“Maybe the most unused bench in the MTA. Inside the 81st Street Museum of Natural History subway stop.” Photo by Glark.

December 1, 2011 Weather: Sunny, High of 50 Degrees.

Notices:
We’ve added an event to the calendar. On Sunday at 4, Central Park will hold a tree lighting on 110th Street, including music, cookies, entertainment and a 12-foot Christmas Tree floating across the Harlem Meer. Central Park is also offering free e-cards today.

You can now get free tours of the historic Belnord courtyard on West 86th Street.

News:
The city has installed street signs with haiku poems on them throughout the city, including at Columbus Circle. The poems try to remind people to be safe. One says: “Too averse to risk/To chance the lottery, yet/Steps into traffic.” Here’s a pdf of the different poems, and here’s a chart of the locations. If you see one, snap a picture and send it to us. (NY Times)

Four teens tried but failed to rob a woman’s pocket book at the carousel in Central Park. (DNAinfo)

Upper West Success Academy has attracted 700 applicants for 190 spots in kindergarten and first grade for next year. The school gives kindergartners 30 minutes of homework a day. Many people are still pissed off about how the school was approved over community objections. (West Side Spirit)

Also, Success Academy charter network leader Eva Moskowitz appears to be contemplating a run for mayor. (NY Daily News)

Nurses are threatening to strike at 4 New York hospitals, including St. Luke’s Roosevelt. (Crain’s)