Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Films from Japan, Nepal announced (so far) for SCREENSHOT:ASIA film festival in October.


The inaugural SCREENSHOT:ASIA film festival will be held at the University of Pittsburgh from October 6 through 10, and a small selection of films have already been announced: Wife of a Spy (スパイの妻) and Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (偶然と想像) from Japan, and Looking for a Lady with Fangs and a Moustache from Nepal.

Pittsburgh Chinatown celebratory event scheduled for May 2022.


The Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) Pittsburgh has moved its celebratory event for the city's Chinatown neighborhood from September 2021 to, tenatively, May 2022, due to safety concerns. Pittsburgh's historical Chinatown neighborhood was granted a state historical marker in March, after numerous attempts over the decades, and there is an online fundraiser to raise money toward the plaque and celebration.
After 12 long years and 4 separate attempts, non-profit OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates of Pittsburgh has finally succeeded in getting official Pennsylvania historical landmark status for Downtown’s old Pittsburgh Chinatown! You can help us complete this project! We need $5000 to complete the bronze plaque made to the state’s specifications describing the designation. We hope to have a celebratory event this September in person!

Thank you so much for your generosity and contribution to help keep our rich history alive!

Post-Gazette: "Pandemic and aggression toward Asian Americans highlights Pittsburgh’s lack of centralized AAPI community."

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes on Pittsburgh's figurative and literal AAPI communities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and increased hostility toward Asians and Asian-Americans.
Pittsburgh’s Asian American community, which lacks the numbers seen in cities such as New York City and San Francisco, has found the angry sentiments difficult to process.

Without a place to gather or a stable network, the Pittsburgh Asian American community cannot come together and heal the same as other communities, said Caroline Yoo, of Los Angeles, a a master’s degree candidate at Carnegie Mellon University.

“In L.A., even though there’s that type of racism, you have community. Whereas in Pittsburgh, even though there is a community, it feels just a little bit quieter,’’ Ms. Yoo said.

“It’s only my first year here. In my experiences, there isn’t this huge hub of just Asian celebration anywhere, and I think because of that lack of celebration and the lack of visibility, in ways all the little micro-aggressions build. And you end up just swallowing it up and repressing rather than releasing it, crying for help from your other members of the community.”

Fantuan / Just Order Enterprises Corp. (饭团) hiring Mandarin-speaking Business Development Specialist.


Just Order Enterprises (also known as Fantuan), is a delivery service catering to Asian restaurants and groceries that expanded to Pittsburgh last summer, is hiring a Mandarin-speaking Business Development Specialist.

Fantuan was founded in Vancouver, Canada in 2014. With a mission of “life made easier,” the company is a one-stop platform providing food delivery (Fantuan Delivery), reviews (Fantuan Reviews), an errand service (Fantuan Rush), e-commerce and marketing services. Fantuan is one of the top Asian life-services platforms in North America, currently operating across Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, Los Angeles, New York and other metropolitan areas in Canada and the US.

Job Title: Business Development Specialist (Sponsor H1B, OPT or CPT)

Job Responsibility:

1. Facing local merchants, understand the business status and needs of the merchants, combine the needs of consumers, select and design marketing and operation plans that fit for the merchants, negotiate and reach cooperation with the merchants, and promote the increase of merchant transaction volume.

2. Incorporate the company's marketing strategies, policies and marketing activities to independently accomplish performance goals.

3. According to the current market situation and customer response, the corresponding strategic direction is formulated through data analysis, and the value of cooperation with cooperative merchants is continuously improved to achieve a win-win situation between merchants and the platform.

4. Maintain new and old merchants, establish stable and high-value cooperative relations, and maintain long-term repurchases.

5. Cooperate with departments to process and feedback market information in a timely manner, improve operational efficiency, and improve user satisfaction.

Sunday, September 5, 2021

New York-based Chinese-owned fastfood chain 98K coming soon to Squirrel Hill.


A reader points out that 98K Hamburger, which just put signage up on a Squirrel Hill storefront, is part of a chain of heretofore New York City-based restaurants. That roster includes 98K Kennedy Halal in Brooklyn, a 98K in Brooklyn and a 98K in Flushing, and 98K Hamburger in Brooklyn. The Pittsburgh signage includes "NO:0006," though it's not quite clear what the fifth location might be. It will open at 5867 Forbes Ave. (map), though construction is still in progress.
Prior to 98K the location had signage up for Chatea, a bubble tea place that had been under construction since July 2020 but never materialized.

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Signage up for Chinese-owned fast food place 98K Burger in Squirrel Hill, replacing yet-to-arrive Chatea.


Signage has recently gone up at 5867 Forbes Ave. (map) for 98K Burger.

It replaces the signage for Chatea, a bubble tea place that had yet to open.

The Pittsburgh burger place is Chinese-owned and shares a name with two restaurants in New York---98K Hamburg and 98K---though it's not clear what relation, if any, it shares with them.

Pitt hiring Assistant Instructor in Korean Studies.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures is hiring an Assistant Instructor in Korean Studies.
The University of Pittsburgh’s Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures seeks an Assistant Instructor in Korean Studies to teach/instruct graduate and undergraduate courses. Will also be responsible for: (i) preparing for and teaching all levels of Korean classes as required, (ii) training and observing less experienced instructors, (iii) coordinating teaching and work with the Korean coordinator and other instructors, (iv) evaluating student performances and assign grades, (v) meeting with students as needed to advise study progress, (vi) assessing program performance, (vii) holding office hours, (viii) participating in department service and professional development.

Must have a master’s degree (or foreign equivalent degree) in Korean Languages or a related field plus one (1) year of experience teaching Korean at the college level in a North American institution of higher learning.

Must also have any experience with or knowledge of: (i) Korean and foreign language pedagogy in American higher education setting; (ii) linguistic knowledge of the Korean language; (iii) pedagogical technology; (iv) excellence in teaching as measured through student evaluations; (v) research in the field of Korean as a foreign language; (vi) teaching courses related to the Korean language (e.g., hanja); and (vii) coordination and administrative.

Must also be fluent in Korean (speaking, reading, and writing).

Experience can be concurrent.

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck coming to Ross Park Mall, September 11.


via @HellyKittyCafeTruck

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will return to Ross Park Mall on September 11.
Hello Pittsburgh! The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is returning to Ross Park Mall on Saturday 9/11! Come say hello to us near Cheesecake Factory between 10am-7pm and pick up some supercute treats & merch, while supplies last!

Learn how we are creating a comfortable and safe environment for our guests and staff here: https://www.sanrio.com/pages/message-to-the-sanrio-community-about-covid-19
More information about the truck and its tours available via Sanrio. Ross Park Mall is located in Ross Township in the North Hills, just off McKnight Road (map).

Friday, September 3, 2021

Sushi Kim 2 opening downtown in September.


Sushi Kim, which closed its famed Strip District sushi and Korean restaurant in late-2019, will open its Sushi Kim 2 downtown in September, according to the owner on Facebook. It will be located at 110 Smithfield St. (map). In 2020 it announced Sushi Kim 2 Go for N. Craig St. in Oakland, but the storefront there remains empty. The new restaurant boasts of a sushi bar and "traditional Korean kitchen," and has posted its menu on its new website:

Yanlai Dance Academy performance downtown, September 11.


The Yanlai Dance Academy will have a free performance downtown on September 11, part of Lights On!, a three-day celebration of the Pittsburgh Cultural District.
Yanlai Dance Academy will perform different styles of Chinese folk dance and classical dance. Performances will include colorful costumes and classic Chinese melody. Performers, ranging from kids to adults, will give you a glimpse of ancient China and many other ethnic groups.
The outdoor performance starts at 2:00 pm at the 8th Street Stage (map). Yanlai Dance Academy is located in the North Hills and offers a variety of modern and traditional dance classes.

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