Paying $24 for a glass of wine, is the recession over?

This past weekend I was a tourist in my own town and man, was it an eye opening experience. For a moment, at the Terrace Bar atop the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, I felt a rush being among the privileged set. Until I saw the menu and prices. Don't these people know there's a recession on?

Apparently not. The place was nearly full, on a Thursday night. Granted, it was one of those rare, exceptional perfect nights in Chicago. Just cool enough for long sleeves, no humidity and not a cloud in the sky. The view from the Terrace was so breathtaking it almost made the prices worth it. Almost.

Even my fully employed, in advertising no less, companion was aghast. As my friend from Los Angeles watched the server elegantly pour his wine selection, at $24 a glass, his mouth dropped open as the waiter stopped short and walked away with barely one third of the glass filled. The shortest pour ever, price notwithstanding.