The Second Morning After Christmas

<h4 style="text-align: center;">"the second morning after Christmas" [BLUE] </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFtzw_vauLqGI8i0SrRwFREYxyE65Xzmhy3UpfMc83q9GBaYo3Uu9riMCNGwfqH4g6RsS5Q73kB-7FoGXwXd7Fn9DcSm8i1-XMrvQH8DWBj-PdmKcMLi5ID3u5ZJ-aJ90QMZSc1HSIoy0/s1600/blue-03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFtzw_vauLqGI8i0SrRwFREYxyE65Xzmhy3UpfMc83q9GBaYo3Uu9riMCNGwfqH4g6RsS5Q73kB-7FoGXwXd7Fn9DcSm8i1-XMrvQH8DWBj-PdmKcMLi5ID3u5ZJ-aJ90QMZSc1HSIoy0/s400/blue-03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Today traditionally marks the date on which "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" took place. The seventh in the series of stories that make up <i>The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</i>, "The Blue Carbuncle" is the sole Christmas story in the Sherlock Holmes canon.<br /><br />Watson sets the stage for us by opening the tale with this paragraph:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable hard felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the purpose of examination."</blockquote>Until 2022, it had become something of an annual tradition at <i>I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</i> to acknowledge December 27th with a favorite reading (after which it fell by the wayside for s bit). Just as the <i>Wall Street Journal</i> annually reproduces a 1949 editorial written by Vermont Royster called "<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj-3My0j_zJAhUIPCYKHePhBrMQFgghMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2FSB10001424052970204464404577112431986005786&usg=AFQjCNFBOMTBdMiqlxf9tGYz0Jb-tieRKw&sig2=qjutMkGmsi34eHf1n39PhQ" target="_blank"><i>In Hoc Anno Domini</i></a>," we saw no reason to avoid replication here.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6321981775136876837" name="more"></a>If this is new to you, please feel free to share and use this at your own Sherlockian society holiday meetings. The only thing we ask is that you attribute the poem to its rightful author. If you'd like to listen to it, we also produced a special episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere in December 2007 in which we read the verse:<br /><br /><center><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1185689230&color=%23ce1a21&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe></center><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Interstate, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Garuda, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-wrap-mode: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/ihearofsherlock" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ihearofsherlock/compliments-of-the-season" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Compliments of the Season">Compliments of the Season</a></div><div><br /></div>So, we bring you "Two Days After Christmas," a tribute to "The Blue Carbuncle" in the style of Clement Moore's "<a href="http://iment.com/maida//familytree/henry/xmas/poemvariants/troysentinel1823.htm">A Visit from St. Nick</a>."<br /><br />This year marks the 30th anniversary of this holiday classic.<br /><div style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px;"><a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/24531783/Two-Days-After-Christmas#from_embed" title="View Two Days After Christmas on Scribd"><b>Two Days After Christmas</b></a> </div><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="null" data-auto-height="true" frameborder="0" height="600" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/24531783/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true&access_key=key-8qfi6uwtitozfa777tp" title="Two Days After Christmas" width="100%"></iframe><br /><br /><br />Looking back over both of our Sherlockian podcasts (<i>I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</i> and <i>Trifles</i>), we pulled together four more holiday-themed episodes for a full playlist: a discussion of "The Blue Carbuncle" and Christopher Morley's lovely essay "A Christmas Story Without Slush"; an interview with Peter Blau concerning his Sherlockian Christmas tree, bedecked with Sherlockian ornaments; a discussion of peace in the Sherlock Holmes stories (when we can find it); and an investigation of what went wrong in the botched jewel heist; the path across London traversed by the blue carbuncle.<div><br /></div><div>The playlist is <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ihearofsherlock/sets/compliments-of-the-season?si=85662034fb8747848decdce97ba4bd93&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing" target="_blank">available on SoundCloud</a> and is embedded below for your convenience:<br /><div><br /><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/playlists/1370063371&color=%23ce1a21&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Interstate, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Garuda, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-wrap-mode: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/ihearofsherlock" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ihearofsherlock/sets/compliments-of-the-season" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Compliments of the Season">Compliments of the Season</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Enjoy. And this holiday season, may all of your carbuncles be blue.<br /><br /><div></div><br /><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;">--</div><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div>

The Second Morning After Christmas

"the second morning after Christmas" [BLUE]  Today traditionally marks the date on which "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle...

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by Scott Monty

Baker Street Elementary – Working Out Some Problems

<h4 style="text-align: center;">“Puerile as such an exercise may seem” [STUD] </h4><h4 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkpoEZrbep_5XaVyJdjahtYxkQk2U3FsDmic5_waIyeHnUs_YQ2dOCry9hHviBZp0rioBpfboXlBpsLFdsrn6m4u5pZxFgIzjRFRySpI64EX2uHc4OuNx7zIKdLJUq4U_a9HBwhVbRSUqKycpTbJYF0-6y0iWyz0LDrdATGXncBTM0FKxVQopy45ur8c/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20217.1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkpoEZrbep_5XaVyJdjahtYxkQk2U3FsDmic5_waIyeHnUs_YQ2dOCry9hHviBZp0rioBpfboXlBpsLFdsrn6m4u5pZxFgIzjRFRySpI64EX2uHc4OuNx7zIKdLJUq4U_a9HBwhVbRSUqKycpTbJYF0-6y0iWyz0LDrdATGXncBTM0FKxVQopy45ur8c/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20217.1.JPG" width="640" /></a></h4><div>In "The Yellow Face," Watson tells us "Sherlock Holmes a man who seldom took exercise for exercise’s sake," yet we know he had some athletic pursuits. More on that in a moment.</div><div><br /></div><div>But first: what do we know about the exercise habits of others in the Canon?</div><div><br /></div><div>There were some clients or minor characters who regularly took exercise. Among them:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Violet Smith</b> was an ardent cyclist: "Yes, I bicycle a good deal, Mr. Holmes." [SOLI]</li><li><b>Fitzroy McPherson</b> was a swimmer: "Summer and winter he went for his swim." [LION]</li><li><b>Elias Openshaw</b> regularly walked: "He had a garden and two or three fields round his house, and there he would take his exercise" [FIVE]</li><li><b>Blessington</b> habitually took short walks before dinner. [RESI]</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Then of course there were those who were avowed couch potatoes:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Alexander Holder</b> was not a workout fan: "That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who takes very little exercise." [BERY]</li><li><b>Mycroft Holmes</b> kept to his habits, going from his Pall Mall lodgings to Whitehall and to the Diogenes Club. "From year’s end to year’s end he takes no other exercise." [GREE]</li><li><b>Nathan Garrideb</b> was described as "man to whom exercise was unknown." [3GAR]</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Back to "The Yellow Face." After telling us that Holmes didn't take exercise for its own sake, Watson shared this observation:</div><div><blockquote><div>"Few men were capable of greater muscular effort, and he was undoubtedly one of the finest boxers of his weight that I have ever seen; but he looked upon aimless bodily exertion as a waste of energy, and he seldom bestirred himself save when there was some professional object to be served. Then he was absolutely untiring and indefatigable. That he should have kept himself in training under such circumstances is remarkable,</div></blockquote></div><div>Aside from boxing, we know about Holmes's ability with a singlestick and his study of "baritsu" which saved his life in his encounter with Professor Moriarty in Switzerland. And we learn in "The Lion's Mane" that Holmes was a swimmer himself.</div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps it's that Holmes viewed exercise strategically — as with a purpose. In "Black Peter," returning to Baker Street with a harpoon under his arm like a piece of athletic equipment, Holmes remarked,</div><blockquote><div>"There can be no question, my dear Watson, of the value of exercise before breakfast."</div></blockquote><div>More about Sherlock Holmes's athletic abilities in <i>Trifles</i> <a href="https://ihose.co/trifles156" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 156 - Sherlock Holmes, Sportsman</a>. And if you like, you can binge the entire <b>collection of episodes on Games & Sports</b> in the Canon on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/collection/372702" target="_blank">Patreon</a> or <a href="https://trifles.substack.com/t/games-and-sports" target="_blank">Substack</a>, ranging from rugby to tennis to shooting, boxing, swimming and more. </div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now off to the exercise books of Baker Street Elementary...</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiodsvQfWHLP55DS2LV35DcNETmVxXRMzEpRmw2koSMk3hFe8HFejOk4nhRm5JTwTH8WknM4B9kPsFS3f0FfteZGMN7d6xDEp9flIN0HN3srFUA_pIF-C2lD_TAqyNz_0t_v6XzIK2oBRIMKfZRz1DTlzcLUkhrDmnjmrhDeizLp-tvM4NkgeRA0ydXMjg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiodsvQfWHLP55DS2LV35DcNETmVxXRMzEpRmw2koSMk3hFe8HFejOk4nhRm5JTwTH8WknM4B9kPsFS3f0FfteZGMN7d6xDEp9flIN0HN3srFUA_pIF-C2lD_TAqyNz_0t_v6XzIK2oBRIMKfZRz1DTlzcLUkhrDmnjmrhDeizLp-tvM4NkgeRA0ydXMjg=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigY3Xs3RF-4XphoH3BYO6awKwiq_ycSDkeJ8kWK6C_EoEeAd11LnOQnsmqSyF5d7lmot9pNau5i4ffJlpKxRzrV9m--zUMSoYYESAnsnXr7y64uGgugMlYaD38OrWPuWO0-q9JhkA8AbSocxyGJKAURRmnsphcDeE-zpTUlHsrIv569rmy0gec7FBqTwY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigY3Xs3RF-4XphoH3BYO6awKwiq_ycSDkeJ8kWK6C_EoEeAd11LnOQnsmqSyF5d7lmot9pNau5i4ffJlpKxRzrV9m--zUMSoYYESAnsnXr7y64uGgugMlYaD38OrWPuWO0-q9JhkA8AbSocxyGJKAURRmnsphcDeE-zpTUlHsrIv569rmy0gec7FBqTwY=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQMh186_RGOnUq6JO7-6kiE-dvCZO4oQ9mYFODRmiX2sz4W-rgfS53kM9GGCdhvFzxyh-_JKe5pQVExaFWmoQ-M7cqP5dH-fUlRj14YKe23Ve6JiaCHVcyIkp8TD2bDeb0K195_6V1-BcrIEXgrY9MNGjEhuPJpNTC5eFQsZeNbW9ClkpUBJqhnGiQqJQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQMh186_RGOnUq6JO7-6kiE-dvCZO4oQ9mYFODRmiX2sz4W-rgfS53kM9GGCdhvFzxyh-_JKe5pQVExaFWmoQ-M7cqP5dH-fUlRj14YKe23Ve6JiaCHVcyIkp8TD2bDeb0K195_6V1-BcrIEXgrY9MNGjEhuPJpNTC5eFQsZeNbW9ClkpUBJqhnGiQqJQ=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><i>Baker Street Elementary</i></b><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> follows the original adventures of Sherlock Holmes and <a class="b-tooltip-container" data-preview="" href="https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&q=John+Watson+Sherlock+Holmes&bbid=6321981775136876837&bpid=3408911776569555507" target="_blank"><span class="b-tooltip" style="display: none;"><iframe src="/share-widget?w=poi&o=t&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fved%3D1t%3A260882%26q%3DJohn%2BWatson%2BSherlock%2BHolmes%26bbid%3D6321981775136876837%26bpid%3D3408911776569555507"></iframe></span>John Watson</a>, as they and their friends work through the issues of elementary school in <a class="b-tooltip-container" data-preview="" href="https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&q=Victorian+London&bbid=6321981775136876837&bpid=3408911776569555507" target="_blank"><span class="b-tooltip" style="display: none;"><iframe src="/share-widget?w=poi&o=t&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fved%3D1t%3A260882%26q%3DVictorian%2BLondon%26bbid%3D6321981775136876837%26bpid%3D3408911776569555507"></iframe></span>Victorian London</a>. An archive of all previous episodes can be viewed at the <a href="https://www.dfw-sherlock.org/baker-street-elementary.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Baker Street Elementary website</a></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">.</span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyHxoov2AdCNzI-sA382WHyzmCYKmU5vuVxxUUbwgmzd_zESpxNTWBoDo-0BOUVmZPf0EpIOXFT9y59il288HBvx1-_JJJXxHhZAn2orzWJPWbYZasKlLBplbQMHDaY9thgs_w1diI7ch/s1600/Baker+Street+Elementary.jpg" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyHxoov2AdCNzI-sA382WHyzmCYKmU5vuVxxUUbwgmzd_zESpxNTWBoDo-0BOUVmZPf0EpIOXFT9y59il288HBvx1-_JJJXxHhZAn2orzWJPWbYZasKlLBplbQMHDaY9thgs_w1diI7ch/s640/Baker+Street+Elementary.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div></div><br />

Baker Street Elementary – Working Out Some Problems

“Puerile as such an exercise may seem” [STUD]  In "The Yellow Face," Watson tells us "Sherlock Holmes a man who seldom took e...

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by I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

A Merry Little Mystery

<h4 style="text-align: center;">“I eagerly hailed the little mystery” [STUD] </h4><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiajtiWZDpyAXmQm4ffVFj9xFgBcAve1o_dM-9z_upM7gCsXu5hUjBekjldw5Dl2SkMa3eW1bw862uu6CcGFfy7XyKehMkC3e5158CbalGJi3Ma718bx2QIAEuGF2cAEQ5BKlNA517qY0OaOLSzrUiSzE3NgeHuPM-p_s4SgG__K8dS6VWLeQ1h-13dctmz" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiajtiWZDpyAXmQm4ffVFj9xFgBcAve1o_dM-9z_upM7gCsXu5hUjBekjldw5Dl2SkMa3eW1bw862uu6CcGFfy7XyKehMkC3e5158CbalGJi3Ma718bx2QIAEuGF2cAEQ5BKlNA517qY0OaOLSzrUiSzE3NgeHuPM-p_s4SgG__K8dS6VWLeQ1h-13dctmz=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><p>Looking for something festive and loosely Sherlockian for the youngest readers? <i><a href="https://amzn.to/491tp6G" target="_blank">A Merry Little Mystery</a></i> is an adorable board book for ages 0-3. It's written by Layla Sutton and illustrated by Noel Clark. </p><p>The detective, named on the back cover, is Little Sherlock, and his dog is, of course, Watson. </p><p>Through the twelve page spreads, the two find a tree, lights, ornaments, presents, and more Christmas items. Rhyming couplets make up the text, and each spread has a flap to open to reveal something, as shown here. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvZSjkhSb4f0y-kzHYAlwM_O97v6krS2VPrysYLXYLdPeFIEk6AwU5-I_OivQf3CRa_hsETc92GCVuI_ggyo2kgQksyMTkJXuJ8FOjMrkRKXEKTdDq3tXAWvqPxU0vluQYtPY3h571uN17W17gd44_Fi2sTmEY_8i2TrHdfDtS2qJfMaBQXebgN3-lnuS/s5483/Merry%20Little%20Mystery%20page%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3158" data-original-width="5483" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvZSjkhSb4f0y-kzHYAlwM_O97v6krS2VPrysYLXYLdPeFIEk6AwU5-I_OivQf3CRa_hsETc92GCVuI_ggyo2kgQksyMTkJXuJ8FOjMrkRKXEKTdDq3tXAWvqPxU0vluQYtPY3h571uN17W17gd44_Fi2sTmEY_8i2TrHdfDtS2qJfMaBQXebgN3-lnuS/w640-h368/Merry%20Little%20Mystery%20page%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVg-DP8VludR-NCCR_mAOUDYhzg70tp0ADzhSuveThfYbyYLhgnlAEsOJ-TJmKRR8rrpx8S8Xw_paWPmGb2m2axsS5ncq6NCN1uxBWsO5W4OptwNbk9nB_p11b2JZGV9XrZJASq_t-9b7QdYw7rf1EqVvWOtgm9C34vZq6XmKL9rGHNVrlA1B8KSlSUiI/s5492/Merry%20Little%20Mystery%20page%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2645" data-original-width="5492" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVg-DP8VludR-NCCR_mAOUDYhzg70tp0ADzhSuveThfYbyYLhgnlAEsOJ-TJmKRR8rrpx8S8Xw_paWPmGb2m2axsS5ncq6NCN1uxBWsO5W4OptwNbk9nB_p11b2JZGV9XrZJASq_t-9b7QdYw7rf1EqVvWOtgm9C34vZq6XmKL9rGHNVrlA1B8KSlSUiI/w640-h308/Merry%20Little%20Mystery%20page%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>It seems like it would be a fun read with a child or grandchild. </p><p><br /></p><p>Available on <a href="https://amzn.to/4qgG8YS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/110285/9781464230127">Bookshop.org</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>

A Merry Little Mystery

“I eagerly hailed the little mystery” [STUD]  Looking for something festive and loosely Sherlockian for the youngest readers? A Merry Little...

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by Johanna Draper Carlson

Young Sherlock Trailer: A Very Active Holmes

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> “What a rosy-cheeked young rascal!” [SIGN] </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2m2KVHckLTLK3A-l_7FFrw5b97XXk_DtUhf2dWt6IxxYgE2bm6pK2tUE4B6yn9nhRB1EoGZzNkz1CKKV8UW99eWzQnx6rmfQtxBQo-6844g2Gq_-SNVCQCB2tRQbsxvgpTSvaaL_DUiVnLhI0DwS1Iqh_99eEUz3-1SqLIs7jP9HApfh0pVMjVz-Udf9/s1280/Young%20Sherlock%20Official%20Teaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2m2KVHckLTLK3A-l_7FFrw5b97XXk_DtUhf2dWt6IxxYgE2bm6pK2tUE4B6yn9nhRB1EoGZzNkz1CKKV8UW99eWzQnx6rmfQtxBQo-6844g2Gq_-SNVCQCB2tRQbsxvgpTSvaaL_DUiVnLhI0DwS1Iqh_99eEUz3-1SqLIs7jP9HApfh0pVMjVz-Udf9/w640-h360/Young%20Sherlock%20Official%20Teaser.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>For fans of the Robert Downey, Jr. version under Guy Ritchie's direction — <i><a href="https://amzn.to/4qfCnTF" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes</a></i> (2009) and <a href="https://amzn.to/4aXPvbz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows</a> (2011) — we were given an active, combative, and subversive Sherlock Holmes.</p><p>A new television series <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3KZ1xqG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Young Sherlock</a></i> is coming to Prime Video trods familiar territory. Based on <a href="https://amzn.to/455I6TQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Andrew Lane's <i>Young Sherlock Holmes</i> book series</a>, this new version is grittier, irreverent, and action-packed. </p><p>Not to be confused with the Oscar nominated <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3YAun3H" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Young Sherlock Holmes</a></i> directed by Chris Columbus that debuted 40 years ago, we find Holmes at university rather than at public school, and in this origin story, rather than an early meeting of Holmes and Watson, we have an early meeting of Holmes and Moriarty. </p><p>The plot summary, from the official description:</p><blockquote><p>"Sherlock Holmes is a disgraced young man – raw and unfiltered – when he finds himself wrapped up in a murder case that threatens his liberty. His first ever case unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy that changes his life forever. Unfolding in 1870s Oxford and adventuring abroad, the series will expose the early antics of the anarchic adolescent who is yet to evolve into Baker Street's most renowned resident."</p></blockquote><p>The series stars Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock Holmes, Dónal Finn as James Moriarty, with Zine Tseng, Joseph Fiennes, Natascha McElhone, Max Irons, and Colin Firth. </p><p>The trailer, released by Prime Video, was released today. <a href="https://youtu.be/R-NEi8tRC8Q?si=iTMP4_KM1riABWFi" target="_blank">Watch it here</a>:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="361" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R-NEi8tRC8Q" width="615" youtube-src-id="R-NEi8tRC8Q"></iframe></div><br /><p>Don't expect too much faithfulness to the Canon — partly because this is all speculation and fantasy, and also because it's Guy Ritchie. He forges his own path.</p><p>However, the scenes will be lavish (likely with an assist from CGI making up shots of 1870s Oxford), the humor will be blunt, and the action scenes will be... quite action-packed.</p><p>The series premieres on March 4, 2026.</p><p><br /></p>

Young Sherlock Trailer: A Very Active Holmes

 “What a rosy-cheeked young rascal!” [SIGN]  For fans of the Robert Downey, Jr. version under Guy Ritchie's direction — Sherlock Holmes ...

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by Scott Monty

Episode 324: Sherlockian Road Tripping

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> “Important issues might hang upon our journey.” [SIGN] </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vqBOAm84yaMoLBvyrPfrgrBSkTXhf4y5FrPkXJRncA7J4zF77lfsOH2NNLrLmoI9WNuIlVymaFHmJF-e9iHSrNGyS_mdAyh5aGRNyi5OaFYFd2nV_8ZQPdICu7waO-o-PGIF6hI-tOOnEUk53xs6202Knk9wiBObWM5XdCQjNm5Ruht2NExAsM56q2AQ/s1598/ihearofsherlock324-header.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1598" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vqBOAm84yaMoLBvyrPfrgrBSkTXhf4y5FrPkXJRncA7J4zF77lfsOH2NNLrLmoI9WNuIlVymaFHmJF-e9iHSrNGyS_mdAyh5aGRNyi5OaFYFd2nV_8ZQPdICu7waO-o-PGIF6hI-tOOnEUk53xs6202Knk9wiBObWM5XdCQjNm5Ruht2NExAsM56q2AQ/w640-h432/ihearofsherlock324-header.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p></p><p>Join us as we speak to Steve Mason and Greg Ruby about their adventure this past summer — a whirlwind, five-day odyssey through the rugged landscapes of Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico, tracking down 39 locations with hidden ties to Baker Street. Decades after a simpler, four-stop Texas road trip set the precedent, our intrepid investigators clocked 2,414 miles in heat of the last week of August, all to prove that the Great Detective’s influence knows no borders. </p><p>You’ll hear how they bridged the gap between the dusty plains and the foggy streets of London, and found Holmesian echoes in the most unexpected places. It’s all about imagination, and how their “<b>Great Sherlockian Whimsical Tour II</b>” transformed the American Southwest into a sprawling map of Victorian mystery.</p><p>We also give you a glimpse of Sherlockian society activities, this time in the first half of February in "The Learned Societies" segment. Then we announce an exciting new segment launching in 2026, and the Canonical Couplet quiz will test your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a prize from the IHOSE vaults for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by December 29, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.</p><p>As a reminder, our <a href="https://ihose.co/ihosepatron" target="_blank">supporters</a> can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material, such as <b>additional conversation from this episode</b>. Join us on the platform of your choice (<a href="https://patreon.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Patreon</a> | <a href="https://ihearofsherlock.substack.com" target="_blank">Substack</a>).</p><p>And if you need some show swag or gift ideas, check out our <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/merchandise" target="_blank">Merch Store</a>, with mugs, notepads and more.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Merriweather; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock324.mp3" style="color: #013fd3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Download</a> [Save As] | File size: 67 MB, 1:11:562</h3><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" data-dashlane-classification="other" data-dashlane-frameid="9062" data-dashlane-rid="c2a22faa7e115083" height="192" mozallowfullscreen="true" msallowfullscreen="true" oallowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/39421420/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/414851/time-start/00:00:00/playlist-height/200/direction/backward/download/yes/font-color/FFFFFF" style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="100%"></iframe><br /></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Merriweather; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;">Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-hear-of-sherlock-everywhere/id258126625?ls=1" style="color: #013fd3; text-decoration-line: none;">Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/30WtRn1mnXfAtX7YaeRY5Y" style="color: #013fd3; text-decoration-line: none;">Spotify</a>; listen to us <a href="https://pod.link/ihearofsherlock" style="color: #013fd3; text-decoration-line: none;">wherever you listen to podcasts</a>.</h3><h2><br /></h2><h2>Links</h2><p></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.dfw-sherlock.org/about-the-crew-of-the-barque-lone-star.html" target="_blank">The Great Sherlockian Whimsical Tours of 2005 and 2025</a> (Crew of the Barque Lone Star)</li><li>Episodes mentioned in this show:</li><ul><li>Steve's episode appearances: <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose183" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 183: The Beacon Society</a>; <a href="https://ihose.co/ihose236" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 236: The Legion of Zoom</a></li><li>Greg's episode appearances: <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose128" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 128: Sherlockian Coin Collecting</a></li></ul><li>Other links:</li><ul><li>The Learned Societies: <a href="http://www.sherlockiancalendar.com/" target="_blank">Sherlockian Calendar</a></li></ul><li><a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/merchandise" target="_blank">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere / Trifles Merch Store</a></li></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29cSHabGIObH4IdQeGyx88PTNcrOeD1J3l8-pjNYrpKNS5DLNjRjSVWxJzYbEhJGSvRPxOa9hIwgz4QYUYM-e4vALe1Tx2Je3pl8KQh6g_rueo9E8pd7SossrtPayueShhgt9Hd_JUqsj3yqVN7VUKghho7s3n51MIBgCKCsf_FAe34zDSNstKSge7Off/s590/IHOSE%20Mug%202%20closeup.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="590" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29cSHabGIObH4IdQeGyx88PTNcrOeD1J3l8-pjNYrpKNS5DLNjRjSVWxJzYbEhJGSvRPxOa9hIwgz4QYUYM-e4vALe1Tx2Je3pl8KQh6g_rueo9E8pd7SossrtPayueShhgt9Hd_JUqsj3yqVN7VUKghho7s3n51MIBgCKCsf_FAe34zDSNstKSge7Off/w200-h200/IHOSE%20Mug%202%20closeup.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjif67emMEZTIJ0oOOOia1YWy-moeQpeIw00bsbuzhNZovbSSppBx05SmmLRe4_PaHc-glGFGx_w2o1a7uafYZT-6n7iEep6dJdkNTrcIWXW29Whwd6WrrzrpuE-rcRZED2WbBzPHXel946i-FPAg2mqW2oF7vt9TPW1vuWHntG1NVSqgYXE3JWKZSB3jH3/s768/Notepad%20-%20IHOSE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjif67emMEZTIJ0oOOOia1YWy-moeQpeIw00bsbuzhNZovbSSppBx05SmmLRe4_PaHc-glGFGx_w2o1a7uafYZT-6n7iEep6dJdkNTrcIWXW29Whwd6WrrzrpuE-rcRZED2WbBzPHXel946i-FPAg2mqW2oF7vt9TPW1vuWHntG1NVSqgYXE3JWKZSB3jH3/w200-h200/Notepad%20-%20IHOSE.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/p/sherlock-holmes-gifts.html" target="_blank">Explore more here</a>.</h4><p>Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at <a href="http://linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock">linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians find us.</p><p>Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.</p><div><br /></div>

Episode 324: Sherlockian Road Tripping

 “Important issues might hang upon our journey.” [SIGN]  Join us as we speak to Steve Mason and Greg Ruby about their adventure this past su...

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by Scott Monty

A New Holmesian Christmas Carol

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> “her wits turned at the singing” [HOUN]  </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZw6f7s3jiwRwyPV6VffZyDYf8nZU56Dmf4AWnSogh98BrHfgn0IHEFpwn2z7AmUFU1kBn3jQTbsQ4_I2Ea64Gbitbfzurg8mhaOxLaGqJxi1PGEACzJB4unA3laU6_LVSbzxWovk7cGMq1xAYfrw4BQuU4Ds1-I9vzlkHCZuSQ_CV-qiOVZQhPdSxzLju/s1280/VS--YouTube-HaveYourselfaMaryMorstanChristmas-0%E2%80%9905%E2%80%9D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZw6f7s3jiwRwyPV6VffZyDYf8nZU56Dmf4AWnSogh98BrHfgn0IHEFpwn2z7AmUFU1kBn3jQTbsQ4_I2Ea64Gbitbfzurg8mhaOxLaGqJxi1PGEACzJB4unA3laU6_LVSbzxWovk7cGMq1xAYfrw4BQuU4Ds1-I9vzlkHCZuSQ_CV-qiOVZQhPdSxzLju/w640-h360/VS--YouTube-HaveYourselfaMaryMorstanChristmas-0%E2%80%9905%E2%80%9D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>We know that Watson cared enough about Sherlock Holmes to call upon him "the second morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the compliments of the season." [BLUE]</p><p>While there is no mention of Christmas caroling in "The Blue Carbuncle," a close reading of <i>A Study in Scarlet</i> finds some surprising singing happening in a rather unusual location:</p><blockquote><p>"Leaning back in the cab, this amateur bloodhound carolled away like a lark while I meditated upon the many-sidedness of the human mind."</p></blockquote><p>We also know that Watson cared enough about Mary Morstan to make her his wife following the events in <i>The Sign of Four</i>.</p><p>So it would stand to reason that there ought to be some caroling in honor of Mrs. Watson. That's the thought of <b>Paul Thomas Miller</b>, who has written and performed a new holiday standard, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d27v-HT5Bq0" target="_blank">Have Yourself a Mary Morstan Christmas</a>" — a loving homage to the original "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="438" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d27v-HT5Bq0" width="527" youtube-src-id="d27v-HT5Bq0"></iframe></div><br /><p>As Paul describes it: "Believe it or not, this is how it sounds <b><i>with</i></b> auto-tune. Imagine how flat I was before I tried to fix it."</p><p>While the video is captioned, here are the lyrics for those not brave enough to listen:</p><p>Have yourself a Mary Morstan Christmas.<br />Sleep alone at night.<br />From now on, your husband will be out of sight.<br />Have yourself a Mary Morstan Christmas.<br />Wonder if he's gay.<br />From now on, your husband will be miles away.</p><p>Here we are as in olden days.<br />Lonely single days are of yore.<br />Faithful friends of those dear to us.<br />Steal the cheer from us once more.</p><p>Through the years we'll sometimes be together<br />When Sherlock allows<br />And a lonely star upon the highest bough<br />And have yourself a Mary Morstan Christmas now.</p><p>Here we are as in olden days.<br />Lonely single days of yore.<br />Faithful friends of those dear to us.<br />Steal the cheer from us once more.</p><p>Through the years we'll sometimes be together<br />When Sherlock allows.<br />Hang a lonely star upon the highest bough.<br />And have yourself a Mary Morstan Christmas now.</p><p><br /></p><p>Compliments of the season, we suppose.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Related</h3><p>You can listen to Paul Thomas Miller regale us with all sorts of wonderful humorous insights on <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2019/07/episode-172-watson-does-not-lie-doyles.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 172: Watson Does Not Lie / Doyle's Rotary Coffin</a>:</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" data-dashlane-classification="other" data-dashlane-frameid="6365" data-dashlane-rid="89d9e5ebe038ee03" height="192" mozallowfullscreen="true" msallowfullscreen="true" oallowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/10519109/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/414851/time-start/00:00:00/playlist-height/200/direction/backward/download/yes/font-color/FFFFFF" style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="100%"></iframe></p><p><br /></p>

A New Holmesian Christmas Carol

 “her wits turned at the singing” [HOUN]   We know that Watson cared enough about Sherlock Holmes to call upon him "the second morning ...

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by Scott Monty

The Sherlock Escape Room Appears to Have Closed

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> “The Red-headed League is Dissolved” [REDH]  </h4><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisJPSmN0czlSC4GdZWfdhlSyqexJqbwUoBy_CzPqcy5n4fjnMCVdMkaxugtMYSlIETTSP8qRNP6TooeBTZYNBxLuyPiZrNcxYbVVoPe0bXMYeTdh21MUc1DVOg8X6mxCmAtxrTkH0WIpKkNrFEB70TNQVNbwh6oT189gZ6frRKc9EKZnTTHx9fgLM3JAWv" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The 221B flat set, part of the Sherlock Escape Room" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisJPSmN0czlSC4GdZWfdhlSyqexJqbwUoBy_CzPqcy5n4fjnMCVdMkaxugtMYSlIETTSP8qRNP6TooeBTZYNBxLuyPiZrNcxYbVVoPe0bXMYeTdh21MUc1DVOg8X6mxCmAtxrTkH0WIpKkNrFEB70TNQVNbwh6oT189gZ6frRKc9EKZnTTHx9fgLM3JAWv=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It appears that the <a href="https://www.sherlockescaperooms.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">official <i>Sherlock</i> escape room</a> in London has shut down. </p><p></p><p></p><p>I last <a href="https://www.comicsbeat.com/the-bbc-sherlock-tv-show-lives-on/" target="_blank">visited in July</a> in conjunction with an event put on by the Sherlock Holmes Society of London. However, in November, a <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Sherlock/comments/1p0fo59/the_sherlock_escape_room_in_london_looks_like/" target="_blank">Reddit poster</a> reported that, when trying to book a slot to visit, there was no response to the phone number or email address. I had a similar experience — when emailing, I got an immediate auto-response, but no actual follow-up. </p><p>Comments on that same post report an announcement that the owners "have decided to commence liquidation proceedings" as well as a former worker claiming co-workers were still owed payment. As well, Google Maps lists the venue as "<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sherlock:+Escape+Rooms/@51.5032451,-0.2195316,418m/data=!3m3!1e3!4b1!5s0x48760fc4c703e30d:0xd1063be3b2e46785!4m6!3m5!1s0x48760f6c1b0a5ffd:0x5a68d02e6a007e5a!8m2!3d51.5032451!4d-0.2195316!16s%2Fg%2F11fhqmg06t?hl=en-US&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Permanently closed</a>". </p><p>I very much enjoyed the three times I got to visit, and I will always treasure my picture in "Sherlock's chair". It's not a terrible surprise that, eight years after the show last aired, there isn't the same audience (although the Mind Palace Bar was enjoyable, even without playing the game). </p><p>I hope the materials are archived somewhere, and not lost to time. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>

The Sherlock Escape Room Appears to Have Closed

 “The Red-headed League is Dissolved” [REDH]   It appears that the official  Sherlock  escape room in London has shut down.  I last visited...

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by Johanna Draper Carlson

Sherlock Holmes: Holiday Whodunnits

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> “a trick for the other side” [NORW]</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBp-Rq1pjfb_jupr8vCd3LyyXDiyJCuiw9BPrmBChaLvEfo4AxizmDS7OtN9oF9reKccOTK4fhg5SmQgkyVkR5mF1JLKByOpJhJ7WfhB7IBvzkTrEZQ8GIt4hmnJp2ep_PenIhbYJI9uIhDD2psrJUeNKLe-9XEIN-aoM1NweABHVAqTW6HBU7N70LcPgK/s1000/Holiday%20Whodunnits%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1000" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBp-Rq1pjfb_jupr8vCd3LyyXDiyJCuiw9BPrmBChaLvEfo4AxizmDS7OtN9oF9reKccOTK4fhg5SmQgkyVkR5mF1JLKByOpJhJ7WfhB7IBvzkTrEZQ8GIt4hmnJp2ep_PenIhbYJI9uIhDD2psrJUeNKLe-9XEIN-aoM1NweABHVAqTW6HBU7N70LcPgK/w640-h512/Holiday%20Whodunnits%20cropped.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Last year, I told you about <i><a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2024/12/sherlock-holmes-crimes-for-christmas.html">Sherlock Holmes: Crimes for Christmas</a></i>, a selection of seasonal Sherlock Holmes stories by Derrick Belanger. This year, there's a follow-up, <b><i>Sherlock Holmes: Holiday Whodunnits</i></b> (<a href="https://amzn.to/4rSxwJS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/110285/9798271669811">Bookshop.org</a>), in the same format. </p><p>That means thirteen stories, split into two parts each, which covers December 1st through Boxing Day (in honor of the character's British origins). One day, the reader gets the case setup; the next, the solution, so the reader can play along in trying to solve the mystery. </p><p>Cases cover murders, ciphers, missing persons, thefts, con artists, and forged documents, all set during the holiday season. All feature a traditional Holmes and his good friend and story narrator Dr. Watson. Other familiar characters make appearances, especially Mrs. Hudson and the Inspectors Lestrade and Gregson.  </p><p>In the introduction, Belanger explains that he was inspired by Donald J. Sobol's <i>Encyclopedia Brown</i>, and these do read similarly. To solve the case, one has to figure out the twist or trick. These stories are lightweight, but that's good for a festive read, I find. </p><p>There are two more traditional pastiches included as well, set during the early days of Holmes and Watson's partnership. Overall, it's a nice little bundle of cases for Christmas. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3MWKXYU" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyvOgiCkVLmbsOJ34ufkdPAAMuBWgNSuOrsOmx6uIKwEsK62_wNt0O1yC0ZTUmti6mND99ynuoZ3CuKmiDDlY1LxdaWwUkY11H8HujMk-LbkCkSznQBQRqV-yX3KwXCUDV0m8JN8WJ3Yp6xAUdfKVOa4Bbs__80O9Fz35Sr5LhDgevzqh6FczKAD4fPHe/s320/Holiday%20Whodunnits.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Available on <a href="https://amzn.to/3MWKXYU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/110285/9798271669811">Bookshop.org</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>

Sherlock Holmes: Holiday Whodunnits

 “a trick for the other side” [NORW] Last year, I told you about Sherlock Holmes: Crimes for Christmas , a selection of seasonal Sherlock Ho...

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by Johanna Draper Carlson

Baker Street Elementary – It Never Ends

<h4 style="text-align: center;">“I gave him the best of educations.” [PRIO] </h4><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw41xJIhDXBCEGgLv-q5iCmjL7w6DNj2LZJ86ykDfDBqcSTg_OjgwQkh5sLUulrDVNa0Sf3Lcfj94uST2jRwVXygmylOdU56qJruA7rAvu4a3X9IpJpVZNkPpGgcGCLsDywcNJ4DpyDXYjOD95L23kiEP6S7LknWuGSM5YJNrrij5apKENtaFxj0L9_C0/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20216.1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw41xJIhDXBCEGgLv-q5iCmjL7w6DNj2LZJ86ykDfDBqcSTg_OjgwQkh5sLUulrDVNa0Sf3Lcfj94uST2jRwVXygmylOdU56qJruA7rAvu4a3X9IpJpVZNkPpGgcGCLsDywcNJ4DpyDXYjOD95L23kiEP6S7LknWuGSM5YJNrrij5apKENtaFxj0L9_C0/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20216.1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In my professional life, I coach leaders and write <a href="https://www.timelesstimely.com" target="_blank">a newsletter on leadership and character</a>, ending every missive with the phrase “There's so much to learn.” As the philosophers will tell you, we don't know what we don't know, and those who are curious and life-long learners make the best leaders.</div><div><br /></div><div>And although Sherlock Holmes could easily forget more than any of his contemporaries from Scotland Yard might ever know, he kept educating himself.</div><div><br /></div><div>In "The Adventure of the Red Circle," Watson questions why Holmes would take on the case of Mrs. Warren and her strange lodger:</div><div><div><div></div><blockquote><div>“Why should you go further in it? What have you to gain from it?”</div><div>“What, indeed? It is art for art’s sake, Watson. I suppose when you doctored you found yourself</div><div>studying cases without thought of a fee?”</div><div>“For my education, Holmes.”</div><div>“Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons with the greatest for the last.</div></blockquote><div></div></div><div>And that last line, as simple as it is, is also one of the most profound in the Canon. Those who are curious and of the disposition to keep learning throughout life will continue to gain knowledge until the very end, only to learn the mystery of what awaits us in the great beyond.</div><div><br /></div><div>Does this mean Sherlock Holmes believed in the afterlife? Perhaps. We certainly know his creator did. But perhaps for Holmes it will simply mean finding the solution to the greatest mystery of all — the mystery of life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over on Trifles we talked about the boarding schools in <a href="https://ihose.co/trifles127" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 127 - School's Out</a>:</div><div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" data-dashlane-classification="other" data-dashlane-frameid="12876" data-dashlane-rid="19fbffff75fabece" height="192" mozallowfullscreen="true" msallowfullscreen="true" oallowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/10055063/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/3a4e59/time-start/00:00:00/playlist-height/200/direction/backward/download/yes/font-color/FFFFFF" style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="100%"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now let's see what the boys are learning as Baker Street Elementary enters its 12th year...</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmG-omb4rx-Q2q9eymkJSgarV8RePjfbsTg7k0ltEQnYI1JrVp05jpSLXhpos86ttjj8dXKwlP8U8c-0j375lf9p9ybG1wbPu2tQ9529nZAri3U3tLza55ZfkD6uICS_CnPEMWuLFfWuZywnlmB0omky2l1ML-3IKImwIlUjkH8iH_C5NUNanteWRXNOE/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20216.2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmG-omb4rx-Q2q9eymkJSgarV8RePjfbsTg7k0ltEQnYI1JrVp05jpSLXhpos86ttjj8dXKwlP8U8c-0j375lf9p9ybG1wbPu2tQ9529nZAri3U3tLza55ZfkD6uICS_CnPEMWuLFfWuZywnlmB0omky2l1ML-3IKImwIlUjkH8iH_C5NUNanteWRXNOE/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20216.2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJBhdLE_CbcW4AQd9ICO5kHRwmZ28pFtIJNSuJyOG9NC_HUZtKjxH_jhstE4tkNwgH7KR-BS1XndG58IP1IDNvhussMbpc3AvRismMQZSa616Syhus5KNrc3duUFwaMYyJ58lN5Kbc6y16kRUVM3HSvs6fFCXfjiUSr_eGG26uXS1IBMIQtWU1g9vtPM/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20216.3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJBhdLE_CbcW4AQd9ICO5kHRwmZ28pFtIJNSuJyOG9NC_HUZtKjxH_jhstE4tkNwgH7KR-BS1XndG58IP1IDNvhussMbpc3AvRismMQZSa616Syhus5KNrc3duUFwaMYyJ58lN5Kbc6y16kRUVM3HSvs6fFCXfjiUSr_eGG26uXS1IBMIQtWU1g9vtPM/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20216.3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7rIsL0yq9uA8QhhTd-fcwTJEwlTlFMvo9bXHmbK_osVw98lstZ4k2ubmNmmVx_O6CcyeI4vlcGlsKuwStqULy66Spr7uprAyz7mH7BNelnyu0dvuuAUS6sebxrpwNZJzj_JnNgEyXqDrUY7eJ48AS_JQ7BouAU5fn9bVSog81KMTCq1g0eKzOcVfsTU/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20216.4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7rIsL0yq9uA8QhhTd-fcwTJEwlTlFMvo9bXHmbK_osVw98lstZ4k2ubmNmmVx_O6CcyeI4vlcGlsKuwStqULy66Spr7uprAyz7mH7BNelnyu0dvuuAUS6sebxrpwNZJzj_JnNgEyXqDrUY7eJ48AS_JQ7BouAU5fn9bVSog81KMTCq1g0eKzOcVfsTU/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20216.4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8LSGTQyO8RLKgKJOG1Oo40TPOzLgot6eoW2Lx1dxwE4JKAETSdk2Hg-BYQg6yhqoy8bZdbr248-3L_Oqj1M5Hf5lihryCyCOrEkCA_5jTMpbVQCQkL289i3lhbKWlCVG6T66ZuRZ-p9dncUrpNZKWv_cEAr6aQ4Pw3MYT3H_rAMDqIRkXhoWsQT_5hg/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20216.5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8LSGTQyO8RLKgKJOG1Oo40TPOzLgot6eoW2Lx1dxwE4JKAETSdk2Hg-BYQg6yhqoy8bZdbr248-3L_Oqj1M5Hf5lihryCyCOrEkCA_5jTMpbVQCQkL289i3lhbKWlCVG6T66ZuRZ-p9dncUrpNZKWv_cEAr6aQ4Pw3MYT3H_rAMDqIRkXhoWsQT_5hg/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20216.5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><i>Baker Street Elementary</i></b><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> follows the original adventures of Sherlock Holmes and <a class="b-tooltip-container" data-preview="" href="https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&q=John+Watson+Sherlock+Holmes&bbid=6321981775136876837&bpid=3408911776569555507" target="_blank"><span class="b-tooltip" style="display: none;"><iframe src="/share-widget?w=poi&o=t&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fved%3D1t%3A260882%26q%3DJohn%2BWatson%2BSherlock%2BHolmes%26bbid%3D6321981775136876837%26bpid%3D3408911776569555507"></iframe></span>John Watson</a>, as they and their friends work through the issues of elementary school in <a class="b-tooltip-container" data-preview="" href="https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&q=Victorian+London&bbid=6321981775136876837&bpid=3408911776569555507" target="_blank"><span class="b-tooltip" style="display: none;"><iframe src="/share-widget?w=poi&o=t&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fved%3D1t%3A260882%26q%3DVictorian%2BLondon%26bbid%3D6321981775136876837%26bpid%3D3408911776569555507"></iframe></span>Victorian London</a>. An archive of all previous episodes can be viewed at the <a href="https://www.dfw-sherlock.org/baker-street-elementary.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Baker Street Elementary website</a></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">.</span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyHxoov2AdCNzI-sA382WHyzmCYKmU5vuVxxUUbwgmzd_zESpxNTWBoDo-0BOUVmZPf0EpIOXFT9y59il288HBvx1-_JJJXxHhZAn2orzWJPWbYZasKlLBplbQMHDaY9thgs_w1diI7ch/s1600/Baker+Street+Elementary.jpg" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyHxoov2AdCNzI-sA382WHyzmCYKmU5vuVxxUUbwgmzd_zESpxNTWBoDo-0BOUVmZPf0EpIOXFT9y59il288HBvx1-_JJJXxHhZAn2orzWJPWbYZasKlLBplbQMHDaY9thgs_w1diI7ch/s640/Baker+Street+Elementary.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />

Baker Street Elementary – It Never Ends

“I gave him the best of educations.” [PRIO]  In my professional life, I coach leaders and write a newsletter on leadership and character , e...

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by I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

Celebrating 40 Years of Young Sherlock Holmes

<h4 style="text-align: center;">“an old friend and school companion” [TWIS] </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDJ6zbfr_hige1VnokIE0OuTNWFYW9DfjMsaLNQzB9wCjdjoNgAzg_XhJ-m6u8hXfWF0DkH1mdN4Dmhnuai03AkqzyyUeR-VAOcToorFus4r54h45rX_PvUuMC9L3FWTaCLBNz8Q8k5Vqa60QLnBhsQA7HWAY_6a6NcIKmw8KH_afBMGJvp230pGiEQTC/s1754/Young%20Sherlock%20Holmes%20screenshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1754" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDJ6zbfr_hige1VnokIE0OuTNWFYW9DfjMsaLNQzB9wCjdjoNgAzg_XhJ-m6u8hXfWF0DkH1mdN4Dmhnuai03AkqzyyUeR-VAOcToorFus4r54h45rX_PvUuMC9L3FWTaCLBNz8Q8k5Vqa60QLnBhsQA7HWAY_6a6NcIKmw8KH_afBMGJvp230pGiEQTC/w640-h408/Young%20Sherlock%20Holmes%20screenshot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>It is hard to believe that four decades have passed since we first saw a teenage Sherlock Holmes meet a bespectacled John Watson at Brompton Academy. Released on December 4, 1985, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/4rAtUMl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Young Sherlock Holmes</a></i> celebrates its 40th anniversary today.</p><p>Originally known as <i>Sherlock Holmes: The Pyramid of Fear</i> in some markets, it was clearly an attempt by the studio, Amblin Entertainment, to capture the zeitgeist of films like <i>Raiders of the Lost Ark</i> and <i>Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom</i>. In some ways, it worked.</p><p>For many Sherlockians of a certain generation, this film was a gateway drug into the Canon. But to truly appreciate this curiosity, let's step back and look at the Sherlockian landscape of the era.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">“the source and origin” [SIXN]</h3><p>Personally, this was a time of wonder and discovery for me, as I discovered Sherlock Holmes the previous summer and selected Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as the author I would highlight for a research paper for my English class.</p><p>Our school and town library didn't have much in the way of secondary material, so my teacher suggested I call Channel 3 in Hartford, as she had seen a fellow who ran a Sherlock Holmes society the night before on <i>Evening Magazine</i>. I dutifully followed the trail, and when Harold "Tyke" Niver, BSI ("The Man on the Tor") answered his phone with a jaunty "Baskerville Hall!" I knew I was in good hands.</p><p>The conversation took place in the fall of 1985, which was a golden age of Sherlock Holmes adaptations. Just months before <i>Young Sherlock Holmes</i> hit theaters, the second series of Granada Television’s <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3Kb8uEP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</a></i> had concluded in the UK. Jeremy Brett was at the absolute height of his powers. In fact, "The Final Problem" had aired in September 1985, leaving audiences with the image of his Holmes tumbling over the Reichenbach Falls.</p><p>It wasn't just Brett, though. In 1982, American producer Sy Weintraub partnered with English producer Otto Plaschkes to make six television films of Sherlock Holmes stories. Only two were made, starring Ian Richardson: <i><a href="https://amzn.to/4ppUrus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Sign of Four</a></i> and <i><a href="https://amzn.to/48hJF3b" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hound of the Baskervilles</a></i> in 1983. Weintraub found out that Granada had been granted rights to make television films by the Conan Doyle estate, and cancelled production.</p><p><i><a href="https://youtu.be/04oYgn-3kWU?si=3lhVluehaq_nzBxN" target="_blank">The Many Faces of Sherlock Holmes</a></i> aired in 1985 — a documentary hosted by Christopher Lee (who, of course, played both Holmes and Mycroft in his time), which celebrated the history of the character just as Paramount was trying to reinvent him. It was no coincidence, of course; it was a promotional tie-in with the film. The opening scene was the trailer for <i>Young Sherlock Holmes</i>.</p><p>The contrast could not have been more stark. On the small screen, we had the faithful, Victorian fidelity of the Granada series and Weintraub films; on the big screen, we were given a Hollywood blockbuster that treated the great detective with the same energy as <i>The Goonies</i>.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">“Remarkable—most remarkable!” [DEVI]</h3><p>The tagline in the trailer for <i>Young Sherlock Holmes</i> captured the moment perfectly: </p><blockquote><p>"Before the lifetime of adventure, came the adventure of a lifetime."</p></blockquote><p>When the film premiered, the reception was mixed. Directed by <b>Barry Levinson</b> and written by a young <b>Chris Columbus</b> (fresh off <i>Gremlins</i>), the film was an oddity. It was produced by <b>Steven Spielberg</b>, and it showed.</p><p>Critics at the time were divided. Roger Ebert was a fan, giving it three stars and praising the performances of Nicholas Rowe and Alan Cox. However, many purists balked. The script took massive liberties with the Canon — establishing that Holmes and Watson met as schoolboys rather than at St. Bartholomew's Hospital — and the plot, involving a murderous Egyptian cult in the heart of London, felt more like a Lucasfilm adventure than a Conan Doyle mystery.</p><p>Financially, it was a disappointment, grossing only about $19 million against an $18 million budget. It seemed too dark for children (it was one of the first films to push the boundaries of the PG-13 rating with its terrifying hallucinations) yet perhaps too whimsical for the adult mystery crowd.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">“<span style="font-size: 18.72px;">had grown steadily more </span>impressed” [VALL] </h3><p>However, 40 years later, <i>Young Sherlock Holmes</i> has aged into a significant piece of cinema history, primarily for two reasons.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">1. The Stained Glass Knight</h4><p>We cannot talk about this film without mentioning the "stained glass knight" sequence. Created by a division of Lucasfilm called The Graphics Group (which would later spin off to become Pixar), this 30-second sequence was the first fully computer-generated character in a feature film. It took the team four months to create that half minute of film. </p><p>If you enjoy the visual effects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe today, you can trace their lineage directly back to that church scene in <i>Young Sherlock Holmes</i>:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="417" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uOsxXi-tu_U" width="501" youtube-src-id="uOsxXi-tu_U"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">2. The Proto-Potter</h4><p>Watching the film today, it is impossible not to see the blueprint for the Harry Potter franchise. You have a trio of friends (the hero, the loyal sidekick, and the smart girl) solving mysteries in a British boarding school, uncovering a dark teacher, and facing supernatural threats. </p><p>Chris Columbus wrote this film 16 years before he directed <i>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</i> ; in some ways, <i>Young Sherlock Holmes</i> feels like his dry run.</p><p><br /></p><p>Nicholas Rowe eventually grew into the role quite literally, appearing as "<a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/07/mr-holmes-emotional-and-somber-sherlock.html" target="_blank">Matinee Sherlock Holmes</a>" in the 2015 film <i><a href="https://amzn.to/4atqapC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mr. Holmes</a></i> starring Ian McKellen. But his 1985 performance remains a touching portrait of the detective before the armor hardened — before he became the "calculating machine."</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">“the list of the prizes” [NOBL]</h3><p>While the box office may have been unkind to the film, certain members of the crew were recognized for their efforts. The effects team of <b>Dennis Muren</b>, <b>Kit West</b>, <b>John Ellis</b>, and <b>David Allen</b> were nominated for an Oscar for Best Effects, Visual effects — because of that stained glass knight scene, as well as Watson's dessert nightmare, with cream puffs attacking.</p><p>The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films nominated <b>Chris Columbus</b> for a Saturn Award for Best Writing and the film itself notched a nomination for Best Fantasy Film. But it was composer <b>Bruce Broughton</b> who took home the film's sole award for Best Music.</p><p><br /></p><p>While it may not be Canonical, <i>Young Sherlock Holmes</i> does succeed in capturing the spirit of friendship and adventure that keeps us coming back to Baker Street. It posits a heartbreaking origin for Holmes's emotional isolation and gives us a Watson who is loyal, brave, and deeply human.</p><p>So, tonight, pour a glass of wine (not Petri!) or make a hot cocoa, avoid any suspicious cream puffs, and celebrate four decades of a fun exploration of what an early Holmes and Watson might have done.</p><p>Here, though the world explode, these two survive. And it is always 1985.</p><p><br /></p>

Celebrating 40 Years of Young Sherlock Holmes

“an old friend and school companion” [TWIS]  It is hard to believe that four decades have passed since we first saw a teenage Sherlock Holme...

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by Scott Monty

Holmes & Watson: A Perfect Pair

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> “pairs in the world” [HOUN] </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtyFTOEBW8e4ed9yEQuM0TCFKZn3D9xg1lVnmVIa7QKXLPsHMlBzx_wMfA0RWcDQJgmnxZzp_sFulc_V9GkkqhGB14ZS2kzN6SmbHx9jtQoTGicZKHpnQgEuOKuMg3QHnKkGQ81Gd42zgPV2TQbVbZdcoiULpxseJXjPWJA_RtmQ1X8xpqKUBwIOaa7ng/s1280/VS--YouTube-FindtheCarameltoYourChocolateGhirardelliSQUARESMilkChocolateCaramel-0%E2%80%9907%E2%80%9D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtyFTOEBW8e4ed9yEQuM0TCFKZn3D9xg1lVnmVIa7QKXLPsHMlBzx_wMfA0RWcDQJgmnxZzp_sFulc_V9GkkqhGB14ZS2kzN6SmbHx9jtQoTGicZKHpnQgEuOKuMg3QHnKkGQ81Gd42zgPV2TQbVbZdcoiULpxseJXjPWJA_RtmQ1X8xpqKUBwIOaa7ng/w640-h360/VS--YouTube-FindtheCarameltoYourChocolateGhirardelliSQUARESMilkChocolateCaramel-0%E2%80%9907%E2%80%9D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>You never know where you're going to find Sherlock Holmes these days.</p><p>In this case, we find Sherlock Holmes (accompanied by Watson, of course) in... a 30-second TV spot for chocolates. </p><p>Chocolates?</p><p>Yes, chocolates. In this case, for products from the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, which is currently promoting its chocolate and caramel squares.</p><p>The ad opens with a hero shot of swirling caramel with a chocolate square surfacing through it and resolving to a wrapped square. The narrator says, "<i>Ghirardelli caramel and chocolate: they're great on their own, but together, it's like...</i>"</p><p>Then, a magnifying glass appears over the plate and we're transported to a scene in a study, with Sherlock Holmes holding that magnifying glass, focused on the chocolate as Watson pours the tea.</p><p>A jingle kicks in:</p><p></p><blockquote>The Watson to your Sherlock<br />The Sponge Bob to your Patrick<br />The bestie to your spa day<br />The apprentice to your sensei<br />The partner to your picnic<br />The hero to your sidekick<br />The caramel to your chocolate<br />The chocolate to your caramel<br />Mm, perfect pairs<br />Share a square.</blockquote><p></p><p>The description of <a href="https://youtu.be/TMNsyPQLzhw?si=bCg-sEu1RBVd-u17" target="_blank">the YouTube video</a> informs us:</p><blockquote><p>We all have that perfect pair, the person who's the caramel to our chocolate. That's the person you're always up for sharing a Ghirardelli Caramel square with.</p></blockquote><p>Watch the whole thing:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="372" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TMNsyPQLzhw" width="447" youtube-src-id="TMNsyPQLzhw"></iframe></div><br /><p>Not sure about that beard...</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Related Resources</h3><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We've previously covered some <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2014/01/a-curious-sherlock-holmes-appearance.html" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes appearances in ads</a>. See if you notice any familiar faces.</li><li><a href="https://www.sherlockholmespodcast.com/2022/06/episode-287-sherlock-holmes-and.html" target="_blank"><i>Trifles </i>Episode 287</a> covered Sherlock Holmes's use of advertising to help solve cases.</li><li>And <a href="https://www.sherlockholmespodcast.com/2019/01/episode-109-brands-in-canon.html" target="_blank">Episode 109 - Brands in the Canon</a> covered recognizable names we encounter in the stories</li><li><a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2010/01/sherlock-holmes-red-bull-and-copyright.html" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes, Red Bull, and Copyright</a> opens another can — of worms</li><li><a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2012/04/a-collector-of-fairy-tales-houn_13.html#.U2mtIPldWSp" target="_blank">Finding the Hidden Sherlock in Advertising</a> covered a visual campaign</li><li>An advertising casting call for Sherlock Holmes actors in <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2014/05/would-you-buy-book-from-this-man.html" target="_blank">Would You Buy a Book from This Man?</a></li></ul><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Shameless Commerce</h3><div>While we're at it, we may as well direct your attention to some <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/merchandise" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlockian Swag</a> from us.</div><div><br /></div><p></p>

Holmes & Watson: A Perfect Pair

 “pairs in the world” [HOUN]  You never know where you're going to find Sherlock Holmes these days. In this case, we find Sherlock Holme...

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by Scott Monty

Episode 323: Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> “Particularly bright and joyous” [THOR] </h4><h4 style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWK94QxCY2JP5NGue7LuRQdL7XM66_UA71rtZK4uWiwKPTB_vDhzrOBkHL2iWYLbNbtoxhjlUIx_VMAROVKFn4raRZUiOG4KhYeVGD1EdEU6UcruWa3BhVo0VKtvc-2XYnbx-g17wLcZ3rhVWe_88nrVLlFdBCsprwBduqzuNXHuG_QHvgccDUmgZ1ccs/s1400/ihearofsherlock323-header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWK94QxCY2JP5NGue7LuRQdL7XM66_UA71rtZK4uWiwKPTB_vDhzrOBkHL2iWYLbNbtoxhjlUIx_VMAROVKFn4raRZUiOG4KhYeVGD1EdEU6UcruWa3BhVo0VKtvc-2XYnbx-g17wLcZ3rhVWe_88nrVLlFdBCsprwBduqzuNXHuG_QHvgccDUmgZ1ccs/w640-h426/ihearofsherlock323-header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></h4><p></p><p>Forget about the silence you might think is suggested by the word “pantomime.” British panto is a raucous, musical, holiday tradition that expects the audience to be as loud as possible, booing the villain and cheering the hero. It’s usually a comic, theatrical retelling of a fairy tale — like Cinderella or Aladdin — with slapstick for the kids, cheeky innuendo for the adults, and a cast that includes a campy "Dame" (a man in an over-the-top dress). </p><p>Now Holmes, Watson, and the world of 221B have been lovingly added to the panto tradition in <i><a href="https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/sherlock-holmes-and-the-12-days-of-christmas/" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas</a></i>, playing through January 18, 2026, at England’s Birmingham Rep. The show is also a genuine whodunnit: West End stars are being murdered in mid performance. Can Sherlock Holmes solve the case?</p><p>It’s all the work of our guests <b>Humphrey Ker</b> and <b>David Reed</b>, writers and stars whose love of the Victorian Age, history, and classic literature has infused almost twenty years of collaboration. You’ll hear about their work creating radio plays for the BBC, stage shows for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and their adventures as two-thirds of the comedy troupe “The Penny Dreadfuls.” </p><p>You’ll also learn how <i><b>Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas</b></i> came about, and how it came to inspire new songs by <b>Tim Rice</b> and <b>Andrew Lloyd Webber</b> — creators of some of the most enduring musicals in history.</p><p>Then it’s on to our review of Sherlockian society activities in the second half of January in "The Learned Societies" segment. The remarkable Madeline Quinones caps her series of Holmesian podcast reviews with her final report in “A Chance of Listening,” with our thanks and admiration. And the Canonical Couplet quiz tests your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a prize from the IHOSE vaults for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by December 14, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.</p><p>As a reminder, our <a href="https://ihose.co/ihosepatron" target="_blank">supporters</a> can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material. Join us on the platform of your choice (<a href="https://patreon.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Patreon</a> | <a href="https://ihearofsherlock.substack.com" target="_blank">Substack</a>).</p><p>And if you need some show swag or gift ideas, check out our <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/merchandise" target="_blank">Merch Store</a>, with mugs, notepads and more.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Merriweather; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock323.mp3" style="color: #013fd3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Download</a> [Save As] | File size: 80.4 MB, 1:07:12</h3><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" data-dashlane-classification="other" data-dashlane-frameid="10292" data-dashlane-rid="1bc3710e16221b1e" height="192" mozallowfullscreen="true" msallowfullscreen="true" oallowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/39210250/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/414851/time-start/00:00:00/playlist-height/200/direction/backward/download/yes/font-color/FFFFFF" style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="100%"></iframe><br /></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Merriweather; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;">Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-hear-of-sherlock-everywhere/id258126625?ls=1" style="color: #013fd3; text-decoration-line: none;">Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/30WtRn1mnXfAtX7YaeRY5Y" style="color: #013fd3; text-decoration-line: none;">Spotify</a>; listen to us <a href="https://www.episodes.fm/1198869691" style="color: #013fd3; text-decoration-line: none;">wherever you listen to podcasts</a>.</h3><h2><br /></h2><h2>Links</h2><p></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/sherlock-holmes-and-the-12-days-of-christmas/" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas</a> (Birmingham Rep)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humphrey_Ker" target="_blank">Humphrey Ker</a> (Wikipedia)<i></i></li><li><a href="https://www.mrdavidreed.com/" target="_blank">David Reed</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mrdavidreed.com/the-penny-dreadfuls" target="_blank">The Penny Dreadfuls</a></li><li>Episodes mentioned in this show:</li><ul><li><a href="https://ihose.co/ihose259" target="_blank">Episode 259: Sketches of Scions</a></li></ul><li>Other links:</li><ul><li>A Chance of Listening: <i><a href="https://www.genius-podcast.com/index.html" target="_blank">Genius</a> </i>and <i><a href="https://pod.link/1784284807" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes Short Stories</a></i></li><li>Madeline's podcast: <i><a href="https://dynamicsofapodcast.com/" target="_blank">Dynamics of a Podcast</a></i></li><li>The Learned Societies: <a href="http://www.sherlockiancalendar.com/" target="_blank">Sherlockian Calendar</a></li></ul><li><a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/merchandise" target="_blank">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere / Trifles Merch Store</a></li></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29cSHabGIObH4IdQeGyx88PTNcrOeD1J3l8-pjNYrpKNS5DLNjRjSVWxJzYbEhJGSvRPxOa9hIwgz4QYUYM-e4vALe1Tx2Je3pl8KQh6g_rueo9E8pd7SossrtPayueShhgt9Hd_JUqsj3yqVN7VUKghho7s3n51MIBgCKCsf_FAe34zDSNstKSge7Off/s590/IHOSE%20Mug%202%20closeup.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="590" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29cSHabGIObH4IdQeGyx88PTNcrOeD1J3l8-pjNYrpKNS5DLNjRjSVWxJzYbEhJGSvRPxOa9hIwgz4QYUYM-e4vALe1Tx2Je3pl8KQh6g_rueo9E8pd7SossrtPayueShhgt9Hd_JUqsj3yqVN7VUKghho7s3n51MIBgCKCsf_FAe34zDSNstKSge7Off/w200-h200/IHOSE%20Mug%202%20closeup.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjif67emMEZTIJ0oOOOia1YWy-moeQpeIw00bsbuzhNZovbSSppBx05SmmLRe4_PaHc-glGFGx_w2o1a7uafYZT-6n7iEep6dJdkNTrcIWXW29Whwd6WrrzrpuE-rcRZED2WbBzPHXel946i-FPAg2mqW2oF7vt9TPW1vuWHntG1NVSqgYXE3JWKZSB3jH3/s768/Notepad%20-%20IHOSE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjif67emMEZTIJ0oOOOia1YWy-moeQpeIw00bsbuzhNZovbSSppBx05SmmLRe4_PaHc-glGFGx_w2o1a7uafYZT-6n7iEep6dJdkNTrcIWXW29Whwd6WrrzrpuE-rcRZED2WbBzPHXel946i-FPAg2mqW2oF7vt9TPW1vuWHntG1NVSqgYXE3JWKZSB3jH3/w200-h200/Notepad%20-%20IHOSE.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/p/sherlock-holmes-gifts.html" target="_blank">Explore more here</a>.</h4><p>Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at <a href="http://linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock">linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians find us.</p><p>Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.</p><div><br /></div>

Episode 323: Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas

 “Particularly bright and joyous” [THOR]  Forget about the silence you might think is suggested by the word “pantomime.” British panto is a ...

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by Scott Monty

Baker Street Elementary – Off to Violin-Land

<h4 style="text-align: center;">“Holmes would talk about nothing but violins” [CARD] </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FAm-TGqQMaABbQ8W7xiLPmt9S61_l5Bxn7m1Uq_CPtySlULNy1kV5KJdN35UL8Mn2BJq4ZU0pLx4WGT0nR4HLQ5YqrVa7M9qNJ0CWBdpRfkMgLR1n8f31IMhMpOmJ6r7p9nz-715W5vu86jA6GfvCHQwNpbweRqhVIQ90oQQoszvuazIhh6fSoU3dZw/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20215.1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FAm-TGqQMaABbQ8W7xiLPmt9S61_l5Bxn7m1Uq_CPtySlULNy1kV5KJdN35UL8Mn2BJq4ZU0pLx4WGT0nR4HLQ5YqrVa7M9qNJ0CWBdpRfkMgLR1n8f31IMhMpOmJ6r7p9nz-715W5vu86jA6GfvCHQwNpbweRqhVIQ90oQQoszvuazIhh6fSoU3dZw/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20215.1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Does the quality of an instrument affect the ability of the player? Marketers of high-end instruments would certainly like us to believe so.</div><div><br /></div><div>In Sherlock Holmes's case, it is perhaps the difference between Watson tolerating his intermittent concerti and throwing the instrument through the window.</div><div><br /></div><div>When they first meet, the young Holmes tests Watson thusly:</div><div><blockquote><div>“Do you include violin-playing in your category of rows?”</div></blockquote></div><div><div>Fortunately, Watson passed with flying colors when he replied, </div><div><blockquote><div>“It depends on the player,” I answered. “A well-played violin is a treat for the gods—a badly-played one—” </div></blockquote></div><div>Watson would later confirm this for us, as he made his famous list "<i>Sherlock Holmes</i>—his limits":</div><blockquote><div>10. Plays the violin well</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div>Of course, Sherlock Holmes knew he had the upper hand here, as he later confirmed to Watson that his was a Stradivarius, acquired for just 55 shillings. Stradivarius violins are the most famed types of violins in existence, often being insured for millions of dollars. It just goes to show what great bargains one can get if you know what you're looking for!</div><div><br /></div><div>Later on, Watson referred to Holmes's violin playing as "remarkable," but also alluded to the careless "scraping" of the violin across Holmes's knee and its "low, melancholy wailings." One could easily tie playing style to moods more so than to the quality of the instrument.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever it was, Holmes knew how to get his violin to perform for him.</div><div><br /></div><div>Listen to the <a href="https://ihose.co/trifles89" target="_blank"><i>Trifles</i> episode on Holmes's Stradivarius violin</a>:</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" data-dashlane-classification="other" data-dashlane-frameid="2766" data-dashlane-rid="15c364574f83a447" height="192" mozallowfullscreen="true" msallowfullscreen="true" oallowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/7040212/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/3a4e59/time-start/00:00:00/playlist-height/200/direction/backward/download/yes/font-color/FFFFFF" style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="100%"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Let's see if all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony at Baker Street Elementary...</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXtDEtwbEltzsWwbhgcQ21nTewC-OpfEmF48hDf4p0Km71Cw1gyWZR1jBrpx4nCWdAQLYxdvOVfDqMYBhMDNgUwWOdhpQZ0JdEj-gz2iiSa7yfJX30Ec_H_LeDYSKzc1hTaOnmDg9YkOb6k0XEs9ZPO46vhVWPxHo-mWnCbthxmJBjxjr_PZm4DanlpA/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20215.4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXtDEtwbEltzsWwbhgcQ21nTewC-OpfEmF48hDf4p0Km71Cw1gyWZR1jBrpx4nCWdAQLYxdvOVfDqMYBhMDNgUwWOdhpQZ0JdEj-gz2iiSa7yfJX30Ec_H_LeDYSKzc1hTaOnmDg9YkOb6k0XEs9ZPO46vhVWPxHo-mWnCbthxmJBjxjr_PZm4DanlpA/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20215.4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FzW2N3pdQ0hCmQe9i2HDygoVJS_T91emNuz0uCtGUSyfzY8c1Xbi6MCaCd_MneTRDtu6hhPYj0s9k4hFiY_MezoKSfsAHIo111_ZVbgT3C9iPFwr0JUFwFy7yl4qgSd38fFeAKMulZbUUxP2eL5xOj0_kprl_904t4GXq5jhidHmvwigSveMMGUisSw/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20215.3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FzW2N3pdQ0hCmQe9i2HDygoVJS_T91emNuz0uCtGUSyfzY8c1Xbi6MCaCd_MneTRDtu6hhPYj0s9k4hFiY_MezoKSfsAHIo111_ZVbgT3C9iPFwr0JUFwFy7yl4qgSd38fFeAKMulZbUUxP2eL5xOj0_kprl_904t4GXq5jhidHmvwigSveMMGUisSw/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20215.3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpxouOdJ-cWr6WNGbBZL14gvfNrweK8wbZikT4jhUMPcuqS_2QWk51pkVFXLQRmdT6mV_Ony08haQK7ZyYzd9HYF0_Wjz97JrY-s7-aPJq_U6wAL5aH0lQwaAF-LCCMugmR8z5eA71QmvWib9jUjD3U7Ff3plWgTbtM9YEkN0sX1VOSLAfbTXv_BGlV4/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20215.2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpxouOdJ-cWr6WNGbBZL14gvfNrweK8wbZikT4jhUMPcuqS_2QWk51pkVFXLQRmdT6mV_Ony08haQK7ZyYzd9HYF0_Wjz97JrY-s7-aPJq_U6wAL5aH0lQwaAF-LCCMugmR8z5eA71QmvWib9jUjD3U7Ff3plWgTbtM9YEkN0sX1VOSLAfbTXv_BGlV4/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20215.2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><i>Baker Street Elementary</i></b><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> follows the original adventures of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, as they and their friends work through the issues of elementary school in Victorian London. An archive of all previous episodes can be viewed at the <a href="https://www.dfw-sherlock.org/baker-street-elementary.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Baker Street Elementary website</a></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">.</span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyHxoov2AdCNzI-sA382WHyzmCYKmU5vuVxxUUbwgmzd_zESpxNTWBoDo-0BOUVmZPf0EpIOXFT9y59il288HBvx1-_JJJXxHhZAn2orzWJPWbYZasKlLBplbQMHDaY9thgs_w1diI7ch/s1600/Baker+Street+Elementary.jpg" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyHxoov2AdCNzI-sA382WHyzmCYKmU5vuVxxUUbwgmzd_zESpxNTWBoDo-0BOUVmZPf0EpIOXFT9y59il288HBvx1-_JJJXxHhZAn2orzWJPWbYZasKlLBplbQMHDaY9thgs_w1diI7ch/s640/Baker+Street+Elementary.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Baker Street Elementary – Off to Violin-Land

“Holmes would talk about nothing but violins” [CARD]  Does the quality of an instrument affect the ability of the player? Marketers of high-...

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by I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

Tips for Making the Most of the BSI Weekend

<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">“</span><b>Let me have the straight tip and you won't be a loser</b><span style="text-align: left;">”</span><b> [SILV] </b></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFYYwNkDcFee52TLetezTvrjJuCKXcoJ8tRTmgBBmyA6s8xbAhLwknSBTpj-Pkrx6jpEyFqM9xEg-CaN-pHP8mPZatyZtGZm8Rqasu7Kb8BZSgUSpY_ZdFEBKopS_ZrYAzONcuAGPHOHA/s1600/BSI+logo+full.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFYYwNkDcFee52TLetezTvrjJuCKXcoJ8tRTmgBBmyA6s8xbAhLwknSBTpj-Pkrx6jpEyFqM9xEg-CaN-pHP8mPZatyZtGZm8Rqasu7Kb8BZSgUSpY_ZdFEBKopS_ZrYAzONcuAGPHOHA/s640/BSI+logo+full.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: center;">With the </span><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bsiweekend.com" target="_blank">BSI Weekend</a></b><span style="text-align: center;"> coming up in January, we thought it might be helpful to provide a series of tips for the veteran attendees and the newbies alike.</span><br /><br />The <a href="https://bsiweekend.com" target="_blank">Baker Street Irregulars Weekend</a> is happening January 7–11, 2026, and it's usually a pretty big deal if you're taking time out of your life to head into New York City for three or more days of activities with people you haven't seen in a year (or years!) or those you may have only known online until now.<div><br /></div><div>Whether you're making the trip for the first or twenty-first time, you know that the Weekend provides the same level of excitement, anticipation, and giddiness as Christmas morning does to a child.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6OGNTJ9y_alsmGZ4itwvxut6FnZFBQOLkk-N2WkkKYRjWi6VhW3taPMuwHbm71ZOdynxKBFX43yxwG0F0HkBqsQx3Z1pc4kiIezeMXQG6zPdPVmG4FPv6y_wsBc8QavGdfNnOZ680d6u/s1600/TWIS+Hugh+Boone.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6OGNTJ9y_alsmGZ4itwvxut6FnZFBQOLkk-N2WkkKYRjWi6VhW3taPMuwHbm71ZOdynxKBFX43yxwG0F0HkBqsQx3Z1pc4kiIezeMXQG6zPdPVmG4FPv6y_wsBc8QavGdfNnOZ680d6u/s320/TWIS+Hugh+Boone.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="https://www.amateurmendicantsociety.com/" target="_blank">Amateur Mendicants</a> welcome too!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It's usually during those anxious moments that our brain-attic tends to forget some of the essentials that help make a great trip perfect. And for the uninitiated, it's just a matter of not knowing what you need to survive the BSI Weekend.<br /><br />This marks <b>13 years</b> since we began sharing these tips — the <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2012/12/a-suggestion-perhaps-houn_28.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">first of which</a> was inspired by interviewing several members of the Baker Street Irregulars — including some newer members who might have a less distant memory of their first Weekend, and some who have been at it literally for decades. Information has been updated to reflect changes in the city as well as in technology.</div><div><br /><br />And if there are any additional tips that you think would be helpful to attendees, please feel free to add your own as a comment below. And if you'd like a sense of what it's like, listen to <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose74" target="_blank">Episode 74</a>:<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/191368218&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br /><br />Herewith are the suggestions:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><h3>Bags 🧳</h3><ul><li>Make sure that you have plenty of room to bring home books that you buy. If you have to bring an extra bag that you can fold up and put in your suitcase, do so. </li><li>Some suggest bringing a plastic shopping bag to the BSI dinner, as it makes carrying the dinner packet around a little easier, especially if you plan to go to another venue afterward. </li><li>You might also consider <b>bringing a shopping bag to the Merchants Room</b> on Saturday to carry your various purchases. Not all merchants provide bags; carting away your haul is <i>your</i> responsibility. And you <i>do</i> want a haul, don't you?</li></ul><br /><h3>Meeting Others 📇</h3><ul><li>Bring business cards (a quaint tradition). You will be meeting a lot of new people, and you will be sharing contact information. Put as many as you think that you will need in your pack, and then double it. And be sure to include all modes of contacting you, including website, social media, etc. </li><li>If you're in need of a good card, the <a href="http://moo.com/">Moo</a> does a splendid job and <a href="http://vistaprint.com/">VistaPrint</a> has a fast turnaround time. </li><li>If you want to make sure you get your table mates to sign your menu, bring a pen to the dinner.</li><ul><li><b><i>Pro tip</i></b>: there's usually a pen in the dinner packet.</li></ul><li>Allow yourself time to schmooze with other Sherlockians. This is the fastest way to make new friends, who will quickly become old friends. </li></ul><br /><h3>Comportment / Etiquette 🤝</h3><ul><li><b>Do</b> tell people how good it is to see them again — or how lovely it is to meet them for the first time after having known them only online. </li><li><b>Do</b> tell them that you miss them in the intervening months between BSI weekends. </li><li><b>Do</b> tell them how invaluable they are to you as a Sherlockian comrade-in-arms and friend and how much you value their friendship. </li><li>If this is your first time at the Weekend or at an event, <b>ask questions</b> if you're unsure of something, are curious, or would like to understand more. As in <i>The Valley of Fear</i>, "certain rites, and also certain duties" may be involved, and it may not be clear why.</li><li>If you're scheduled to speak at an event, be mindful not to overdo the alcohol beforehand. Dutch courage is usually inappropriate in such circumstances. </li><li>In this hyper-connected world, it's easy to forget that there are those attending the weekend for whom "it is always 1895" — or nearly so. When you're taking photographs, please be mindful of those who are firmly rooted in the 20th (or 19th!) century and who might not want to appear on your timeline by <u>asking their permission</u> to share your photos of them online. Common courtesy is timeless.</li><li>Please be kind to anyone helping you from the BSI and wider Sherlockian community. We're all volunteers, doing this out of the kindness of our hearts. Your kindness, patience, and understanding will go a long way.</li></ul><div><br /></div><h3>Attire 🥿 🧥</h3><ul><li>Bring comfortable shoes. The weekend inevitably includes a lot of walking. </li><li>This one is especially for the ladies: it's useful to have a change of shoes in your handbag so the stilettos don't murder you by the end of the evening (or vice versa). </li><li>Bring warm clothes. It is winter in New York, and non-Sherlockian New York friends say they know when we are in town because we bring really bad weather. </li><li>Dress in layers. Many times, the weather can be cold, but there have been instances in New York in January when we could — and did — comfortably walk about the streets without even a jacket on. </li></ul><br /><h3>Money 💰</h3><ul><li>Bring small bills. They will come in handy as you share taxis going from place to place, and you’ll find them handy when tipping helpful service employees. It is also customary to leave a tip for your housecleaning staff at the hotel.</li><ul><li><b><i>Pro tip</i></b>: We prefer withdrawing $2 bills from the bank and bringing them with us to make things extra efficient when entering or exiting doors and taxis.</li></ul><li>Bring a checkbook (or cash!) to the Merchants Room, as not everyone there takes credit cards (yet) and you may find an item you must have. </li><li>If you see something you're interested in at the Merchants Room and you can afford it, don't wait until your second sweep of the room — it will probably be gone by then.</li><li>Most of the vendors in the Merchants Room are very kind and understanding people, and many are also collectors or Sherlockians themselves. If you would care to haggle with them, they're likely open to it. It can't hurt to ask.</li><li>The BSI and Wessex Press tables accept <b>credit cards, PayPal and Apple Pay</b>.</li><li>Estimate, on the top side, what you expect to spend — and then double it. That might get you through. 💸</li></ul><br /><h3>Time 🕰️</h3><ul><li>If you have any health conditions, allow yourself time to go back to your hotel room for periodic rests. Many find these rests invaluable, enabling them to enjoy the weekend despite their condition. Schedule your time. </li><li>Know when you need to be places (including when you need to catch the train/plane back home). </li><li>Count on it taking some time to get a cab amongst the other Sherlockians who may be headed to the same events as you.</li><li>Alternatively, download a ride-hailing app (such as <b>Uber </b>or <b>Lyft, </b>or <b>Curb </b>for taxis) to help you avoid these waits. <b>See below for more details and a way to save money on rides</b>.</li></ul><br /><h3>Getting Around 🚕 🚇 🚶</h3><ul><li>Hey, Magellan, guess what? You have the power of a global satellite navigation system in the palm of your hand. That is, if you have a smartphone. Google Maps or Apple Maps are indispensable for getting around, by foot, taxi, or public transportation.</li><li>If you want something customized to New York, there are other apps to choose from: <a href="https://citymapper.com/nyc" target="_blank">Citymapper</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=guide.unitedstates.newyork.prod&hl=en_US&gl=US" target="_blank">New York Guide for Android</a> and iOS has the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/new-york-travel-guide-offline/id319296365?mt=8">New York Travel Guide and Offline Map</a>.</li></ul><ul><li>If you don't like using the map app on your phone, print out a street map of the city with the places you need to be circled or otherwise identified. Many things are within walking distance, but it is good to know you are starting out in the right direction (or know when to turn). </li><li>Download and print Monica Schmidt's <b><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sdjyiMn4hWp-3iVqImETafEgbrylo_ufMgqiKE2aSBw/edit?fbclid=IwY2xjawOK3mFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeEXCN35IE1fxQmeVISoe4LFDc8dJ_wt8NYC2dG-PUqu4K8DoN7I3i85LlCrw_aem_rHGiHFJCgVQDw5Sw97-TKw&tab=t.0" target="_blank">handy schedule</a></b>, particularly if you're more visually inclined. It's a nice grid. </li></ul><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhalssA5h6bHIv-uPJDeNhkIGQOBS8dppo8kzALF3m0vj1oj2j4Ka-QcV_4ZgUYE56xHY4Tk3O9WdnfUymdk70-Sc1ZU-8siWzA9rttiqPFdVIzggebowrfMMKuXO6Kb0pyxMHw0ZbxuzcC3N5tDpAfpPUkppDYrPv_pohAMEeIebrwWHYx8WQQXbCpm1kb" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="796" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhalssA5h6bHIv-uPJDeNhkIGQOBS8dppo8kzALF3m0vj1oj2j4Ka-QcV_4ZgUYE56xHY4Tk3O9WdnfUymdk70-Sc1ZU-8siWzA9rttiqPFdVIzggebowrfMMKuXO6Kb0pyxMHw0ZbxuzcC3N5tDpAfpPUkppDYrPv_pohAMEeIebrwWHYx8WQQXbCpm1kb=w400-h299" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click image to enlarge; <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sdjyiMn4hWp-3iVqImETafEgbrylo_ufMgqiKE2aSBw/edit?fbclid=IwY2xjawOL2plleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe8341Ut7X2Dk21oANHvAiIYjknyq-drMTQCOpy2mJTEM9UaU7dyzARraHH6o_aem_yjmqXMtVYTvEIo0oFBUyyw&tab=t.0" target="_blank">click here</a> to open document</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><ul><li>If you want to go to Otto Penzler's <a href="http://mysteriousbookshop.com/" target="_blank">Mysterious Bookshop</a> and are staying at The Westin Grand Central Hotel, the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to go is by subway. From Grand Central take a <b>4</b> or <b>5</b> express train <b>two</b> stops to <b>Brooklyn Bridge Station</b>; it is a very short walk over to Otto's. Don't take a local (which makes 10 stops). The express is about five minutes. </li><li>Download the <b>The Official MTA App</b> from the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mymta/id1297605670?mt=8">App Store</a> or <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.mta.mymta&hl=en">Google Play</a> for navigating the subway. </li><li>Beginning in 2026, New York City subways will transition away from MetroCards to OMNY cards or payments with physical and digital debit and credit cards. You can already use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or your touchless credit card to pay at the turnstile.</li></ul><ul><li>Download a ride-hailing app such as <a href="https://lyft.com/i/SCOTT726787" target="_blank">Lyft</a>, Uber, or <a href="https://my.gocurb.com/invite85u83u" target="_blank">Curb</a>. </li><ul><li>If you'd like a code for <b>Lyft</b>, <a href="https://lyft.com/i/SCOTT726787">click here</a> to sign up and receive a $5 credit towards rides.</li><li>For <b>Uber</b>, you can get a 50% discount on your first two rides (up to $10 each) by <a href="https://referrals.uber.com/refer?id=26ayuga4aant" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</li><li><b>For NYC taxis, </b><a href="https://my.gocurb.com/invite85u83u" target="_blank">download the Curb app</a> to get $5 when you create an account. You can either request a cab with it, or when you're in a cab simply enter a 7-digit code displayed in the cab and it will pair with your device.</li></ul></ul><br /><h3>Logistics 📝</h3><ul><li>Bring your event payment confirmations, just in case of a glitch in the system. </li><li>Also, everything is pretty centrally located, but it's a good idea to have a list of your schedule with the addresses of the venues so that you don't suddenly find yourself asking, where the devil am I supposed to be right now? </li><li>The heat during the BSI dinner has been uncomfortable in years past in the Yale Club (potentially dangerously uncomfortable a few years ago) – if this happens again, vests/waistcoats are not advised. Unless you're <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcaric/8379354330/">Mattias Bostrom</a>. </li></ul><br /><h3>The Unscheduled 📅</h3><ul><li>If possible, make breakfast plans with other Sherlockians (unless you prefer to eat breakfast alone — saving energy for later conversations).</li><li>To some, the secret to enjoying the jam-packed weekend is to find private, unpublicized events for more intimate interactions. How to find these? “<i>You know my methods. Apply them</i>.” </li></ul><br /><h3>Dining 🍽️</h3>What? You’re not getting enough food between events? Thankfully there are gaps that allow a Sherlockian to venture places on his or her own. And of course, there are plenty of restaurants in and near Grand Central Station, which is in great proximity to the Yale Club and the Westin Grand Central Hotel.<br /><ul><li>The restaurant scene in NYC has changed drastically during the pandemic. Some old favorites may no longer be there; some may have restricted hours or dining arrangements.</li><li>Check <b><a href="https://www.opentable.com/landmark/restaurants-near-grand-central-station" target="_blank">Open Table</a></b> for restaurants that take reservations; they offer free booking and allow you to see availability of tables by time and by number of seats. </li><li>Several Sherlockians like to go to the <b><a href="http://www.oysterbarny.com/">Oyster Bar</a></b> for dinner. There are a number of <b><a href="https://www.grandcentralterminal.com/restaurants/" target="_blank">Grand Central Restaurants</a></b> inside. </li><li>For a more comprehensive listing of eateries nearby, check <b><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g60763-d103371-Grand_Central_Terminal-New_York_City_New_York.html" target="_blank">TripAdvisor</a></b>, <b><a href="https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Restaurants+Near+Grand+Central+Station&find_loc=New+York%2C+NY" target="_blank">Yelp</a></b>,</li><li>And heaven forbid, don't forget about the <a href="http://www.redflamenyc.com/">Red Flame</a>, the perennial favorite next door to the Algonquin Hotel on W. 44th Street.</li></ul><br /><h3>Online 📱</h3>Whether you're in New York for the festivities or sequestered at home, it might be worthwhile to follow along online. Some ways to do that:<br /><ul><li>The official hashtag of the BSI Weekend is <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23bsiweekend&src=typd">#BSIWeekend</a>.  </li><li>The Doylean Honors will be held <b>online </b>as well as in person on Thursday, January 8 at 11:15 a.m. EST. <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAtaRx_QhRZEE_PU7HGx4u0ErUTG7r63OwBelTs6LouBcUgw/viewform" target="_blank">Register in advance using this form</a>.</li><li>The Literary Agents will hold their meeting exclusively online on Friday, January 9 at 10:30 a.m. EST. Interested viewers <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZAD1BZn5AR8EzYY7B20TUs0aJAPDjsLSrC_a-igyzl3SzOQ/viewform" target="_blank">will need to register here</a>.</li></ul><br /><br /></div><div>That sums up our list. Do you have tips as well, dear readers? Please leave them in a comment below or drop us a line and let us know what your secrets are so we can all be beneficiaries.<br /><br /><br /><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">--</div></div>

Tips for Making the Most of the BSI Weekend

“ Let me have the straight tip and you won't be a loser ”  [SILV]  With the  BSI Weekend  coming up in January, we thought it might be h...

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by Scott Monty