After a nightlife expose of Flatiron clubland the NY Post turns to Lower East Side nightlife and navigates the obstacle course of velvet ropes, cover charges, bottle service and stripper poles. Kicking off the rundown of problems with the “new Lower East Side scene” is word that A-Ron did too well as “creative director” of 205. His network of friends made the place too popular with the moneyed and boring set and they don’t want to hang out there anymore. Added to the fact they felt like bait and it’s not hard to see why.

But don’t pour out your forty just yet. Doug and Bobby say the LES is still the real deal.

“The Lower East Side is the real deal - it’s not pretentious,” says R Bar patron Doug (”they call me ‘the Bus’ “) Corbus, 24. “And there’s lots of tail.”

“Whores!” corrects his pal Bobby Reynolds. “Whores!”

“I work in advertising in Midtown,” Corbus explains. “This is, like, real New York,” he says.

“Midtown has too many JAPpy girls,” says Reynolds.

“It’s maybe not cooler, but it’s more raw,” says Corbus. “People here will order a drink that no one’s drinking instead of what’s popular, or wear clothes that are the hip s—.”

And further proof that not all is lost: the R Bar (formerly Pioneer) did not install stripper poles in the front window. They already had four in back, and thought six would be “overkill.” Moderation is key.