Children Of All Ages...Yes, It's That Time of Year Again

No matter what you see when you actually get there, few taglines have the ability to thrill as much as “The Greatest Show on Earth.”
Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus opens today, which means that spring is here and controlled mayhem reigns at Madison Square Garden. The circus has set up shop through April 4, under the name “Barnum’s Funundrum.” The spectacle features 130 performers from six continents, and celebrates the 200th anniversary of P.T. Barnum’s birth.
Among the wonders: The Flying Caceres, trapeze artists who will attempt (and, we hope, succeed) to master a quadruple somersault on the flying trapeze; the Puyang Troupe from China, who take on a two-level trampoline; and ridiculously flexible body benders--watch as three of them fit into a cube the size of a milk crate! (Or don't watch and just peep through your fingers.)
What else is on the bill? A married couple where the wife is the heavy lifter; the Sky High Ice Gliders, who take to the high wire; and the Torres family, who zoom around the sides of a steel globe 16 feet in diameter. (Seven motorcycles; 65 miles an hour; you do the math.)
But wait! you say. What about the animals? you ask. And animals there are. Asian elephants, Pygmy and Nubian goats, ponies, tigers and even a rare walrus. Whew.
To buy tickets, go to their website (ringling.com) or the Madison Square Garden website (thegarden.com) or call 201 507-8900. Madison Square Garden is at 4 Penn Plaza and 34th Street.
Ladies and gentlemen, step right up...

It's a Dog-Beat-Dog World at the Nation's Top Dog Show

Who let the dogs in?
If they’re purebred, groomed to the hilt, and strutting their stuff in front of adoring fans at New York’s Madison Square Garden, then they’re there by invitation only, thank you very much, and they’re competing in the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
The show began last night and finishes up tonight with the all-important Best in Show award. (Rumor has it that a Scottie named Sadie is strongly favored.)
Last night, four groups competed: Hound (Whippets, Greyhounds) Toy (Poodles, Pekinese), Non-Sporting (Bulldogs, Chinese Shar-Pei) and Herding (Pulis, Bearded Collies). Tonight we’ll see the Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups, as well as Best in Show.
The event is limited to 2,500 dogs, with individual breed judging taking place between 8 am and 6 pm on both days.
Although records are fuzzy, the show has its origins possibly as early as 1876, when a group of gentlemen met regularly to talk, among other things, about their talented dogs. They form a group--and name it after their favorite hotel. A dog show is eventually held--and more than 130 years later; toy poodles with pink bows in their hair are flouncing across the floor of Madison Square Garden.
So if you couldn’t score tickets, never mind: tonight it will be televised on the USA network from 8-11 pm, and you’ll most definitely see a bump in interest in whatever breed wins.
So tear yourself away from men’s Olympic curling for one evening, and watch competitors of a furrier, cuddlier nature for just one night, pink bows and all.

This Weekend in New York, It's the Running of the Bulls

New York City is home to many kinds of events and things to do--everything from ballet to boxing, classical music to competitive sports, world-class restaurants to whirling on an ice-skating rink.
But ever thought of New York as a venue for professional bull riding?
Nope, neither had we. But that hasn’t stopped the Professional Bull Riding Competition from setting up shop in Madison Square Garden this weekend--the last day to catch the action is today.
The 2010 Professional Bull Riders Madison Square Garden Invitational hosts the top 40 bull riders in the country--along with the fiercest 2,000 pound bulls--and 700 tons of dirt.
Want to sound like you know what you’re talking about? Riders can earn a possible 100 points--they’re scored during the ride –or “out”--for such factors as control and good body position.
The bull’s performance determines the additional 50 points, believe it or not. Those points are given for factors like “kick on the back end” (we’re quoting here), spin, and direction changes. Who knew?
The current defending (human) champ is Kody Lostroh, but the bulls have fans as well—diehard supporters often sport belt buckles with the names of the bull champs, or, yes, even stuffed animals resembling championship bulls, complete with names like Voodoo Child and Code Blue. Well.
The event takes place at 1 pm today; Madison Square Garden is located on 7th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets. Call (212 465-6741.

Big-Name Comedians Added To New York Comedy Festival Roster

Headliners of the New York Comedy Festival have officially been announced as Saturday Night Live’s Andy Samberg and 30 Rock’s Tracy Morgan, joining the bill of an already stellar line-up of the country’s best comedians. The diverse group of performers include actor/comedian Dane Cook, British comedian Ricky Gervais, “Howard Stern Show” regular Artie Lange, actor/comedian Mike Epps, and comedian/television show host/author/political commentator Bill Maher. This is the sixth installment of the festival, with an estimated 150 comedians expected to perform. It will take place over the course of November 4 through 8 in New York City.
If a certain presidential election distracted you from the festival last November, then there is no excuse for not attending the festival this year. The comedy acts will be held at various locations throughout the city, at about 10 different venues, like Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Town Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and the Beacon Theatre. The festival is presented in association with Comedy Central. Panel discussions will also be held at the Paley Center for Media. The line-up of panelists is yet to be announced.
November 4 kicks off with “Stand Up For Heroes,” a special benefit presented by New York Comedy Festival and the Bob Woodruff Foundation at Town Hall. For more information and tickets, visit www.nycomedyfestival.com