Ian Condry and "Japanese Pop Music and the Curvature of Social Space-Time: From Underground Music to Pop Idols," October 10 at Pitt.

Akihabara (Creative Commons)

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Michael Condry and his talk "Japanese Pop Music and the Curvature of Social Space-Time: From Underground Music to Pop Idols" on October 10.

Dr. Ian Condry will lead the third lecture in our new Asia Pop series. Titled "Japanese Pop Music and the Curvature of Social Space-Time: From Underground Music to Pop Idols," he will compare the diverse range of pop music in Japan to understand how they all influence Japanese society.

The talk will be held in 4130 Posvar Hall (map) from 5:30 pm, and is free and open to the public.

Tickets now on sale for Amber Liu show in Pittsburgh, February 9.

Amber Liu will perform in Pittsburgh on February 9, 2020 as part of her North American "X" Tour, and general admission tickets went on sale at 10:00 am. The concert will also feature Meg & Dea and Justin Park and will be at Rex Theater in the Southside (map) from 7:00 pm.

2017 Xu Bing film Dragonfly Eyes at Pitt, October 8.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of History of Art and Architecture will present the Xu Bing film Dragonfly Eyes on October 8. The Museum of Modern Art summarized the film thus:

Few images come closer to reality than those recorded by surveillance cameras. In China, a country with strict film censorship, an estimated 200 million such cameras have been installed to capture life unfiltered; mundane daily activities are mixed with dramatic events beyond the realm of imagination. Visual artist Xu Bing’s first feature film stitches together surveillance footage collected from the Internet to create a fictional tale about a young woman traversing life in modern China. The result is a provocative tale as mundane, surreal, and outlandish as reality itself. Known for works that consistently disrupt our understanding of what we see—from Book from the Sky, an installation of books and scrolls with printed “fake” Chinese characters, to Phoenix, giant phoenix sculptures made of salvaged materials—Xu persistently explores the relationship between vision and meaning.

The film will begin with a reception and will follow with remarks from Pitt's Gao Minglu and NYU's Zhen Zhang. The evening starts at 4:30 pm---film begins at 5:00---at the Frick Fine Arts Building in Oakland (map) and is free and open to the public.

Amber Liu coming to Pittsburgh, with Meg & Dia and Justin Park, as part of North American "X" Tour in February.

A concert with Amber Liu, Meg & Dia, and Justin Park was recently announced for the Rex Theater on February 9, 2020.

Presale VIP ticket packages are available now, but general admission tickets will go on sale on Friday, October 4, from 10:00 am.

Tuvan throat singers Huun Huur Tu in Pittsburgh, October 10.

Tuvan throat singers Huun Huur Tu will perform in Shadyside on October 10.

Huun-Huur-Tus style could be best described as profoundly mysterious. This comes as a consequence of their traditional, ritual laryngeal chants descending from Central Asian land of Tuva. This unique song technique reside on developing an enthralling sound cosmos rich in undertones and overtones.

OCA Pittsburgh Free Medical and Dental Clinic, with free medical consultation and Chinese-language interpretation, October 14 in Oakland.

The Pittsburgh chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans will presents its annual Free Medical and Dental Clinic on October 14.

Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) in Pittsburgh, October 27, 28, and 30.

The 2001 Hayao Miyazaki film Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) will play in Pittsburgh on October 27, 28, and 30 as part of this year's GKIDS Studio Ghibli Fest.

Winner of the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature, Hayao Miyazaki’s wondrous fantasy adventure is a dazzling masterpiece from one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animation.

Chihiro’s family is moving to a new house, but when they stop on the way to explore an abandoned village, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba. Put to work in a magical bathhouse for spirits and demons, Chihiro must use all her wits to survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents and return to the normal world. Overflowing with imaginative creatures and thrilling storytelling, Spirited Away became a worldwide smash hit, and is one of the most critically-acclaimed films of all time.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, Robinson, and Pittsburgh Mills. Tickets are available online. The October 28 shows are in Japanese with English subtitles while the October 27 and 30 shows are dubbed in English.

Mr. Egg's Kitchen coming soon to Squirrel Hill.

Thirty months since work began at the former Sree's, Mr. Egg's Kitchen finally seems to be coming soon to Squirrel Hill. The window coverings are off and the restaurant's interior is slowly coming together. Mr. Egg's Noodle will be located at 2103 Murray Ave. (map). It will be one of several new Chinese restaurants to open in the last two years alone, a group that includes Diners 2+1, The Magic Noodle, and Northeastern Kitchen.


Taken April 2019.

Pittsburgh's Misdo.

From the October 18, 1986 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

One of the biggest doughnut chains in Asia this century, Mister Donut originated in the US and was ubiquitous around Pittsburgh in the 1970s and 1980s. This 1986 Halloween advertisement offers a free pumpkin with the purchase of a dozen donuts and a beverage. Mister Donut survives locally, somewhat, in the form of Donut Connection, which purchased a few of the locations.

Chinese Film Series announced for Maridon Museum, November and December.

The Maridon Museum will present three films as part of a Chinese Film Series in November and December: 2004's House of Flying Daggers (十面埋伏) on November 8, 2015's Kaili Blues on November 15, and 2013's Falling Flowers (萧红) on December 5. The films are free and open to the public, but telephone reservations are requested. The Maridon, an Asian art museum, is located at 322 North McKean St. in downtown Butler (map), roughly 40 miles north of Pittsburgh.

New Chinese movie The Climbers (攀登者) will continue in Pittsburgh through October 7.

The new Chinese movie The Climbers (攀登者), starring Zhang Ziyi and Wu Jing, opened in Pittsburgh on September 30 and will play locally through at least October 7. A summary from the distributor:

Based on a true story from award winning director Daniel Lee (Three Kingdoms, 14 Blades), featuring China’s biggest stars Wu Jing (Wandering Earth, Wolf Warrior 2) and Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Grandmaster), and with a special guest appearance from superstar Jackie Chan. THE CLIMBERS is a cinematic retelling of the first Chinese climbers to summit Mount Everest - the first ever to do so from the North Ridge. Well-known as the most challenging side of the mountain, the perilous journey takes its toll on the mountaineers, physically and mentally, forcing them to make life or death decisions at every turn.

The Climbers was the #2 film in China its opening weekend. It plays at the AMC Loews Waterfront theater and tickets are available online. 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.

Chinese film My People, My Country (我和我的祖国) in Pittsburgh, through October 7.

The 2019 Chinese film My People, My Country (我和我的祖国) will play in Pittsburgh on from October 1. The Chinese government provides an overview:

The film production "My People, My Country" provides grand and ambitious scale narratives spanning seven decades of the People's Republic of China to capture historical moments, but through the unique perspectives of ordinary people.

The film, set to dominate China's 70th National Day holiday season, is a combination of seven short films by seven elite Chinese directors headed by award-winning veterans Chen Kaige and Huang Jianxin.

The film's focus is not about the historical moments themselves, but is through an ordinary people's perspective to portray those who were dedicated to or affected by the historical moments.

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

Japanese punk band Shonen Knife returning to Pittsburgh, October 5.

Japanese punk band Shonen Knife will return to Pittsburgh on October 5 for a show at Cattivo (map) as part of its 2019 US tour.

Since their pure DIY beginnings in 1981, Osaka, Japan’s Shonen Knife have been building a faithful following of music enthusiasts and the alternative rock elite. Their relentless journey secured the band’s place as one of the pioneer ambassadors of Japanese rock music and culture on the international stage.

The band features original members (and sisters) Naoko on Vocals and Guitar, Atsuko on Bass and Vocals and introduces their newest member, Risa, on Drums and Vocals.

2016 Taiwanese documentary Small Talk (日常對話) at City of Asylum, November 20.

The 2016 Taiwanese documentary film Small Talk will play in Pittsburgh on November 20, presented by ReelQ.

Anu is a tomboy. Married off at a young age—as was customary in Taiwan in the 1970s—and had two children, Anu soon divorced her violent husband and raised her daughters alone. Since then her only romantic relationships have been with women whom, like her, earn a living as professional mourners at funerals.

It’s considered taboo in Taiwanese culture to question a mother’s love, but that’s exactly the topic of her daughter, Hui-chen Huang’s intimate portrait. Mother and daughter set off on a journey together into the past, during which Hui-chen confronts Anu with questions that have tormented Hui-chen for many years.

In a series of long shots the two women discuss loneliness, trust, and abuse, yet most of these discussions end in painful silence. Shifting focus in order to plumb the depths of their relationship, Hui-chen brings viewers along on her desperate attempts to understand her mother.

It plays from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Alphabet City Word Cellar on the North Side (map), and tickets are now available online.

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.

Pitt to launch Asian film festival and media series from September 2020.

In its latest newsletter, the University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center has announced that it, in collaboration with Pitt's Film Studies Program, will launch Screenshot: Asia from September 2020.

The Asian Studies Center--in collaboration with the Film Studies Program--is thrilled to announce Screenshot: Asia, its new film and media series and Asian festival. The festival is set to premiere in September 2020. To welcome this new series, we will host a few preliminary screenings during the 2019-2020 academic year. There will be a screening for Nostalgia for the Future on Monday, September 30 from 4:15 PM to 6 PM in 407 Cathedral of Learning. A reception and screening for Dragonfly Eyes will be held on Tuesday, October 8 at 4:30 in Frick Fine Arts Auditorium. A lecture and film screening of Godzilla on My Mind will be on Wednesday, October 16 at 6:30 PM in the WPU Assembly Room.

Pittsburgh has been without its Asian film festival ever since Silk Screen closed last fall due to a history of sexual harassment by its executive officer.

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

via @japangov


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

English-Chinese Language Social Hour, October 4 at Pitt.

via Pietro Motta (Creative Commons)

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and English Language Institute will collaborate on an English-Chinese Language Social Hour on October 4.

Join us for an evening of language and cultural exchange between Pitt students and international students

The event is free and open to the Pitt community, and will be held in 4130 Posvar Hall (map) from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.

Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival (匹茲堡龍舟節), October 5 at North Park.

The annual Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival (匹茲堡龍舟節) will take place on October 5 at North Park.

The Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival is not only a fun day at beautiful North Park Lake, it's an amazing opportunity for friends, family, and co-workers to form community teams for friendly competition in genuine dragon boats! The 40 ft canoes are a sight to behold on their own, let alone when they're being paddled in sync by 20 people! The races are an excellent team bonding experience! And it's all for a great cause! Pittsburgh Hearts of Steel a Dragon Boat Racing Team for BCS (Breast Cancer Survivors) uses all proceeds to promote awareness and the benefits of the sport of dragon boating racing for breast cancer survivors. If you, or someone you love, has been affected by the disease, this is an awesome way to "do something about it"! There are also cultural demonstrations, food and marketplace activities that are free to the public! Join us to race, or join us to watch, it's a great day! More information on how to sign up a team can be found at:
www.pghdragonboatfestival.org

The event starts at 8:30 am and runs until 3:00 pm, with cultural demonstrations running from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. It will be held at and around the Boathouse at North Park Lake in the North Hills (map) and is free and open to the public.

2019 movie Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl (青春ブタ野郎はゆめみる少女の夢を見ない) in Pittsburgh, October 2 and 3.

The 2019 Japanese animated movie movie Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl (青春ブタ野郎はゆめみる少女の夢を見ない) will play in Pittsburgh on October 2 and 3. From the distributor:

From CloverWorks, the studio that brought you PERSONA 5 the Animation, Darling in the FranXX, and The Promised Neverland, comes the direct sequel to the popular anime Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai.

In Fujisawa, where the skies are bright and the seas glisten, Sakuta Azusagawa is in his ssecond year of high school. Blissful days with his girlfriend and upperclassman, Mai Sakurajima, are interrupted by the appearance of his first crush, Shoko Makinohara. For reasons unknown, he encounters two Shokos: one in middle school and another who has become an adult.

As Sakuta finds himself helplessly living with Shoko, the adult Shoko leads him around by the nose, causing a huge rift in his relationship with Mai.

In the midst of all of this, he discovers that the middle school Shoko is suffering from a grave illness and his chest scar begins to throb…

It will play locally in Japanese with English subtitles at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

"Storytime: Chinese and English" in Squirrel Hill, October 5.

via Ed Massery.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Squirrel Hill will hold its next "Storytime: Chinese and English" on Saturday, October 5.

Celebrate our city’s diverse culture as we explore new words through songs, action rhymes and stories in both English and Chinese.

Storytime runs from 11:00 to 11:30 am and is free and open to the public. The Carnegie Library branch in Squirrel Hill is located at 5801 Forbes Ave. (map), accessible by buses 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, and 74.