Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts

Friday, February 28, 2020

Pitt sends message to its student community about racism and xenophobia against Asian students.

Kenyon Bonner, the Vice Provost and Dean of Students at the University of Pittsburgh, sent an announcement to the Pitt student population yesterday about the coronavirus's potential impact on health and well-being. The message also included a message about curbing racism and xenophobia that has been directed against Asian-American and international students at Pitt:
In addition to our physical wellness, it is important that during this time we remain committed to our communal well-being. Pitt aims to be an inclusive community in which everyone feels like they belong and are valued. Disappointedly, some members of our community have used the coronavirus as a vehicle to spew hateful rhetoric targeted at some of our international, Asian American students, and people who are perceived to have been in contact with COVID-19. This type of treatment is wrong, insensitive, harmful, and contrary to the University’s values. Although this outbreak started in China, having Chinese ancestry – or any other ancestry – does not place a person at higher risk for this illness.

As you discuss the coronavirus, please keep a few considerations in mind:


Together, we can make our campus feel inclusive for everyone by treating each other with dignity and respect and sharing accurate information with our fellow community members.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Profiles of KIIN Lao & Thai Eatery.



Yesterday the Pittsburgh City-Paper profiled KIIN Lao & Thai Eatery, which opened in November in the space formerly occupied by Bangkok Balcony.
In early September, Norraset (Nor) and Rujira Nareedokmai closed their beloved Thai restaurant, Bangkok Balcony, after a 15-year run. But fans of the Squirrel Hill restaurant can rest easy: The Nareedokmais aren't going anywhere, just shifting their focus a little to the northeast. KIIN Lao & Thai Eatery is now open in Bangcok Balcony's former spot with a mix of Thao and Laotian cuisines.

Because the more than thousand-mile border shared between Laos and Thailand is so blurred — the regions have passed flavors for centuries — I expected the menu to be a jumble of dishes from both countries. But instead, it’s divided neatly in half, the Lao side full of noodle soups and sticky rice; Thai delivering curries and stir-fry noodles. The separation allows diners to see where the two cuisines diverge as well as where they connect. And for the devoted fans of Bangkok Balcony, the split makes it easy to find favorites that were carried over to KIIN.
Pittsburgh Magazine and NextPittsburgh also reviewed the new restaurant last fall.

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Pittsburgh's 2020 Lunar New Year Parade through Squirrel Hill, March 1.



The 2020 Lunar New Year Parade is scheduled to move up Murray Ave. in Squirrel Hill on Sunday, March 1. Initially scheduled for February 9, it was postponed to accommodate local community members' efforts in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. It will begin at 12:30 pm at Murray and Phillips Ave. (map) and move to Forbes Ave.

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Pittsburgh's 2020 Lunar New Year Parade postponed until March 1.



The Organization of Chinese Americans - Pittsburgh has announced today's Lunar New Year Parade will be postponed until March 1, 11:00 am.

Thursday, January 30, 2020

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.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Guest Chef Dinner with Chef Nor of KIIN Lao & Thai Eatery, January 23 in Hazelwood.



Community Kitchen Pittsburgh will host an evening with Chef Nor of KIIN Lao & Thai Eatery and Silk Elephant on January 23 as part of its regular Guest Chef Dinner series.

Monday, December 2, 2019

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.

Thursday, November 14, 2019



Hal B. Klein of Pittsburgh Magazine profiles KIIN Lao & Thai Eatery, which opened in Squirrel Hill this month.
I stopped by for lunch this week and, if the Nareedokmais follow through with their vision, I think that Pittsburgh is in for a real treat, one that has the potential to offer diners a culinary experience heretofore not available in the city.

“We don’t want to hold anything back. If you eat here, it should taste as it does in Laos. That is my challenge,” says Nareedokmai.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

KIIN Thai & Lao Eatery to open on Friday in Squirrel Hill.



KIIN Thai & Lao Eatery will open in Squirrel Hill on Friday, according to its Facebook page. It is a new restaurant and new menu in the former location of Bangkok Balcony at 5846 Forbes Ave. (map).
🗓️ Mark your calendars... We are officially opening our doors to the public this FRIDAY! Stop in & join the #LaoFoodMovement by experiencing Lao & Thai cuisine for the FIRST time in the 'Burgh!

Special thanks to Chef Seng for helping us create this unique, authentic, & DELICIOUS new menu! Lao Food Movement


Sunday - Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday & Saturday: 11am-11pm

From October.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Friday, October 11, 2019

KIIN Thai & Lao Eatery coming soon to Squirrel Hill.



Work progresses on KIIN Thai & Lao Eatery, coming soon to replace Bangkok Balcony at 5846 Forbes Ave. 2F (map). The Thai restaurant closed in September and the owner created an online investment campaign to fund the new concept. Signage on the door promises "a new menu, with fresh & delicious Thai and Lao food."

Monday, September 30, 2019

Squirrel Hill's Bangkok Balcony closes for renovations, will reopen as KIIN Thai & Lao Eatery.



Signage recently went up to announce the closure of Bangkok Balcony in Squirrel Hill for the next two weeks. It will reopen at 5846 Forbes Ave. 2F (map) as KIIN, Thai & Lao Eatery, offering Thai and Lao food.

Sunday, September 1, 2019

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.

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Chengdu Gourmet, Sichuan Gourmet, Umami, and Bae-Bae's Kitchen, NIcky's Thai Kitchen voted "Best" by readers of Pittsburgh City-Paper.


via ChengduGourmet.net

Some variety in this year's Pittsburgh City-Paper Best Of readers' poll.
  • This year's Pittsburgh City-Paper Best Of poll featured a Best Asian Food category, with Squirrel Hill's Chengdu Gourmet taking first place, Banh Mi & Tea second, and Thai Gourmet third.
  • Sichuan Gourmet was voted Best Chinese, upsetting perennial winners Sesame Inn.
  • Umami was voted tops in both Best Japanese and Best Sushi over Nakama, which had received some notoriety for its annual victories.
  • Bae-Bae's Kitchen was voted Best Korean, a new category for this year.
  • Nicky's Thai Kitchen was voted Best Thai.

Monday, August 5, 2019

Documentary on rescuing Asian elephants in Thailand, Love & Bananas, in East Liberty, August 12.



The 2018 documentary Love & Bananas will play at the Carnegie Library in East Liberty on August 12. A synopsis, from the film's official site:
Elephant rescues in Thailand are rare, unpredictable and often life threatening. After waiting 2.5 years, actor/director Ashley Bell and a team of elephant rescuers led by world renowned Asian elephant conservationist and TIME Magazine's Hero of Asia, Lek Chailert, embark on a daring mission 480 miles across Thailand to rescue Noi Na, a 70-year old partially blind trekking elephant and bring her to freedom.

African elephants are slaughtered for their ivory, but sadly the plight of the Asian Elephant has been completely overlooked even though they are the elephant we are most familiar with in zoos, circuses and elephant rides. L&B exposes the cruel secret that every Asian elephant has had to endure to become a service animal; a process knows as Pajan, aka The Crush Box. LOVE & BANANAS aims to ignite a new way of thinking about this species and shows what can be done to prevent the extinction of Asian elephants.
The movie runs from 6:00 to 7:30 pm on the the 12th, in tandem with World Elephant Day. It is free and open to the public, but not recommended for children 12 and under. The library is located at 130 S. Whitfield St. (map).

Thursday, August 1, 2019

HCL Technologies hiring Bilingual Product Classification Analysts with proficiency in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, or Vietnamese for onsite positions at Google in Pittsburgh

HCL Technologies is hiring Bilingual Product Classification Analysts with proficiency in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, or Vietnamese for onsite positions at Google in Pittsburgh.
Bilingual Product Classification Analyst is a full-time job through HCL America onsite at Google Pittsburgh. This position enhances users’ online shopping experience by performing in-depth research, determining product taxonomy expansion, and improving machine learning classification using highly technical internal tools and processes. It is part of a fast-paced environment, partnering closely with operations and engineering teams.

Friday, July 19, 2019

Pad Thai Noodle coming to N. Craig St. in Oakland.



Pad Thai Noodle will open a location at 256 N. Craig St. in Oakland (map), in the spot most recently occupied by Tan Lac Vien Express. Tan Lac Vien Express announced its closure on July 3 after four years in business; two other Vietnamese restaurants were previously in the spot.

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Ghost Fleet, a documentary on present-day slave fishermen of Thailand, continues in Pittsburgh through July 17.



The 2018 documentary Ghost Fleet which opened in Pittsburgh on July 5, will continue through July 17. A synopsis, via the documentary's official site:
Ghost Fleet follows a small group of activists who risk their lives on remote Indonesian islands to find justice and freedom for the enslaved fishermen who feed the world’s insatiable appetite for seafood. Bangkok-based Patima Tungpuchayakul, a Thai abolitionist, has committed her life to helping these “lost” men return home. Facing illness, death threats, corruption, and complacency, Patima’s fearless determination for justice inspires her nation and the world.
And in a Hollywood Reporter review:
During the voyage, [the filmmakers] encounter a handful of escaped slaves from Thailand, Burma and Cambodia hiding out on remote islands far from home. They all have similar stories of how they were promised jobs and then wound up imprisoned at sea, working in sordid conditions where accidents could happen at any time — one man tells the gruesome tale of his friend getting decapitated by a fishing net — and where escape was the only viable option. But even if they did manage to get free, the men were often hunted down and thrown into illegal prisons run by the fishing corporation, which was in cahoots with local police.
It will play at the Harris Theater in the Cultural District (map), and tickets are available online.

Friday, June 28, 2019

Documentary on rescuing Asian elephants in Thailand, Love & Bananas, in East Liberty, August 12.



The 2018 documentary Love & Bananas will play at the Carnegie Library in East Liberty on August 12. A synopsis, from the film's official site:
Elephant rescues in Thailand are rare, unpredictable and often life threatening. After waiting 2.5 years, actor/director Ashley Bell and a team of elephant rescuers led by world renowned Asian elephant conservationist and TIME Magazine's Hero of Asia, Lek Chailert, embark on a daring mission 480 miles across Thailand to rescue Noi Na, a 70-year old partially blind trekking elephant and bring her to freedom.

African elephants are slaughtered for their ivory, but sadly the plight of the Asian Elephant has been completely overlooked even though they are the elephant we are most familiar with in zoos, circuses and elephant rides. L&B exposes the cruel secret that every Asian elephant has had to endure to become a service animal; a process knows as Pajan, aka The Crush Box. LOVE & BANANAS aims to ignite a new way of thinking about this species and shows what can be done to prevent the extinction of Asian elephants.
The movie runs from 6:00 to 7:30 pm on the the 12th, in tandem with World Elephant Day. It is free and open to the public, but not recommended for children 12 and under. The library is located at 130 S. Whitfield St. (map).

Ghost Fleet, a documentary on present-day slave fishermen of Thailand, in Pittsburgh July 5 - 11.



The 2018 documentary Ghost Fleet will play in Pittsburgh from July 5 through 11. A synopsis, via the documentary's official site:
Ghost Fleet follows a small group of activists who risk their lives on remote Indonesian islands to find justice and freedom for the enslaved fishermen who feed the world’s insatiable appetite for seafood. Bangkok-based Patima Tungpuchayakul, a Thai abolitionist, has committed her life to helping these “lost” men return home. Facing illness, death threats, corruption, and complacency, Patima’s fearless determination for justice inspires her nation and the world.
And in a Hollywood Reporter review:
During the voyage, [the filmmakers] encounter a handful of escaped slaves from Thailand, Burma and Cambodia hiding out on remote islands far from home. They all have similar stories of how they were promised jobs and then wound up imprisoned at sea, working in sordid conditions where accidents could happen at any time — one man tells the gruesome tale of his friend getting decapitated by a fishing net — and where escape was the only viable option. But even if they did manage to get free, the men were often hunted down and thrown into illegal prisons run by the fishing corporation, which was in cahoots with local police.
It will play at the Harris Theater in the Cultural District (map), though tickets and showtimes are not yet available.

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