Photo by smith_cl9 via flickr.

December 9, 2011 Weather: Partly Cloudy, High of 50 Degrees.

Notices:
Upper West Sider Ari Pelcovitz just started a website called UrbanBoozer.com that will offer drink deals at Upper West Side bars. The launch party, with an online drink deal, is this Sunday at Jake’s Dilemma.

News:
The campaign to ban carriage horses from Central Park has been picking up steam, gaining the support of legislators. But it’s also getting quite nasty, with carriage horse drivers acknowledging starting a campaign to infiltrate activist groups, and both sides complaining about intimidation tactics. (NY Times)

A new website called CityMaps.com features a very cool overhead map of businesses in New York City, showing logos and names for just about every business on every block. It’s a great service, although not entirely up to date (it still lists Edgar’s Cafe on 84th as open, for instance, although it’s been closed for more than 6 months). That said, a lot of commercial real estate brokers are using it to scout properties. And it could be a very handy tool for finding which businesses are nearby, because you can search by type of business. They even have a specific filter for Starbucks, which is a little sad but can help you find a bathroom. (NY Times)

Kevin Fitzpatrick, who led a campaign to save Dorothy Parker’s childhood home on 72nd street from the wrecking ball, appears resigned to the likelihood that the building will be torn down, and will work to get a plaque installed on the new building. (Dorothy Parker Society)

Cab drivers are no longer double-parking in front of the Islamic Cultural Center on 72nd Street and Riverside Drive. (DNAinfo)

I am kind of stunned at how many people who answered our poll agreed with me that Tavern on the Green should reopen as a high-end, formal restaurant. If you haven’t voted, do so now!