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"And what would the Sun King do today?" is the intriguing pre-revolutionary theme of the Black & Blue Festival 2004, a week-long extravaganza (October 6th through 12th) that's anchored by the 14-hour-long Black & Blue Party Sunday, October 10th, at the Montreal Convention Center. The conceptual centerpiece? King Louis XIV. And how apt, as this is the "XIV"th annual Black & Blue-- "one of the biggest gay events in the world, offering a variety of activities ranging from major parties like the infamous Black & Blue Party, the Military Ball, the Leather Ball and the Recovery Party, to sociocultural activities such as art exhibits, brunches, conferences, and even sports activities," declares Caroline Rousse, Black & Blue's Director of External Relations. Hey, if a brunch counts as "sociocultural," make my Bloody Mary a double-- and can I get some continuing education credit? "Some 50 artistic, cultural, sports, and social events will mobilize 85,000 people, including tens of thousands of affluent gay tourists from every corner of the globe, during the week leading up to Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, which coincides with Columbus Day in the USA," continues Foreign Minister Rousse, not ignoring the economic angles, as King Louis, alas, was so prone to do. A first this year is the participation of Montreal's Cirque du Soleil at the Black & Blue main event. And how apt to honor the height of France's royalty before the revolutionary deluge, which, along with avowals of Liberté, Fraternité, and Egalité brought the world's first modern reign of terror, and lots of tragic warmaking in Russia and the Middle East. The genial charms of Quebec, like the hints of old-time French preserved in the native patois, flow not a little from Quebec's being the last stand of Francophone culture untouched by homegrown terror or despotism (nor does it hurt in the graciousness department that Quebeckers, as with the American South, have long experience being at the short-end of the imperial stick). But enough with potted histories-- and on with getting the tickets, available at www.ticketpro.ca, or by phone at 866-908-9090 (in Montreal call 514-908-9090), or at Priape (1311 Ste-Catherine East) in the Montreal gay village. For general info, browse to www.bbcm.org or e-mail information@bbcm.org, or call 514-875-7026. Black & Blue proceeds go to benefit various good gay & HIV-related causes.