Sunset Park peddles in hot tacos. Photo by Carnade, from Flickr

Annnnd, we’re back. After a long absence, there’s lots to catch up on. Here are some of the highlights:

Recent(ish)ly in the news:

*New York Mag did a long piece on domestic workers in New York City, many of whom live in Sunset Park. The piece on “nannies” (I’ve just never really liked that term) featured Domestic Workers United.

*The American Prospect also had a piece on the domestic workers’ legislation up in Albany.

*City Limits yesterday wrote on how churches are fighting on immigrants’ side, lending a hand in defense and immigration proceedings. An organization tied to Our Lady of Perpetual Help manages 3,000 cases at a time.

*And before we leave this topic, the Supreme Court just handed down a ruling that automatic deportation of those with drug charges was meant for traffickers, not petty possession. It’s still unclear how this will play out, but it could have a huge impact on a lot of lives.

*Dennis Holt puts in his two cents about the Future of Fourth Avenue plan at the Brooklyn Eagle.

*I love the “skate kid” shot at Sunset Park Stills. I was just wondering the other day what looks will define this era (which is one of my favorite pastimes in Sunset Park.) This is one for the look-book.

Those of you who have come across stinky tofu know it’s not for the faint of heart. The intrepid Sarah DiGregorio jumps in head first for the Village Voice.

More to come, so stay tuned…

photo by vee

*Tabula Raza gallery will on June 16 open “Rock Paper Scissors,” a show with a conceptual bent examining the shifting elements that go into each work of art (rock=physicality, paper=communication and scissors=tools).  The opening reception is Wednesday, June 16 at the gallery, 24 48th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11220.

*Vee has been up and about, with typically lush images of Sunset Park. Stop by Sunset Park Stills and take a look.

*One of the most mouthwatering shots at Stills comes from the folks over at Buendia Productions. You can check out their Flickr page, or go strait to the (web)source.

*You should note that Buendia is having an exhibit (more here) on June 17 at Chashama’s space in the Brooklyn Army Terminal.

*It’s been a while since he visited Sunset Park, but sometime-neighborhood photographer Evan Sklar has been busy in New York and nearby states. Check out his blog…maybe we can woo him back for some summertime pics.

Know of art news that got left out? Drop a note to sunsetparkchron@gmail.com, or leave it in the comments…

*Did you make it to the Department of Transportation’s Brooklyn Greenway meeting on April 8? Streetsblog did, and brought back this report. Everyone agrees that the proposition of a waterfront greenway poses a challenge for the neighborhood, but also a huge boon in an area with little open space. Have opinions on the proposal? Leave a comment!

*The story of Michael Romero, 32, who was shot and killed by plainclothes police after a struggle over a gun, continues. Police now say they identified themselves as NYPD before Romero took out a gun. (He apparently said “You want to see my ID? Here’s my ID!” before taking out his silver .357 Rossi). Romero’s aunt says her nephew was “good” but “sick,” Gothamist reports. Romero was shot in the shoulder, and pronounced dead on arrival Lutheran hospital. Police found a second gun and a large bag of marijuana in the possession of the ex-con, who had 34 arrests on his record.

*The Sunset Park Rec Center has free baseball and softball leagues this summer. You can find more information here.

*State Senator Eric Adams cares about you—and your pants. The former NYPD captain has started a “stop the sag” campaign, advising those who rock their waistbands low to “raise your pants! Raise your image!” Indy Posted seemed like a fan, but kids in Crown Heights, where most of the billboards have gone up, were skeptical. Thoughts?

*Those of you rushing to the theater to see the new Liam Neeson movie After.Life but have an eerie feeling of déjà vu—Green-Wood Cemetery has a cameo in the drama that takes on age old theme of the the-not-quite-dead from the inside of a mortuary.

*The Village Voice’s Sarah DiGregorio chowed down at Wong Wong Noodles.

*Sunset Park Stills made good use of the recent night weather—there are some lovely new shots of the neighborhood on the blog.

Sunset Park Santo, by Vee

*Sunset Park Stills has a show! Photographs of “Sunset Park’s santos” by the Brooklyn local will adorn the walls of Taza de Oro on Eighth Avenue at 14th Street in Manhattan. Take a wander over to Chelsea this weekend (they say the weather’ll be fine), eat food, scope photos and see the other western waterfront.

*Sunset Park songstress Robin Aigner got some coverage on American songwriters. She is a part of a loose core of singers playing with contemporary lyrics over old-timey tunes, lines about the F.D.R. intermixed with calico dresses and strums on an acoustic guitar. You can listen in on her MySpace page.

*Dee the Dinosaur, dedicated to a friend who drifted off one night, disappearing under the Gowanus. Check out that track and others by Brian Bonz and the Dot Hongs at daytrotter.

*Glazer has shots of some new work on the Buendia Productions website. Take a look.

Cotton candy salesmen in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, photo by digenger

There are lots of folks keeping tabs on the neighborhood these days. Here’s a look at some recent developments:

Sunset Park Stills has some great new shots, including blue skies from this weekend’s amazing spring days.

Sunset Parkour dished up a old-style neighborhood story, and is chronicling the seedlings sprouting up for her Sunset Park garden.

When winter was in full force, Friends of Sunset Park gave a shout-out to the guys taking on the snow like it was their job.

The Center for Family Life’s Spark! blog keeps tabs on the goings-on of their blossoming cooperative network (stay tuned for a story on on of their groups to be published soon on Sunset Park Chronicled).

The Sunset Park Blog has notes on Chinese New Year, the shuttering of Ellie’s Bar and an opportunity for some part time work. Take a look!

Sunset Park Stills posted another fantastic shot of the neighborhood post-Snowpocalypse. Make sure to take a look at the blog.