INDUSTRY CITY — THE BROOKLYN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S FIRST-EVER Asian-American Night Market attracted thousands to Sunset Park’s Industry City in honor of AANHPI Heritage Month in May. The event featured more than 60 food, drink, and crafts vendors from a wide spectrum of Asian cultures — representing Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Taiwanese, Thai, and Vietnamese people.
“If you think about it, it’s not just from a commerce perspective — it’s about the cultural influence that Asian Americans have had in Brooklyn, New York City and in the United States,” said Randy Peers, the Brooklyn Chamber’s president and CEO. “There’s such a strong Chinese-American community, a vibrant Korean-American community, an amazing Filipino-American community — but there is also a Southeastern Asian presence as well. It’s all here, and it’s all represented in Brooklyn. Where else in the world can you find something like this?”
Photo: Robert DeChirico
Lester Chang, 49th District assemblymember (representing Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Borough Park, and Dyker Heights), explained that, after the pandemic, Industry City “was almost a ghost town. So it’s incredible now to see this kind of vibrancy,” Chang said, crediting the Brooklyn Chamber.
“Believe it or not, Sunset Park’s Chinatown is even bigger than Manhattan’s Chinatown,” said Kathie Lee, the BCC’s executive vice president and chief legal officer.
SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.
ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.
