Lady Etta Holte of Ivory Keep reports that the Kingdom of Calontir was enriched recently with the birth of Helena Tatijana to Syr Clef of Cividale and Lady Una (dos) of Ivory Keep. Helena was born May 15, 2007.

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The Holy Land Beckons! A great hewn cry has come forth “WE SHALL CRUSADE”. We muster our troops, ready our caravans and prepare our households for Crusade. Please join Petrea Thule for a day of challenges, trials and triumphs on our journey to the Holy Land. We shall begin our race to the mysterious lands to the east at 10 am on the morning of June 2nd 2007 A.S. XLII. The day shall reach fruition at 11 pm after a wondrous foreign and exotic feast. The Normans may have a head start but the Saxons and the Baron are hot on the trail; which team will reach the Holy land first and seize the glory? Location:
Canton of Petrea Thule (Millbrook, Ontario)

Culinary historian Karen Hess died May 15, 2007 at the age of 88. To SCA cooks and others with an interest in medieval and renaissance foods and cookery, she is best known as the editor of a collection of 16th and 17th century recipe manuscripts owned by Martha (Mrs. George) Washington.

The National Geographic Society, the Maecenas Foundation for Ancient Art and the Waitt Institute for Historical Discovery have been working together "to authenticate, conserve, and translate a 66-page...codex."

At the last two Pennsic Wars, Master Kirk Fitzdavid and Conde Fernando Rodriguez de Falcon have led a crew of artisans (mostly from Calontir) and set up an unofficial A&S road show in the middle of the merchant area.

Lady Lia de Thornegge shares with us her photos from the recent Double Wars XX event in the Kingdom of Drachenwald (11th - 20th May 2007).

Fine art met culinary art in Siena, Italy recently when delicate frescos by Renaissance painter Lorenzo di Pietro were cleaned with a salad-dressing-like mixture of oil and water.

Skeletal remains discovered recently in London's Trafalgar Square have not triggered the British equivalent of CSI. The remains are of a wealthy Roman man who was buried in the 5th century beneath what is now the busy city center.

The discovery of an ancient map may show that the English and the Scots fought side by side at the 16th century Siege of Leith, the battle which brought about the end of the Auld Alliance.

Baroness Angelique d'Herisson, Pennsic Vampire, reminds Pennsic attendees that the annual blood drive will take place at Pennsic XXXVI.

SCA blogger Anachronista reports on the undertaking of a monumental task by Diarmuid Ceolmhor: mapping the Known World on Google Earth.

Sir Thorstenn Wronghand and Lady Zepherine are the Crown Prince and Princess of Trimaris.

HG Duke Sir Palymar of the Two Baronies and HE Countess Aislinn de Richemont are the new Crown Prince and Princess in the Midrealm.

Falko reports that Lady Eyda has posted an album of photos from Fortuna's Champions which took place recently in the Shire of Isengau (Drachenwald).

Lady Rhianwen is hoping that Lilies War attendees will take advantage of the recycling program at this year's War.

David J. Brunelle, Heritage Co-ordinator for the Nine Mile Portage Heritage Festival in Barrie, Ontario, has announced that the festival is seeking re-enactors, artisans and entertainers for this year's festival which will take place September 21-22, 2007.

Duchess Yolande of the Kingdom of Lochac reports on the recent May Crown Tourney.

After a Crown tourney that King Edouard deemed "one of the most grueling in Ealdormere history," lasting over five hours, Master Trumbrand the Wanderer, fighting for THL Kaylah the Cheerful, bested Sir Evander MacLachlan, who fought for THL Melusine de la Rose, in the finals.

Raphael painted a portrait of Lorenzo De'Medici that was to be his introduction to his intended bride, a cousin of King Francois I of France, in about 1518. The picture shows Lorenzo, the Duke of Urbino, wearing a quite sumptuous costume, ornately gold with red puffy sleeves and gray fur lining around his neck.

An SCA bridge battle was the subject of a photo recently in the North Crow River News (Albertville, Minnesota).

A team of archaeologists working at Edinburgh Castle believe they have discovered traces of the sites original castle.

Posadnitsa Ianuk has posted photos from Atenveldt's recent Gawd Awful Grail event which took place in the Barony of Tir Ysgithr (Tucson, Arizona).

Recent excavations of a Roman fort on Tyneside have revealed that some centurions led a life of relative luxury with indoor plumbing, painted walls and comfortable furniture.

Fadi al-Qahara ibn Aziz of the Stronghold of Warriors Gate reports on the "dispute" between Warriors Gate and the Stronghold of Shielded Harbor over the island of Dok-Do. The challenge has been placed by way of a video "flyer" on YouTube.

Katje has posted photos from the recent May Crown Tournament in the Kingdom of Lochac.

For several decades, Israeli archaeologist Ehud Netzer has been looking for the tomb of King Herod. Now he believes he has found it at Herodium, a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert.

What inspired Renaissance artists? According to a new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it was the Islamic world. Venice and the Islamic World, 828-1797 showcases works that borrowed from the eastern traditions. Blake Gopnik of the Washington Post has the story.

Viscountess Elashava bas Riva shares photos from the recent Crown Tournament in the Kingdom of Northshield.

Zachary and Devora Kessin (Yehoshua ben Hayyim and Giovona Lupperelli in the SCA) of Ma'ale Giborim in the Kingdom of Drachenwald, have announced the birth of Natanel Simcha Kessin (SCA: Netenel ben Yehosha).

Visit Sacred: Discover what we share, an exhibit of sacred texts, is on display at the Pearson Gallery of the British Library. The exhibit runs through September 23, 2007. (Digital books online)