On Sunday night, the Rangers host the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden. While a visit from the NHL’s worst team isn’t usually cause for excitement, this game will give Rangers fans a look at Rick Nash, the Blue Jackets’ franchise winger, who may be a Ranger by Friday’s trade deadline.

Nash, the first overall pick in the 2002 Draft, has spent his entire career with the Blue Jackets and is the franchise’s leader in games played, goals and assists. Rangers fans already know what Nash is capable of. But his talents have gone to waste in Columbus, reaching the playoffs just once in eight seasons, and after years pledging his loyalty to the team, it appears that he wants out.

The Rangers are one of the favorites to land the five-time all-star. They will likely need to give up a package including Brandon Dubinsky, the 25-year-old winger who has struggled to find the back of the net this year, Chris Kreider, the Rangers’ top prospect who has earned comparisons to Nash, and a first round pick.

Nash might be the piece the East-leading Rangers need to make a Cup run, but acquiring him is risky for the future. With a a $7.8 cap hit until 2018, Nash’s contract would make it difficult for the Rangers to re-sign players like Michael Del Zotto next year and Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh, Artem Anisimov, Carl Hagelin and Michael Sauer the following year.

Do you think the Rangers should make a deal for Nash? Come by Mustang Harry’s before the game and talk about it with your fellow Rangers fans.

Also see why many avid fans consider Mustang Harry’s one of the best sports bars in NYC.

Note: Mustang Harry’s welcomes its new hockey blogger, Denis Cummings, whose posts will appear hear from time-to-time.

Sesame Street Live…1-2-3, Imagine!  is coming to Madison Square Garden! Featuring Elmo and friends – including, of course, Big Bird, Bert & Ernie, and more, this always fun family show is a joy for kids and grown-ups alike — what is more timeless than Sesame Street!  At Madison Square Garden from February 16-26, this year’s show boasts that it will transport audiences to faraway places including the African rainforest and the high seas – meet the characters here and check out this recent video for a sneak peek!

New this year, MSG will also offer the Play Zone at Sesame Street Live – giving your kids the ability to become a part of the Sesame Street world – sitting in Big Bird’s nest, visiting Elmo’s World and much more. The Play Zone opens an hour before the show, and is free with your ticket to the show.

Tickets are still available here, along with a full list of available showtimes (there are many to choose from!). If you’re planning your family trip to the city to see the show, and want to enjoy a meal pre- or post-show with the little ones, we invite you to come see us at Mustang Harry’s. We’re a family friendly restaurant, just around the corner from MSG on 7th Avenue, between 29th and 30th streets, so you won’t have to walk far. Even better, enjoy a great meal with us – no subpar, chain restaurant fare here, without the lines or stress. We offer a wide range on our menu, from our famous Disco Fries to Spicy Shrimp Scampi, and we offer discounted weekend parking at ICON Parking on West 28th between 7th and 8th – there goes that stressor too!

Attention ladies! Are you one of the lucky ones heading to see Romeo Santos at Madison Square Garden this month? If not, well, it’s time to start asking around, because tickets to the first two nights of this hot show sold out months ago, and were even popular enough for MSG to add a third night to the show. So, now this Latin heartthrob will be at MSG on February 11, 23, and 24. There are still a few tickets available for the 2/24 show as of this writing, but act fast!

Said to be redefining crossover, Romeo has taken over the charts with his album “Formula Vol. 1″, which has been on top of the Latin charts for months and has been called Latin music’s most successful debuts in years. People Magazine called it“A solid solo debut with a mix of ballads and up-tempo jams including ‘Promise,’ a hit duet with Usher.” Learn more about Romeo by checking out an interview he recently did with Angie Martinez here.

After the show, bring the girls and head on over to Harry’s for a perfect finish to the night. We’re right around the corner from the Garden.

Where to watch the Super Bowl? It’s always a dilemma.

Usually, there are a few options….heading to your favorite bar and crossing your fingers for a table, heading to a Super Bowl party usually hosted by a party-loving but football-clueless host, or spend an arm and a leg for a premium table at a place way too fancy for football.

This year…we’re not letting that happen.

It’s the Giants vs. the Patriots — no Giants fan, no New Yorker should have to go to a bad Super Bowl party or a bar that’s too crowded to see the TV. So, we invite you to come see us at Mustang Harry’s. We’ve got the TVs, we’ve got the bar — the longest bar in NYC at 100 feet, to be specific – and we’ve got the best Super Bowl deal in town. For $50, get unlimited drinks (beer (except craft), house wine, well drinks) and appetizers, all game long. (If you’re not a drinker or prefer the fancy stuff, this is optional and you’re welcome to pay as you go!)

Just call us at 212-268-8930 to ensure your spot. Reservations aren’t required, but strongly recommended, so if you’d rather live on the edge, just come on over. We’ve got plenty of space, plenty of seats, and you won’t find yourself four rows deep behind the bar.

Oh, and if you or your buddies are coming in from the burbs for the game (good call!), we’re right around the corner from Penn Station, so you’ll be able to stay out and celebrate the Giants’ win as late as you want, then just jump on the train home. Don’t worry, everyone else at the office on Monday will be in the same boat.

All that’s left to say is, GO GIANTS!

Midtown West has that perfect NYC blend of history and newness, tourists and locals — and more than its share of NYC landmarks. One of our favorite of our neighborhood landmarks? The Hotel Pennsylvania. Originally constructed by the Pennsylvania Railroad company in 1919 and designed by the architect of the original Penn station, the origins of its name are clear.

The hotel, enormous by NYC standards, has a long-running history, and claims to have hosted more guests than any other hotel in the world. But, the fact that it’s still in operation after nearly 100 years doesn’t mean that this hotel has been without controversy.

In fact, the hotel, which was re-named Hotel Pennsylvania in 1992 after undergoing multiple name and ownership changes, has been the subject of intense debate in NYC several times. In 1997, the hotel’s demolition was first proposed by its new owners, Vornado Realty. The discussion continued, and in 2007, the owners again petitioned to demolish the building to create a new office building for Merrill Lynch and others. At this point, the Save the Pennsylvania Hotel Foundation was established, which has since been fighting for the historic building to be preserved. The national financial crisis was also beginning to take hold, and demand for office space from the financial firms that would fill such a large building plummeted, which may ultimately have saved the building from demolition.

For now, it appears that the hotel is safe. In December 2011, Vornado Realty announced its plans to put millions of dollars into the renovation of the building, rather than razing it. So, the landmark hotel that houses the famous Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, has hosted two Democratic National Conventions, and fills its 1700 rooms on a regular basis will remain a neighborhood mainstay for now.

Staying at the hotel? Come see us at Mustang Harry’s – catch the game, enjoy dinner, or grab a beer. As one of the neighborhood’s most popular and well-established restaurants, we’re ready for you! (And we’ve got deals!)

Every 4 years, the world gets swept away by the Summer Olympic Games. Patriotism runs rampant, and we get emotionally involved watching sports that we could usually care less about. This summer, London will host the 2012 games in what’s sure to be an epic event as always. And what says the Summer Games more than track and field? The oldest of all sporting events and the earliest Olympic event, track and field is always a popular event among both athletes and spectators.

Ready to get in the spirit a little early? Or, to introduce your kids to this exciting sport before everyone else jumps on the Olympic bandwagon? Track and Field will be coming to Madison Square Garden — for the 99th time! — with the US Open on Saturday, January 28. This exciting event looks to be a preview of Olympic finals in several events, including the women’s 50 meter hurdles, with 4 possible finalists going head to head: defending gold medalist Dawn Harper, defending world indoor champ Lolo Jones, British national record holder Tiffany Ofili Porter, and USA champion Kellie Wells.

The event, which kicks off the 2012 Visa Championship Series, is also expected to feature popular events like the Men’s Mile, Shot Put, High Jump, and much more. Both high school and professional level athletes will participate in this packed evening of events, beginning at 7:30 PM. Tickets are still available here, so make your plans now and get the jump now on this fun, family-friendly tradition.

We love a good contradiction. And, a professional bull riding event in the middle of Manhattan definitely fits the bill. As the official Madison Square Garden website advertises, “three snot-spewing, bone-crushing, adrenaline-soaked performances!” are coming to NYC this weekend. With three shows (Friday and Saturday at 8 PM, Sunday at 1 PM) and tickets starting at just $15, this is a fun and most definitely out of the ordinary outing to check out in the city this weekend.

Over 100 million people watching professional bull riding on television each year, and once you’ve been to an event, you’ll see why. More than just a cowboy event, the show will feature pyrotechnics, music and special effects to open the competition.

So, what exactly is professional bull riding? Riders try to stay on a bucking bull for eight seconds, and two judges evaluate both the rider and the bull. After the first round, the field is narrowed to 15 riders who will compete again, and the rider with the top points total will take home the title.

So, if you’re looking for a great way to stay warm this weekend, consider heading to MSG, and watch the professional riders bring a little country to the city.

Madison Square Garden Today, Courtesy of Andrew G Klem

In a city filled with iconic buildings and venues, Madison Square Garden stands out as one of the most storied and popular places in the New York. Any sports fan – or player – can tell you that playing at MSG is truly a special experience. When not filled for sporting events, such the first Ali-Frazier fight  and Willis Reed’s dramatic appearance in Game 7, it’s become a hugely popular concert venue for some of the biggest names in music, from Elvis Presley to Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson to the Rolling Stones to Lady GaGa — and pretty much everyone in between. Of course, it has also hosted benefit concerts, from George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh to “No Nukes” to “The Concert for New York City” following 9/11, and events such as The 25th Anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Billy Joel explains: “Madison Square Garden is the center of the universe as far as I’m concerned. It has the best acoustics, the best audiences, the best reputation, and the best history of great artists who have played there.”

One of the greatest venues in the world, right in the middle of the greatest city in the world – it’s easy to see why MSG is such a special place. With the Garden undergoing its biggest renovation in years, it’s a great time to take a look back at the storied history of this NYC landmark.

The current Garden opened on February 11, 1968, directly above Penn Station, after the above ground portions of the train station had been torn down. Even the engineering of the building itself is special – it was the first such structure built directly above the active rails of a train station — making it one of the most convenient venues in any city.

But, this was not the original Garden – it’s actually MSG IV. Ever wonder where MSG got its name, given that it’s located nowhere near New York’s Madison Square, nor is it a garden?

The original, inspired by P.T. Barnum, was built in 1871, on 26th Street, right near Madison Square. It was a roofless, oval-shaped arena with gardens inside that sat 10,000. In 1879, it became the first building known as “Madison Square Garden.” It was replaced by MSG II, also at 26th and Madison, which was in action from 1890 to 1925 and which hosted boxing matches, orchestras, and more, notably serving as host to the 1924 Democratic National Convention. This building was ultimately torn down to make way for the iconic New York Life Building.

The Original Madison Square Garden (MSG I)

MSG III, the first to be located away from Madison Square, was opened in 1925 on 8th Avenue, between 49th and 50th Streets. It was the home of the New York Rangers and the New York Knicks, making it the first true precursor to today’s MSG as a sports venue. Several notable non-sports performances were also hosted here — the most memorable is perhaps Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday” serenade to President John F. Kennedy, at his 1962 birthday party at the Garden.

In 1968, MSG III was closed, and the current Madison Square Garden opened. The venue now hosts over 300 events a year, and includes more than just the main venue – the Theater at MSG is a more intimate, 5,600 seat space used for concert and meetings (and, until 2005, the NFL draft.) MSG also features a 36,000 square foot expo center and two restaurants.

The Garden has been renovated once before, but 2011 kicked off its most aggressive renovation to date. A multi-year, $850 million project, this renovation will dramatically improve the fan experience and the player amenities. It includes major upgrades to the main concourse, new seats, improved retail kiosks, better climate control, and more.

A View from the Latest MSG Renovation

The player upgrades include improved dressing rooms, locker rooms, and green rooms. Check out our fan review of the first phase of renovations here.

The current renovations are paving the way for today’s Madison Square Garden to move with ease into the future – we don’t see a MSG V anytime in the near future. The venue has a lot to live up to — what other single location has housed so many celebrity athletes and artists, so many iconic moments in United States cultural history, so many fans? And all right on top of one of the world’s busiest train stations, in the greatest city in the world? It would be hard to top Madison Square Garden.

Basketball games at Madison Square Garden hold a special place in my heart. I’ve been going to them at least once a year – usually, the December college basketball invitationals, and the occasional Knicks game. So, I was excited and interested to see what the new MSG had to offer when I watched the Duke-Washington game on Saturday. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t read up on the specific changes, so I wasn’t sure what to expect – so I’m sure I missed lots of changes, but here’s what I noticed, as a guest and basketball fan, not a reporter.

1. The most comfortable stadium seats I’ve ever sat in. My seats were in the lower level and they were more like movie theatre seats than stadium seating. I can’t speak for the upper levels, but all of the teal lower level seats are brand-new, super-clean, and didn’t numb my seat after a 2.5 hour stay.
2. Cupholders installed at every seat. Let’s just hope this means less spilled beers and sodas and fewer sticky feet incidents.
3. New scoretickers at each end of the stadium. They are new, bright, and easy-to-read, but really had no impact on my experience watching the game. File this onder under ‘nice-to-have’.
4. Wider, cleaner concourse. The new concourse is big, clean, and brand-new, and feels bright and open.
5. Liquor! That’s right, no more watery drafts for me. I don’t know if there has ever been liquor at the Garden, but it was definitely front and center this weekend. I saw at least three liqour carts/stands, and if it hadn’t been a noon game, I could definitely see enjoying some hoops with a whiskey and Coke. I do wonder what the prices are on these, though!
6. Upgraded food. Again, I didn’t do a full due diligence on this one, but I know that I saw some people eating burgers that looked like they could have come from Pat LaFrieda himself. And when my seat neighbors squeezed by with plates of food, they pretty universally smelled like something I might actually enjoy.

All in all, I left impressed. The comfy seats are worth at least a 10% increase in ticket prices, if you ask me. Now, if I went to games every week, I might sing a different tune, but for an occasional visitor, the changes to the Garden are more than worth a slight uptick in entyr cost. I’ll be excited to see what comes next. Have you been to the new MSG yet? What do you think?