News Roundup: Film Showings, Development Meeting

‘Reconnecting Chinatown’

Join architects, landscape architects, engineers and city officials to discuss the potential development of parcels 19-22. The parcels are so-called air rights parcels that vary in size (19 is about .3 acre; 20 is about 2.7 acres; 21 is about 1.5 acres; and parcel 22 is about 1.4 acres.)

The goal of the “Reconnecting Chinatown” meeting is to create a “community vision” for what to potentially put on parcel 21, which is bound by Washington Street and Shawmut Avenue. The process would also help create design guidelines for the other two parcels, according to the event’s organizers.

“Our focus for ‘Reconnecting Chinatown’ is parcel 21. We imagine parcel 21 as open space for the community, given its proximity to both Josiah Quincy Elementary School and JQUS. We will also try to figure out the answer to this question with the community through an intensive and meaningful community participation process. Our goal, through this project, is to facilitate a community vision for a detailed concept design for parcel 21, as well as design guidelines for parcels 19, 20, and 22. As a part of this project, we also hope to deliver some nearer-term improvements to the area by improving the conditions of streets and intersections abutting these parcels,” said a city of Boston spokesperson.

The meeting is on Aug. 23, 1-4 p.m. at the Josiah Quincy Upper School. Chinese translation will be provided. For more information email wenzheng.wang@boston.gov .

Busing, 50 Years Later

The Chinatown Community Land Trust hosts the meeting, “Boston Busing in Chinatown, 50 Years Later” Sept. 13, 1-3 p.m. at the Josiah Quincy School, to discuss the legacy and memories of busing in Boston.

Films at the Gate Festival

The Asian Community Development Corporation will host its annual “Films at the Gate Festival” Aug. 22 to 24 at the Chinatown Gate. In addition to film showings on those three nights, the event will include games and activities, martial arts demonstrations, and live entertainment. The start time is 5:30 p.m. with film screenings at approximately 8:00-8:30 p.m.

“Films at the Gate revives traditions that were once lost and is part of the fight against aggressive encroachment around its borders,” according to ACDC, the festival’s organizer. “Come enjoy an event that reestablishes Chinatown as a family friendly neighborhood, increases foot traffic for local businesses, and restores a tradition of shared public experiences.”

The film showings are as follows:

Friday, Aug. 22: “Fearless Hyena,” a kung fu film starring actor Jackie Chan

Saturday, Aug. 23: “Mr. Vampire,” a 1980s comedy-horror produced by Sammo Hung

Sunday, Aug. 24: “White Snake,” an animated take on a traditional Chinese folktale. For more details, visit www.asiancdc.org/fatg.

Biking for the Arts

The Pao Arts Center will host a community bike ride from Chinatown to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The event will include a tour of “Ming Fay: Edge of the Garden,” with curator Gabrielle Niu.

Start Location: Pao Arts Center, 99 Albany St., Boston. Must register with the Poa Arts Center first.

7th Taiwan Film Festival

The 7th Taiwan Film Festival of Boston will take place Sept. 19–25 with in-person screenings and Sept. 26 to Oct. 12 with virtual showings at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; AMC Causeway 13; Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline; and The Brattle Theatre in Cambridge.

For more, see those theaters or https://taiwanfilmfest.org/