Ice Cream Man Arrested for Street Brawl, Lafayette Sells Avocado Push-Pops, and More Intel

— A New York Ice Cream truck driver was arrested on Tuesday for attacking pretzel vendor in the head with a baseball bat. According to a police report, the vendors were arguing over a location in Midtown several weeks ago. Police Lieutenant Marco Gonzalez tells the Times: "Both of them mutually thought that the other would make it more difficult for them to conduct business at the location." The dispute turned into a fist fight, then the ice cream truck driver got a bat from his vehicle. After a witness helped break-up the skirmish, the ice cream man then pulled out a knife and continued to to threaten his rival before jumping in his truck and driving away. The police found surveillance footage of the fight — which occurred on the afternoon of May 12 — and then put up wanted posters. The ice cream man turned himself in yesterday, and was charged with felony assault. As noted earlier this week, New York Ice Cream drivers have a reputation for intimidating and threatening other vendors in Midtown.

— The Campbell Apartment's operator Mark Grossich is in the process of fighting the bar's impending eviction from Grand Central Terminal. Following news that the MTA had signed a new lease with nightlife heavy hitter Scott Gerber, Grossich sued the organization. In court yesterday, the MTA's lawyer claimed that the restaurateur "provided absolutely no basis for how [his] rights were violated." Gerber offered to pay double Grossich's monthly rent of $16,000 to run the space, and he's already put down a deposit. A judge will make the final decision in the coming weeks. Yesterday, Grossich told the Post: "We’re increasingly confident about the outcome."

— An actress named La Rivers is suing Beautique in Midtown over an incident in which a manager allegedly attacked her on the curb outside of the restaurant. The suit alleges that Rivers and manager Edward Moffett were fighting for a cab, when the restaurant employee started screaming and hit her "with such force that she fell to the ground head first." Now Moffett is facing assault and harassment charges. Rivers is seeking unspecified damages.

— Although it's still open for business, a "for rent" sign now hangs in the window of tiny Rivington Street Japanese restaurant Mimi & Coco.

—  Lafayette is now serving avocado-espelette push-pops:

[Sonia Chopra]

— At B & K French Cuisine in Harlem, Ligaya Mishan finds comfort food cooked with care: "The food is simple, and so are its pleasures. I was not excited to order the chicken sandwich until I pried it open and found the underside of the baguette soaked in green: olive oil steeped with basil often harvested from a local garden and still bright from the earth. This is almost pesto, with Parmesan shaved separately and left to melt over long planks of grilled chicken, and stray leaves of arugula wilted just enough to tame their bite."

— The Floridian Diner in Mill Basin still sees a lot of customers on the weekend during breakfast, but business just ain't what it used to be. Proprietor Steve Zaharikis tells Extra Crispy:  "Around here, there used to be the bars, but then they closed....No more bowling alleys, no movie theaters, and these were all businesses that had people who'd come to eat here."

— A vegan doughnut shop is coming to 102 St. Mark's Place — this is the space that previously housed shortly-lived restaurants Puddin' and Macaroni & Co.

— And finally, here are five unusual ways to open a bottle of wine: