Okay, the dirt on the eldest J-Bro being engaged is old news at this point (after all, the story broke a whole  20 hours ago), but we can’t help but follow all the details. Photos of the bling that Kevin, 21 (!!!!) gave to his “longtime girlfriend” Danielle Deleasa, 22, have just been released. According to MTV, the ring is a 3-carat solitaire cushion-cut diamond, surrounded by 210 round brilliant-cut pave diamonds. Have your tweens fainted from jealousy yet?

Every year, Nathan’s Famous hosts its annual Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest. But this year, New Yorkers are invited to embrace a new tradition: a cross-species eating competition!

On Friday, three large elephants will go up against three brave humans in a six-minute hot-dog bun eating contest on Coney Island. Team Elephant is affiliated with Ringling Bros. and Team Human with Major League Eating. The trio of people, Juliet Lee (43), Gravy Brown (30) and Tim “Eater X” Janus (32) sound up to the challenge, but the elephants, Bunny (42), Susie (46) and Minnie (48), who weigh nine tons collectively, don’t seem too concerned. The beasts gobble upward of 200 pounds of food every day!

If nothing else, this event should prove to be a great teaching tool: You can show your kids firsthand the difference between human and pachyderm eating styles, thus giving new meaning to the refrain, “Don’t behave like a wild animal!” On second thought, if Team Human has any chance of winning, they’ll have to throw all dining etiquette to the wind.

Cross-Species Eating Competition: Elephants vs. Humans Fri Jul 3 at 11am. Coney Island, corner of Surf and Stillwell Aves (ringling.com/coneyisland). Free.

By now I’m sure every NYC parent with a kid in public school is aware that, due to the snafu in Albany, the Board of Ed has been resurrected with Joel I. Klein as chancellor. But it sounds like it may not last for long: According to the NY Times, the board voted, 6-0, to call on Albany to renew the mayor’s control of the city’s schools. One of Bloomberg’s cronies opened the meeting with the following statement: “We need to ensure that as a result of the inaction in Albany, we protect the students and schools of New York City from any chaos and allow them to continue to function.” Those of us who went through the convoluted pre-K lottery process this year know how laughable that statement is. (And, as my mommy friends with kids who tried to get into middle-school this year tell me, what I went through was a cakewalk). The public wasn’t allowed to give feedback at the end of the meeting, and the board adjourned until Sept. 10. So, fellow public-school parents, what do you think? Will you be freaking out all summer, or just wait calmly (ha!) to see how this shakes down?

We’re all trying to spend less these days, but that doesn’t mean we want to stop living well. The sweet deals below help you continue to amuse and clothe your family without breaking the bank.

• Kids eat free on weeknights at The Moxie Spot

Brooklyn Heights haven The Moxie Spot is already a popular local destination for families, due to its laid-back atmosphere, games, movie screenings, storytimes and other complimentary events. You can also add free food to the list, as children dine gratis Mon-Thu 5:30pm-8:30pm. Get a free kid’s combo, side pasta, regular mac & cheese, or plain pizza with the purchase of one adult dinner entree. The special applies to deliveries as well. 81–83 Atlantic Ave at Hicks St, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, 718-923-9710.

• Up to 50% off Mini Boden kids clothing

If you have a kid, you probably get the Mini Boden catalog in the mail. I have no idea how they found me, but they did, and I’ve always flipped through its colorful pages with a heavy sigh, because there was no way I could afford the adorable wears. That’s why I was tickled pink (and green and yellow and blue) when I got an email about the line’s blowout sale. Visit boden.com to find great deals on all of their stock (adult clothes are on sale too!) It’s unclear how long the sale lasts, so if you’d like to take advantage, do so soon.

• Save 20% on El Pequeno Artista’s Bilingual Summer Program through July 24

Dying for your kid to learn a second language? You’re in luck. El Pequeno Artista’s Bilingual Summer Program is offering a 20% discount off its July sessions. Sign your little linguist up for one of the first three weeks of Spanish camp and pay just $400. That’s $100 off! It’s not all language and no play: Participants also visit a local pool, play soccer, and participate in art, dance and music. Camp runs Jul 6-10, 13-17 and 20-24, Mon-Fri 9am-3pm. 249 20th St at Fifth Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn, 718-965-1406.

• Save 50% on parties at City Treehouse in August

City Treehouse is a truly exceptional playspace for younger kids. The water table, filled with fascinating toys, and a glorious tree-cum-slide provide hours of fun (just ask my three-year old!). If you’re in the market for a party space, the Chelsea tot spot is having a birthday blowout sale: The package has been reduced almost 50%, from $995 to just $500, and includes:
- Two hours exclusive use of facility
- Full décor, invitations, tables and chairs, supplies and set-up
- Up to 15 guest kids ($50 per additional child)
For more information, call 212-255-2050. 129A West 20th Street between Sixth and Seventh Aves.

• $20 tickets to The Bully through August 2
  

The Vital Theatre Company revives its tuner about a smartypants and a bully who must find a common cause when they wind up at a new school. You can purchase $20 tickets to most performances. Click here and use the code PKSUMMER3.

• $10 tickets to the first preview of Bye Bye Birdie available on August 10 only
  

The Roundabout Theatre Company’s offering a super sweet deal on its upcoming Broadway revival of the classic family musical Bye Bye Birdie: $10 tickets to its first preview on Thursday September 10. Here’s the catch: The discounted tix will only be available for purchase at the Henry Miller Theater’s box office on one day: Monday August 10 beginning at noon. Still, we suspect camping out won’t be required. 124 W 43^rd St between Broadway and Sixth Aves.

• 20% off Stone Soup by the Literally Alive Children’s Theatre through August 16

The venerable kids’ theater company’s new musical is set in Revolutionary War America, as two lost soldiers stumble upon the “perfect” village while searching for food and shelter. Unfortunately, the townsfolk aren’t willing to share with these weary men until the soldiers begin to make their favorite meal: stone soup. Save 20% on tickets. Click here and use the code TONY09.

• $20 tickets to Pinkalicious, the Musical through August 31
  

Got a kid who’s always thinking pink? Then Pinkalicious, based on Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann’s popular book, is a must-see musical. You can purchase $20 tickets to most performances. Click here and use the code PKSUMMER3.

• Buy one full-price ticket to Shrek, receive up to three additional tickets at 50% off through September 6

The folks behind Shrek are offering ogre-sized savings this summer: Buy a full-price ticket to see the show between June 9 and September 6, and you can purchase up to three additional seats for the same performance for half price. Folks who take advantage of this deal will also receive discount coupons to a number of restaurants and attractions, including Applebee’s, ESPN Zone, Hard Rock Café, Mars 2112, Planet Hollywood, American Girl Place, BODIES… The Exhibition, Circle Line Tours, The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame and Top of the Rock. Why not try being a tourist in your own town? For more info, visit shrekcation.com.

For even more sweet deals, click here.

Attention parents with Ariel-obsessed daughters (or sons! No judgments here). The big-budget (and badly reviewed) Broadway musical The Little Mermaid will sail off into the sunset come August 30. I have to admit, while most critics lambasted the show, I saw it twice, and although it was no Lion King, both in terms of theatrical creativity and staying power, I enjoyed myself. Once I even went without my mermaid-obsessed four-year-old, and I still had fun. It’s got a good balance of sweetness and camp, Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s glorious tunes and costumes that would be the envy of any drag queen.

If you’ve never seen it and want to, or have an apopleptic adolescent begging to go, you can buy discounted tickets on Broadwaybox.com. (Warning: these special offers will likely dry up as the closing date approaches).

Yes more free summer eats! From now through Sunday July 12, buy one Jamba Juice and get the second one gratis. Our recommendations to beat the heat: Pomegranate Pick-Me-Up and Strawberry Surfrider. Bonus: Select Jamba locations are now offering meals, like the chipotle-lime chicken wrap or the Israeli couscous.

Grab your coupon here; print a bunch and enjoy ’til the 12th!

The kids are already griping that they’re bored with the same old playground and sprinkler outings, and summer’s only just begun! Change up your routine and head to the streets for some retro fun in the sun. Beginning Monday, July 6, the Police Athletic League will open 110 safe-play sites throughout the five boroughs. The designated streets will be closed to traffic and open to kids, where they can enjoy old-school games such as hopscotch and double-dutch, sidewalk chalk, cultural arts activities and, best of all, the water streaming from legally-opened hydrants. Simply sign-up with your local PAL center, pay a small fee and let the little ones run wild in the streets (safely of course).

Police Athletic League sponsored Summer Streets Jul 6—Aug 21 (excluding Jul 31), Mon—Fri 9am—5pm (212-477-9450, ext. 389, palnyc.org).