The Circus Comes To Town
Just after midnight, while children were nestled all snug in their beds, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus did it's [annual animal walk] through the Queens Midtown Tunnel. Before arriving at Madison Square Garden to prepare for a [6-day, 28-show engagement](http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=68118) that will begin this Saturday, a [herd of elephants](http://wcbs880.com/pages/325262.php?contentType=4&contentId=390096) marched downtown, followed by the circus handlers. Bello (the dude with the electrocution-style blond hair) stood atop one of the mighty steeds, while the crowd warmly welcomed himexcept for those pesky animals rights activists.
If youre the type who doesnt really get off on the whole dancing monkey thing, you can join naysayers this Saturday at 11 a.m. in Madison Square Garden (7th Ave. near 33rd St.) for a good old fashioned round of beat-the-man-in-an-elephant-costume. You should know its not all fun and games, the main point is to protest the return of Ringling Brothers. Council Member Rosie Mendez will be there to call on City Council to pass her bill, Intro. 389, which would prohibit the use of wild/exotic animals in circuses and other performances throughout the city. All the usual suspects will be there, including folks from [League of Humane Voters of New York City], [In Defense of Animals](http://www.idausa.org/), [Friends of Animals](http://www.friendsofanimals.org/), [Humane Society of New York](http://www.humanesocietyny.org/), as well as Broadway actor and singer Nellie McKay (who we assume is also an animal lover, otherwise that'd be random). And not to worry, if youre above beating some poor shmuck with a bull hook just to get your point across, its probably not a requirement to join this circus.
Photo courtesy of [Zach Klein on Flickr]