I guess I should have gone Christmas shopping in New York after all: Gothamist reports that the finest Jewish deli on the planet, the 2nd Avenue Deli, has closed and may not reopen, due to raised rent. My brother gave me the shop's cookbook for Christmas, and I was disappointed to find that their method for making pastrami was not revealed, and now it seems I may never again enjoy their luscious sandwiches. A corned beef and pastrami combo (with just a bit of brown mustard) and a Heineken (the best beer they offered) — that was Lower East Side nirvana for me. I last enjoyed such a meal almost two years ago. Sniff.