Links: The Producers, Ba Xuyen (again), and Gonzalez Challenged

1. For $25 you can see The Producers starting next weekend. Travel down to 92nd and 7th (in Bay Ridge, not Manhattan) for the Bay Ridge Community Theatre's presentation of Mel Brooks' wildly popular musical. Tickets are available here.

from The Brooklyn Eagle's article:

The Producers will be lead by stage veterans Danny Velez as “Leo Bloom” and Tom Kane as “Max Bialystock.” Sunday was the orchestra’s third rehearsal, and its first rehearsal with the full cast. Despite what Tadross described as “hilarious” rehearsals during the early weeks, “everything is ready but the timing,” Samaha said on Friday.


2. Once again, Ba Xuyen is featured in a Banh Mi article. It's Serious Eats, and this time there is a review of specific sandwiches. If you've never tried one, this article will take you by the hand and make your mouth water. (Unless you're a vegetarian, in which case you can ask for a sandwich with just the veggies for about $2.25 - $2.75 - depending on who is working the register.)

*By the way, they call it Borough Park in the article, or at least in the site address, but 8th Avenue is Sunset Park on its west side and Borough Park on its east side. Ba Xuyen is on the west side, so there.

3. David Galarza announced a run for Gonzalez' seat in 38th District. Galarza was mentioned on BViB in regards to the anti-sex-shop rally. I've since learned that he is no longer an active member of SPAN. Read The Brooklyn Eagle article here.

from the article:

Among those there in support of Galarza, a former Community Board 7 member who helped initiate the Sunset Park Alliance of Neighborhoods (SPAN), was neighboring City Council candidate Josh Skaller, who praised Galarza’s “goals and vision.” Skaller is one of seven candidates running to replace outgoing CD-39 Councilman Bill de Blasio.

Another well-known supporter attending was John Miniaci Jr., co-owner of the popular Johnny’s Pizzeria on Fifth Avenue. “David is a sincere person we can trust who truly cares for Sunset Park,” Miniaci said.

Another Sunset ROTD for Brownstoner

Not an original choice, since Matamoros gets all the taco attention (poor Xochimilco across the street!), but Brownstoner posting two Sunset Restaurant of the Day items in February (Ba Xuyen was the 'stoner ROTD on February 2nd.) means we've arrived. Doesn't it? Or does it mean we're leaving?

Ba Xuyen is Restaurant of the Day on Brownstoner

Uh oh. More attention paid to Ba Xuyen's Bahn Mi. (Their egg and cheese is a great deal, too!)

Brownstoner has commentary, links, and information about everyone's favorite Vietnamese sandwich makers.

Even though the sandwiches have gone up a quarter, and the drinks also got more expensive, it's still a great buy for lunch. Just don't try to go for a late night snack; it closes early!

Sunset Park's Bahn Mi in The Voice - Again.

Food, food, food, and more food. That's what Sunset Park is made of. The Village Voice has the latest article about Sunset Park's offerings - and once again my favorite place for a sandwich and Lemon Ice gets attention.

From the Voice's article:

Walk north up Eighth and you'll come to Ba Xuyen, where you can find the best banh mi in the neighborhood (barely surpassing Tan Thanh's). There are also tasty salad rolls and fried spring rolls, and, in the self-serve warmer, you might strike it lucky and find banh beo—tiny, jiggly steamed-rice cakes, with various savory or sweet toppings. The other day, the cakes were crowned with a small dollop of mashed mung bean, fried shallots, dried shrimp, and ground peanuts.

The prices of most of Ba Xuyen's drinks and breakfast sandwiches went up recently, but the Bahn Mi prices stayed consistent at $3.50. I'm glad for the businesses that they are getting all this attention, but I'm not so glad for my rent. I'm also not so glad because the lines have gotten a lot longer in the last five years. Hmph. Still, in the off-hours, it's not much of a wait.

I'm surprised that the Tortas on 4th and 5th haven't gotten much attention. Granted, they are more expensive and not as big. For $5 at Don Paco Lopez (47th and 4th) you get a great sandwich, but for $5 at Ba Xuyen you get a great sandwich AND a Lemon Ice. Mmmmmm. Still, either way it's cheap.

We're Losing HO HO

I got the shock of my week on Saturday when I went to pick up and drop off my shirts. First, I was confronted with this sign:


My innocent mind thought, "Oh how nice. She's taking a well-deserved vacation!" But when I asked how long the place would be closed, both she and her son looked at me for what seemed like a very long time and the son broke the terrible news. Ho Ho Cleaners and Tailors of 8th Avenue and 47th Street was really, really closing. At least in that location. You know why they are moving? RENT! It's more than doubling, apparently. Whoever the landlord is hasn't looked up the street one block to see the two empty storefronts that have been trying to get tenants for almost a year now. (More on that later in the week.)

And where are they moving? Get this: PARK SLOPE! 4th Street and 7th Avenue. My confused look must have translated into: "Uhhh. Isn't the rent a lot higher there?" because the son explained that they could charge a lot more there for cleaning and tailoring than here. I'll say. This place put in perfect cuffs on several pairs of pants for nothing, and it's been taking care of my husband's shirts for years. It may seem like a splurge, but wrinkled shirts are depressing in the AM.

I have to say, I was (and am) so sad about this. I have enjoyed trekking over to Ho Ho to pick up shirts and have micro-chats with the proprietress. She's very friendly and capable and Park Slope doesn't deserve her! Well, I've dropped off my last batch of button-downs with Ho Ho. And now I have to find a place that will clean and press shirts for me for a reasonable sum.

This is clearly a sign that residents are going to have to chase rents in the near future. What's next? No more $3.50 sandwiches from Ba Xuyen?

Thank you, Ho Ho, you have indeed been Very Good to us! Best of luck in Park Slope, and the store fronts on 8th and 46th/47th will probably still be open if and when you want to return.