Freemans To Fight For Liquor License Renewal Tonight

It's that time of the month again. Bar, club and restaurant owners will try to win over their feisty neighbors at the East Village and Lower East Side Community Board meeting at 6:30 pm. Let's take a look at the agenda.

Freemans will make its case for a liquor license renewal early in what will inevitably become a marathon session (last month's went past 1am). You wouldn't think Taavo Somer's LES hideaway would pose too contentious an application. After all, the restaurant is for the most part a restaurant rather than a bar disguised as one (CB3 members usually assume that any restaurant proposal is fronting for a raucous frat bar). And it's tucked away in Freemans Alley, so patrons don't smoke their cancer sticks and bray like donkeys on well-trafficked sidewalks.

Still, the agenda notes that Freemans is up for a renewal "with complaint history," which could spell trouble for the hipster magnet. Making matters more intriguing is the diner-inspired duplex Somer and pals have going up on Bowery and 2nd. Even though that venue doesn't appear on tonight's schedule, the Freemans decision might influence its own fate.

Also to be fought over is a sidewalk seating application from comfort food favorite Westville East and a full liquor license from gourmet taco emporium Mercadito.

As for matters that won't be on the floor tonight, the future of the Allen & Delancey space was mysteriously pulled from the agenda! As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, rumors were making the rounds that a frat bar-ish establishment (according to a tipster) had its bleary eyes on the defunct restaurant's real estate.

Looks like we'll have to wait until next month for some official word.