2023 Philippine film Asog in Pittsburgh, October 6, part of Reel Q Pittsburgh International LGBT Film Festival.

The 2023 Philippine film Asog will play in Pittsburgh on October 6, part of Reel Q Pittsburgh International LGBT Film Festival.

This unique narrative incorporating documentary elements follows Rey, a 40-year-old non-binary teacher and typhoon survivor, on a roadtrip to fame. With surreal comedy and social portrait realism, filmmaker Seán‌ Devlin explores climate change, LGBTQ+ issues, and the impact of colonialism on contemporary Philippines.

It plays at the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville (map) and tickets are available online.

2024 CMU Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration, September 25.

The Carnegie Mellon University Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics will present a Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration on September 25.

Join Us for a Celebration of Chinese Culture!

Hosted by the LCAL Chinese Studies program, this event offers a unique opportunity to experience traditional Chinese performances, including Taichi and Gongfu demonstrations. Enjoy a selection of delicious snacks, including mooncakes, while immersing yourself in the rich cultural heritage of China. This event is free and open to the public—everyone is welcome!

It runs from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Cohon University Center, McConomy Auditorium (map).

Art Beyond Borders: The Global Networks of Satellite Art (1984–1988), September 26 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Humanities Center will present "Art Beyond Borders: The Global Networks of Satellite Art (1984–1988)" on September 26.

Hosted by the Humanities Center and graduate fellow, Vuk Vuković. Respondents include Mark Collins from the Geology and Environmental Science department and Joshua Ellenbogen from the History of Art and Architecture department. This event will be hybrid, so you can attend it either in person in 602 CL or via Zoom as you prefer.

In 1988, as Cold War tensions diminished and the digital revolution began, Korean-born artist Nam June Paik orchestrated a global collaboration with eleven broadcasting stations, including those in the Soviet Union and China, to create his final satellite work, Wrap Around the World (1988). Inspired by architect Buckminster Fuller's 1969 global electric grid concept, Paik aimed to transcend nationalism, merging architecture, design, and video to foster global interconnectedness. This colloquium will argue that Paik's satellite trilogy—Good Morning, Mr. Orwell (1984), Bye Bye Kipling (1986), and Wrap Around the World—employed simultaneous art broadcasts to connect nations across borders, fulfilling Fuller's unrealized vision.

Precirculated material for this colloquium will be available here about two weeks prior and up to the event.

The event will be held from 12:30 to 2:00 pm in 602 Cathedral of Learning or online via Zoom.

2024 film Extremely Unique Dynamic, from Harrison Xu and Ivan Leung, in Pittsburgh October 12, part of Reel Q Pittsburgh International LGBT Film Festival.

The 2024 film Extremely Unique Dynamic, from Harrison Xu and Ivan Leung, will play in Pittsburgh on October 12 as part of Reel Q Pittsburgh International LGBT Film Festival.

Ryan and Daniel, two childhood best friends and aspiring actors, spend one final weekend together before RYAN has to move to Canada with his fiancé. Wanting to create one lasting memory, they decide to make a movie... about two guys making a movie.. about two guys making a movie. Along the way, they unpack their decades-long friendship and prepare for the next chapters of their respective lives.

It plays at 9:00 pm at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map), and tickets are available online.

eaJ concert postponed: Korean-American singer originally scheduled to perform in Pittsburgh, November 7.

The Argentinia-born Korean-American singer-songwriter eaJ was originally scheduled to perform in Pittsburgh on November 7, but the show has recently been postponed. A make-up date has not yet been announced.

Work continues on Korean BBQ (코리안 바베큐), planned for Semple St. in Oakland.

One of the biggest food developments in Pittsburgh this year was the arrival, or at least the announcement, of several all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and hot pot restaurants. There have been seven announced for the area: Hong BBQ and Hot Pot in the North Hills, Korean BBQ in Oakland, KPot in Squirrel Hill, Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in McCandless and Robinson, Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ for the Southside, and most recently Running Dish at the Waterfront. Though work has continued on most, only one has actually opened this year (Hong BBQ).

Work continues at 414 Semple St. (map) on Korean BBQ, which now aims to open later this year. Recently signage advertising the restaurant's hours and website went up---the website is no longer online---but ownership says an opening is not set for the immediate future. Signage for the new restaurant went up in September 2023, in the spot formerly occupied by Korea Garden, which moved to the Novo Asian Food Hall in the Strip District. This small strip of Semple St. is an interesting enclave of dining options in a neighborhood increasingly dominated by chains and university-owned property.

Grand Opening for Pittsburgh's first Paris Baguette scheduled for September 21.

Pittsburgh's first Paris Baguette opened its doors to the public on September 6, but will be holding a formal Grand Opening on September 21. From a press released issued by The Block Northway today:

We are thrilled to announce the Grand Opening of Paris Baguette at The Block Northway on Saturday, September 21st ! Join us for a delightful celebration filled with freshly baked pastries, artisanal bread, and gourmet coffee. Experience the delectable flavors of Paris right here at your doorstep.

Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024

Time 7:00 AM

Location: The Block Northway – 8011 B McKnight Road

Hours: 7 A.M. to 9 P.M. Daily

Paris Baguette invites customers to experience a fusion of Parisian elegance and delectable

pastries, sandwiches, and beverages. With a commitment to quality ingredients and authentic

recipes, Paris Baguette promises a culinary journey unlike any other. Paris Baguette brings a

touch of French elegance and artisanal mastery to the heart of The Block Northway.

“Paris Baguette is not just a Bakery,” said Isif Shah owner of Paris Baguette. “It’s a cultural

experience that rings the flavors of France to your doorstep. With our dedication to quality

ingredients and authentic recipes, we strive to transport our customers to the streets of Paris with

every delicious bite.”

Paris Baguette is actually a Korean bakery, an international chain with hundreds of locations around the US. It is the second international Korean bakery to open in Pittsburgh, after Tous Les Jours in March. This spot is open in The Block Northway in the North Hills (map), though the franchisee says he aims to open five in the area; the second is coming soon to Shadyside.

Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program Information Session, October 8 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will hold its annual Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program Information Session on October 8.

Are you interested in living and working abroad?
Have you been studying Japanese and looking to apply your skills after graduation?
Do you want to make an impact on the lives of young people?
Would you like to find out where the ultimate ramen shop is found?
If any of these questions apply to you, then please join the Asian Studies Center and JET Alumni group in Pittsburgh for an information session to learn more about the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. This hybrid Information Session will be in room 4130 Posvar Hall, on the 4th floor of W. Wesley Posvar Hall on October 8, 2024 starting at 5:30pm. Learn about the requirements of the JET Program and learn from your future-JET Program sempai with our JET Alumni Panel.

The hybrid event starts at 5:30 pm and registration is required; the in-person component is held in 4130 Posvar Hall.

2024 Thai film How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (หลานม่า) in Pittsburgh, September 20 and 21.

The 2024 Thai film How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (หลานม่า) will play in Pittsburgh on September 20 and 21.

After his grandmother is diagnosed with cancer, a scheming young man moves in to care for her, motivated by a desire to secure her fortune for himself. Unfortunately for him, it turns out that winning Grandma’s favor is no easy feat.

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

2024 documentary The Cats of Gokogu Shrine (五香宮の猫) at Pitt, September 26, as part of the SCREENSHOT: Asia film festival.

A screening of the 2024 documentary The Cats of Gokogu Shrine (五香宮の猫) has been added to the SCREENSHOT: Asia film festival at the University of Pittsburgh on September 26. A synopsis, from director Kazuhiro Soda's official site:

Gokogu is a small, ancient Shinto shrine in Ushimado, Japan, on the Seto Inland Sea. Home to dozens of street cats, it is also known as “Cat Shrine.”

Many people visit the shrine for various reasons: some to worship gods, others to enjoy gardening. Some people come to clean the shrine as volunteers while others just stop by on their way to fish Japanese sardinella –– and it is the perfect place for kids to play after school. In addition, some people visit Gokogu to feed the freely roaming stray cats. Others just come to see these cats or to take pictures of them. It is a heaven for cat-loving residents and visitors, but some residents complain about the waste the cats leave around the neighborhood. Gokogu looks peaceful on the surface, but it is also the epicenter of a sensitive issue that divides the local community.

In 2021, after living in New York City for 27 years, Kazuhiro Soda and Kiyoko Kashiwagi relocated to Ushimado where they had previously filmed Oyster Factory (2015) and Inland Sea (2018). As new settlers, the couple tries to blend into Ushimado’s local community, and gets caught up in the problem around the cats of Gokogu. The filmmakers started rolling their camera to observe and depict the aging, traditional community and its spiritual center Gokogu. The result is a beautiful and cruel, simple yet complex portrayal of the universe of Gokogu, interwoven with people, cats, and all living beings.

It plays in 125 Frick Fine Arts in Oakland, on the edge of the University of Pittsburgh campus, (map) and tickets for the 7:00 pm show are now available online.