Blaze ticket demand is rather brisk, which has led to several sold out nights well in advance and lots of posts here and elsewhere from people looking for tickets. But there is still PLENTY of availability, just not on Fridays and Saturdays. Here's a handy recap:

Weekend #2 (#1 is past, and it sold out entirely): Comprising Thursday, Oct. 11-Sunday, Oct. 14. Friday and Saturday are totally gone. Sunday has plenty of availability at 9, the other time slots are gone. Based on prior example, my guess is that final time slot on Sunday will sell out in the next two days. BUT, Thursday has availability in ALL time slots. (FYI, it's the exact same exhibit Thursday as it is Friday and Saturday, AND you can still enter the YouTube contest!)

Weekend #3: Comprising Thursday, Oct. 18-Sunday, Oct. 21. Similar to the above, Friday and Saturday are totally gone. (Oct. 20, in fact, was the first night to go), and Sunday has plenty of availability (for now) at 9, the other time slots are gone. BUT, Thursday, Oct. 18, has availability in all time slots except 7pm, and the other early slots are moving briskly. I expect the Thursday supply to rapidly deplete. So, if you're on the fence, go for it now.

"Weekend" #4: Comprising Wednesday, Oct. 24-Wednesday, Oct. 31. A full week of Blaze to close out the month. Similar to the above, Friday and Saturday are gone. (As I type this, there are 35 tickets for Friday at 9:30 left, but I imagine they will be gone by the time you read this.) Sunday has availability at 8:30 and 9, and the other dates have availability in all time slots.

Thus, if you're still shopping for tickets, your choices are:

Thursday, Oct. 11 (all slots)

Sunday, Oct. 14 (late only)

Thursday, Oct. 18 (most slots but they are filling up)

Sunday, Oct. 21 (late only, moving briskly)

Wednesday Oct. 24 (all slots)

Thursday, Oct. 25 (all slots)

Sunday, Oct. 28 (late only)

Monday, Oct. 29 (all slots)

Tuesday, Oct. 30 (all slots)

Wednesday, Oct. 31 (all slots)

Now dear BlazeBlogger, you ask, is there anyway to get in on a Friday or Saturday, or anytime I want? Actually, yes. You can become a Premier Member of Historic Hudson Valley. Here's a link for info and to join online.

And for the third installment of our MtC series, we have Sybil Grieco.

BB: What's your day job?
SG: I'm a museum educator at Van Cortlandt Manor.

BB: What kind of carvings are you working on for Blaze 2007?
SG: Everything and nothing.

BB: Are you working on any other Blaze-related items?
SG: I do set-up and teardown of pumpkins. Also, I'm the Lighting Diva for the real pumpkins, and I scoop. 

BB: What are your preferred carving tools and methods?
SG: Little saws.

BB: Got any carving tips for a novice?
SG: Start off with easy designs and don't be so critical of yourself!

BB: What's your favorite pumpkin-based food?
SG: Pumpkin pie.

BB: What's your favorite Halloween movie?
SG: Nightmare on Elm Street.

BB: Toasted pumpkin seeds: Salt or no salt?
SG: NO SALT.

BB: What makes pumpkins so special?
SG: You can carve fun things on them, but still eat them!

BB: If I were a carved pumpkin, I'd be...
SG: Hitching a ride on the back of a witch's broomstick.

BB: Thank you, Sybil!

The Powers o' Blaze Tickets have asked me to pass along this message to those of you coming to Blaze this month (everybody, right?). If for some reason you are having difficulty printing your "print-at-home" tickets (that PDF link you should have received), don't sweat it, or panic, or post panicked messages on the Blaze Blog. Rather, simply bring your confirmation number with you to the event and your tickets will be printed on site. No worries!

This past weekend was entirely SOLD OUT and those with ticket issues (very few, it seems) were accommodated on site with nary a hitch.

A reminder...if you are coming this weekend, bring your still/video camera (but no tripods...we beg of you, no tripods) and enter the Blaze YouTube Contest for a chance to win a plasma TV package.

As anyone who even occasionally glances at this blog knows, Blaze begins tonight. Last-minute preparations are going fast and furious. Our slithering friend on the left is definitely ready for viewing. This shot was taken at last night's dry-run.

Tickets for this weekend are almost entirely gone. Some availability remains for 9 p.m. tonight and Sunday and 9:30 p.m. tomorrow, but that's it. The other Saturdays (Oct. 13, 20 and 27) are now totally sold out.

A REMINDER: Don't forget about the Blaze YouTube Video Contest. Those who are roaming amidst the pumpkins this weekend or next are encouraged to use their videography and/or photography skills to make a great Blaze YouTube video. The winner takes home a 42-inch plasma television, high-def DVD player, and a bunch of DVDs. Not a bad haul!

Entering is free. For full information, check out the link on the right-hand side of this page.

Who is going tonight?

Next up in the MtC series is Dorene Picker, assistant art director to Michael Natiello.

BB: What's your day job?
JDP: Lots of Blaze functions, working as an interpreter and security guard at Van Cortlandt Manor, professional mixologist, and full-time grad student.

BB: What kind of carvings are you working on for Blaze 2007?
JDP: A bit of each theme.

BB: Are you working on any other Blaze-related items?
JDP: General setup and funkin repairs. 

BB: What are your preferred carving tools and methods?
JDP: X-Acto #2 and #11 blades, keyhole saws.

BB: Got any carving tips for a novice?
JDP: Use one pumpkin to "test" different cuts and techniques on before working on your final product.

BB: What's your favorite pumpkin-based food?
JDP: Cream of pumpkin soup.

BB: What's your favorite Halloween movie?
JDP: Hocus Pocus, but the Harry Potter movies, Silence of the Lambs, and Hannibal count, too!

BB: Toasted pumpkin seeds: Salt or no salt?
JDP: Extra sea salt, please.

BB: What makes pumpkins so special?
JDP: They are versatile and they are (or were, at least) unique to United States Halloween traditions.

BB: If I were a carved pumpkin, I'd be...
JDP: A detailed dragon.

BB: Thank you, Dorene!