Ping-Pong in New York

What do New York Times crossword-puzzle editor Will Shortz, New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff, and folklorist and City Lore founder Steve Zeitlin have in common? They all love Ping-Pong! Well, who doesn’t, but Shortz actually founded the Westchester Table Tennis Center in 2009. Tonight they’ll prove the intelligentsia’s got game during a demonstration match refereed by Bowery Poetry Club’s Bob Holman. Before things get too jockish and the chest bumping begins, there’s a presentation and short film on the history of the sport in NYC, table-tennis-themed cartoons and a captioning contest, and an open play session. City Lore, 56 E 1st St between First and Second Aves. Subway: F to Second Ave.