Short on dismal news? Have a look at this notice, taped to the counter at the Yankee Tavern on 161st Street in the Bronx. “Due to the increased price of pastrami,” it began, unpromisingly, “we at the Yankee Tavern apologize for the increase in prices for the pastrami items.” Pastrami is in crisis. “I contemplated taking it off the menus,” Joe Bastone, owner of the tavern, said. “I came very close to doing it. I decided to try passing it on.”