Tuesday, September 3, 2019

"Materializing Memory: Contemporary Video Art from China," September 5 through October 11 at Pitt.



The University of Pittsburgh's University Art Gallery will host the exhibit "Materializing Memory: Contemporary Video Art from China" from September 5 through October 11.
Exhibited in Pittsburgh for the first time, Materializing Memory presents the work of five young Chinese artists, all born after 1980. These artists are part of China’s balinghou and jiulinghou (post-1980 and post-1990) generations. Unlike earlier practitioners, they came of age following the dramatic economic and cultural reforms of 1978. Through the medium of video art, these artists explore contemporary Chinese society during a period of profound technological and urban transformation. Their work is deeply informed by the Internet, rapid economic development, international communication and exchange, as well as opportunities to earn advanced degrees abroad. These videos document personal and collective experiences. Some record individual feelings of boredom and isolation, while others investigate broader social contradictions and complexities within China and beyond. Together, these works illustrate the plasticity of contemporary experience, and ask what it means to remember during a time when progress accelerates the urge to forget.
The exhibition's opening reception is scheduled from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on September 5; the gallery is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm weekdays in the Frick Fine Arts Building in Oakland (map).

Monday, September 2, 2019

GlobalPittsburgh Happy Hour with visiting Yasuda Women's University students, September 5.


Interior of Pitt's Cathedral of Learning, from the 2019 Yasuda Women's University promotional catalog.

GlobalPittsburgh's next First Thursdays Happy Hour on September 5 will welcome students from Yasuda Women's University (安田女子大学) in Hiroshima.
In September, we will have special guests from Japan. The 43 students from Yasuda University will be study abroad students at the English Language Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. Their host families are also invited to celebrate!

Meet globally-minded people from Pittsburgh and all over the world to make new friends and learn more about different cultures at our GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays monthly happy hour. Bring your friends, family, and colleagues or come alone - we are a very friendly group!
A cohort of undergraduates has studied each fall at the University of Pittsburgh's English Language Institute since 2016.
The event runs from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at Roland's Seafood Grill in the Strip District (map), and tickets are available online.

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Fuku Tea to open second Oakland location.


Via Margittai Architects.

Fuku Tea will open a second Oakland location at 300 S. Craig St. (map). Plans have been in the works for months and the space was cleared when Razzy Fresh frozen yogurt closed at the spot on August 31. The owners of the popular bubble tea spot also run Sushi Fuku, which has one of its three locations on the same street.

NPR profiles Yummyholic and Jasmine Cho.



National Public Radio (NPR)'s "The Salt" profiled Jasmine Cho and her Yummyholic brand on August 31.
Jasmine Cho knows the power of a good cookie. "Cookies," she says, "can make anything more palatable." Including conversations about race and social justice in America.

A baker based in Pittsburgh, Cho creates intricate, hand-drawn cookie portraits of Asian-American figures as a way to increase representation and raise awareness of Asian-American history and identity.

Oishii Donburi, from the team behind Oishii Bento, coming soon to Lawrenceville.


Via Margittai Architects.

Oishii Donburi is coming soon to 5227 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map). The company, founded in 2017 by the people behind Oishii Bento, purchased the former Design Island spot in May 2018.

2019 film Promare (プロメア) in Pittsburgh, September 17 and 19.



The 2019 Japanese animated film Promare (プロメア) will play in Pittsburgh on September 17. The distributor summarizes:
The first feature-length film from the acclaimed studio TRIGGER, creators of the hit series KILL la KILL and Little Witch Academia, and director Hiroyuki Imaishi (GURREN LAGANN, KILL la KILL), Promare uses a bold cel-shaded visual style to tell a blistering action-adventure story, and is the spiritual successor to many of director Imaishi’s former works.

Thirty years has passed since the appearance of Burnish, a race of flame-wielding mutant beings, who destroyed half of the world with fire. When a new group of aggressive mutants calling themselves “Mad Burnish” appears, the epic battle between Galo Thymos, a new member of the anti-Burnish rescue team “Burning Rescue,” and Lio Fotia, the leader of “Mad Burnish” begins.
It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and AMC South Hills Village, Southside Works Cinema, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson. The September 17 shows are dubbed in English while the September 19 ones are in Japanese with English subtitles. Tickets are available online.

The Secret World of Arrietty (借りぐらしのアリエッティ) in Pittsburgh, September 29 and 30.



The 2010 Studio Ghibli film The Secret World of Arrietty (借りぐらしのアリエッティ) will play in Pittsburgh on September 29 and 30 as part of this year's GKIDS Ghibli Fest.
From the creators of Spirited Away and Ponyo, and Academy Award®-nominated director Hiromasa Yonebayashi, comes a gorgeous and adventure-filled adaptation of The Borrowers, one of the most beloved children’s books of all time.

In a secret world hidden beneath the floorboards, little people called Borrowers live out of sight of humans. But when brave and tiny Arrietty is out gathering supplies, she is discovered by Shawn, a human boy, and they begin to form a friendship that blossoms into an extraordinary adventure.
It plays at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, Robinson, and Pittsburgh Mills. The September 29 screenings are dubbed in English while the September 30 ones are in Japanese with English subtitles. Tickets are available online.

Pad Thai Noodle now open on N. Craig St. in Oakland.


via Pad Thai Noodle

Pad Thai Noodle recently opened at 256 N. Craig St. in Oakland (map), in what was formerly a series of Vietnamese restaurants. Signage went up shortly after Tan Lac Vien Express announced its closure on July 3.

Saturday, August 31, 2019

"Storytime: Chinese and English" in Squirrel Hill, September 7.


via Ed Massery.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Squirrel Hill will hold its next "Storytime: Chinese and English" on Saturday, August 24.
Celebrate our city’s diverse culture as we explore new words through songs, action rhymes and stories in both English and Chinese.
Storytime runs from 11:00 to 11:30 am and is free and open to the public. The Carnegie Library branch in Squirrel Hill is located at 5801 Forbes Ave. (map), accessible by buses 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, and 74.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Free Chinese, Japanese, Korean classes in Pittsburgh in September.


via Khun Hans Photography (Creative Commons)

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will continue to offer free Chinese, Japanese, and Korean classes at some of its branches this September. Check out the class information below in addition to its language resources on the shelves and online.

As the library notes: these classes are free; registration is not required; no materials are needed and nothing needs to be bought; new participants are welcome at any time; classes are for adults (unless otherwise noted) but well-behaved young people are welcome to join as well.

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