The Observer comes out with a list of the city’s real-estate power players, and, not surprisingly, plenty of restaurant folk make the cut. Scary to us is that none of them rank as high as Christine Quinn — the anti-nightlife councilwoman who will, according to the piece, help determine the fate of billions of dollars of development in the next months — or Daniel Boyle, the chairman of the New York State Liquor Authority. Nevertheless, Danny Meyer clocks in at number 24, followed by Robert De Niro (26), health commissioner Thomas Frieden (82), Tom Colicchio (84), and Keith McNally (90). Steve Cuozzo, “the Andy Rooney of New York’s real estate and restaurant worlds,” has to be smarting over being ranked several notches below Frank Bruni, the man with the “ugh more feared than any other reviewer.” We're wondering where Nicholas Gray is, who, with Gray’s Papaya stands (and their imitators), is fighting back the scourge of ATM machines with hot dogs, a noble fight if ever there were one.

The 100 Most Powerful People in New York Real Estate [NYO via Eater]

Shortly after AM New York reported that the price of the Recession Special is on the rise, the Times' City Room points out that Gray’s Papaya top dog Nicholas Gray, who previously endorsed Michael Bloomberg for president, may have jinxed Obama by erecting a sign at his 72nd Street store that reads “YES SENATOR OBAMA ‘WE ARE READY TO BELIEVE AGAIN.’” Maybe Mr. Gray should put his money where his mouth is and allow customers to donate the increased cost of the Recession Special to Obama ’08?

Two Hot Dogs, a Drink, and a Nod to Obama [City Room/NYT]
Rising Prices Hit City Pockets Hard [amNY]