If Alec Baldwin fell out of favor with you after his in-flight tantrum, then he might just win you back with this. The actor has teamed up with PETA in a new campaign against the Ringling Bros. Circus. In the below four-minute video, he narrates the life of a circus elephant from birth, to being "broken," to getting bullhooked by trainers. The video shows footage of the elephants being tortured by circus employees—footage that is even more disturbing than PETA's original video documenting the abuse, which we published in 2009. more ›

Feld Entertainment, the company that runs Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, has just been slapped with a $270,000 fine for allegations that they violated federal animal welfare laws—this is the largest fine ever doled out under the Animal Welfare Act. Naturally, PETA, who released video of Ringling elephants being abused back in 2009, is celebrating the news. A spokesperson there said, "The government has taken a first step, and now it must confiscate the elephants. What remains to be done is for the public to be made aware of this history of abuse so that people will know to keep their children away from the circus.” 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 ›

Yesterday, three elephants from the Ringling Bros. circus and three Major League Eaters (because eating is a sport now) faced off in a Nathan's Hot Dog Bun eating contest. And just like last year, Bunny, Susie and Minnie completely schooled the humans. Though you can't say it was a fair fight, since three-time Mustard Belt winner and American hero Joey "Jaws" Chestnut wasn't part of the competition. 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 ›

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 ›

[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 ›

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 ›

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 ›

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 ›

In anticipation of tonight's Elephant Walk and Ringling Bros.' Madison Square Garden stay until April 6, a number of animal advocates held a rally outside MSG today to support City Council Introd. 389, which would prohibit "the display of wild or exotic animals for public entertainment or amusement." more ›

• Today on Gothamist Newsmap: a bank robbery at East 238th & Katonah Ave. in the Bronx, a triple stabbing on 34th Ave. in Queens, and a Fire Dept.-involved multi-vehicle accident at Utica & St. John's in Brooklyn.
• Officer Jarred Barretti talked a man perched on a midtown Manhattan ledge out of jumping. They had a sort of rapport as Barretti had arrested the same man in Queens three months earlier.
• Mayor Bloomberg doesn't know if metal bats are more or less dangerous than wooden bats, but he's going to veto the City Council's ban on them. The City Council appears to have more than enough votes to override the Mayor's veto.
• Matthew Titone, the newly elected and first openly gay Assemblyman from Staten Island, has a construction worker boyfriend who's still in the closet as far as his hardhat co-workers know.
• No need to wait for "Legally Blonde" to open on Broadway, its giftshop is open and selling LB yoga pants.
• Why does Dan Doctoroff hate the children? Plans being discussed for 35-story tower to replace a playground.
• NY vs. NY in '08? Rudy and Hillary outperforming respective rivals in early polls of "Super Duper Tuesday" states.
• Bello the Ringling Bros. clown got his bike back from good samaritan Ricky Robinson, who found it on the street.
• A paraplegic man charged with assault who broke his hip when guards let his wheelchair tip over during transport is suing the city. Also, a paraplegic man was charged with assault in 2004.
• They Might Be Giant's performing two nights at Joe's Pub in May during "secret warm-up tour" for their new album.

A Ghost, by Squid Ink. more ›

Last night's first Critical Mass ride in an era of the police parade rule that requires groups of 50 or more to apply for permits resulted in three people getting arrested, forty-four receiving tickets, and a few people getting summonses. Based on the NY Times and Newsday articles, the arrests were for disorderly conduct, obstructing government administration, and something to be determined. Newsday had this interesting account of one bicyclist's experience after the ride started:

Moments later, police stopped Kim Kalesti, 49, on Park Avenue South near 18th Street, confiscated her single-speed bike and put her in the back of a squad car. more ›

Around midnight, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus came into Manhattan with its traditional procession of elephants, other animals and performers through the Queens Midtown Tunnel towards Madison Square Garden. Kelly Loudenberg was on the scene and captured comments from the circus as well as protesters. She also writes:

City Council Member Rosie Mendez has introduced legislation to ban wild animal acts. The legislation would prohibit the display of wild or exotic animals for public entertainment or amusement. Recently, the Bronx Zoo decided that they would be closing their elephant exhibit after the death of one or two of its three aging elephants. John Philips, executive director for The League of Humane Voters says, "Not even the Bronx Zoo can provide for elephants' needs, why should we expect that Madison Square Garden can?" more ›

Time At Tunnel: Approx 12:20 AM (Wednesday morning) more ›

Can you imagine the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus without elephants? The fight between Ringling Bros. and various animal advocacy groups, including the ASPCA, the Humane Society, and Animal Protection Institute, may be closer to a trial after six years of various lawsuits and court orders between the two sides. The animal groups claim that Ringling Bros. abuses its elephants, using sharp hooks and chairs for training, and separating babies from mother elephants, while Ringling Bros. claims their practices are, in fact, humane. The AP summarizes some of the issues, including how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (who knew that agency regulated elephants) did find that the circus failed to comply with the Animal Welfare Act, but Ringling Bros. managed to get out of being "formally classified as a violator"; on the other side, a Texas A&M professor who traveled with the circus never saw "overt cruelty." more ›

A couple weeks ago, LuLu's in Greenpoint brought our drinking together with carousel horsies, this week we guzzled under crazy clown paintings at Circus- next week we fully expect to be handed a frozen drink on a Ferris Wheel. Until Coney Island reopens, though, we'll happy go back- the popcorn may have been sitting on the bar for awhile, the peanuts may need to be shucked and hot dogs may not be kosher but it's all free. And nothing washs down a free hot dog like a $2 beer, right after work. Bottles and drafts (this is not a mixed drink establishment) are $3-$4 and because this is brought to you from the former manager of Rudy's Bar & Grille, it is open 11 am-4am every single day. Behind the candy apple red booths in the main area are vintage posters from Ringling Bros, Barnum and Bailey ("A collosal combination of what is great in circus entertainment") and dancing acrobats are hung from the ceiling.The back room is quiet, filled with more frightening circus themed art and posters from every movie that used the word in the title (the Famke Janssen one looks especially frightening- we've already Netflix'd it). Beyond that is a patio that, while in no way scenic, is going to be well-used by the group from the neighborhood that seemed to be comes instant regulars and where when we visited there were more stools in bright colors were being finished. more ›

- And Hal the coyote will be added to the city's hall of fame of animals who make the authorities smile only after capturing them - check out these pictures of him in a cage more ›

We've received a flurry of emails about this in the past few days, so we want to confirm that TONIGHT is the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey elephants will enter Manhattan from Queens, to spend a few weeks at Madison Square Garden. And, not to leave the equine sector out, there are horses as well. The walk will begin at the north tube of the Queens Midtown Tunnel (36th Street & 2nd Avenue) and will proceed along 34th Street to Madison Square Garden. The walk starts at 11:55PM, and then the animals are expected at the Midtown Tunnel at about 12:20AM. So, bundle up if you do go.
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The annual march of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus elephants from Queens, through the Midtown Tunnel, and westward towards Madison Square Garden is set for 12:01AM on Tuesday, March 21 (that means it's 2 minutes after 11:59PM on Monday night - Gothamist is just spelling it out because we get confused about those thigns). The circus starts an almost four week stand at the Garden on Thursday, March 23, and tickets are on-sale now. more ›

company) and only one elephant in the exhibit is "inhumane." The article goes onto to detail other American zoos that have ended its elephants exhibits (see Chicago and San Francisco, DC) and how elephants can be exclusive:

The Bronx Zoo, [Steven Sanderson, president and chief executive of the Wildlife Conservation Society] said, has a two-acre corral in which the elephants can move about, and its zookeepers monitor the stumpy feet of its elephants daily, but he would prefer to give them more company. Elephants may show their discomfort with a new arrival by the equivalent of a hunger strike. more ›

I saw a poster today that said the Ringling Bros. circus is coming to NYC and was wondering when the elephants will be walking through the Midtown Tunnel. Where is a good place watch this? more ›