Speaking Of Subways…

Last month, I was lucky to score a ticket at the last minute to Williamsburg: The Musical. This NYC Fringe Festival production follows the trials and tribulations of a trust fund kid who moves to Brooklyn and falls in love with a Hasidic Jew. At the same time, an evil real estate agent is buying up many WBurg apartments and hypnotizing hipsters into zombies to help further gentrify the neighborhood.

Nice premise, eh?

Anyway, of the musical’s two best songs, one of them glorified craigslist hook-ups. The other was an ode to cramped quarters and leering glances at guys in tight pants and coeds with their existential tracts. In short: a ride on the L Train.

The chorus went, “WE TAKE THE L TRAIN. LA LA LA. LA LA LA!”

Speaking of the L train…

The NY Times City Room blog reported subway riders recently gave it a “C” for Cervice. Even though the line was treated to $17.6 million for information signs and audio, to strap hangers the improvements didn’t make the grade.

From MTA’s press release:

L riders gave ‘Sense of security in stations’ and ‘Sense of security on trains’ a C+ but gave ‘Adequate room on board during rush hour” a D+. ‘Signs in subway cars that help riders find their way’ received a B- as did ‘Lack of graffiti in subway cars’ and ‘Comfortable temperature in subway cars.’ But riders gave the L a C- for ‘Minimal delays during trips’ and ‘Cleanliness of Stations.’ ‘Reasonable wait times for trains scored a C.’

Word.

After moving to Williamsburg and switching to the L train from the G line this month, I gotta say I’ve yet to be complimented on my deodorant choice. What’s the deal? You’d think one of these mornings someone would comment on the fact that one’s face was lodged in my armpit. Oh, well.

At least the L train is still a magical place.

Last night, I found my way to the 1st Avenue Station after seeing Devendra Banhart at the Manhattan Center’s Grand Ballroom earlier that evening. As I waited for approximately 12 minutes (thanks for the info display MTA, you get an A for that in my book), I overheard this conversation:

Man says to woman changing her shoes: You’re a good looking girl.

Woman says to man: You like my bunyon? Do you think it’s hot?

Man says: Even with your bunyon, you’re beautiful.

Touching.

Tags: hipsters, subway, williamsburg