Monday, January 2, 2023

Sherlock Holmes's Birthday Night at the Dangling Prussian

 "My dear sir, if you did anything so foolish you would probably enlarge the too limited titles of our village inns by giving us 'The Dangling Prussian' as a signpost."

-- Sherlock Holmes, "His Last Bow"

Ah, that Prussian who dangles, the symbol of potential foolishness called out by Sherlock Holmes. The very thought of a German shouting at British villagers and those crowds suddenly becoming the most hostile audience his vocalizations could possible have. And holding an event on January 6 in the year 2023, now that the date "January 6" in America evokes the memory riotous weirdos attacking an institution. Who in their right mind would create an event that combines all of that?

Well, a theme's a theme, and since it's the SECOND ANNUAL "Pub Night at the Dangling Prussian," we have to keep it, right? It's the six hour marathon of Zooming for everyone who isn't doing something else the night of the Baker Street Irregulars dinnner in New York City. It's Sherlock Holmes's birthday, and his fans have to celebrate. So let's look at what we have on tap . . . though it's virtual, so this pub doesn't actually have a tap. (Sad face.)

6:00 PM Eastern/5:00 PM Central -- Happy Hour, Welcomes, and Ice Breakers! 

You can come in silent and off camera, but if you come in with your camera on, we're going to introduce you around and ask you a question or two. (We'll be doing this later, too, but if there's some other program going on, we might miss your arrival.)

7:00 PM Eastern/6:00 PM Central -- The Old-Timey Sherlockian Rememberin' Hour!

Remember the '70s and '80s? This will be an hour for folks to tell their tales, if you can get your fellow oldsters to quit jabberin' about their own old-timey stories long enough to get yours in! Questions from young punks encouraged! This hour will kick off with a slide show from an authentic old-timey Sherlockian, because the slide show is the traditional medium of personal nostalgia.

8:00 PM Eastern/7:00 PM Central -- The Official Annual Meeting of the Montague Street Incorrigibles!

Can't get into the Baker Street Irregulars? Willing to accept a cheap knock-off brand with a similar name? Last year the Incorrigibles invested thirty-nine new members and awarded them their own PDF membership certificate, so with that kind of wholesale membership investitures, you're sure to get into the club -- but you can only do it on this one night of the year by attending this one event! Toasts and other official meeting stuff shall also occur!

9:00 PM Eastern/8:00 PM Central -- Open Mike Spotlight Hour!

Will anyone have the courage to sing Sherlockian karaoke? Will the slam poets among us be brave enough to take the virtual stage? Will Professor Presbury return to do something vaguely resembling stand-up comedy? Or will nothing at all happen, because we're all shy bookworms or lost our voice due to long Covid? It's an open mike, it's all up to you and whatever you'd like to do for our crowd in five minutes or under! [DISCLAIMER: The word "crowd" is being used very loosely here. It's not that many people.] Just spend 2.21 minutes telling us how much you like Mrs. Hudson, it's all fair game in this hour. (AND NONE OF IT WILL BE RECORDED!!!)

10:00 PM Eastern/9:00 PM Central -- The Sherlockian Underground Reports!

We all have our spies in New York City this weekend, many risking stern rebukes for slipping us information via banned channels. We'll be finding out all the news we can as quickly as we can, and you'll hear it here first! Last year we beat Twitter, and we'll see if we can do it again!

WANT A REGISTRATION LINK FOR ALL OF THIS? HERE YOU GO!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpdeGsqD4rE9UoDfVT2VRsd2Smhk0HXtBL 

We'll never know if Baron Von Bork did anything so foolish as inspiring a pub called the Dangling Prussian as Sherlock Holmes promised, but foolishness cannot be stopped.  Friday Night is coming on quickly! 

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