A federal judge last Friday denied artists a preliminary injunction against new rules that limit the number and locations of First Amendment-protected vendors in four Manhattan parks: Union Square, the High Line, Battery Park and parts of Central Park.

As a result of the decision by Judge Richard Sullivan, the new rules went into effect on Monday and will con- tinue unless the two related lawsuits seeking to permanently enjoin the rules are successful.

But more than 100 artists turned up in the south end of Union Square on Monday, waved signs and ignored the rules legally while police and Parks Enforcement Patrol officers looked on.

Under the new rules, 18 loca- tions in Union Square Park marked by small plastic medallions designate where “expressive matter” can be sold.

Protesting artists on Monday, however, paid no attention to the medallions. They took advantage of the fact that the new rules do not apply to wander- ing art vendors who do not stay in one place any longer than necessary to transact a sale. The rules also do not apply to artists who display their art but do not sell it.

Robert Lederman, president of A.R.T.I.S.T. (Artists’ Response to Illegal State Tactics) and co-plaintiff in one of the two federal court lawsuits seeking to overturn the new regula- tions, promised more demonstrations.

“We’re going to stay in this park and away from the marked spaces. We’re going to defy the mayor and we’re going to defy the Parks Department,” said Lederman.

Artists also protested that the loca- tions of the designated vending spots adjacent to the streets on the east and

“It shows how little good faith the Parks Department has on this issue,” Lederman said.

A spokesperson for the Parks Department said the vendor locations would be reviewed over time with a view to adjusting them.

Julie Milner, attorney for Lederman and A.R.T.I.S.T., said the court case “was moving on a fast track.”

In addition to the 18 expressive- matter vending locations in Union Square, the new rules designate 40 more locations on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays when the Greenmarket does not occupy the north and west plazas of the park.

The city is baking in a brutal heat wave with no end in site. But on Avenue A a cold war is flaring. Oh yes, it’s an icy war — or a war of ices, if you prefer.

In one corner, or rath- er,n e a r one corner, is the East Village’s peren- nial provider of summer refreshment, Ray’s Candy Store. In the other corner, or rathern e a r the other corner, is the new upstart, NYC ICY.

Until last year, NYC ICY was on Avenue B. But five weeks ago, owners Jonathan and Suzie Leeds opened a pop-up sidewalk store on the east side of Avenue A near Seventh St. — diag- onally across from neigh- borhood institution Ray’s Candy Store, owned by Ray Alvarez.

Winters are particularly tough for Ray, a.k.a. Asghar Ghahraman. But the sum-

Cold war on Ave. A as Ray faces comp from an ‘ice queen’

Notwithstanding its con- sistently high quality of play, Greenwich Village Little League has never been a regular participant in the Little League of America’s Summer Tournament for 11- and 12-year-olds, which culminates in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

This year was differ- ent, however. Not only did G.V.L.L. fi eld a tournament team, but it reached the

District 23 Finals this past weekend for the first time in league history.

opponent — the undefeated Michael J. Buczek Little League of Washington Heights — sustained its first loss on Saturday to a surging Greenwich Village squad, 13-8.

The Village team was poised on the edge of some- thing truly special.

G.V.L.L.’ers go
on a tear, nearly
make the Series

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Ed Sanders, second from right, above — who co-founded the Fugs with fellow poet Tuli Kupferberg in 1964 — performed the band’s songs at Kupferberg’s memorial at St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery Saturday. There was no religious element to the ser- vice. Kupferberg was buried in Brooklyn’s Greenwood Cemetery on Monday. At right, Kupferberg in his Soho apartment in 2007.

Similar to white “ghost bike” memorials left where cars have killed cyclists, a “ghost crutches” memorial recently appeared on a parking-sign pole on Essex St. between Stanton and Houston Sts. Harry Wieder, a disabled Community Board 3 member who used arm crutches, was killed by a taxi there while crossing the street after C.B. 3’s April meeting.

2 is showing it’s more than ready to pick up where the recently suspended Borough President’s Community Task Force on N.Y.U. Development left off. Last Thursday, Jo Hamilton, the board’s chairperson, sent out a blistering e-mail blast to the neighborhood, headlined “CB 2 to NYU: Not So Fast.” In her e-mail, Hamilton notes that C.B. 2 had just that day sent a letter “admonishing” New York University President John Sexton and the university for “its inadequate response” to the task force’s recommendations on N.Y.U.’s 2031 expansion plans; the plans call for adding 1.5 million to 2 million square feet of space on the school’s two South Village superblocks, between Houston and W. Third Sts. and Mercer St. and LaGuardia Place. C.B. 2, Hamilton said, wants to make it perfectly clear “that this community has not accepted the university’s proposals as a fait accompli.” Now that N.Y.U. will be presenting its proposal to the community board as part of a city ULURP (uniform land- use review procedure), Hamilton continued, “it is time to get specifi c and detailed information.” To that end, C.B. 2 has requested the university’s participation in a series of public forums, beginning on Mon., Aug. 9, at 6:30 p.m., at P.S. 41, 116 W. 11th St. To prepare for that meeting, C.B. 2 is co-host- ing an education forum with the community on how to get involved in the land-use process, with B.P. Scott Stringer and Councilmember Margaret Chin, on Wed., Aug. 4, at 6 p.m., A.I.A., 536 LaGuardia Place, Tafel Hall (downstairs space). The board urges residents to attend both meeting, and also to write a letter to Sexton with their questions and concerns about the project and to copy C.B. 2 and elected offi cials. “This is the largest development project proposed for our district in many years,” Hamilton wrote. “C.B. 2 is committed to lead the way, and establish a clear road map throughout the ULURP process, in order to protect the historic and unique character of our community.” Meanwhile, Andrew Berman of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation urged us to ask Stringer’s offi ce for a written legal opinion from his general counsel, stating what exactly is the legal confl ict of interest for Stringer to keep his task force running during the ULURP process. Stringer, however, declined to provide a writ- ten opinion. Carmen Boon, his press secretary, e-mailed us back: “This issue was discussed in depth when you…met with the borough president last week. My offi ce has nothing else to add.” Hamilton said people can write to John Sexton at: New York University, Bobst Library, 70 Washington Square South, 10012.

— the gourmet market that has been used as a location for “Sex and the City” — filming for his reality show “Shaq Vs.,” where he faces opponents in other disciplines. He was shop- ping with Rachel Ray, who is apparently a frequent Garden of Eden customer, and presumably his opponent in the epi- sode of “Shaq Vs.” We’re told that they bought everything from cold cuts to produce, and that customers didn’t bother the TV crew. A crowd, however, did form outside the store, according to a source. TV blogs have reported that Shaq’s showdown with Ray won’t be the only food-related chal- lenge on what will be the second season of the reality show: He will reportedly face-off against Nathan’s hot dog-eating champ Joey Chestnut.

Bleecker St., is offering about a half-dozen Siamese and Bombay kittens and cats for adoption. The cats are all “beautiful,” said the museum’s Dana Beal. They’ve been hiding and hard to catch, so haven’t been fi xed yet, he noted. “They’re just a little bit jittery,” he explained. “What you’ve got to do is take them home and make friends with them.” If interested, call 212-677-4899 or 212-677-5918. … In some sad Yippie news, Beal reported that Aron “Yippie Pie Man”

into a fi ght with his roommate and was consequently sleep- ing on a chair in the Yippie Cafe’s basement, but now has a touch of gangrene in his leg as a result because he’s so heavy and the chair was putting pressure on his limb. “He definitely has to lose about 50 to 60 pounds,” Beal said. “He was at 400 pounds, now he’s down to 350. When he came here, we wouldn’t let him order food.” Beal said he’s been in touch with Val Orselli, director of the Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association, about fi nding an apartment for Kay. But, he said, Orselli told him they did have some spaces at one point, but they have all been taken by people who were burned out of their homes in the Grand St. fire in April.

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