The economy may be plummeting, but the Thompson Hotel Group's Jason Pomeranc (pictured above, right) isn't down in the dumps. At the opening of The Libertine, the new restaurant from Todd English (above, left) in the Gild Hall Hotel, we spoke to the hotelier about the perils of opening a lavish Financial District hot spot in the midst of a tailspin. "I believe the economy—New York, America—is resilient," he said, noting that his Thompson Hotel, which is still flourishing, opened on September 10, 2001. Until Wall Street does bounce back, he added, everybody needs a place to drown their sorrows and celebrate their gains. This being a party, encouragement was provided: Top-hatted cocktail waitresses offered cigars and spankings. We had to ask twice to be sure we had heard correctly, but indeed, a flogging was proposed. Was it for market indiscretions?