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.