by Dana
As Fellow Fatale Mary mentioned in her recent post, last Sunday was the U.S. premiere of the third season of BBC's “Sherlock.” I've been a fan of the show since Season One, and a fan of Sherlock Holmes' adventures since I first read them many (many!) years ago. Which is part of the reason why, last weekend, I was in New York City for the 80th Annual Baker Street Irregulars and Friends Weekend. 
I first encountered the BSI Weekend several years ago, when I went to the dealers room to get my copy of A Study in Sherlock signed. I realized that some of my favorite people in the world were there, discussing a topic dear to my heart. I needed to be a part of this! (Right: BSI members Jan Burke, SJ Rozan, and Marilynne McKay)
The Baker Street Irregulars (or BSI) take their name from the street urchins employed by Sherlock Holmes to collect information; they could move throughout London and largely be ignored. The modern group is dedicated to the study of Holmes and the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; membership is by invitation only. The weekend (apart from the Annual Dinner) however is open to anyone interested in participating.
Thursday I attended the Distinguished Lecture and the Daintiest Thing Under a Bonnet Charity Ball, put on by the Baker Street Babes (podcasters extraordinaire) to raise money and awareness for The Wounded Warrior Project (remember, Dr. Watson was invalided out from his service in Afghanistan). I did some bidding, and came home with a very nice second edition of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
Friday was the Gillette Memorial Luncheon, named in honor of the playwright and actor who defined the look of Holmes on stage. Good food and conversation abounded!
Friday evening, I had the very great honor of being invited to the Dinner this year as a guest. While I 
didn't know what to expect, I had advice from friends to guide me as well as Lyndsay Faye's description of the toasts, rituals, songs, and memorials. It was a splendid evening, and the highlight was definitely getting to see the new members of the BSI given their “shilling,” as they were inducted into the society. Among these were my friends, mystery writer SJ Rozan (who was given the name “The Imperial Palace of Peking”) and Jacquelynn Morris, now known as “The Lion's Mane,” who is the organizer of the wonderful “Scintillation of Scions.” (Right: Jacquelynn and me)
(It was at SOS that I presented a paper on the Baker Street Irregulars as a branch of the secret service in World War II; I also met the most excellent Kristina (right, one of the Baker Street Babes) and (center and left) Crystal and Heather (two of the founders of 221BCon). I also met Michael Quigley there (below), who was also a first-time guest at this year's Dinner. The terrific thing about the Holmesian community is how you can see friends through the year at different events.)
But when I mentioned above that my enthusiasm for Holmes and 
Conan Doyle was only part of the reason for me attending the weekend. The other is the people. At every event I attend through the BSI Weekends, everyone I meet is enthusiastic, informed, and friendly. It is easy to be sociable with this group who can converse knowledgeably on every topic under the sun, from antique jewelry and acting, to fandoms and physics, to libraries and historical research. And underpinning it all is a love of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. I'm already looking forward to 2015!
If you didn't see it, there was a great piece on the enduring popularity of Sherlock Holmes--featuring some of the folks I mention (and, left, Jen, who is in her wonderful SH costume in the piece)--here.
So, readers: What is your favorite story from the canon--or pastiche? Favorite actor? Favorite memory?
LOOK AT THAT DRESS!!! Whoa.
Posted by: Hank Phillippi Ryan | January 24, 2014 at 07:46 AM
Oh, too many favorites... wait, I have to read this post again. It's fascinating! Dana--what a terrific weekend.
Posted by: Hank Phillippi Ryan | January 24, 2014 at 07:47 AM
Hound of the Baskervilles is my favorite, followed by the Blue Carbuncle.
Congrats on joining the BSI. In my hometown of St. Louis, they keep a section of highway clean and I'm reminded of their good work every time I drive it.
Posted by: Elaine Viets | January 24, 2014 at 08:44 AM
Hank, just my thought!! I was trying to think of Sherlock, but was blindsided by Dana in that dress...phenomenal!
Posted by: Beth Simpson | January 24, 2014 at 10:04 AM
Scrubbed up! That is a dress and a half, Dana.
I've got so many favourite SH bits - but here's my unfavourite. In the Alfred Hitchcock and Three Investigators book The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot, the parrot says "To to to be or not to to to be . . ." and this is supposed to be a clue to Sherlock's Baker Street address - 222b. Words failed me then and fail me now.
Posted by: catriona | January 24, 2014 at 10:23 AM
Hank, Beth, and Catriona--Thank you very much! As for it being a 'dress and a half,' someone jokingly pointed out that part was missing. If I'd been cleverer, I would have said, "Yes, well I was told it was 10% off."
Elaine, The Blue Carbuncle seems to be at the top of many "favorite" lists. And while I was honored with an invite to dinner, I'm not a member. "Joining in with the BSI" would work, though!
Catriona...oy. Just...no, words fail me too.
Posted by: Dana Cameron | January 24, 2014 at 10:54 AM
See, I told you your dress sounded perfect for the BSI dinner -- and it was! Thanks for the shoutout -- fun to be photographed with new friends and see old ones here. It was a great weekend...my liver is only now recovering.
Favorite story is SCAN (Irene), novel is STUD (because SH & JW meeting), Scariest story is SPEC, novel is HOUN.
Posted by: Marilynne McKay | January 24, 2014 at 11:19 AM
My favorite Holmes story is "The Adventure of the Red-Headed League." Glad you had such a great time, Dana. Fabulous dress!
Posted by: krisneri | January 24, 2014 at 01:19 PM
Thanks for the mention, Dana. Spending time with you and mutual friends -- especially our wild evening with SJ -- made a wonderful week all the better.
Posted by: Jan Burke | January 24, 2014 at 01:29 PM
Your advice was excellent, Marilynne! Thank you again! So terrific to see you again, and I love the pic with you, Jan, and SJ. :)
Thanks, Kris! It was a blast!
My pleasure, Jan--so thrilled we could spend so much time together. Yes, SJ, you, and I totally ROARED through the Upper East Side, swashbuckling our way through museums and vegan restaurants. :)
BTW, all: I've been obsessed with Mycroft Holmes lately, so I've been re-re-re-reading "The Greek Interpreter", "The Final Problem", "The Empty House" and "The Bruce-Partington Plans."
Posted by: Dana Cameron | January 24, 2014 at 02:03 PM
Don't you love, in the last week's Sherlock, the GIant Rat of SUmatra reference? Or am I over-thinking?
Posted by: Hank Phillippi Ryan | January 26, 2014 at 07:22 AM
I am not the expert on Holmes that many of my friends are. However, I remember reading "The Speckled Band" for the first time, and being scared to death; but in an utterly safe way! I loved it.
Posted by: Charlaine Harris | January 26, 2014 at 01:35 PM
LOVED the Speckled Band! Couldn't get away with that story today, though, do you think?
Posted by: Hank Phillippi Ryan | January 26, 2014 at 05:37 PM
No, Hank, it was definitely referring to the Giant Rat of Sumatra! I giggled like crazy.
Charlaine, I think SPEC was my first, too. Very creepy!
Posted by: Dana Cameron | January 27, 2014 at 07:55 AM
DRESS!!!!! Gorgeous.
This looks like such fun. Glad you had a good time. A little different from other book conventions.
SPEC scares me too. I had to walk out of the room the last time we watched the Brett version. when the bedroom scene started, I was out of there!
Posted by: Mary | January 30, 2014 at 04:50 PM