The Big Sky is bright this morning. Our famous Going-To-The-Sun Road was all but clear last week, but guess what...? Weather waits for nobody's permission! Ducklings range in size from three to a handful to about six inches -- mixed groups of mothers, chicks, and drakes are paddling around the lake or feeding onshore.

Sax Legend Maceo Parker at: Theater X-Net

Starring: Ida Rubinstein Belle Epoch Russian/Parisian beauty.
Read more about Ida in Sisters of Salome by Toni Bentley

Visit: Michael's Montana Web Archive
Theater, Art, Flash Gordon, Funky Music and MORE!
NEW! Spitfires of the Spaceways
Watch Dale Arden rescue Flash Gordon for a change!

Charity Alert: Keep that resolution as Summer approaches! Click on The Hunger Site every day.

Sitemeter Sez: Natalia Kanounnikova's fan in Settimo, Italy -- up there in the Piedmont region, skated by; "make it funky" ... pbs was the subject of a search from Unknown, USA; Rogers, Arkansas came by looking for bodybuilder Mickey Hagarity and found him on a Something Weird video collection; Every Sunday a bunch of gawkers look for Tanya Memme, but it appears like Google is sending them to the right page at last. (Pssst -- she's in the May archives.)

Theater/Theatre: The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Calendar:
Bindlestiff Family Cirkus in a Spiegel tent in NYC -- This September the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus will be presenting shows throughout the month under the Big Top. Come down to the South Street Seaport in Manhattan and experience a grand spectacle featuring the Bindlestiff's amazing blend of Cirkus, Sideshow, and Vaudeville in a memorable circus setting, a Spiegel Tent.
(What the Hell is THAT? Ahhh -- from http://www.spiegeltent.net : A European Mirror Tent - the ultimate cabaret and music salon'.
Spiegeltents are hand-hewn pavilions used as traveling dance halls, bars and entertainment salons since they were created in the early 20th century. There are only a hand-full of these unique and legendary ‘tents of mirrors’ left in the world today. Built of wood, mirrors, canvas, leaded glass and detailed in velvet and brocade, each has its own personality and style.
The most beautiful of the last remaining Belgian Spiegeltents, The Famous Spiegeltent, was built in 1920 by master craftsmen Oscar Mols Dom and Loius Goor. This Grande Dame has spent her lifetime at the bequest of festivals and fairgrounds throughout Europe and beyond, playing host to the world’s greatest cabaret artists, musicians and circus burlesque performers.
Since Marlene Dietrich sang ‘Falling In love Again’ on The Famous Spiegeltent stage in the 1930’s, its magic mirrors have reflected thousands of images of artists, audiences and exotic gatherings.
The Famous Spiegeltent is the very essence of a festival club, ‘kabaret salon’ and intimate concert hall. Like every old theatre, her ghosts travel with her, woven into ballooning velvet canopies, circular teak dance floor and stained, cut-glass windows. Her intimate booths, ornate bar and beveled mirror columns hold a million secrets while her glorious Art Nouveau chandelier, or trapeze rig, swings overhead...)

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Magic Hat Summer Variety Tour Schedule and Details:
Wednesday June 14 Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial 719 Catharine Street, Philadelphia PA Showtime: 8PM Admission: $20 $15 for members and those in circus costume/ clown makeup Bindlestiff will also be offering Cirkus skill workshops. Info: http://www.fleisher.org
Saturday 6/17 and Sunday 6/18 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Manchester TN Preservation Hall Tent Contact: http://www.bonnaroo.com/2006/
Monday, June 19 and Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Dark Horse Theater, 4610 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209 Show time: 7 pm Admission: $15 / $10 for clowns in make-up Info: 615-297-7113 / darkhorsetheater.com
Wednesday June 21 Future of Tradition, 129 Roberts Street, Asheville NC Show time: 9pm Admission: $15 Featuring a Costume Contest! Dress in your Festive Finest Info: 828-232-2980 www.futureoftradition.com/index.html
Thursday, June 22, Friday June 23, and Saturday, June 24, 2006 The Garage, 110 West 7th Street, Winston-Salem, NC Show time: June 22 at 8 pm. June 23 and 24 at 10 pm. Admission: $12 advance / $15 at door / $10 for clowns in make-up Info: 336-777-1127 / www.the-garage.ws
Sunday, June 25, 2006 The Visulite Theatre, 1615 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, NC Show time: 9 pm Admission: Tix $15 day of show, $12 in advance or with costume. Also featuring a costume contest. Info: www.visulite.com / 704-358-9200
Monday, 26 June, 2006 King's Barcade, 424 S McDowell Street Raleigh, NC Show time: 10 pm Admission: $10 Featuring a costume contest. Dress in your finest Cirkus costumes. Info: 919-831-1005
June 28 2006 The Flying Anvil, 219 W Lewis Street Greensboro NC Show time: 9pm Admission: $15/ $10 for costumes ( plus $3 membership fee) Info: 336-275-7526
Thursday, June 29, 2006
The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA Show time: 7:30 pm Admission: $19.50 Tickets: Ticketmaster.com or to charge call (202)397-SEAT Info: 703-549-7500
Friday, June 30, 2006, Saturday July 1, and Sunday July 2 Spiegel Palais, Summerscape 2006 at Bard College's Fisher Center, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY Show times: 6/30 at 8:30 pm; 7/1 at 1 pm; 7/1 at 3:30 pm; 7/2 at 3:30 pm; 7/2 at 8:30 pm Info: 845-758-7900
Thursday, July 6, 2006
Iron Horse Music Hall; 20 Center Street, Northampton, MA Show time: 7 pm Admission: $18 door, $15 advance, $10 for costumes/ clowns Info: 413-584-0610
Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8, 2006
Basilica, 110 South Front Street, Hudson NY Show time: Friday at 9 pm, Saturday at 10 pm, Saturday All Ages Matinee at 4 pm Admission for Friday and Saturday Night: Ticket $20, $15 for students with ID (18 and up)
ALSO Saturday Matinee All Ages Family Show will be presented July 8 at 4 Tickets $10 or $25 for families.
Monday, July 10, 2006 Cumston Hall, Theater at Monmouth, Main Street, Monmouth, ME Show time: 7:30 pm Admission: $20 / $18
Info: 207-933-2952 www.theateratmonmouth.org
Thursday, July 13, 2006 Chameleon Club, 223 North Water St., Lancaster, PA Show time: 8 pm Admission: $10 / $8 for clowns in make up Info: 717 314 5683 / chameleonclub.net
July 14, 2006 123 Pleasant Street, 123 Pleasant Street, Morgantown, WV Show time: 10 pm Admission: $15/ $10 for clown makeup or circus costumes Info: 304-292-0800 http://www.123pleasantstreet.com
Saturday, July 15, 2006 Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave, Baltimore MD Show time: 8 pm Admission: $16 / $13 CA members and students Info: 410 476 1651 / www.creativealliance.org
Sunday, July 16, 2006 Sycamore Rouge, 21 West Old Street, Petersburg, VA Show time: 7 pm Admission: $15 / $10 clowns in make-up
Info: 804-957-5707 / www.sycamorerouge.org

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus PO Box 1917 New York, NY 10009
1-877-BINDLES http://www.bindlestiff.org



Fire-breathing Ringmistress Philomena -- The story goes: She and Mr. Pennygaff met while working at a New York restaurant, and began their relationship blowing fire in the alley behind the kitchen.