Brunching While Rome Burns: Party People Still Spend Big

Wow, this article in the Times about the decadent brunch party scene at places like Bagatelle and Merkato 55 really makes us want to go all Helter Skelter! Try this quote on for size: A guy partying at Bagatelle who works for a large investment management firm reveals why the recession hasn't stopped revelers from dropping thousands of dollars on boozy brunch, "If you’d asked me in October, I’d say it’d be a different situation, and I don’t think I’d be here. Then the government gave us $10 billion." There's also 38-year-old Matt Sullivan, at Bagatelle for a birthday party. He concedes that "it’s obscene," but you get the sense he thinks that's a good thing: "We heard it was a hip brunch. But this is gluttony at its finest." High-five! Another party bruncher at Merkato 55 is recently laid off editorial assistant Joey Broder, who opines, "It’s like, ‘What recession? Look around. Do you see a recession?" Uh, what about the one that got you fired? LALALALA, Broder can't hear us: "By 4 p.m., the place was wall-to-wall bodies, and people were taking hits from a rosé-filled bong in the shape of a flamingo." Photo via NY Shitty.

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By John Del Signore in Food on March 16, 2009 3:11 PM

Comments [rss]

tagakweens

Apocalypse anyone?

tagakweens

Hell On Earth!! Burn Baby Burn!!

NannyState

Rose? In March? How gauche! Clearly the taxpayers need to pony up a little extra to teach these bums some class.

tingo

They PLAY while you PAY. The douchebaggery! Quick, somebody make a site that shows all these guys out partying while people around America fund it. A little populism goes a long way.

Manitoba

http://www.hotchickswithdouchebags.com/

RedWhiteandBrooklyn

Great Tee shirt!!!!! If you wonder why I'd say that either you've never worked in a restaurant or you've never read Tony Bourdain's "Kitchen Confidential".

adeez

"If you’d asked me in October, I’d say it’d be a different situation, and I don’t think I’d be here. Then the government gave us $10 billion."

When I first read this article and saw this quote, I almost fell off my fuckin chair. I'm surprised it hasn't gotten more publicity - good job Gothamist.

That guy who said it sure is shameless.

Sinchy

"By 4 p.m., the place was wall-to-wall bodies, and people were taking hits from a rosé-filled bong in the shape of a flamingo."

hits from a bong? Smoking? wacky tobacky or regular tobacco? either the writer has no idea what he is talking about or that place needs to be raided by Bloomberg's smoking police.

Monkey_Butter

You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else.

JacqueMehoff

time to knock these people down a notch.

glennQNYC

I thought we were supposed to patronize establishments, and buy goods and services to help the economy? Now people are upset by the spending? Maybe the snivelers would be happier if all the waiters and waitresses had no place to work, and no tax income from all those patrons? Get real, and stop hating on those who are different than you.

skbk

my money bought their brunch and the right to complain about it.

Manitoba

douchebagatelle.

Monkey_Butter

I guess storming the Bastille does not give any of us some bright ideas. Any mob of a dozen or more could break past security. It would be a small step to prove a big point.

Seriously the level of money mentioned is way overboard, this is a Fight Club moment in need of happening.

Then again the staff may already be peeing in the food.

Splicer

In total agreement about a visit from the people whose money they are spending.

auggiedauggie

The clientele just looks like a bunch of trash to me.

Shinobi Shaw

Isn't it lovely when you can afford expensive eateries at the expense of the taxpayer?

If a revolution happens, these guys will be the first to get it.

cwd22

Shouldn't the assholes that took everyones' money and gave it to these guys be the first to get it? And besides according to the popular economic theory of the day any money spent is good for the economy, so we should be praising these guys for continuing to live lavish lifestyles at the expense of the rest of us. We would probably save the money and use it to pay down debts or something non-stimulating like that...

Gwinny

Christ. Can the entire Meatpacking District and its Eurotrash/wannabe Eurotrash population just fall into the Hudson already?

This is just sickening and beyond vulgar. "Old money," my ass.

Manitoba

Bagatelle sounds about right, but it would be more appropriate if it were prefixed with a 6-letter word. Specifically, one that starts with "d", ends with "e" and has "ouch" in the middle.