As usual, last night's Community Board 3 SLA meeting went long. The meeting started at 6:30 PM and by 10:30 PM, the agenda for the evening was barely half-finished. Which isn't to say there weren't interesting developments. A few highlights from the first four hours:

– The former Mo Pitkins (34 Ave. A) has been sold for $4 million dollars to the corporation that also runs Aces & Eights saloon on the Upper East Side. Though there was some initial concern over the transfer of the license due to past noise problems with the space, after an impassioned speech from one board member in defense of the seller, local restaurateur Phil Hartman of the troubled Two Boots empire, it was quickly approved.

– The biggest issue in the first half of the evening came over the details of licensees within the so-called "resolution area" in which the community board, with strong support from the local block associations, has decided to not give out any more liquor licenses. Specifically in question was the stretch of Avenue B between Fourth and Fifth Streets. First up in the fight was the Italian Perbacco, which is trying to move from Fourth Street to the former Carne Vale space (46 Ave. B) in order to accommodate the crowds that have come in after a good review in the Times. However, the restaurant apparently hasn't made a good impression on its neighbors over the past six years and that, along with the board's desire not to put more booze on Avenue B, led the restaurant to take its lawyers advice and withdraw its application until a later date. The other restaurant to come up against this issue was a proposed Italian at 40 Ave. B. The applicant (a self-described "professional, fourth-generation restaurateur") was interested only in opening with a full liquor license and wouldn't take the board's offer of a beer-only license. And so he was rejected.

– Vasmay Lounge had its liquor license transfer approved, but not without a scene. The current owner of the bar, board member David McWater, was attacked by a neighbor who complained aggressively about noise, trash and bad management. However, the woman had never once called 311 to complain, never contacted the police about her concerns, and lost any case she might have had when she, in no uncertain terms, implied the board was in McWater's pocket. In the end, the transfer was approved.

– While the board, with the support of the block association, was uninterested in providing a beer and wine license for a new burger joint at 33 St. Marks St., they were quickly (for a community board) persuaded to give a beer license to a struggling Philly cheese steak spot at 191 E. Houston.

– The Bowery Hotel apparently has at least one neighbor opposed to its license renewal, but since the hotel has already reached out to alleviate the problem, the license was renewed.

– The Cake Shop was granted the right to serve in its upstairs area in addition to its downstairs space.

– Ryan's Irish Pub was given permission to alter their facade. Katra got its license renewed and was commended for its much improved behavior over the past two years.