Asians around the world, Kwan also explores the unimaginable wealth disparity rarely discussed.

Now part of a larger conversation, Kwan advocates the need for proper representation in society, as he says, “The more we demystify a culture and people, the more we relate to each other.”

The event starts at 8:00 pm on March 22, 2019 at Byham Theater. Tickets for the talk start at $25 and are available online.

Tickets now on sale for Studio Ghibli Fest 2019, bringing nine Japanese animated films to Pittsburgh from April through December.

Tickets went on sale today for GKIDS' Studio Ghibli Fest 2019, which will bring nine films to American theaters from April through December:

• Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城): April 7, April 8, April 10
• Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ): May 20 and May 21
• Whisper of the Heart (耳をすませば): July 1 and July 2
• Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便): July 28, July 29, and July 30
• My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ): August 25, August 26, and August 28
• The Secret World of Arrietty (借りぐらしのアリエッティ)): September 29, and September 30
• Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し): October 27, October 28, and October 30
• Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫): November 17, November 18, and November 20
• The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語): December 16 and December 18

There will be screenings in Japanese with English subtitles as well as English-dubbed versions. The movies will play at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson.

Tickets on sale today for CMU International Film Festival; Chinese films Girls Always Happy (柔情史), Four Springs (四个春天) part of line-up.

Two Chinese movies will be part of the 2019 Carnegie Mellon University International Film Festival, running from March 21 through April 7: the 2018 drama Girls Always Happy (柔情史) and the 2017 documentary Four Springs (四个春天).

Bae, Kang, Choi, samgyupsal.

Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Bae Ji-hwan (with tongs) was doing some grilling at spring training the other day with infielder Jung-ho Kang (center) and Ji-man Choi of the Tampa Bay Rays (left).

Shaler Area High School Japanese teacher semifinalist for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.

The Tribune-Review writes about Steven Balsomico, a Shaler Area High School Japanese teacher, who has been named a semifinalist for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.

North Korea Beyond Politics, March 8 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host its final panel session of this North Korean series on Friday, March 8.