Sherlock: Well, I’m certainly not cleaning that up. It was in honor of me after all.

A bit bleary-eyed after the Sherlock Holmes Appreciation Assembly, but surprisingly upright (it was at the library so no alcohol). I’m not certain that will be the case if the BBC Sherlock Marathon I was conned into offering actually happens within the next 3 weeks. Someone already mentioned everyone bringing wine.

Meanwhile, a Big Sherlock Holmes Appreciation Assembly Shout Out to the following:

THANK YOU

Teresa Schmid for helping set up, staying all day and making the tea table look so lovely (I ended up with a 100 extra fairy cakes/cupcakes that are heading to the Food Bank or the homeless shelter.)

Becky Maltbie and Cora Pond (no relation to Amelia apparently) for helping to tear down and load the Prius (why yes, it does get great gas mileage but it also does a smashing impersonation of a station wagon). I actually made it to bed before 10 p.m.

Linty Hopie for the loan of the air pot (I’m having the last of the coffee as I type and it’s still hot!).

Mary Brelsford for the loan of several thermoses and for coming in the afternoon and joining The Great Game discussion.

I’d also like to thank the folks who offered prizes (even though we didn’t get to give all of them away, alas. We’ll start sooner next year and give folks more time for costuming, cosplay and artwork entries.

Donors included:

Odyssey Bookes, Port Angeles, WA (2 tickets to the Steampunk Ball)

Port Book and News, Port Angeles, WA (a gift card)

Steampunk Holmes (a copy of The Legacy of the Nautilus)

Our video winner was Heidi Berthiuame of Plano, TX.

We also gave out a couple of age-appropriate prizes to two young boys who came with their family, but they were so excited after watching The Great Mouse Detective and checking out a library book that they raced off before I could get their names (I suspect the fairy cakes and biscuits may have something to do with their energy…)

Jeremy Brett was the winner of Best Sherlock in the traditional category. Basil Rathbone was a close second.

Benedict Cumberbatch was the hands-down winner in the alternate universe category.

Martin Freeman and Jude Law were tied for the Best Watson, while it was universally agreed that prior to the 21st Century, the Watsons were portrayed as too bumbling and dense compared to the character in the canon who was both a man of letters, a trained physician and a cosmopolitan military veteran. (Personally, I argued that Martin Freeman is the Best Watson Ever!)

Attendance was small (around 20 people) but we had some Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts who had a lot of fun discussing and debating the relative merits of various stories and incarnations, shared favorite pastiche novels, and expressed delight in finding others in the area. We also had a number of Sherlock Holmes newbies who were startled to find out that this entire world was out there. A number of folks were introduced to the art of well, fan art, as well as fan videos, fanfic, and Tumblr (although after fielding a question on the Sherlock/John relationship, I did provide a lot of caution about Spoilers and graphic artwork and content…)

Anyway, I’ve got a lot of things to put away and return today. And then I have to turn to class prep for next week.

Happy Sherlock Holmes Week and thank you to everyone for your support!

p.s. Photos going up shortly. I have to find the cameras…