Governor Cuomo doesn't want you buying dinky fireworks, but he's okay with Nik Wallenda crossing Niagara Falls on a tightrope. While vetoing a bill that would have legalized sparklers and other fireworks for five year olds, CityRoom reports that Cuomo signed a bill that excepts Wallenda—the seventh generation of the famous Flying Wallendas—from rules prohibiting stunts on the American side of the falls. Wallenda plans on walking over the falls next summer. more ›

The Fall TV season has barely gotten going and already we're starting to hear about shows in development for next year. One in particular that caught our eye is a potential ABC nighttime soap called Bazirkus about life at a Ringling Bros.-like circus. And after PBS' awesome circus miniseries Circus, we're so ready for this. But is PETA? more ›

[UPDATED BELOW] The Joplin, Missouri tornado story just got a little bit more depressing. The below video shows an elephant, handled by a half dozen men or so, dragging out cars from the wreckage. According to the Atlantic Wire, the Picadilly Circus was in town for a scheduled date—when the show was canceled, the elephants were repurposed. more ›

We already knew the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus would be taking its act to the Meadowlands this spring, but now the circus also reports that they will not return to Coney Island this summer, citing "scheduling problems" and operating costs. Spokesman Stephen Payne told the Daily News, "We just couldn't make it work. We have so many tours moving around the country. There are a lot of moving parts." And while this may be good news for the city's animal activists, Coney Island merchants are worried about the consequences. more ›

A quick-thinking vet managed to save Percy the porcupine from almost certain death after the 4-year-old Big Apple Circus member collapsed from low blood sugar! Percy was found collapsed in his pen on Monday, and Dr. David Bessler quickly determined he was suffering from hypoglycemia. Bessler told the Post, "It took a few minutes to figure out how to approach him. Each quill could literally poke through a person." more ›

Earlier this week, it was reported that the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be skipping town to Jersey for the time being. But Brooklyn Paper reports today that the circus will soon have a new home in Brooklyn—at the Barclays Center. One of the productions of the “Greatest Show on Earth” will take up residency at the future home of the Nets in March 2013, about six months after the arena is slated to open. more ›

For years there have been rally cries from animal rights protesters whenever the circus comes to town, specifically, whenever the elephants are trotted down the street in anticipation of their run at Madison Square Garden. Well now the NY Times reports that for the first time in 80 years, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus will not be coming to Manhattan for their annual springtime shows... in fact, they won't even be coming to any of the five boroughs. Instead the circus will be banished to New Jersey, where they'll extend their run at the Meadowlands. more ›

There's probably at least one group of people interested in talking to the late P.T. Barnum (pictured here in 1871), but it doesn't look like PETA's going to get a chance to chew his ear off during a private seance next week. According to the Brooklyn Paper, psychic Gemma Deller will be channeling the deceased showman at a private event on his birthday, July 5th. You know what the man himself said, “There’s a sucker born every minute." more ›

Tomorrow at noon PETA will bring their Sad Elephant sculpture to Coney Island in protest of the opening of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus opening there (last year they only brought a few signs). The statue was created by New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss, and its proper name is "Ella PhantzPeril." It depicts a shackled baby elephant and includes the inscription "See Shackles, Bullhooks, Loneliness—All Under the Big Top." It will remain there all summer. more ›

Ha! Disgraced former Congressman Vito Fossella has told the Staten Island GOP—which, much to the surprise of its members, endorsed him to run for his old seat this fall—that he will not run for office. He also held a press conference outside his Manhattan office today, "I'm where I need to be, where I want to be," though he's "humbled and honored" by the endorsement, "As a result... I will not seek election to Congress this year." more ›

The Ringling Bros. troupe is biting back at PETA, following the animal rights organization's latest attempt to shut them down. Yesterday PETA asked that feds not renew the circus's animal exhibitor license, but rather let it expire on the 28th. But today the Daily News reports that the license was already renewed last week! The circus's spokesman Steve Payne told them, "This is another indication that PETA doesn't know what they are talking about." He went on to address their charges that they abuse their elephants (which they have released video of), by saying, "Our elephants are amazingly treated. They are the stars of the show. We've been inspected by the USDA so far five times this year." PETA says they are contacting the USDA to revoke the permit. more ›

With the self-proclaimed "Greatest Show On Earth" just in town—and even serving as the latest muse on Project Runway—PETA is piping up again about animal treatment at the Ringling Bros. circus. Last year the group released a video showing workers beating on the circus's elephants, and now they're asking the feds 'em down. More specifically, they're asking that their animal exhibitor license, up for renewal on the 28th, not be renewed. more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] Last night the Ringling Bros. walked their elephants through the Queens Midtown Tunnel and all the way to MSG, where the circus will set up shop through April 4th. According to Washington Square News, hundreds of spectators turned out in the pouring rain, thunder and lightening—but the pachyderms kept their fans waiting. They didn't come stomping out of the tunnel until 12:20 a.m., about 20 minutes late. After that, one onlooker described the scene to WSN, saying: "There were just tons of people running down the street after them in this sort of childish glee." more ›

The circus is coming to town, and with it comes the elephants. The annual Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Elephant Walk is this coming Monday, March 22nd, from 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. The elephants, and some of their human coworkers, will walk through the Queens Midtown Tunnel to Madison Square Garden. What to expect: six Asian elephants, eight ponies, three stilt walkers, a watusi, and animal trainers. And of course: protesters. more ›

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus—who will be at MSG later this month—are returning to the beach this summer. According to the Daily News, they'll be setting up shop at Coney Island again, and pitching tents on the same West 21st Street lot as last year. more ›

It's that time of year again, the circus is coming to town. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will once again parade their elephants to Madison Square Garden through the Queens/Midtown Tunnel. Since we get so many emails asking when this happens every year, we're here to tell you the magical date of the Elephant Walk this time around is March 22nd. Get your cameras, or your protest signs, ready. more ›

We've been getting some inquiries about when this year's Ringling Bros. Elephant Walk may be (it's usually at the end of March)... but before you get all amped up to see the mammals march through Manhattan, PETA has put a nice, big reminder in the NY Times today. The full page ad shows images of elephants being treated poorly, with the words "an elephant never forgets." It was last summer that the organization released incriminating video of animal abuse at Ringling, so it'll be interesting to see if that effects the turnout for this year's walk. more ›

Click on the images above for all the details on Hells Kitchen's new wine bar, Ardesia, and the crazy Carnival above Bowlmor. more ›

The Ringling Bros. elephants (which Peta just caught on film being beaten by employees) are at the center of another controversy. Reportedly a Brooklyn Fire Dept. (Engine 245) had to close its firehouse for 30 minutes under city orders to bathe Suzie the elephant. The department says they wanted no part in the press event, saying, "What they did compromised that community; fortunately no one was hurt. Whoever at city hall decided to do this doesn't understand public safety and doesn't understand the role that firefighters play in public safety." more ›

Since the crystal clear footage of Ringling Bros. workers beating animals isn't going to be brushed under the circus tent anytime soon—and since the Feds are now investigating—the company has released their second statement. In it, they call the PETA footage "deceptively edited," but unless the animal rights organization got their hands on some of George Lucas's CGI experts, that seems a ridiculous accusation. more ›

Following a press conference PETA held yesterday at which time they released footage of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus employees beating animals, the feds have now said they will investigate the matter. The Daily News reports they will try to find out if the circus has violated the Animal Welfare Act. With crystal clear footage of trainers beating on animals, one even punching an elephant in the face, you would think this investigation would be a short one. In response to all the unwanted attention, a spokesman for the circus sent us along this canned comment packed full of denial:

It is no surprise that PETA would once again release misinformation about Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Ringling Bros. believes that the recent video produced and distributed by PETA is questionable in its context regarding the portrayal of the animal handlers at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Ringling Bros. is a fully licensed traveling exhibitor and from January through June of this year, the alleged time covered in the video, this particular Unit was found to be in compliance with federal, state and local regulations. more ›

It's unsurprising that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has been called out in the past for abusing their animals, but it's another thing to see it all on tape. PETA went undercover this year and captured Ringling workers on video beating and whipping elephants. The organization announced their findings today at a press conference (NY1 has footage), calling upon Madison Square Garden to ban the circus, or at least the use of animals in their show. more ›

Last night, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus opened its new one-ring circus in Coney Island. Mayor Bloomberg and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz were on hand to welcome the show, The Coney Island Boom-A-Ring—Mayor Mike even checked out the Monster Trucks. more ›

Seems a lot of folks are looking to runaway with the circus, or at least make the current financial climate less harsh with a new job at Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The NY Times reports back from the job fair held yesterday for the 150 positions open for their new set-up on Coney Island. Over 500 applicants turned up (alongside some animal rights activists) even though the job would only be temporary, lasting around 3 months. The circus wasn't looking for carnival barkers or occupants for the clown car, rather "ticket takers, ushers and custodians" who will work for minimum wage. Lynn B. Kelly, president of the Coney Island Development Corporation said of the turnout, “It may be a function of the market. Or it may be that, how often in life do you get a chance to say you’ve worked at the circus?” We're guessing it's the former. One 16-year-old local told the paper, “A lot of jobs don’t hire teens. But I’m not like everybody else. I’m mature, plus I have a child. I need a job.” more ›

Coney Island land baron and would-be developer Joe Sitt has been fighting, with the help of City Council ally Domenic Recchia Jr., to get the city to change its proposed rezoning plan and expand the potential retail space from 2,500 square feet to 10,000 square feet. Opponents have predicted a Coney Island clogged with generic chains if Sitt gets his way, and now Brownstoner has a scoop proving they were right to fear the worst: more ›

Mayor Bloomberg announced that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be setting up a seaside tent at Coney Island this summer: "For the first time in its 139-year history, The Greatest Show On Earth will make its way to one of the greatest neighborhoods in New York City - Coney Island." more ›

The Ringling Brothers Circus is considering pitching a tent at Coney Island this summer, but the most obvious location for the show, the now-desolate Astroland site on the Boardwalk, was nixed because of developer Joe Sitt and his company Thor Equities. more ›

Has PETA gone too far? Word is that last week the animal rights activists showed up unannounced and uninvited at a Hempstead elementary school, chosen for its proximity to the Nassau Coliseum, where Ringling Bros. Circus sets up shop starting tomorrow. Their plan was to school the children in circus cruelty, handing out stickers and coloring books that declared, "Circuses are no fun for animals." While this may be true, many are criticizing the organization for their tactics, saying their method is inappropriate—a psychologist noted that the children "might go home and be very anxious" because they "are less mature in their cognitive process." more ›

Last night Britney Spears took her Circus act to the Nassau Coliseum stage on Long Island, and Newsday, the final word in concert reviews, has a scathing account. The paper makes note of the audience member lapdance, the pop star getting sawed in three, and the Bollywood dance number, but they say it's all "a massive money-making venture designed to play up her talents and distract from her shortcomings." Is this not the foundation upon which pop stars are built? The criticisms continue, as they declare "she always gets a lot of help from her troupe of 12 dancers, who pull her across the stage or give her rides on their bicycles so we don't notice she's only moving at two-thirds speed or not doing all the moves her dancers are." more ›