January 6, 2012 Weather: Mostly Sunny, High of 47 Degrees.
Notices:
Still have your Christmas Tree? Mulchfest is coming up this weekend. Check our calendar.
News:
Councilwoman Gale Brewer and some other Upper West Siders leaders want to limit the size of stores in the neighborhood to stop banks and other big businesses from changing the neighborhood’s character. The rules would keep businesses from taking up more than 40 feet of sidewalk space, and keep banks from using more than 25 feet. Current businesses would be grandfathered in. But real estate folks think that the rules could stifle local businesses. (NY1)
A Central Park West mansion on 85th Street that used to be owned by a member of the Disney family sold for $22.4 million, a $10 million “discount” from the asking price two years ago. It’s got a 60-foot lap pool. (Curbed)
Armed bank robberies are up this year (we’ve noticed that Upper West Side banks seem to get hit a lot), but police are solving fewer of them. (NY Times)
So far, reviews of the new Caffe ‘Storico in the New York Historical Society have been pretty mixed. Complaints include noisiness and uneven food (one person complained about stale bread). Great review for the artichoke mezzaluna pasta, however. (Eater)
The Village Voice has vowed to review hundreds of small Chinese restaurants this year (one a day), and recently stopped by “U Like Garden” on 106th and Columbus. They were very satisfied with the Kung Po. (Village Voice)