This year was 221B Con’s 10-year anniversary. How on earth can 10 years have passed already and where is our 6th Season of Benedict Cumberbatch as our venerable detective? Have no fear Cumberbunnies, he is still out there playing wonderful characters, just not as good as Sherlock, but I digress. As always, arrival on Thursday evening is the best choice so you can sit in restaurant/bar area to greet all your friends from past cons as they filter in, catch up with said friends, make new friends, and, if you’re lucky, listen to the witty banter of Curtis Armstrong and Ashley Polasek. Bonus, this year Paul Thomas Miller even crossed the pond to be with us, what a treat! I bet you wish you had come, but have no fear you can live vicariously right here, provided you can make sense of my silliness. Off we pop then!
Friday morning is a free day waiting to check in. Lucky me got to go to Waffle House for
breakfast with Baron von Bork and crew (that would be Paul, Brad, Madeline,
Heather, was Shana there? I feel like I’m missing someone!) Not just ANY Waffle House, we have
standards! Only those recommended by
Steve Mason, Waffle House connoisseur. I
have my Waffle House Investiture to prove it (not the BSI investiture, I am
working on that one, or planning for that one, or hoping for that one…insert
shameless plug here…I wouldn’t say no!).
Blah, blah, blah, some stuff happened, and then we were ready to check in and get that coveted program (ooo, look at that pretty art by Sebastian Broome). As usual, the amount of panels to choose from was exceptional, from standard canon topics, to fan fiction, world building and writing, random fandom discussions (not random…I just liked the rhyme there) from Good Omens (All Hail Gaiman!) to Star Wars, and all the detective talk you could ever want, including some good old Enola Holmes.
Friday night I chose to attend “The Crimes of Sherlock
Holmes”, a discussion led by an actual lawyer (who knew we had so many lawyers
*wink, wink*). We got to vote as a jury
on his guilt for various and sundry crimes.
Some people wanted him hanged at every turn, whereas others of us
(possibly me) would have been disqualified as jurors as we could see nothing
criminal in any of Holmes’ activities (e.g. they had to break in, they heard a
baby crying). Overall, quite the lively
discourse, but I think the prosecutor was slightly disappointed in the majority
of us.
Another absolute requirement on the Friday evening docket was
the screening of Sherlock Holmes & Dinosaurs, what is the ACTUAL name of
the movie? Hmmm….not important. The important thing is that it is on the Doyle’s
Rotary Coffin movie list for very good reasons, so many reasons….dinosaurs. No spoilers here, all I can say is make sure
your disbelief is well suspended before watching, as if “Sherlock and Dinosaurs”
did not imply this.
To wrap up the first night….karaoke!!! Yes, I sang. Yes, Brad sang and before US
there were some very impressive singers.
One small piece of advice, BEFORE you sign up for karaoke make sure you
bring some extra alcohol to keep your nerve up OR pick a song that everyone
will sing with you. I did neither or those things (audible sigh, lesson
probably not learned).
Saturday, I actually got up early enough to make that secret
meeting in the secret room (some of you know what I mean, *more winks*). Then attended the “221B Con Turns Ten” panel
where we learned some fun facts about the Con’s origins and the group’s ability
to clear out the bar year after year. On
a very sad note, “Covered in Bees” was cancelled because the hotel's bees died.
I think it was the few freezes that hit Atlanta if I remember correctly. Very sad for all of us bee supporters. I truly hope they can establish another
colony. If the bees didn’t have you
crying, the montage at the end definitely did.
On to the Scarlet Threat of Venery led by Marilynne McKay. If you are unfamiliar with what this topic
entails, google it with caution. I personally was very glad I ate earlier, but
overall a very enlightening panel on the medicine, or lack thereof, in
Victorian times. “The Worst Sherlock”
was next. Ironically or probably wisely,
the panel leaders opted not to show for and frankly, I had to leave as I have
clearly chosen Will Ferrell as the worst and I will not entertain any other
option. If you disagree, fight me. I choose
one stick.
The annual Costume Exhibition was as usual a really good time with some great cosplays. Picture included for you to figure out all those references.
Dracula Daily panel was another great discussion. Of course I signed up for the daily emails,
because what Sherlockian doesn’t like a good chronology? And who doesn’t love vampires? Except for that one from Sussex. I mean, what kind of vampire lives in the
SUNNY part of England? Probably that
sparkly kind *shudder*.
Somewhere, in the middle of all that, I ate at the #fudtruck
and made it to the vendor’s room. Somehow
I managed to not spend a fortune, despite all the fan art, books, costumes,
journals….so many pretty, pretty things.
I got a few books (thank you Brad Keefauver and Paul Thomas Miller, I
can’t wait to read them!), a fairy tale tarot set with some amazing Japanese
art because no one can have too many tarot sets, right? And, one of my favorites, the “Major Holmes
and Captain Watson” graphic novel (https://cloudwranglerstore.com/collections/major-holmes-captain-watson
). I think, nay, I know I chose well.
And then, for some reason, I thought Ballroom Dancing, I
will be good at that. I might have had a
drink or two before this thought occurred to me, possibly more, who’s counting
at this point anyway? Unfortunately for me, counting was involved, one step
forward, one step to the side, wait, forward is leading right? Do I go to the right or to the left? As you
can see the lessons didn’t take. Thank goodness I had a pretty good partner who
could lead because I can only follow…in dancing, who knew? Those of you who know me will see the irony in
this. I think by the end I was doing some kind of line dance, at least I tried.
This led to being tired of dancing by the time the dance
party rolled around. This worked out great because all the cool kids were in
Mrs. Hudson’s room, not dancing. And
when you tell someone the bar is closed and they say, “That’s OK, I have a
bottle of Johnny Walker Black. Would you
like some?” The only answer is, “Yes!
Please!” We may have done a podcast for
the John H Watson Society, I’m not really sure how much I helped. Listen for yourself, it is on the web. Fun was had by all and no Sherlockians were
harmed in the taking of these pictures!
Sunday morning came and I did not manage to get out of bed until, let’s just say late, therefore, missing all the early panels. I don’t know what happened (*Mrs. Hudson’s room shenanigans may have gone late, alcohol was definitely involved, we were definitely NOT clueing for looks so I guess we will never know*). I recovered in time to attend the “Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes, Baker Street Irregulars and other Sherlockian Societies” panel, which gave a little history of those fine societies. We also had a guest from the Atlanta Scion, The Wisteria Lodge, wearing a lovely Victorian costume. If you are interested in learning more on the group, here is their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AtlantaSherlockHolmesSociety/.
My last panel was the highly anticipated “Brown Studies with
Ashely & Curtis: The Worst Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” in kilts, because
who doesn’t take an opportunity to wear a kilt.
They quite fine together. An
entertaining discussion of the casebook ensued and why it is underrated or bad?
I took no notes and vaguely remember the fine details. I do remember I was
thoroughly entertained. I could listen to Ashley and Curtis talk for hours
about whatever and never get tired of it. I hope they do this every year. If
they do and I write another blog post, I promise I will catch some witty
quotes, I promise…really.
Sadly, it came time for “Our Last Bow” where the organizers wrap up the year, take comments and say goodbye until next year. Congratulations to the Crystal, Heather and all the lovely people who helped to organize this event on 10 years of giving us the most quirky, jam packed full weekends of Sherlock fandom fun there can be in Atlanta, including all the floor bacon you can handle, begging the question, is there ever enough floor bacon? This is where I will leave you as well, with the hope that I will see you there in 2024. I’m already signed up and if all of the above sounded like the blast it was you should too! Go, do it now, we will be waiting (see Brad’s look of disbelief that you haven’t signed up yet).
