Sam Levin

Mayor Mike Bloomberg touring the NYU-Poly Varick Street Incubator this morning.

​In today's New-York-City-is-the-best-place-in-the-universe news, Mike Bloomberg has for us the latest success story for the Big Apple: its small business start-ups.

In line with the theme of many of the mayor's events so far this year -- promoting innovation in fashion, in film and television (with Gossip Girl!), in the Bronx , and, you know, just in general, innovation all the time -- Bloomberg held a news conference this morning to pat himself on the back for all he and his city agencies have done to help small businesses get their start, create jobs, and attract entrepreneurs to New York City.

Speaking at the NYU-Poly Varick Street Incubator this morning, Bloomberg, standing in front of a backdrop with the words "City of Innovation" written all over it (HE LIKES INNOVATION, GUYS!), Bloomberg -- after briefly touring the incubator's swanky offices -- told reporters that the city's efforts over the last three years have paid off.

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​Map enthusiasts and social media aficionados, rejoice! A website and iPhone application that is officially launching today is taking the concept of mapping to a whole new interactive level that might forever change your physical and virtual existence as a New Yorker.

In all seriousness, though, this thing's pretty cool -- CityMaps, a one-stop shop map site and iPhone app, integrates hyperlocal data with all kinds of social media functions so that users can browse around and make plans based on real-time information coming from across the city.

Here's how it works: The map, which aims to include the name and location of every storefront on every block, is connected to Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and all the other cool networking sites kids are using these days. CityMaps users can browse what's around them, find out what other people have said and are saying about these establishments, and get info on what kinds of deals or events these businesses are having at that moment. All in a user-friendly, visually-intuitive format!

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​A group called New Yorkers for Parks has come out with their annual report rating New York City's beaches. The beaches are graded on a scale of 0-100 on criteria like drinking fountains, bathrooms, pathways, and shoreline. This year, Staten Island came in first with South Beach, which scored a 99! And Staten Island, bless its heart, also came in last with the "unsatisfactory" Wolfe's Pond Beach.

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Musically epic, that is.

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Happy Monday! Remember how hot it was this weekend? Gus the bulldog certainly does. He wanted to bring his pool inside, which seems only reasonable, given the circumstances. Gus the bulldog is not to be trifled with.
Enjoy today's 79 degrees. It'll hit 90 tomorrow. [JDoll / @thisisjendoll]

​It's still hot and gross out today, but you'll notice that it's not as oppressive as it was this past week. However, the heat wave that swept the U.S. and put 132 million people under a heat advisory may have claimed as many as 34 lives in the U.S.

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In response to a question that has long racked the world's collective brain -- how do animals stay cool at the zoo during a heat wave!? -- MSNBC has a long-awaited answer. Tigers eat popsicles made out of blood! "It's kind of gross, but they like it," said Diana Weinhardt, who supervises the Northern Trails exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo. Others get mouse popsicles! How adorable! Additionally, most zoos have some sort of air conditioned area for the animals, as well as outdoor pools. Zoo animals: Just like us, if we had really bad taste in food. [MSNBC/Video from Urlesque]

No one seems to have taken us up on our challenge to fry a sidewalk on an egg, and frying eggs on sidewalks is ever so heat 1.0, so we'd like to share this image of how hot it is, via Reddit. People are using their car dashboards as easy-bake ovens. (See also: Heat Dome.)

Reddit

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via Above the Law

​Attention New York humans! Yes, it's hot as balls out there, but don't forget that your mammalian pets are suffering, too. NYC Veterinary Specialists shares tips for helping overheated pets, and some pretty terrifying warning signs: sluggishness; vomiting, sometimes with blood; severe diarrhea; and red or pale gums. How are Pookie's gums?

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​We just hit a record 102 degrees in Central Park, which is wayyyy better than the measly 101 degrees we achieved on July 22 of 1957, you guys. Everyone, pat yourself on the sweaty back! It's thanks to all of us that this could even be possible. Also! With humidity, the heat is 116 degrees, really. It's hotter in Newark (104 degrees) but who cares. We're all winners! (Passing out now.) Relevant to our interests: 10 Ways to Prepare for a New York City Blackout [NYT]