Today was spent bead sourcing in the un-ending effort to find interesting components for upcoming design projects. Our bead hunting took us to Sunset Park, Brooklyn since a few of the major bead suppliers originally located in New York City have had to move their businesses out of the city to accommodate their need for space and lower rents. Mode, A to Z Beads and Beadhouse to name a few. Fortunately moving to Brooklyn is a better alternative to simply closing up shop, otherwise the many fashion designers and distribution companies that depend on the bead suppliers would suffer the greater loss.
Sunset Park, Brooklyn is primarily a predominantly Mexican neighborhood. Many of the homes are row houses or limestones. On 4th and 5th Avenue you can find something of a Latino Restaurant Row. The location is home to a few automotive repair, sales and automotive service based businesses and is but a stones throw away from neighboring Greenwood Heights, Park Slope, Gawanus and Bay Ridge.There is also a large Chinese and East Asian community located on 8th Avenue. Like many other neighborhoods in the boroughs, Sunset Park is ever so slowly gentrifying.
It was a good opportunity for us to chow down on some authentic Latin food. Today's pick- Roasted Pork Shoulder (Pernil Al Horno) and Beef Stew (Carne Guisada) served over white rice and beans. 2 Separate meals plus 2 sodas only cost us $11 total. Delicious, filling and cheap. It's hard to find these prices in Midtown. The only downside- we were in need of a nap afterwards but it was so worth it!
