Monday, December 2, 2019

"Kitsuke: The Art Of Kimono" at Pitt, rescheduled for January 8, 2020.


"Vivid kimono" by Raita Futo (Creative Commons).

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Evan Mason and his workshop "Kitsuke: The Art Of Kimono" on January 8.
Pitt alumnus Evan Mason will teach participants about the craftsmanship put into designing a kimono. The lecture will begin with a lesson on the history and significance of the kimono in Japan, follow with a kitsuke demonstration (how to wear traditional Japanese attire), and end with participants trying on their own yukatas (casual kimonos)!
It runs from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in 4130 Posvar Hall (map). It takes place two days before the center's annual Seijin Shiki / Coming-of-Age ceremony.

One day left for fundraising for new Screenshot: Asia film festival and media series at University of Pittsburgh from September 2020.



A festival organizer writes with an update on fundraising for the new Asian film festival and media series hosted by the University of Pittsburgh from September 2020:
I wanted to update you on the progress we are making on bringing a new and improved Asian Film Festival to Pittsburgh.

I'm not sure how much you have heard about this, but Pitt will now host the festival each September (now called Screenshot: Asia), which means that the event will have much more student and faculty participation in addition to strong support from the Pittsburgh community. Screenshot Asia will be the umbrella organization for our own Japan Documentary Film Award, and they will support year-round Asian film programming (including showing silent samurai films with live musical performances like the benshi I brought last year).
We have been raising money for the Film Festival in order to prove to Pitt that we have broad community interest. Would you consider making a donation to support us?

A few reasons to support us:
  • Pitt has the strongest film studies program in the city (actually a strong nation-wide reputation), and we are well positioned to make this an amazing event for the university, for Asian communities living in Pittsburgh, and for anyone who loves Asian cinema.
  • Contributions start at five dollars. Any level of support would be appreciated!
  • One of our students is featured in our promotional film (but you'll have to watch the video to find out who!)

We have just one more day until the campaign ends. We are making excellent progress at nearly 80% of our goal. Please take a look and consider supporting us. Many thanks!

You can click here to go directly to the EngagePitt campaign (or copy and paste the address here: https://engage.pitt.edu/project/16914).
Fundraising closes at 11:59 pm on December 3.

Screenshot: Asia was announced in September 2019. It will fill---aiming to fill to excess---a void left after Silk Screen closed in 2018 due to persistent sexual harassment by its CEO, and after Pittsburgh Filmmakers shuttered its theaters and programming in November.

2019 film Promare (プロメア) returns to Pittsburgh for redux, December 8, 10.



The 2019 Japanese animated film Promare (プロメア) will return to Pittsburgh on December 8 and 10. 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.
The subtitled version on December 8 will play locally at the AMC Waterfront, Southside Works, and Cinemark in Monroeville, while the dubbed version on the 10th will play at the AMC Waterfront, Southside Works, and Cinemark in Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Chinese shipping and express mail company Kuapai (快派) opens Pittsburgh location in Squirrel Hill.



Chinese shipping company and express mail service Kuaipai Global (快派) recently opened a Pittsburgh location in Squirrel Hill. It is located at 5815 Forbes Ave #2FL (map), above Thai & Noodle Outlet and Instyle salon. It is one of several Chinese express mail companies to come and go from the neighborhood in recent years: KS Express (later YM-EX) opened on Murray Ave. in November 2016 and STO Express arrived in January 2016 and left in summer 2017.

"Kitsuke: The Art Of Kimono," scheduled for December 2 at Pitt, has been postponed.


"Vivid kimono" by Raita Futo (Creative Commons).

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center's "Kitsuke: The Art Of Kimono," originally scheduled for December 2, has been postponed, according to the ASC's Twitter.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Dagu Rice Noodle (大鼓米线) coming soon to Squirrel Hill, will replace The Magic Noodle.



Signage recently went up at Forbes Ave. in Squirrel Hill (map) for Dagu Rice Noodle (大鼓米线), a Chinese chain that opened its first American location in Las Vegas and has another location in Cleveland.
In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, there was a restaurant without a sign near the flowery Drum tower in Yunnan, Kunming. Whenever the city had a happy news, people rang the drum to celebrate. Along with the joy of drumbeat, people flocked to the unnamed little restaurant and had bowls of hot rice noodle soup, meaning “smooth long time”. Because of this joy, with the honesty of the shop owner, the little restaurant eventually became a century-old business.
It replaces The Magic Noodle, which opened in May and in turn replaced Sun Penang, which closed earlier in 2019.

Pittsburgh Chinese School hiring teachers.

The Pittsburgh Chinese School, which meets on Sundays at Taylor Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill, is hiring teachers.
岗位要求:
1、热爱中国文化,并有热情将中国的文化广泛传播。
2、喜欢孩子,有爱心、耐心,责任心,有亲和力。
3、普通话发音标准清晰,语言表达能力强。
4、有基本的英语表达沟通能力。
5、有中文教学经验,尤其是有中小学教学经验者优先。
6、有教育或中文相关学历者优先。
7、文艺课教师有相关学历或工作经验者优先。

2012 film Falling Flowers (萧红) at Maridon Museum, December 5.



The 2012 film Falling Flowers (萧红) will play at Butler's Maridon Museum on November 8 as part of its Chinese Film Series. The movie starts at 6:00 pm and is paired by an introduction from Dr. Wei Bian of Slippery Rock University. The movie is free and open to the public, though reservations are required and can be made at 724-282-0123. The Maridon, an Asian art museum, is located at 322 North McKean St. in downtown Butler (map), roughly 40 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Susan Lieu and "140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother" at Pitt, January 10.



The University of Pittsburgh's Vietnamese Student Association will host playwright Susan Lieu and her "140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother" on January 10, 2020.
The Vietnamese Student Association presents: Susan Lieu x 140 LBS: HOW BEAUTY KILLED MY MOTHER.

Susan Lieu is a Vietnamese-American playwright, performer, director and activist. “140 LBS” is an emotional solo performance written and performed by Susan and directed by Sarah Prokalob that tells the story of Susan’s mother who passed away in surgery due to medical malpractice. The performance brings to awareness “the multi-generational immigrant experience, body insecurity and shame, repression and subsequent examination of personal loss, lack of accountability in the medical system, and the Vietnamese folkloric practice of spirit channeling.” Susan is currently on a national tour to bring this story into the lives of others and to start a discussion on important topics relevant to today’s society.

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


a night view of Seoul, by sinano1000 (Creative Commons)

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will continue to offer free Chinese, Japanese, and Korean classes at some of its branches this December. 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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