"'Authors and Anecdotes' Book Club: Featuring Adrienne Su," April 8 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh will host Adrienne Su in an upcoming installment of its "Authors and Anecdotes" series on April 8.

Join this week's featured author, Adrienne Su, in our virtual book club series, “Authors and Anecdotes”, as she discusses her book, Peach State.

Peach State has its origins in Atlanta, Georgia, the author’s hometown and an emblematic city of the New South, a name that reflects the American region’s invigoration in recent decades by immigration and a spirit of reinvention. Focused mainly on food and cooking, these poems explore the city’s transformation from the mid-twentieth century to today, as seen and shaped by Chinese Americans. Often employing forms—sonnet, villanelle, sestina, palindrome, ghazal, rhymed stanzas—they also mirror the constant negotiation with tradition that marks both immigrant and Southern experience.

Click HERE to be directed to the University of Pittsburgh Press website to learn more about Peach State. Purchasing options for the book is available on this site, and it can also be purchased at any independent bookstore of your choice. (While we encourage you to read the books ahead of time it is not a requirement to participate in the series.)

Join us as we not only discuss her book, but also dive into Su's personal literature collection, her favorite readings, and participate in a live Q&A!

The free event starts at 12:00 pm and registration is required.

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) organizing COVID vaccine sign-ups for local seniors, offers Korean-language support.

The local branch of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) is organizing COVID vaccine sign-ups for local Korean speakers 65 and older, as well as those 16 to 64 who qualify, in addition to providing support for Chinese-speakers.

Candlelight Vigil Remembering Atlanta Victims, March 21 downtown.

Welcoming Pittsburgh, Governor Wolf's Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs and Casa San José will host a Candlelight Vigil Remembering Atlanta Victims on March 21. It will start at 6:30 pm at the City County Building, 414 Grant Street (map).

Join us for a candlelight vigil in honor of the 8 victims of the shooting in Atlanta GA on March 16.
Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33
Paul Andre Michels, 54
Xiaojie Tan, 49
Daoyou Feng, 44
Soon Chung Park, 74
Hyun Jung Grant, 51
Suncha Kim, 69
Yong Ae Yue, 63
Stand together against hate, and condemn violence against Asian Americans.
When: Sunday, March 21. Gather at 6:30, speakers will begin at 7.
Where: steps of the City County Building (at portico) 414 Grant St.
Masks required. Bring your own posters. Please practice social distancing.
This event is co-hosted by the Pittsburgh UCA, local AAPI leaders, and Welcoming Pittsburgh. Welcoming Pittsburgh is an immigrant and refugee inclusion initiative for the City of Pittsburgh

2020 Korean-American film Minari remains in Pittsburgh through (at least) March 25.

The 2020 Korean-American film Minari, which opened in Pittsburgh on February 11, will remain here through at least March 25. A synopsis, from the distributor:

A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.

It will continue at numerous local theaters, including the AMC Loews Waterfront, Waterworks Cinemas, Cranberry Cinemas, and the Cinemark in Robison. Tickets are available online.

"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.