Duchess Katerina O'Callaghan reminds those planning to attend Estrella War XXIV that deadlines are rapidly approaching.

Mistress Aldgytha of Ashwood is coordinating the fire crisis efforts in the Kingdom of Caid. The report below was gathered from a recent series of messages on the Caid list.

Eduardo Raffaelli of Buenos Aires, Argentina documents the construction of an authentic Viking longship based on the Skuldelev 5 ship from the Roskilde fjord.

Sally Fink of Westmont, Pennsylvania, was featured recently in a show entitled “Fantasy Fashions” by the Laurel Arts Gallery. A laurel in the Society for Creative Anachronism, Fink exhibited "five costume dresses and four hats she designed and created" which she calls "art to wear."

Siubhan has posted an album of photos from the recent Crown Tournament in the Kingdom of Drachenwald.

The Sanders portrait of William Shakespeare, the only portrait believed to have been painted during the Bard's lifetime, is one step closer to being proven authentic. (photo)

An new exhibit, Early Christian Art Between Rome and Byzantium, will showcase over 90 works from twenty Italian museums at the Intesa San Paolo's Palazzo Leoni Montanari. The show runs until November 18, 2007.

Gelis of Balweary has posted photos from the recent Fall 2007 Crown Tourney in the Kingdom of the West.

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Be it known unto all gentles who have a mind to indulge their fancy for exceptional repasts, fine company, excellent dancing and song in painted halls, and keen exchanges at arms, that the Shire of Flintheath doth give notice of the celebration of their annual Yule Ball. To those Lords and Ladies and Peers of the Realm who wish to grace this Festival with their most illustrious presence, the Steward begs leave to inform all that the event will be held at Little Abington Scout Camp, Church Lane, Little Abington, Cambridgeshire, CB21 6BQ. Location:
Shire of Flintheath (Little Abington, England)

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Greetings one and all! Please join the good people of Gryphon's Lair as the year turns and Twelfth Night celebrations commence. This will be a singularly joyous event as we invest a new Coronet on the thrones of Gryphon's Lair, Sir Math Halfdane, the Fish and the Honorable Lady Daria de Salamanca.

To honor the Premiere Baroness' contribution and support of the Arts and Sciences over the past two years, there will be an Arts and Sciences Location:
Barony of Gryphon's Lair (Ogden, Utah)

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HAVOC!!! November 9 - 11, 2007 in the Shire of Loch Bais (Minden, Louisiana)

Site:
Caney Conference Centre
1163 Methodist Camp Road
Minden, LA

site opens 5 pm Friday and closes 11 am Sunday

Prices:
Weekend Cabin $22
Tenting $17
Daytrip $11
Non-members add $3
Deduct $3 for Off Board
Early bird prices - Reservations received before October 15th, deduct $2 Location:
Shire of Loch Bais

Organizers of the Tewksbury Medieval Festival (England) want to get the entire community involved when they celebrate the festival's 25th anniversary in July 2008. "We are not looking for authenticity, just something with a medieval flavour," said spokesman Amanda Thomas.

Master Philip White reports that the Honorable Lady Elin the Timid will be elevated to the Order of the Laurel at the upcoming Ansteorra Fall Coronation.

Viscount Sir Gaius Marcellus Librus Auklandus, OL, OP, passed away from an apparent heart attack last week. He was living in the Kingdom of the West at the time, but had lived in many kingdoms over the course of his SCA life, including Atlantia, Meridies, Ansteorra, the East and Caid.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have discovered that an anti-spam tool called CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart) can be used to help computers read hand-written manuscripts.

Sophia the Orange invites SCA members to join her for the American Diabetes Association's fundraising walk October 27, 2007 in Washington D.C. in memory of Duke Gyrth Oldcastle of Ravenspur. Others may donate online.

In last weekend's fall Crown Tournament, Sir Lutr Ulfskjald, fighting for Lady Tessa of Wight, prevailed over Sir Jocelyn le Jongleur, fighting for Sir Logan MacCoinnich of Kintail, to win the Crown of the Middle Kingdom. Justin shares photos of Crown Tournament and the Court that followed.

THL Eden Blacksmith, the Volunteer Coordinator for Estrella War XXIV, has posted a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about volunteering at the War.

Bored with the usual blog gossip sites? Want something with a little more challenge? Try Vicipaedia Latina, the Latin version of Wikipedia, a "labor of love for a small group of Latin buffs and weekend philologists whose motto might well be 'What would Julius do?'"

Author Lorina Stephens (Leonora), the author of Shadow Song and Recipes of a Dumb Housewife, will be signing books at Chapters book store in Ontario throughout the month of November 2007.

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The season of warmth is at its end and the gentle white blanket of winter prepares to claim its place in the cool pines surrounding the Shire of Granite Mountain. All are invited to draw nigh and sit by the warm hearth of friendship and witness the challenges of the day.

A gathering of friends and kin would not be complete without food and drink. Let us feast in elegance! A bounty of beast, fowl and earth's delights will be prepared by the feast steward, Lady Annalena Gianetta dei Medici da Vicinza. Volunteers for entertainment between courses will be greatly appreciated, please contact the autocrat to Location:
Shire of Granite Mountain (Prescott, Arizona)

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The War is now behind us and fall upon us. The mountains of Hawkwood are bright and bursting with color. Come and join us this weekend, October 26 through 28 as we celebrate our bountiful fall harvest. Join in the festivities of Hawkwood Howl.

Friday evening, after check-in, jump into your best Goth or Glam (or other) costume and join the infamous Ladies of Hawkwood at their funfabulous Halloween Party. On Saturday evening, join in the masquerade ball where more Location:
Barony of Hawkwood (Arden, North Carolina)

Rothin, from the Kingdom of the Outlands, has posted an album of photos from the recent Queen's Prize event.

BlackAdder has announced that SCA members are invited to attend the Mobile Renaissance Faire November 17-18, 2007 in Mobile, Alabama. SCA members in garb may attend for free with a valid membership card, and merchants are offered a discount on vending fees.

Archaeologists working in Norwich, England have discovered city walls dating back to Viking times. “Our finding gives us the old geography of the city and lets us look at the history of the defensive mechanisms used in Norwich at the time," said Andy Hutcheson, archaeology manager for NAU Archaeology.

THL Charles de Bourbon recently attended a showing of the new film Elizabeth: The Golden Age. He shares his review.

At a recent Young Artists Conference at Southwest Minnesota State University, Garret Bitker (Gevehard in the SCA) taught middle school students the art of bead-making. Cindy Votruba of the Independent (Marshall, Minnesota) has the story.

THLord Stefan li Rous has posted updates to Stefan's Florilegium fort October 2007.

Hrólfr has posted the names of the combatants and their consorts for the upcoming Crown Tourney in the Kingdom of Ealdormere on the Legio Draconis website.

The Freer Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the birth of Sufi poet Mevlana Jalal-ad-Din Rumi with a special presentation on October 27, 2007: Poetry in Song: Rumi's Mystical Journey.