Got an updated image of the central core of the new spider web taking shape for Blaze 2007. As you can see, it's now studded with half-Jack carved funkins ready for lighting.

According to Creative Director Michael Natiello, this central portion of the web will have long tendrils of half-Jack carved regular pumpkins leading outward and connecting to trees.

Baby spiders will inhabit the web and its surrounds while Mama Spider looks on. Can't wait to see that.

In other Web news, I want to make sure all of you Blog denizens (and there are tons of you, which is great...Welcome!) are finding everything on this site related to HHV's October events.

Take a gander at the "Related Links" column on the right hand side of the page. You'll see links for the Blaze home page, the Legend Weekend home page, a Blaze FAQ (well worth a read, if only for question 42), a ticket buying page and...the page for the Blaze YouTube contest. Oh yeah, you heard right...a YouTube contest. More on that to follow...

For those of you wondering about the 6:30 and 7 pm time slots, they are off-line temporarily while the HHV techs figure out a particularly pesty problem involving the print-at-home tickets.

Estimated time for those being back on line is around 5 pm tomorrow. 

The time slots won't disappear like this when they are sold out. They will appear as having "0" availability.

I can tell you that 6:30, 7 and 7:30 tickets for Oct. 20 are gone. Those went really fast, and 8 pm is on its way out. The other dates (I think) all have at least some availability left in those early time slots.

One of my intrepid reporters snapped these in progress shots of pumpkin chandeliers that will be lighting up the tent at Blaze 2007.

The chandeliers, which are designed by Tom Hunt, will provide a healthy bit o' pumpkin ambience in the large welcome tent outside the Blaze. I need to find out if these will be lit with electric lights or candles...

First off, if you're having difficulty, thanks for your patience trying to buy tickets online. Historic Hudson Valley is using the same software as last year (and this year for Kykuit tickets) and yes, it can seem a little confusing the first time you go through it. But it's not that tough once you get the hang of it. Here's a step-by-step primer:

1. Click on the "shop" link , which brings you to the ticket buying page, where you can buy tickets for Blaze, Legend Evenings, and Kykuit tours.

2. IF YOU ARE A MEMBER...click on the "Member login" button and (you guessed it) log in. This allows you to book Members tickets, which is a good thing because they are free. Remember, Members this year need reservations. The number of Member tickets you can buy depends on what kind of membership you hold. You can, of course, buy member and non-member tickets. Once you've logged in, the "Member login" button will change to "Logged in as Member [number]"

2a. IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER...ignore what I just said.

3. Next, scroll down the page and you'll see "Step 1." (There's another reminder there that if you're a member, you should log in.)

4. Click on the date that appears there, which will be today's date. Once you've done that, a calendar will appear on the right hand side of the page, allowing you to change the date.

5. Select the date on the calendar you want to come to Blaze or Legend.

6. Assuming you've selected a date when Blaze and/or Legend is taking place, you will now see those events as an option under "Step 2."

7. Click on the event you want under "Step 2."

8. Now, you'll see the various time slots that are available for that evening, and how many tickets are left.

9. Click on the time slot you want and follow the instructions from there.

It should be a piece of cake from that point on. The tricky part is dealing with the calendar. Any other questions? Post 'em here and we'll get 'em answered.