THE FIG FILE for 11.19.08

THE FIG FILE for 11.19.08

The Fig File: The End Of The Line Still Gets No Respect

It’s true that I hold a sentimental attachment to a whole litany of silly stuff - hats, birthday cards, CD’s and records, my books, tee shirts - hell I even have a pair of Airwalk sneakers with a hole in the bottom of each of the soles that I just refuse to throw away. I also am attached to the NYC subway system - I make a point to ride every train line during the year even if it’s not required travel for me. On that note, if you want to try a great one take the A train from West 4th Street all the way up to Dyckman Avenue/207th street in Inwood Manhattan - there you will find Dyckman’s Farm house, one of the oldest homes left in Manhattan. It is a sight to see. But I digress. The report out from the M.T.A. today about cutting jobs and service - in particular eliminating the W and Z train from existence is too much for this sentimental Straphanger to handle. I don’t mean to make light of the situation in any way - the bottom line is that each train line is a lifeline for riders from their the doorstep of their homes to epicenter of the Metropolitan area: Far Rockaway Queens, Throgs Neck in the Bronx, Graves End Brooklyn and even Inwood Manhattan Island.

We had City Council Speaker Christine Quinn on the show today to discuss this very issue and her answer was simple: use up the ‘fat’ funds first before cutting services. I couldn’t agree more. Let’s be practical here: the Metropolitan Transit Authority predicted a budget surplus of 711 million dollars in 2006 - less than 2 years later they are facing a 1.2. billion dollar deficit? Something smells more rotten than Chamber Street Station in late August.

And that’s where you’ll find me next summer, 3 dollar fare, no Z Train, no Attendant and a pocket full of lint from the East Side Bridge Crossing Tolls!

Inside Studio Four: An Inside Look Into The John Gambling Show: Today marked the tragic  30th anniversary of Jonestown and Tim Reiterman, a journalist and survivor of the massacre that left Congressman Leo Ryan and four others dead in the jungles of Guyana was a guest on the John Gambling Show. Right before Tim was about to go on the air with John Gambling, he and I chatted for a brief minute. I thanked him for doing the interview and told him that 30 years later the memory Jonestown must still echo in his mind at some point each day. His response: “Happy to do your show, but I am happy to just be here”. And he wasn’t talking about being a guest on the radio. Moral of the story? Go home and hug someone you love.

Odds and Ends: Tex Mex and a Margarita. Check out 5 Burros Café on Austin Street in Queens for some good grub and great drinks. Their Tex-Mex is hands down the best in Queens and the they don’t skimp on the tequila in their frozen margarita’s. Oh and go hang with bartender Ronan Hogg on Saturday or Sunday’s - outside of the frozen margie’s he makes a mean Bloody Mary and will keep you smiling with jokes and anecdotes. Plus it’s right near the E, F, R and V Train at Continental Avenue. How could you beat that! Tell ‘em Mike Fig sent you!

5 Burro Café
72-05 Austin St
Flushing, NY 11375
(718) 544-2984