Parasite (기생충) voted Best Picture by members of Row House Film Club.

The 2019 Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) was voted Best Picture by over 400 members of the Row House Film Club, the theater announced. From a February 2 press release:

“Pittsburghers are excited to have their voices heard in choosing the best films of the year. Parasite felt so universal, its exciting to see a film from South Korea translate so well to the US. Bong Joon-ho is a brilliant filmmaker, and Pittsburghers overwhelmingly agreed that Parasite was the best film of the year," says Film Club manager Delena Obermaier.

Parasite is up for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards on February 9, and is playing at the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville through February 6.

Korean performers from Brush Theatre to present Doodle POP! in Pittsburgh, May 16.

via @brushtheatre.

Korean performers from Seoul-based Brush Theatre will perform Doodle POP! in Pittsburgh on May 16 as part of the 2020 Pittsburgh Children's Theater festival.

The mischievous Doodle POP! duo invites you into the delightful doodling world! Join as they experience an exciting adventure in an ocean world they imagine and create while on stage. What will happen to them in this beautiful but scary watery world, as will they try to return a turtle doodle to the sea safely?

With live sound effects, stunning animation, and an abundance of theatrical imagination, this is a touching and exciting screen show for anyone ages 3+

The performance is scheduled for May 16, 2020, at 2:00 pm. Group tickets are available now but individual tickets will not be available until next spring. It will be held at the Byham Theater in the Cultural District (map).

Tickets still available for Amber Liu in Pittsburgh, February 9.

Amber Liu will perform in Pittsburgh on February 9 as part of her North American "X" Tour, and tickets for the 7:00 pm, all-ages show are still available. The concert will also feature Meg & Dea and Justin Park and will be at Rex Theater in the Southside (map). It's one of the few times Korean stars have performed in Pittsburgh---save for San E and Mad Clown in 2018 and a brief set by the Wonder Girls in 2009---though hopefully that will change.

GlobalPittsburgh happy hour with visitors from South Korea, February 6.

The next GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays happy hour on February 6 will welcome visiting English teachers from Korea National University of Education, who are studying at Pitt's English Language Institute.

Join us for an informal evening with globally-minded friends and visiting teachers from the Korea National University of Education who will be coming here for training at the English Language Institute, University of Pittsburgh. Meet people from around the world, practice your language skills and citizen diplomacy! Kids welcome!

The happy hour runs from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at Roland's Seafood Grill in the Strip District (map). Tickets are required and may be purchased online.

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

via Yoshimitsu Kurooka (Creative Commons)

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

Lunar New Year Parade through Squirrel Hill, February 9.

via @Lunar New Year PGH.

The fifth annual Lunar New Year Parade in Pittsburgh will be held on Sunday, February 9, to welcome the Year of the Rat. It starts at 12:30 and runs up Murray Avenue from Phillips Ave. (map) to Forbes Ave.

Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) playing pretty much everywhere in Pittsburgh this week and next.

The acclaimed 2019 Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) is playing in numerous theaters across Pittsburgh ahead of the 2020 Oscars. A synopsis from the movie's official site:

Bong Joon Ho brings his singular mastery home to Korea in this pitch-black modern fairytale.

Meet the Park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity. Masterminded by college-aged Ki-woo, the Kim children expediently install themselves as tutor and art therapist, to the Parks. Soon, a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families. The Kims provide “indispensable” luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks. By turns darkly hilarious and heart-wrenching, PARASITE showcases a modern master at the top of his game.

Here is a list of currently-scheduled screenings; tickets are available online via Fandango:

• AMC Loews Waterfront: now through February 5
• AMC Mt. Lebanon: now through February 5
• Cinemark North Hills: February 3 through February 8
• Cinemark Robinson: now through February 8
• Hollywood Theater: January 31 through February 5
• Row House Cinema: now through February 6
• Southside Works Cinema: now through February 6
• Squirrel Hill Manor: now through February 6
• Tull Family Theater: now through February 6
• Waterworks Cinema: now through February 5

Oscar-nominated Korean short film In the Absence (부재의 기억) in Pittsburgh, from February 1.

The Oscar-nominated short films will play in Pittsburgh theaters from February 1, and the short film documentary category includes In the Absence (부재의 기억) on the 2014 Sewon ferry disaster.

When the MV Sewol ferry sank off the coast of South Korea in 2014, over three hundred people lost their lives, most of them schoolchildren. Years later, the victims’ families and survivors are still demanding justice from national authorities.

It plays at the Harris Theater from February 1 through February 12, at the Cinemark theaters in the North Hills and Robinson from February 3 through 9, and at the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville on February 1, 3, 4, and 5.

English-Korean Language Social Hour, February 11 at Pitt.

via travel oriented (Creative Commons)

The University of Pittsburgh's English Language Institute and Asian Studies Center will present its next English-Korean Language Social Hour on February 11.

The English Language Institute (ELI) is pleased to host 10 teachers from the Korea National University of Education and six Korean ELI students this semester. To welcome this new cohort, the Asian Studies Center will host a second Korean Language Social Hour. This will serve as a perfect opportunity to both learn Korean from native Korean speakers and teach English to international students. There will be snacks and drinks at this event, too.

It runs from 4:00 to 5:00 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map).

Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) playing pretty much everywhere in Pittsburgh.

The acclaimed 2019 Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) is playing in numerous theaters across Pittsburgh ahead of the 2020 Oscars. A synopsis from the movie's official site:

Bong Joon Ho brings his singular mastery home to Korea in this pitch-black modern fairytale.

Meet the Park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity. Masterminded by college-aged Ki-woo, the Kim children expediently install themselves as tutor and art therapist, to the Parks. Soon, a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families. The Kims provide “indispensable” luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks. By turns darkly hilarious and heart-wrenching, PARASITE showcases a modern master at the top of his game.

From now through January 30 it is playing at the AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC Mt. Lebanon, Southside Works Cinema, Cinemark Theater in Robinson, and Squirrel Hill Manor Theater. From January 31 through February 6 it will play at the Row House Cinema. And from February 3 through February 9 it will play at the Cinemark Theaters in North Hills in Robinson. Tickets are available through Fandango, the Manor Theater website, the Row House Cinema, and Cinemark.

Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) at Squirrel Hill's Manor Theater, through (at least) January 24.

The acclaimed 2019 Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) will play at the Squirrel Hill Manor Theater again through at least January 24. From the movie's official site:

Bong Joon Ho brings his singular mastery home to Korea in this pitch-black modern fairytale.

Meet the Park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity. Masterminded by college-aged Ki-woo, the Kim children expediently install themselves as tutor and art therapist, to the Parks. Soon, a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families. The Kims provide “indispensable” luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks. By turns darkly hilarious and heart-wrenching, PARASITE showcases a modern master at the top of his game.

Tickets are now available online. It is currently playing at AMC Loews Waterfront through (at least) January 22, and will play at the Row House Cinema from January 31 through February 6 and local Cinemark Theaters February 3 through 9.

Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) at local Cinemark theaters, February 3 through 9.

The acclaimed 2019 Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) will play at the Cinemark theaters in Robinson and the North Hills from February 3 through February 9 as part of its Oscar Movie Week. From the movie's official site:

Bong Joon Ho brings his singular mastery home to Korea in this pitch-black modern fairytale.

Meet the Park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity. Masterminded by college-aged Ki-woo, the Kim children expediently install themselves as tutor and art therapist, to the Parks. Soon, a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families. The Kims provide “indispensable” luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks. By turns darkly hilarious and heart-wrenching, PARASITE showcases a modern master at the top of his game.

Tickets are available online. It is currently playing at AMC Loews Waterfront through (at least) January 22, and will play at the Row House Cinema from January 31 through February 6.

Lunar New Year Celebration in Pitt's Global Hub, January 24.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host a Lunar New Year Celebration on January 24 with games, food, a photo booth, and more. It runs from 12:30 to 1:30 pm in the Global Hub on Posvar Hall's first floor (map).

It is one of several Lunar New Year's events at Pitt, in addition to the Vietnamese Student Association and Chinese American Student Association's event on the 18th, a festival with the School of Education on the 23th, and the Chinese Affinity Group's festival on the 24th.

Lunar New Year festival with Pitt's School of Education, January 23.

The University of Pittsburgh's School of Education will host a Lunar New Year festival on January 23. It runs from 12:30 to 2:30 pm at 234 McKee Place (map) and is free and open to the Pitt community.

Year of the Rat celebration at Carnegie Mellon University, January 17.

The Carnegie Mellon University Department of Modern Languages, Chinese Studies Program, and Chinese Language Teachers Association of Western Pennsylvania will present a Year of the Rat celebration at CMU on January 17. It will feature performances from various OCA Pittsburgh groups, the CMU K-Pop Dance Club, Win-Win Kung Fu, along with several cultural activities. It runs from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the Tepper Quad (map) and is free and open to the public.

Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) to stay in Pittsburgh through January 22.

The acclaimed 2019 Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충), which opened in Pittsburgh on November 1, ran through December 19, and returned to Pittsburgh on January 3, will stay here through at least January 22.

Bong Joon Ho brings his singular mastery home to Korea in this pitch-black modern fairytale.

Meet the Park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity. Masterminded by college-aged Ki-woo, the Kim children expediently install themselves as tutor and art therapist, to the Parks. Soon, a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families. The Kims provide “indispensable” luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks. By turns darkly hilarious and heart-wrenching, PARASITE showcases a modern master at the top of his game.

Parasite won the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. It will play at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online via Fandango. 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.

Cobra, a yakiniku and Korean BBQ place, opens in Bloomfield.

Cobra has opened in Bloomfield, Very Local Pittsburgh writes, in the space most recently occupied by Feng. According to its official site, Cobra

is a full-immersion experience into the world of yakiniku and Korean BBQ, paying homage to both cultures style of table-side dining. Cobra serves up an intimate lounge alongside private karaoke and more. Do you want more?

Cobra is also an event space, with several local DJs and performers on stage this past weekend. It is located at 4305 Main St. (map). Prior to Feng, the spot was actually Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, one of the few places in Pittsburgh that had Korean BBQ until its closure in 2013.

Lunar New Year Celebration, January 19 at Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh will hold its annual Lunar New Year Celebration on January 19.

In ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on the Lunar New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one.

Come kick off the Lunar year 4718, the Year of the Rat, at MuseumLab!

Activities include:

• Live performances by:
• Yan Lai Dance Academy
• Purple Bamboo Chinese Ensemble
• Steel Dragon Lion Dance Team
• Discover WongFace, an augmented reality mural by artist Jordan Wong in Tech Lab
• Chinese calligraphy with Ming Rui
• Learn about Korean traditions and games with the University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center
• Vietnamese Five Fruit Tray tradition - Taste some of our favorite fruits!

Performance Schedule Coming Soon!!

The celebration is free with museum admission ($16 for adults, $14 for kids aged 2 through 18, and free for infants under 2). The museum is located at 10 Children's Way on the Northside (map), though the celebration will be in a newer adjoining space called MuseumLab.

Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) at Row House Cinema, January 31 - February 6.

The acclaimed 2019 Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충), will play at the Row House Cinema from January 31 through February 6. From the movie's official site.

Bong Joon Ho brings his singular mastery home to Korea in this pitch-black modern fairytale.

Meet the Park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity. Masterminded by college-aged Ki-woo, the Kim children expediently install themselves as tutor and art therapist, to the Parks. Soon, a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families. The Kims provide “indispensable” luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks. By turns darkly hilarious and heart-wrenching, PARASITE showcases a modern master at the top of his game.

These showings are part of Oscar Prep Week and tickets and showtime information will come soon. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

GlobalPittsburgh happy hour with visitors from South Korea, February 6.

The next GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays happy hour on February 6 will welcome visiting English teachers from Korea National University of Education, who are studying at Pitt's English Language Institute.

Join us for an informal evening with globally-minded friends and visiting teachers from the Korea National University of Education who will be coming here for training at the English Language Institute, University of Pittsburgh. Meet people from around the world, practice your language skills and citizen diplomacy! Kids welcome!

The happy hour runs from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at Roland's Seafood Grill in the Strip District (map). Tickets are required, though the link to purchase does not currently work.