Wednesday, December 29th, 2010—Bar 353

Day 353—Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
Figs
Okay, so I was worried about my flight getting into New York after the huge blizzard that had just hit the city. I had watched reports from my parents house in Peoria that LaGuardia airport was a mess and not many flights were leaving or arriving, but I decided to gamble and try to make it. The flight from Peoria to Chicago was on time and went off without a hitch. When I got to the O’Hare airport my stomach started churning as I saw a bunch of flights to New York were cancelled. I about jumped for joy when I saw that my flight, was running on time! I went and had a couple celebratory drinks and by the time I made it back to the gate the flight was boarding. Hallelujah!

The flight went smoothly and they even granted me a request of three cans of Budweiser at once. They had wifi on board so I was able to work on that day’s bar crawl post and all was well. Till we landed. The wifi cut out, so I put my laptop away and got ready to get out and get a taxi back home. Then we waited on the runway. And we waited some more. Then the pilot announced there was a slight delay in finding a place to taxi to and there would be a short delay. So we waited. And waited some more. Finally after about 45 minutes we taxied into LaGuardia airport and...well, that’s where this bar crawl begins. Let’s get ready to deplane and see what awaits us.

Wow, I had heard people have been stuck here since Sunday night and it sure looks like it. There's people camped out everywhere.

Wow, what a mess.

I have to admit, while feeling sorry for these people, I was thinking, "It sucks for you, but I'm going home, bitches!"

And then karma paid me back via this huge, snaking line to the cabstand. I have never seen one so long. Usually it's a five minute wait, tops.

I heard someone saying it was over a two hour wait to get a cab. I thought about that, then realized I would still have to do my bar crawl after that. And then it hit me: Airport Bar Crawl!

There's a whole food court below, might as well find a bar, wait out the line and just like the sign says: "Relax." Hey, is that woman brushing her teeth on the escalator? Things are bad in here.

The first bar I see is Figs, looks like a perfect stop, especially since I'm feeling beat and I'm dying for a drink.

While the upstairs is packed with people, this looks like a nice little oasis with plenty of seats.

Okay, all is well. I've got a beer and prepare to finish yesterday's post and start work on this one.

Obligatory airport laptop shot!

A long shot of the wooden bar from my seat.

And here's a photo of the other side of the bar.

Some of the beers on draft at Figs.

There's large windows lining the walls showing snowy LaGuardia runways.

"Chargers coach says, 'Neither One."' I'm so proud of him! Maybe next week he'll master complete sentences.

Jessie and Stevie were my two cute and pretty neighbors at the bar. They were waiting for a flight to Cancun and we had a nice conversation about the bar crawl and New York. And guess where they're from? Australia! They live in the city of Geelong, is that anywhere near any of my Australian mates out there? Clacky, Fitzy, Brooksy...anybody? Have a fun trip ladies and send photos from Cancun if you get a chance.

Okay, time to close up shop and see how the cab line is. I ordered a diet Coke to get a hit of caffeine and get me ready to face the line.

Motherfucker! I thought once rush hour was over it would have shrunk. No such luck.

After about a 40 minute wait, there's good news and bad news. The good news is I'm finally outside. The bad news is it's freezing out here.

Okay, I'm in the home stretch!

Finally I'm up to the front of the line and none too soon as I'm losing the feeling in some of my toes.

And finally, I'm on my way home.

Goddamn, time to get inside and cuddle up next to the space heater. Goodnight, everybody!

Review
Okay, I’ve got to unpack and do a bunch of errands and then find tonight’s bar, so I’m going to slack and reprint a review from New York magazine.

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Profile
Until they install one of those restaurants with waiter-masseuses and beds instead of tables, the next best thing in tri-state airport noshing is this 125-seat branch of Todd English's Figs. During flight-delay downtime, curb your air rage with a lively Boston-bibb-and-watercress salad sprinkled with Maytag blue; spaghettini with roasted tomato and toasted breadcrumbs; or a killer to-go flatbread pizza topped with figs, prosciutto, and Gorgonzola in a box designed to fit your seat-back tray. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld

Extra
Figs is located on the first level of the Central Terminal building of LaGuardia Airport between concourses B and C.

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Figs
LaGuardia Airport—Central Terminal
718-446-7600