1992 Chinese film The Story of Qiu Ju (秋菊打官司) at Northland Public Library, January 17.

The 1992 Chinese film The Story of Qiu Ju (秋菊打官司) will play at Northland Public Library on January 17 as this month's installment of Movie Matinee.

The story of a stoic peasant woman who demands an apology when her husband is humiliated by the village chief. The Chief is also a headstrong man who refuses to apologize, sending Qiu Ju on a futile trek through the complicated Chinese judicial system. In the west an assault on your honor may not be a big deal, but in the Chinese culture, it is. Though serious in nature, the movie is very comedic in parts. Winner of many awards, this movie is directed by one of the worlds leading directors, Zhang Yimou.

After her husband is publicly kicked in the groin, Qui Ju demands an apology from the Chief Magistrate. When she doesn't get it, she goes up the Chinese judicial system only to battle more bureaucracy and indifference at every stage.

No registration required.

The movie will play at Northland from 1:30 pm, and the library is located off of McKnight Road and Rt. 19 in McCandless Township (map). It is free and open to the public.

Ineffable Cà Phê to open inside Pittsburgh's forthcoming Fresh International Market in summer 2024.

via @bowenkou

Fresh International Market announced last year it will open its first Pittsurgh-area location later this year, and the owner recently shared on social media that Ineffable Cà Phê will open a location inside in what will be the area's largest Asian grocery store. Ineffable Cà Phê is a Vietnamese coffee shop and cafe that opened in Lawrenceville in 2017. The Fresh International Market press release from last March has more details about the opening, scheduled now for Summer 2024:

New tenant Fresh International Market will offer authentic Asian flavors to Pittsburgh customers.

A major grocery store chain is set to open its seventh store in Pittsburgh's North Point Breeze neighborhood, within the Rockwell Park innovation center. Known for its unique selection of international ingredients and authentic Asian cuisine, the market's new store will occupy the entire 40,000 RSF Apollo building.

Of the new store, Rockwell Park Principal Al Lardo shares: "We are thrilled to welcome Fresh International Market to Rockwell Park and the North Point Breeze community. This new store will be a fantastic addition to the city's vibrant food scene. The store's unique selection of international ingredients and prepared meals will provide greater convenience and comfort for local residents." He noted that the arrival of Fresh International Market would also contribute to the continued growth and development of Rockwell Park: “The opening of Fresh International Market at Rockwell Park marks a significant milestone for the Rockwell Park’s growth and development as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and community engagement."

According to Fresh International Market Founder and President Bowen Kou, the store aims to become a part of the local community:

"Fresh International Market is excited to join the vibrant Rockwell Park community and offer our unique range of international brands and Asian cuisine to local residents. We are happy to become a part of this beautiful and dynamic place and look forward to contributing to its growth and development. Our goal is to be more than just a grocery store, but a destination where customers can discover new flavors and expand their culinary horizons."

The store will be located in the Apollo building on 7511 Thomas Blvd, which was built in 1906. The construction work is expected to take up to 15 months.

21 Asian restaurants and eateries coming soon, or maybe not quite so soon, to Pittsburgh.

via @parisbaguetteus

Since 2011, PennsylvAsia has documented the Asian restaurant openings (and closings) in the Pittsburgh area. In August, we looked at the 15 biggest names coming soon (or not-so-soon) to the area, taking a page from the local news outlets that seemed to find success posting lists from PennsylvAsia scoops. Now, at the start of 2024, let's take a look at a list of the 21 biggest Asian restaurants coming in the near or distant future. Some of these are repeats from the summer, if progress has been slow, while others are recently new developments. The additions will certainly be welcome in the area: new bakeries and dessert spots, more dim sum, five Korean BBQ places this year, for example, and of course more bubble tea. We are also attracting a number of national and international chains, which is a testament to the growing power of Pittsburgh's food scene, since these places were content with overlooking Pittsburgh over the last decade or two. Let's dig in . .

"Book Excerpts We Should Read, Talk About and Act On: Year of the Tiger," January 4 with Carnegie Library, JCC, and Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host "Book Excerpts We Should Read, Talk About and Act On: Year of the Tiger" virtually on January 4.

Join JCC’s Center for Loving Kindness, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s CivicCLP for a Zoom conversation based on book excerpts that can impact how we move towards reconciliation as a community and as individuals. No need to read the book; we will share excerpts and guide discussion.

 

Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life

 

Drawing on a collection of original essays, previously published work, conversations, graphics, photos, commissioned art by disabled and Asian American artists, and more, Alice uses her unique talent to share an impressionistic scrapbook of her life as an Asian American disabled activist, community organizer, media maker, and dreamer.

The event runs from 7:00 to 8:00 pm and is free, though registration is required.

API Month Conversation with Professor Xiang - "Last Night at the Telegraph Club", January 24 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's University Library System will present API Month Conversation with Professor Xiang - "Last Night at the Telegraph Club" on January 24.

Join the University Library System for a conversation with Professor Lidong Xiang from the English Department to talk about "Last Night at the Telegraph Club" as part of API month at Pitt. The book received National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2021, but is currently banned from the K-12 schools and libraries in many states. 

The novel tells the story of Lily Hu, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, as she explores her sexuality and the struggles and threats her family faces in 1950's San Francisco during the Red Scare and the McCarthyism investigations. 

Professor Xiang is assistant professor at the English Department in the University of Pittsburgh. She received the Doctoral Degree in Childhood Studies from Rutgers University; and is committed to critically engaging with social justice issues regarding girls and other marginalized children and youth.

It runs from 12:30 to 1:15 pm in the 1st Floor Cafe of Hillman Library (map), and is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended and can be completed online.

1973 Japanese film Lady Snowblood (修羅雪姫) at Row House Lawrenceville, from January 19.

The 1973 Japanese film Lady Snowblood (修羅雪姫) at Row House Lawrenceville as part of its Snow Week series, January 19 - 25.

One of the most influential action films of all time, this 1970s Japanese cult classic follows Yuki — who has been raised as an assassin since birth to avenge her family. It served as inspiration for countless revenge thriller films, including Tarantino’s Kill Bill series.

Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

Chinese & English Storytime, at Cooper-Siegel Community Library, January 13.

via CuriousLittleBao.com 

The Cooper-Siegel Community Library will resume a series of Chinese & English Storytimes, starting on January 13. 

Explore the Chinese language through bilingual songs, books, and playful experiences. This program is designed for kids in grades preschool - 2nd grade with their caregivers. 

Registration is required and can be completed online. There is a Chinese & English Storytime scheduled February 10, March 9, April1 3, and May 11 as well. The Cooper-Siegel Community Library is located at 403 Fox Chapel Rd. (map).

1994 Hong Kong film Chung King Express (重慶森林) at Row House Lawrenceville, from December 26.

The 1994 Hong Kong film Chung King Express (重慶森林) will play at the Row House Lawrenceville from December 26 through January 4.

Kar-wai’s break out film employs his signature crossing storylines to follow two police officers who fall into ill-fated love in a film brimming with raw humanity and irresistible energy.

Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

New Hong Kong film The Goldfinger (金手指) in Pittsburgh, from December 29.

The upcoming Hong Kong film The Goldfinger (金手指) will play in Pittsburgh from December 29.

Set in the 1980s, the film depicts cut-throat machinations between Hong Kong's jostling business elites amidst the backdrop of the tail end of British colonial rule.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

New Miyazaki film The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか) remains in Pittsburgh-area theaters through (at least) January 3.

The 2023 Hayao Miyazaki film The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか), which opened across Pittsburgh-area theaters on December 7, will remain here through (at least) January 3. A synopsis of the movie, from the distributor:

Hayao Miyazaki's first feature film in 10 years, The Boy and the Heron is a hand-drawn, original story written and directed by the Academy Award®-winning director. Produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, the film features a musical score from Miyazaki's long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi. The theme song for the film "Spinning Globe" was penned and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.

. . .

A young boy named Mahito
yearning for his mother
ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead.
There, death comes to an end,
and life finds a new beginning.


A semi-autobiographical fantasy
about life, death, and creation,
 in tribute to friendship,
from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

Tickets are available online for shows at several Pittsburgh-area theaters. Please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles while others are dubbed in English.