Perhaps the most oft-asked question visitors to the Blaze have is "Who in the heck did all of this carving?!?" Well, in the spirit of explaining just who in the heck, we are launching an all-new Meet the Carvers series for Blaze '08. Our inaugural interviewee: Tom Hunt.

BB: Tell us something non-pumpkin related about yourself.

TH: I'm an interpreter and blacksmith for Historic Hudson Valley.

BB: What kind of carvings are you working on for Blaze 2008?
TH: Dinosaurs, pirates, and rocks.

BB: Can you sum up Blaze in three words?
TH: Whole...Lotta...Fun!

BB: Can you offer some advice for the casual carver?
TH: Just enjoy it and have fun with the carving experience.

BB: What's the best music to listen to while carving?
TH: I like to listen to nature, sounds of the birds singing and the river running.

BB: Very zen. Got a pumpkin haiku to share?
TH: Heck no!
BB: Oh come now Tom Hunt
Surely you can share just one
A few pumpkin words?
TH: Heck no!

BB: Fair enough. What's your favorite thing about Halloween?
TH: Blaze! Is there anything else?

BB: Absolutely not. Well, one thing: Pumpkin pie...a la mode, no a la mode, or no way?
TH: A la mode with enough to cover the whole slice.

BB: If pumpkins could talk, what would they say?
TH: Leave me alone!

BB: I hope that's the pumpkins talking hypothetical...ok, ok, just one more question: If you weren't spending October carving pumpkins, what would you be doing?
TH: Hibernating.

BB: Thank you, Tom!

 

The first week of the Blaze YouTube Video Contest is over and ladies and gentlemen...we...have...a...WINNER!

Brian Aaron Beckwith uploaded a really great video to YouTube and by doing so, has won an iPod touch, courtesy of WHUD.

Do YOU want to win an iPod touch? You've got three more chances, since the Blaze  gurus are giving away one each week.

Come to Blaze this wekeend, film it, edit the footage, and get it on YouTube by midnight Tuesday. Next week's winner will be announced next Friday or Saturday. Here's the official officialness of it all.

And now, here's some inspiration. Click below to see Brian's brilliant Blaze upload.

In a bit of whimsy, the Blaze creative team came up with an installation that mimics the classic dance scene from Michael Jackson's Thriller video of old. Nice use of costumes, I'd say. And, though the dancers don't actually move, the shape suggests movement. A mighty nice effect.

Ticket update: Blaze is now SOLD OUT tonight, Saturday, and Sunday. There are some tickets left in the later two time slots for Monday. It's also SOLD OUT next Friday and Saturday with some tickets left on Sunday, but not many.

YouTube contest update: Yes folks, the judges have spoken, and we have a winner for week one. Watch this space for the formal announcement very, very soon...

When I first heard the idea of a Stonehenge-inspired Blaze display, I couldn't help but think of the ill-fated results of Nigel Tufnel's napkin rendering and David St. Hubbins' lambasting response to his band's manager post-concert:

I, for one, do not think the problem was that the band was down. I think that the problem may have been that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf.

So, when I first saw it glowing there Saturday night I could hardly believe my eyes. The towering Pumpkinhenge has to be among the Blaze gurus' greatest creation. Too bad a tiny online pic doesn't really do it justice. You just have to see this monumental cathedral of carvings in person.

Way to go gurus! You do the druids proud...

OK, it's t-minus and about three hours as I type this and I can barely contain myself. Blaze, opening night, perfect weather, tonight...and yes, it's SOLD OUT, but if you desperately wanted to go this opening weekend, there are tickets for tomorrow still available, so don't fret.

Now, I'm wondering who is going tonight and are you filming for the YouTube contest and most of all, I want to hear what you think of the new displays. Post your comments HERE when you get home.

And remember to say hi to the snakes.