Ringling Brothers Elephant Parade: March 22, 2010

The circus is in town. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus starts their annual run at Madison Square Garden this week. The circus performs March 24-29, 31, April 2-4. In order to get the elephants into Manhattan, they walk them through the Midtown Tunnel in the middle of the night. That night is tonight, some time after midnight. It is quite a spectacle to see elephants walking down the streets of New York.

photo via The Diary of Third & Long

Instead of waiting around on the sidewalk, many folks congregate in the bars near the tunnel exit on 34th St. Here are some spots where you can enjoy a drink before the fun starts:

Monday night is Beer Bingo Night
all night at Third & Long.
$2 domestic draft mugs
$1 Bud/Bud Light/Coors Light mugs
at:
Third & Long
523 Third Ave. (35th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 447-5711
ThirdandLongNYC.com

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Bar XII hosts trivia on Monday nights.
Seven rounds of trivia. Free to play
Prizes given to winning team at end of all seven rounds
Win gift certificates, ipods, Vegas trips and more
8pm
at:
Bar XII
206 E. 34th St. (Third Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 545-9912
Bar12.com


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Mercury Bar hosts "Movie Night" on Mondays, which will help you pass the time.
Tonight's film is "Semi Tough", starts at 9pm
with drink specials
and free popcorn.
at:
Mercury Bar
493 Third Ave.
(between 33rd & 34th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 683-2645
MercuryBarNYC.com


The parade, featuring elephants, horses and a frew clowns, marches west on 34th St.
On the west side, you can hang out near Madison Square Garden, the ultimate destination of the animals, who will share space with the Knicks and Rangers for the next two weeks. Here are some other places you can wait for the parade to go by...


Katwalk
2 W. 35th St.
(between 5th & 6th Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 594-9343
KatWalkNYC.com


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Tracks Raw Bar & Grill
Penn Station
LIRR level
New York, NY
(212) 244-6350
TracksBarGrill.com
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Stout
133 W. 33rd St.
(bet. Sixth & Seventh Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 629-6191
StoutNYC.com

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Fat Annie's Truck Stop
131 W. 33rd St.
(bet. Sixth & Seventh Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 695-1122
FatAnniesTruckStop.com



Below is a clip we found on youtube from the 2007 parade: