2019 KPOPittsburgh Holiday Kpop Dance Party, December 13.

412 K-Town / KPOP Pittsburgh will host a KPOPittsburgh Holiday Kpop Dance Party on December 13.

Hi guys .. Chritsmas is near and it is almost end of 2019 .. Come join Us @2019 KPOPittsburgh Holiday kpop dance party. Dj.kidplay will be in the house and spin your fav Kpop Boy/girl group songs , k hiphop and Rnb , K EDM , mash up/remixes and more ..
this event will be happening on Dec 13th ( Friday) @ levelup studio " 8pm-12am". This event is 18 and up ( No alcohol but we will have water for you guys ^^) and $10 at the door. hope to see you guys there ^^ 감사합니다

It starts at 8:00 pm at Level Up Studios in Bloomfield (map).

Yang Jin and Mimi Jong performing as "String Bouquet" in Oakland, November 24.

Pipa performer Yang Jin and erhu performer Mimi Jong will perform as "String Bouquet" on November 24 at the Carnegie Library in Oakland, part of the World Kaleidoscope series.

As individual artists, Jin Yang and Mimi Jong have been dedicated to the study and performance of traditional Chinese music. Since meeting in 2015, they have embarked on a musical journey together. From concert halls to libraries, from universities to community centers, from museums to house concerts, String Bouquet is permeating the hearts of their audience. Their versatile styles include Chinese traditional, global, western classical, jazz, pop and modern music. Their multi-media projects include collaboration with dance and various performance arts. String Bouquet continues to explore and expand the possibilities of their creativity, bringing exciting music presentations to their audience.

The performance runs from 2:00 to 3:00 pm in the North Wing Music Room on the second floor. The library is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. in Oakland (map) and is accessible by buses 28X, 54, 61C, 61D, 67, 69, 71A, 71B, 71C, 71D, and 93.

The Course of Democracy Never Did Run Smooth: Hongkongers’ Political Awakening (從反送中運動看港人的掙扎與蛻變), December 15 at CMU.

Cafe Philo @ Pittsburgh will present an English-language talk, The Course of Democracy Never Did Run Smooth: Hongkongers’ Political Awakening (從反送中運動看港人的掙扎與蛻變), on December 15 at Carnegie Mellon University.

The Anti-Extradition Movement in Hong Kong Political apathy seems to have reigned Hong Kong for very long. And yet the recent Anti-Extradition Movement, the largest and longest social movement in the history of Hong Kong, has been joined by over one-third of the population. Through a discussion on the Anti-Extradition Movement, this seminar aims to provide a general understanding of the struggle for democracy in Hong Kong, especially its milestones, transformations, and current obstacles, and to explore the reasons for Hongkongers' political awakening.

Speakers: Hong Kong Social Action Movements in Boston (https://www.facebook.com/HKSAMBOS/)
Date: Sunday, December 15th , 2-4 pm
Place: CMU Wean Hall 4623
Host: Café Philo-Pittsburgh
This talk will be delivered in English.

“An Island of Death”: Homo Sacer and Ungrievable Deaths, December 13 at Pitt.

via thejejumassacre.com

Y.J. Hwang will give a lecture, “An Island of Death”: Homo Sacer and Ungrievable Deaths, on the Jeju Island Massacres on December 13.

Jeju Island is internationally known as “the Hawaii of Asia” because of its scenic landscapes. But it is not known that this volcanic island is also called “an Island of Death” in connection with the Jeju massacre (1948-1949). This talk thus focuses on the ways in which the victims of the mass killing are enacted in relation to cultural implications of conceptualizing deaths of the Jeju incident. Given that the main characteristic of the Cold War narrative is associated with the reburial of the dead and the finding of missing bodies in the context of modern Korean history, this talk engages with the way in which cultural memory is performed in Jeju Peace Memorial Park through artistic practices and monuments. Concentrating on the injustice of death, the ethics of the dead, and the relationship between history and memory, it also includes how this site reveals a futuristic vision of understanding the Jeju massacre.

YJ, Hwang is a teaching fellow, working on her doctoral project in relation to South Korea’s Jeju massacre and its cultural memory at the University of Pittsburgh. As a theatre and performance studies scholar, her research interests include gender, memory, and mobility.

It starts at 12:00 pm in 4130 Posvar Hall (map).

Pirates again without an Asian player after Wang becomes free agent.

In not-so-news from earlier this month, the Pirates granted Taiwanese pitcher Wei-chung Wang (王維中) free agency on November 4, leaving them again without an Asian player on their roster. Wang joined the team on August 31 as the first Taiwanese player in Pittsburgh Pirates history and made five appearances toward the end of the season. He was the sixth Asian player to appear in a regular-season game for Pittsburgh, following Jung-ho Kang, Akinori Iwamura, Hisanori Takahashi, Chan-ho Park, and Masumi Kuwata.

The Pirates still have a number of Asian players in their system, including Taiwanese infield prospect Cheng Tsung-Che (鄭宗哲) and Korean shortstop Ji-hwan Bae, who is currently ranked the #8 prospect in the team's system.

2019 Chinese movie Better Days (少年的你) continues in Pittsburgh through November 25.

The new Chinese movie Better Days (少年的你), which opened in Pittsburgh on November 15, will continue through at least November 25. From the distributor:

From the award-winning team of Soul Mate, comes a new Chinese drama movie by Derek Kwok-Cheung Tsang, starring Jackson Yee and Zhou Dongyu.

When it is time for the Chinese gaokao, a two-day national college entrance exam, the entire country comes to a standstill. For nearly ten million high school students, this exam not only determines where and if they get to study but the fates of their entire families as well. Like so many others, Nian has been single-mindedly preparing for the exam, cutting everything else out of her life. When she becomes the target of relentless bullying, fate brings her together with small-time criminal Bei and the two form a strong friendship. Before they can completely retreat into a world of their own, the two are dragged in the middle of a murder case of a teenage girl where they are the prime suspects. In this dramatic thriller, Derek Kwok-Cheung Tsang paints a bleak picture of an oppressive society, in the guise of a gripping fairy-tale love story, exposing the dark world of bullying and societal pressures of achievement facing today’s youth.

It will play 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.

Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) continues in Pittsburgh through (at least) November 28.

The acclaimed 2019 Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충), which opened in Pittsburgh on November 1, will continue in Pittsburgh through at least November 28.

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 continues locally at the Manor Theater in Squirrel Hill through the 28th and the AMC Loews Waterfront through the 25th, plus three other local theaters through the 20th. Tickets are available online.

"Kitsuke: The Art Of Kimono," December 4 2 at Pitt.

"Vivid kimono" by Raita Futo (Creative Commons).

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Evan Mason and his workshop "Kitsuke: The Art Of Kimono" on December 4 December 2.

Through this interactive workshop, learn about the intricate art of dressing in kimono with expert and Pitt alumnus Evan Mason. The workshop will begin with a lecture on the culture and history of the kimono in Japan followed by a demonstration of kitsuke and an opportunity for participants to dress in yukata and try out their new skills!

It runs from 5:30 to 6:30 pm 4:00 to 5:00 pm in 4130 Posvar Hall (map).

Work continues on Oishii Donburi in Lawrenceville.

Work continues on Oishii Donburi in Lawrenceville. It is coming soon to 5227 Butler St. (map) from the team behind Oakland's Oishii Bento. The company, founded in 2017, purchased the former Design Island and Artisan Harvest spot in May 2018.


Via Margittai Architects.

Try It Out!: Kumihimo Weaving, November 22 at Carnegie Library Woods Run.

by sayo ts (Creative Commons)

The Woods Run branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host a kumihimo weaving workshop on November 22.

Join library staff each month for a drop-in opportunity to try out a new skill. From hand sewing to stop-motion animation, and from beat-making to podcasting, everyone will find something new to love! During each pop-up workshop, you will be able to discover, explore, and create. Library staff will be on hand to direct you to more learning materials if your interest has been piqued!

This program occurs on the fourth Friday of every month. This month we will be focusing on Kumihimo weaving. This program is for adults only.

It runs from 12:00 to 1:00 pm and the Woods Run branch is located at 1201 Woods Run Ave. (map).

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.

"K-Pop Fandom in Pittsburgh," November 21 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host a panel discussion on November 21 titled "K-Pop Fandom in Pittsburgh."

The deeply devoted fans play a critical role in the K-Pop global phenomenon. They support bands through concert tickets and merchandise, streaming videos, memorizing dances and gathering at conventions. K-Pop Fandom is alive and well right here in Pittsburgh. Join us for a moderated panel discussion with organizations dedicated to K-Pop in our neighborhood.

It will feature Elise Antel of the Pittsburgh Japanese Cultural Society and Tekko, Carmen Kuo of Pitt FRESA, and Tommy J. Yoo of the 412 K Town Facebook Page. It starts at 5:00 pm in 229 Barco Law Building (map).

Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) continues in Pittsburgh through (at least) November 21.

The acclaimed 2019 Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충), which opened in Pittsburgh on November 1, will continue in Pittsburgh through at least November 21.

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 continues locally at the Manor Theater in Squirrel Hill through the 21st, and the Hollywood Theater, AMC Loews Waterfront, Waterworks Cinemas, and Cinemark theater at Pittsburgh Mills through the 20th. Tickets are available online.

2018 Chinese film An Elephant Sitting Still (大象席地而坐) in Pittsburgh, November 17.

The 2018 Chinese film An Elephant Sitting Still (大象席地而坐) will play in Pittsburgh on November 17 as part of this year's Three Rivers Film Festival. The film's official site provides a synopsis:

Under the gloomy sky of a small town in northern China, different protagonists’ lives are intertwined in this furious tale of nihilistic rage. While protecting his friend from a dangerous school bully, 16-year-old WEI Bu pushes the tormentor down a staircase. WEI escapes the scene and later learns that the bully is hospitalized and gravely injured. WEI’s neighbor, the 60-year-old WANG Jin, is estranged from his family and, with nothing to lose, decides to join him. Later the pair is joined by HUANG Ling, WEI’s classmate. She is bedeviled by a destructive affair with a married school official. Together, this unlikely and desperate trio, decide their only hope is to flee as the bully’s gangster brother, enraged parents, and vindictive school authorities all go on a cold-blooded hunt for WEI across town. As WEI threads his way through the urban wilderness, he begins to come to terms with his own lost life. In the end, he boards a long-distance bus with HUANG and WANG toward a city in Manchuria, where it is a rumored that a circus elephant is said to be sitting still, seeming oblivious to pain and tribulations of the world at large.

It will play at the Regent Square Theater at 1:00 pm, though tickets are not yet available.

Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫) in Pittsburgh, November 17, 18, and 20.

The 1997 film Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫) will play in and around Pittsburgh on November 17, 18, and 20 as part of this year's GKIDS Studio Ghibli Fest.

From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, comes an epic masterpiece that has dazzled audiences worldwide with its breathtaking imagination, exhilarating battles, and deep humanity.

Inflicted with a deadly curse, the young warrior Ashitaka heads west in search of a cure. There, he stumbles into a bitter conflict between Lady Eboshi, the proud people of Iron Town, and the enigmatic Princess Mononoke, a young girl raised by wolves, who will stop at nothing to prevent the humans from destroying her home and the forest spirits and animal gods who live there.

It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, Pittsburgh Mills, and Robinson. The shows on November 17 and 20 are in Japanese with English subtitles and the November 18 shows are dubbed in English. Tickets are available online.

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.

Chinese-language historical tour of Carnegie Library in Oakland / 将提供卡内基图书馆的中文导游, November 16, December 14, January 11.

via @CarnegieLibraryOfPittsburgh.


The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host Chinese-language historical tours of its Oakland (main) branch on November 14, December 14, and January 11.

Join our Library docents as we take you on a guided tour through Andrew Carnegie’s Main Library. You’ll get a look at the resources, incredible art and architecture that created this historic landmark, as well as how the building’s interior has changed over time.

欢迎您参加卡内基公共图书馆奥克兰馆的中文讲解导览。在导览中，我们将带您深入了解图书馆馆内的资源，欣赏图书馆的建筑艺术，一起探索卡内基图书馆与匹兹堡市的历史与变迁。

New Chinese movie Better Days (少年的你) in Pittsburgh, from November 15.

The new Chinese movie Better Days (少年的你) will open in Pittsburgh on November 15. From the distributor:

From the award-winning team of Soul Mate, comes a new Chinese drama movie by Derek Kwok-Cheung Tsang, starring Jackson Yee and Zhou Dongyu.

When it is time for the Chinese gaokao, a two-day national college entrance exam, the entire country comes to a standstill. For nearly ten million high school students, this exam not only determines where and if they get to study but the fates of their entire families as well. Like so many others, Nian has been single-mindedly preparing for the exam, cutting everything else out of her life. When she becomes the target of relentless bullying, fate brings her together with small-time criminal Bei and the two form a strong friendship. Before they can completely retreat into a world of their own, the two are dragged in the middle of a murder case of a teenage girl where they are the prime suspects. In this dramatic thriller, Derek Kwok-Cheung Tsang paints a bleak picture of an oppressive society, in the guise of a gripping fairy-tale love story, exposing the dark world of bullying and societal pressures of achievement facing today’s youth.

It will play 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.

Yummyholic's Jasmine Cho on Food Network's Christmas Cookie Challenge.

Jasmine Cho of Squirrel Hill (and Yummyholic) will appear on the Food Network's Christmas Cookie Challenge on November 18, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review writes.

"Storytime: Japanese and English" at Carnegie Library in East Liberty, November 19.

via archdaily.org

The next installment of the monthly program "Storytime: Japanese and English" will take place on November 19 at the Carnegie Library in East Liberty.

Celebrate our city’s diverse culture as we explore new words through songs, action rhymes and stories in both English and Japanese for children and their parents or caregivers. For children age 2 – 5 and their parents or caregivers.

It runs from 11:00 to 11:30 am. The library is located at 130 S. Whitfield St. (map).

Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충) continues in Squirrel Hill through (at least) November 14.

The acclaimed 2019 Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (기생충), which opened in Pittsburgh on November 1 and plays at various locations through (at least) November 13, will stay at the Manor Theater in Squirrel Hill through at least the 14th.

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 continues at the AMC Loews Waterfront and through (at least) November 13, opens at the Waterworks Cinema and the AMC in Mt. Lebanon from November 7, and stays at the Manor Theater in Squirrel Hill through November 14; are available online.