Call the caterer! Bank bonuses a relief in Greenwich, Conn.

[Newsjock]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

GREENWICH, Conn. — After one of the leanest years in memory, life in this upper-crust enclave is slowly returning to normal. The Greenwich version of normal, anyway.

Caterers' cell phones are ringing again. Luxury car dealers are sending the Porsches out for test drives. An architect is booking multimillion-dollar jobs for his "masters of the universe" clients, titans of Wall Street who've made this leafy Connecticut suburb of New York one of the wealthiest towns in the country.

When the financial industry tumbled, Greenwich's fortunes fell with it. Now, as the federal bailout has helped lift investment banks to surprisingly robust profits, the news that major financial firms will dole out billions of dollars in salaries and bonuses this year came as welcome relief here, even though the rest of the country is still grappling with 10 percent unemployment.

Discreetly, Greenwich is starting to spend money again, and spending here — where the median household earns $126,549, almost two-and-a-half times the national median, based on 2008 census estimates — isn't quite like spending anywhere else.

At the Ferrari dealership, a handful of middle-aged men in sweaters and jeans milled about the showroom on a recent Saturday, running their palms over sports cars so select that the prices weren't listed. However, a new 458 Italia tops out at 202 mph and north of $300,000.

Michelle Brunwasser, a partner in the chic Weber art gallery ... explained: "People here are happier, and they want to surround themselves with beautiful things." A few moments later she added: "It feels a little strange saying this, considering what the country is going through."

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/83718.html

[rucky]

1. Hurray for trickle-down!

I hope we all get a shot to serve the 5-percenters.

[cali]

2. ugh. hate Fairfield County

and Greenwich is the worst of the gold coast towns.

[Jennicut]

3. Ahh, Greenwich. I really dislike that area of our state.

I grew up in Cheshire...which is slowly turning itself into a mini Greenwich. Kids with BMWS at Cheshire High was not uncommon. These people don't live in the real wold and have no idea how painful it is for the people who are really hurting. But it is nothing new around here.

[FarCenter]

5. BMW not uncommon? I thought it was the standard sweet-sixteen present?

[Jennicut]

6. I got a used Toyota Corolla when I was 17.

So when kids drove in with BMWS you knew they belonged to the rich families in town. I am sure it is worse now, that was the early 90's.

[fascisthunter]

9. Newton, MA is very similar

want to see pompous asses who think the world revolves around them, visit Newton for a day. Actually, work in retail in Newton, then you'll see what I'm talking about. Oh and the drivers... wow. Move out of their way!

[QC]

4. Madame Defarge is never around when you need her. n/t

[On the Road]

7. I Have a Childhood Friend

who is a lawyer living in London, editing the magazine for the Prince of Wales's charitable foundation, married to an corporate prosecutor lawyer who was prominent in several high-profile cases (including BBCI, IIRC). They are well-educated, friendly, and have a ton of money by my standards.

They moved to the US for a year and rented a house in Greenwich, but they felt the people were snooty and didn't accept them.

What in the world does you have to do to be acceptable to people Greenwich?

[cali]

8. you either have to have mega money or have old money

and amusingly people in towns like Darien and New Canaan look down on Greenwich as being vulgar.