I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

Sherlockian Status Symbol

Sounds like a bit of an oxymoron, doesn't it? Be assured, there are ways of showing your Sherlockian pride without looking like a total misfit. One trend that seems to be sweeping the mainstream public is that of oval stickers - you've seen them. Some say MV (for Martha's Vineyard), or 26.2 (a marathoner), or simply have a profile of a favorite breed of dog. Well, you needn't wait any longer! The Sherlockian answer to such bragging is here. Our friends at <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.beaconsociety.com/">the Beacon Society</a> are offering their own version of the oval sticker: <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/724/187/1600/221B.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/724/187/320/221B.gif" style="" /></a> Proceeds go to support the Society, which exists to spread the word of Sherlock Holmes to young people and to recognize those people who are doing so. Grab one for a friend, a neighbor, a local librarian - anyone who would like to show the world that he or she loves Sherlock Holmes. You don't even need a car!

Sherlockian Status Symbol

Sounds like a bit of an oxymoron, doesn't it? Be assured, there are ways of showing your Sherlockian pride without looking like a total ...

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by Scott Monty

Auto Renewal Feature

Auto Renewal Feature

We're currently experiencing a bit of technical difficulty on our Auto Renew page over at the Baker Street Journal site . In an attempt ...

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by Scott Monty

THE Weekend

While Sherlock Holmes referred to Irene Adler as <a href="http://www.bakerstreet221b.de/canon/scan.htm">"the woman,"</a> Sherlockians everywhere refer to the January gathering of the Baker Street Irregulars as "the weekend." Below are the details as currently known, courtesy of Peter Blau. Sherlock Holmes' 152nd birthday will be celebrated on Friday, Jan. 13, with the traditional festivities in New York, but the first formal event will be <a href="http://www.ash-nyc.com/">The Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes'</a> ASH Wednesday dinner starting at 6:00 p.m. at O'Casey's (<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=22+e+41st+st.,+ny,+NY&iwloc=A&hl=en">22 East 41st Street</a>); attendees pay their own checks, but it will would be helpful to let <a href="mailto:">Ev Herzog</a> (301 Warren Avenue #203, Baltimore, MD 21230) know if you're coming to the event. On Thursday, The Baker Street Irregulars' Distinguished Speaker Lecture begins at 6:15 pm on the 6th floor of the Williams Club (<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=24+e+39th+st.,+ny,+NY&spn=0.013744,0.037875&iwloc=A&hl=en">24 East 39th Street, between Madison and Park Avenues</a>), and the speaker is Leroy Lad Panek, who won an <a href="http://www.mysterynet.com/edgars/">Edgar</a> in 1988 for Introduction to the Detective Story (which has a chapter on Conan Doyle). He'll talk on "Sherlock Holmes and the Emergence of the American Detective Story" ($11.00); seating will be limited, and you are advised to reserve early (details below). On Friday, the William Gillette Memorial Luncheon starts at noon, at <a href="http://www.moranschelsea.com/">Moran's Chelsea Seafood Restaurant</a> at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=146+10th+ave.,+ny,+NY&spn=0.013745,0.037875&iwloc=A&hl=en">146 Tenth Avenue at 19th Street</a>; $43.00 (please request an announcement from Susan Rice, 125 Washington Place #2-E,New York, NY 10014). Otto Penzler has moved the <a href="http://www.mysteriousbookshop.com/">Mysterious Bookshop</a> to Tribeca (that's the Triangle Below Canal); the address is <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=58+Warren+St,+New+York,+NY">58 Warren Street</a> (between West Broadway and Church Street), and that's where he'll hold his traditional open house on Friday, from 11:00 to 5:00. Otto explains that the new shop has twice the space, and that it took only nine moving vans to move 28 years of books and files and stuff from the old shop. There's a parking lot at the corner of Warren and West Broadway, for those brave enough to drive in New York,and the subway station nearest the Algonquin is Times Square (42nd Street between Seventh Avenue and Broadway); you take the 1, 2, or 3 train to the Chambers Street station (one block from the shop). If (or possibly when) you get lost, or are using a different train, your can call the bookshop at 212-587-1011. The Baker Street Irregulars will gather at 6:00 pm at the <a href="http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/1859/mcms.html">Union League Club</a> at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=38+e+37th+st.,+ny,+NY&iwloc=A&hl=en">38 East 37th Street</a>. <a href="http://www.baskervillebash.homestead.com/">The Baskerville Bash</a> (open to all Sherlockians and their friends) offers dinner and entertainment at 6:30 pm at the Manhattan Club at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=201+w+52nd+st.,+ny,+NY&spn=0.013741,0.037875&iwloc=A&hl=en">201 West 52nd Street</a> (between Broadway and Seventh Avenue); $70.00 (checks payable to Maribeau Briggs) should be sent to Maribeau (183 Stokes Road, Medford Lakes, NJ 08055); please include your e-mail address and primary Sherlockian society affiliation). Early reservations are advised for the William Gillette luncheon and the Baskerville Bash. Those who wish to have seasonal souvenirs in the dinner packets can send 175 copies (for the BSI) to James B. Saunders (3011 47th Street, Astoria,NY 11103), 125 copies (for the Bash) to Francine Kitts (35 Van Cortlandt Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301), and 20 copies (for The Women) to Mary Ann Bradley, 7938 Mill Stream Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46278); your material should arrive by Dec. 15. On Saturday a wide variety of Sherlockiana will be offered in the dealers' room on the second floor of the <a href="http://www.thealgonquin.net/">Hotel Algonquin</a> (<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=59+W+44th+St,+New+York,+NY">59 West 44th Street</a>) from 9:30 am until 12:30 pm; <a href="mailto:">Ralph Hall</a> (2906 Wallingford Court, Louisville, KY 40218) (502-491-3148) will be glad to supply information about dealers' tables. And the Clients of Adrian Mulliner (devotees of the works of both John H. Watson and P. G. Wodehouse) will hold a Junior Bloodstain (a rather less than totally reverent event) on the second floor of the Algonquin at 12:30 pm; if you are planning to attend these festivi- ties, please tell <a href="mailto:">Anne Cotton</a> (12 Hollywood Street, South Hadley, MA 01075). Also on Saturday, the BSI annual reception, which is open to all Sherlockians and friends, will be held from 2:00 to 5:00, at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=24+5th+ave.,+ny,+NY&iwloc=A&hl=en">24 Fifth Avenue</a> (between 9th and 10th Streets) [note the different location and time]; there will be passed hors d'oeuvres and an open bar, and traditional and untraditional entertainment. The cost is $68.00 (details below), or $78.00 after Dec. 1 or at the door. The Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes will hold an informal brunch on Sunday, from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm at the <a href="http://www.oldcastlepub.com/">Oldcastle Pub</a> at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=160+w+54th+st.,+ny,+NY&iwloc=A&hl=en">160 West 54th Street</a> (between 7th and 6th Avenues) (and yes, 6th Avenue is the Avenue of the Americas). It's open to all, but space is limited and reservations will be important; the contact is <a href="mailto:">Judith Freeman</a> (280 Ninth Avenue #1-C, New York,NY 10001. The Baker Street Irregulars are a tax-exempt organization, and Mike Whelan has arranged with the <a href="http://www.thealgonquin.net/">Hotel Algonquin</a> for single or double rooms at $165.00 a night (Tuesday through Saturday); this is the total cost, since there is no tax due on reservations arranged by the BSI. Breakfast is not included in the price this year. Other charges (telephone calls, meals, room service, drinks, etc.) are not covered. The offer's available to all Sherlockians, and room reservations must be made directly to the Algonquin (mention The Baker Street Irregulars) at 212-840-6800 on or before December 5. And here are the details: if you've not already received Mike Whelan's announcement with the prices and a reservation form for the Thursday lecture and the Saturday reception, you can request a copy from Michael F. Whelan, 7938 Mill Stream Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46278. Mary Ellen Rich has kindly provided a list of hotels that offer reasonable (as defined by New York landlords) rates, along with a warning about non-optional extras that include 14% in state and city taxes. Ask for the lowest available rate, don't be shy about asking for discounts (AAA, senior, corporate, weekend specials); if you plan to arrive on Thursday you should confirm that weekend rates apply, and request written confirmation. <a href="http://www.madison-hotel.com/">Madison Hotel</a> from $90 62 Madison Ave. at 27th St. - <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=62+Madison+Ave,+New+York,+NY">map</a> (800) 923-4766 <a href="http://chelseasavoy.citysearch.vista.com/">Chelsea Savoy</a> from $99 204 West 23rd St. - <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=204+w+23rd+st.,+ny,+NY&iwloc=A&hl=en">map</a> (866) 929-9353 <a href="http://www.radiocityapartments.com/">Radio City Apartments</a> from $109 142 West 49th Street - <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=142+w+49th+st.,+ny,+NY&iwloc=A&hl=en">map</a> (877) 921-9321 <a href="http://www.comfortinncentralpark.com/">Comfort Inn Central Park</a> from $110 31 West 71st St. - <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=31+w+71st+st.,+ny,+NY&iwloc=A&hl=en">map</a> (800) 424-6423 The Dr. John H. Watson Fund offers financial assistance to all Sherlockians (membership in the BSI is not required) who might otherwise not be able to participate in the weekend's festivities. A carefully pseudonymous John H. Watson presides over the fund and welcomes contributions, which can be made by check payable to John H. Watson and sent (without return address on the envelope) to Dr. Watson, care of The Baker Street Irregulars, at 7938 Mill Stream Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46278; your letters are forwarded unopened,and Dr. Watson will acknowledge your generosity. Requests for assistance should also be mailed (quickly) to Dr. Watson at the same address.

THE Weekend

While Sherlock Holmes referred to Irene Adler as "the woman," Sherlockians everywhere refer to the January gathering of the Baker...

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by Scott Monty

The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 55, No. 3

The Autumn issue of the BSJ is on the street! If you haven't seen your copy yet, it's on the way. This quarter, we have what is commonly being referred to as the "Philadelphia" issue, because of so many contributions by members or guests of the <a href="http://www.sonsofthecopperbeeches.homestead.com/">Sons of the Copper Beeches</a>. These include illustrator Scott Bond, John Genova, Paul Singleton, and Gideon Hill, whose article <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/pages/907710/index.htm">"The Richest Man in Horseracing"</a> is our featured article on the site. Other items in this issue include a wholehearted defense of the Game by Leslie Klinger, who is embarking on a book tour to promote <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/039305800X/qid=1131128820/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-0208521-5746279?v=glance&s=books&n=507846">The Annotated Sherlock Holmes, Volume 3</a>. Les' official site can be <a href="http://www.annotatedsherlockholmes.com/">found here</a>. John Genova tells us a bit about the life of Canonical illustrator <a href="http://209.182.27.203/ch/gallery/7-twidl.htm">Arthur Twidle</a>; Paul Singleton surmises what The Whole Art of Detection might contain, had Holmes gotten around to writing it; David Pleger takes another look at Dr. Roylott's activities in <a href="http://www.bakerstreet221b.de/canon/spec.htm">"The Speckled Band"</a>; in "An Exceptional Woman," Regina Stinson delves into the effect that Violent Hunter had on Holmes in <a href="http://www.bakerstreet221b.de/canon/copp.htm">"The Copper Beeches"</a>; Barbara Cooper visits with one of the stars of <a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0038494/">Dressed To Kill</a>; and John Bergquist recounts the adventures of the <a href="http://www.sherlock-holmes.org.uk/beeline.php">Sherlock Holmes Society of London</a> as they journeyed through Switzerland last summer. We also just announced the title of the 2005 Christmas Annual: Once a Week in Baker Street: the Boucher-Green Years by H. Paul Jeffers. It is now <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/pages/907700/index.htm">available for purchase</a> on our web site, scheduled to be released at the end of the year. We also ask that you take a moment to <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/pages/511542/index.htm">renew your subscription or give a gift subscription</a>. Rates are $25.95 in the U.S., $28.50 elsewhere; $35.95/$39.50 for a subscription that includes the Christmas Annual. Happy reading!

The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 55, No. 3

The Autumn issue of the BSJ is on the street! If you haven't seen your copy yet, it's on the way. This quarter, we have what is comm...

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by Scott Monty