Joining us now on the "carving board" (heh heh) is Janice Shields.

BB: What's your day job?
JS: Working right here at Van Cortlandt Manor.

BB: What kind of carvings are you working on for Blaze 2007?
JS: This and that.
BB: You give nothing away!
JS: I know.

BB: Are you working on any other Blaze-related items?
JS: I clean up everyone's mess. That's the bad part. But, I also make soup for the Blaze troops. That's the good part.

BB: What are your preferred carving tools and methods?
JS: Nothing in particular.
BB: Like I said earlier...

BB: Got any carving tips for a novice?
JS: Be patient.

BB: What's your favorite pumpkin-based food?
JS: After all of this, I couldn't handle anything made with pumpkin.

BB: What's your favorite Halloween movie?
JS: Arachnophobia, even if it's not specifically a Halloween movie.

BB: Toasted pumpkin seeds: Salt or no salt?
JS: Lots of salt and other spices.

BB: What makes pumpkins so special?
JS: They turn into Jack O'Lanterns.

BB: If I were a carved pumpkin, I'd be...
JS: Rotting.

BB: Thank you, Janice!

Next up in our carver hot seat is Tom Hunt, a profile I know many of you are dying to read. Yes, this is the guy behind (below?) the chandeliers!

BB: What's your day job?
TH: I'm an interpreter and blacksmith at Van Cortlandt Manor.

BB: What kind of carvings are you working on for Blaze 2007?
TH: Aliens and geeks.

BB: Are you working on any other Blaze-related items?
TH: I am the man behind (or below) the chandeliers in the visitor's tent out front.
BB: Yay! We love those!
TH: Thanks!

BB: What are your preferred carving tools and methods?
TH: Handsaw and a butcher knife.
BB: Subtlety. Overrated?
TH: Definitely.

BB: Got any carving tips for a novice?
TH: Cut first and figure it out later.

BB: What's your favorite pumpkin-based food?
TH: Pumpkin fritters.

BB: What's your favorite Halloween movie?
TH: Halloweentown.
BB: Obscure! Very nice.

BB: Toasted pumpkin seeds: Salt or no salt?
TH: Lots of fresh ground salt.

BB: What makes pumpkins so special?
TH: They are so innocent and trusting.

BB: If I were a carved pumpkin, I'd be...
TH: A gremlin...slowly rotting in the heat.

BB: Thank you, Tom!

A quick reminder to those visiting tonight, tomorrow, Saturday or Sunday...Bring along a video camera (or a still camera, I suppose) and shoot some footage.

Edit it into a three minute or less video and post it on YouTube for a chance to win a plasma television, DVD player, and a bunch of DVDs, courtesy of K104.7.

You need to have uploaded your video by Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m.

For full details, click here.

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!