It does not even take a high school econ teacher to tell us that the economy is in the crapper.

Just look up and down your own block to see the number of bars and restaurants that suddenly have “lease problems” with their landlords. The housing boom is well dead and gone so building owners can’t think they will get a higher paying tenant.

Only other possibility is that bar owners can no longer make rent.

While Ben Stein is trying to convince everyone that the top tier entertainment spots will close up first, we are seeing closures on both end of the spectrum.

The Rainbow Room is closing its food doors this weekend. On the other end, speculation began to swirl around whether the Emerald Room was going to stay open — luckily, yes.  However, it might be too late for the Holiday Lounge.
Although less bar and more food oriented, Patois also is closing its doors in Carol Gardens.

And these are just the ones that have hit the headlines for being stalwarts in the New York area. There are many more that have closed their doors in the past months.

Come on, New York, we understand that you can no longer gas-up your 52-foot yacht, but you can at least pony up for a $2 PBR, right?

And you won’t mind spotting us a few bucks for a drink either, right?

We’ll see you at the Rainbow Room this weekend.