"Stop Asian Hate" gathering in Oakland, March 20.

"Thrash the State" is organizing a Stop Asian Hate gathering in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighorhood tomorrow. It will start from 2:00 pm at the corner of Forbes and Oakland Avenues (map).

Oishii Donburi to soft open, March 19.

After nearly three years of work, Oishii Donburi in Lawrenceville will hold a soft open on March 19 from 12:00 to 8:00 pm. The new restaurant is from the ownership behind Oakland's Oishii Bento. The restaurant is located at at 5227 Butler St. (map), and the menu consists of a variety of donburi and udon bowls, bibimbap, and other Japanese and Korean sides. The ownership team purchased the former Design Island and Artisan Harvest spot in May 2018, with work beginning in earnest in Summer 2019.

Shady Side Academy hiring Chinese teacher for 2021-2022 school year.

Shady Side Academy is hiring a Chinese teacher.

Shady Side Academy’s Senior School World Languages Department is seeking a full-time Chinese teacher for the 2021-22 academic year. Responsibilities include teaching four sections of Chinese, from introductory through advanced level courses in accordance with the Department’s needs, coaching two seasons or the equivalent, and advising six-eight students. There may be the possibility of residing in a dormitory or living on campus and serving as residential faculty in the boarding program. Other duties, such as but not limited to proctoring exams, chaperoning dances, or serving on committees, may be assigned as needed by the Academy.

Fluency in oral and written Chinese and experience teaching Chinese is required. Native fluency is strongly preferred. A bachelor’s degree in Chinese, or another modern language of a native speaker, is required and a master’s degree in that language is strongly preferred. Ideal candidates will have at least five to seven years of secondary school experience as a teacher, a demonstrated commitment to a high level of academic rigor, a growth mindset, cultural competency, a passion for working with and teaching adolescents, a flexible, proactive, and team-oriented approach, excellent written and oral communication skills, exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, an ability to multitask and prioritize workload, superior interpersonal skills, and knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Smartboards, and/or other technology directly linked to working and teaching at Shady Side Academy. We encourage candidates to apply who are able to teach multiple languages.

Eddie Huang film Boogie continues in Pittsburgh, through March 25.

The Eddie Huang film Boogie, which opened in Pittsburgh on March 5, will continue here through at least March 25. From the distributor:

From acclaimed writer, producer and restaurateur Eddie Huang comes his directorial debut Boogie, the coming-of-age story of Alfred “Boogie” Chin, a basketball phenom living in Queens, New York, who dreams of one day playing in the NBA. While his parents pressure him to focus on earning a scholarship to an elite college, Boogie must find a way to navigate a new girlfriend, high school, on-court rivals and the burden of expectation.

It plays locally at many theaters, including: Cinemarks in North Hills and Robinson; Waterworks Cinemas; AMC Loews Waterfront; Cranberry Cinemas. Tickets are available online.

2020 American-Chinese film Over the Moon online with Pitt, April 7.

The University of Pittsburgh's Office of International Services will present the 2020 American-Chinese film Over the Moon on April 7, part of the Watch Party Wednesday series. A synopsis from Netflix:

Fueled by memories of her mother, resourceful Fei Fei builds a rocket to the moon on a mission to prove the existence of a legendary moon goddess.

The free online watch party starts at 7:00 pm and registration is required.

2020 Japanese film Violet Evergarden: The Movie (劇場版 ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデ) in Pittsburgh, from March 30.

The 2020 Japanese film Violet Evergarden: The Movie (劇場版 ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデ) will play in Pittsburgh from March 30 through, tentatively, early-May. A synopsis, from the distributor:

While writing other people’s emotions, she may have neglected her own. Violet Evergarden, the child soldier turned Auto Memory Doll, writes letters that evoke the words her clients can’t. But when a terminally ill boy requests her services for his family, her own feelings about love and loss resurface. Now she must confront her past and the death of the Major.

At this point it is scheduled to play at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in North Hills and Robinson, though tickets are not yet available.

Kawa Hibachi Sushi opening March 18 in Allison Park.

After several years of construction, Kawa Hibachi Sushi will open March 18 in Allison Park. It will be located at 1701 Duncan Ave. (map), in the Duncan Manor plaza next to the Driver's License Center.

Oriental Market to open at new location on March 16.

Oriental Market, an Asian grocery in the North Hills, will open at its new location on Tuesday, March 16. The new store will be at 7300 Old McKnight Road (map), which used to house David's Bridal and is slightly up the street from its current location.

Pittsburgh's Chinatown granted State Historical Marker.

Pittsburgh's Chinatown neighborhood was recently granted a state historical marker by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. From the March 10 press release:

Pittsburgh Chinatown, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Established as early as the 1870s, Chinatown was the cultural and economic center of the Chinese community in western Pennsylvania that served Chinese populations in New York, Ohio and West Virginia. The growth of the community was suppressed by political and labor efforts leading to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The community was destroyed by the construction of the Boulevard of the Allies in the 1920s and its residents and businesses were displaced. Remnants remained until 1959.

Also among the 23 newest markers is recognition of the region's first Chinese immigrants:

The first substantial workforce of Chinese immigrants in Pennsylvania came to Beaver Falls in 1872. The workers were recruited to the Beaver Falls Cutlery Factory to replace white laborers on strike. They remained for several years learning specialized skills and assuring profitability for the company because of their reduced wages. Across the nation, other American labor unions and politicians felt these Chinese workers were a threat and advocated for the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, which remained in effect until 1943.

Local communities had been working for many years to have the site recognized, as detailed in a 2019 Pittsburgh Magazine article:

On three occasions, the OCA has attempted to earn a state historical marker for Pittsburgh’s Chinatown. But the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has denied each request, citing a lack of statewide historical significance, Lien says. After the third denial, applicants must wait three years before applying again; those three years are up. “We’ve been waiting patiently,” she says.

In re-applying, the OCA will emphasize Chinatown’s enterprise. “It became so significant a spot that it wasn’t just for the Chinese in Pittsburgh,” Lien says. Chinese Americans traveled from other parts of Pennsylvania and even from West Virginia and Ohio to access the commercial space.

From a July 27, 1959 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article.

"The Affective Alliance: TV Drama Fandom and Internet Communities in contemporary China," March 10 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present "The Affective Alliance: TV Drama Fandom and Internet Communities in contemporary China" on March 10 as the next installment of its Asia Pop series.

Dr. Shuyu Kong will discuss "participatory culture" and "affective communication" through a case study of internet media fandom of TV spy drama Undercover. She argues that Chinese media fandom demonstrates a new form of creative energy and interpretive practice among the younger generation of Chinese, and indicates a new social bonding through cultural consumption in post-socialist China.

The event starts at 6:30 pm and registration is required.