Apr 062017
 

What excitement! This summer from June 29-July 9 on the National Mall in Washington D.C., the Smithsonian Museum will present their annual Folklife Festival. The theme this year is “Circus Arts in America.” This recognition is extraordinary as President George Washington attended America’s first circus in Philadelphia in 1793. I urge you to have a […]

Feb 082014
 

As I mentioned in closing last time, I’m going to be recording a story for The Moth Radio Hour on Monday, February 10th in front of a live audience. The broadcast date has not been set yet, but the public is welcome to purchase tickets to be a part of the audience for the recording […]

Jan 312014
 

I’m back home in New York after a fantastic week-long trip to Paris to the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain. We call it the “Paris Circus Festival.” It’s officially the “World Festival of the Circus of Tomorrow.” It was hosted by the Cirque Phénix in their enormous 6,000-seat venue. Why “circus of tomorrow”? It’s a […]

Jan 142014
 

On Sunday, January 19, I’ll have the honor of being inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame at St Armand’s Circle in Sarasota, Florida. Just as the Hollywood Walk of Fame honors Hollywood greats with a star-laden path, we in the circus world celebrate our very own Marilyn Monroes, James Deans, and Bette Midlers with […]

Dec 172013
 

Daniel Cyr is a master acrobat and circus performer. He invented and popularized an apparatus called the “Cyr Wheel” after debuting it in 2003 at the “Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain” in Paris (for which he won the Silver Medal). The Cyr wheel is a single, large, metal hoop inside which the acrobat stands, […]

Nov 272013
 

This week, many of us will be heading into the kitchen to prepare a meal for our families and friends. I myself am no great chef, but every year around Thanksgiving I’m reminded of the time I worked for one.  The following excerpt is from my book Never Quote The Weather to A Sea Lion… (available […]

Nov 192013
 

Last week I attended the annual New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Living Landmarks Gala.  I’m humbled to be a part of this truly prestigious list, which includes public figures, entertainers, writers, politicians, and activists (all New Yorkers!) who’ve changed the shape of music, dance, literature, food, television news, movies, criticism, public service…the list goes on and […]

Nov 232010
 

On November 3rd PBS launched its documentary series “Circus”, and the viewing is not over!  If you missed six hours of broadcast over the last three weeks, watch the on-line streaming. Episode 1: First of May Episode 2: One Ring Family Episode 3: Change On! Episode 4: Survival of the Fittest Episode 5: Born to […]