A Sherlockian Weekend in Chicago
The Criterion Bar Association
In the year AS 146 (AD 2000) we were privileged to have
been invited to an official meeting of Chicago's eminent scion, The
Criterion Bar Association. We met at the appointed time and date (March
25, 6:00 PM) in the appointed place (see left below) for the appointed
activities (see center below) where we were greeted by old and new friends
and a real kilt-clad piper! (You know the old saying that the definition
of a real gentleman is a man who knows how to play the bagpipes,
but doesn't!)
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THE VENUE
Healy's Westside Pub 72217 W. Madison St. Forest Park IL |
THE REAL VENUE
The Bar at: Healy's Westside Pub 72217 W. Madison St. Forest Park IL |
The Criterion Bar members and
guests were "piped aboard" with real pipes! (Actually,
the piper belonged to a party being held next door!)
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The meeting at Healy's pub was the fourth in a series of "International" meetings sponsored by the good Cri-Bar folks. This "stop" on the "International Tour" was in Ireland, hence, the venue in an Irish pub. We were informed that the next scheduled meeting on their world famous "International Tour" was to be in an Italian restaurant.
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Cri-Bar members milling about and being sociable.
Elliott Black and Nancy Wrobel seen here in the foreground.
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Don Izban explaining somethng; Susan Diamond
trying to ignore him.
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Carolyn Senter welcomes Ralph Palmer to the
Cri-Bar meeting. (Even though Ralph is from Chicago,
he didn't know about the Cri-Bar until we told him about it.)
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The Cri-Bar's "International Tour" is not only exemplified
by the character of the venue for the meetings, but also by the nature
of the evening's program. After congenial socializing and an excellent
dinner, those assembled were treated to a most unusual presentation
entitled "Sherlock Holmes and the Irish Connection" Delivered
by James Wright, Professor of history at Triton College and an expert
in Irish history.
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The speaker for the evening, Prof. James Wright
who informed us about "Sherlock Holmes and the Irish Connection."
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The Torists International
As luck would have it, on the Monday following the Cri-Bar meeting, another prestigious Chicago scion, The Torists International, were also scheduled to have their regular meeting. The Torists mostly kindly invited us to join them at their meeting, too. Again, we gathered at the appoint place (see left and center below) at the appointed hour.
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Cy's Crab House |
Front Door at
Cy's Crab House 3819 N Ashland Chicago IL |
The Bar at
Cy's Crab House 3819 N Ashland Chicago IL |
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Nancy Wrobel, Torists' illustrious leader,
calls the meeting to order.
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Torists come to order (well, they did quiet
down a little).
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Allan Devitt (left) chats with Ed Christenson
from Merripet House Guests, the Sheboygan scion.
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We were pleased to see Chicago's prominent
Sherlockian, Don Izban, in attendance. On left, we see Don participating
in the program with Paul Smedegaard and Fred Levin in the foreground;
in the center, Don awards well deserved literary prize to Paul
Smedegaard; on the right, Don shares a table with his daughters
Susan & Jennifer (and Carolyn Senter ).
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After a fine dinner of Strip Sirloin, Norwegian Salmon or "Crab and Slab" (King Crab legs with a slab of ribs) the assembled group was treated to a most enlightening presentation by Dr. Franklin Saksena (who also makes terrific Sherlockian crossword puzzles) in which he compared some examples of forensic medicine in Mr. Holmes' time with those used today.
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Dr. Saksena compared forensic medicine in
Victorian times with those used today. It was interesting to speculate
as to how Mr. Holmes might have used modern forensic medicine
to improve his crime detection skills - or would it be possible
to improve Mr. Holmes' skills under any conditions?
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As these things are wont to happen, Joel was approached by Elliott Black just before the Torists' meeting started and instructed to give a toast to his favorite canonical villain. It wasn't easy create a toast on such short notice, and, indeed, not easy to pick one's favorite villain! (think about it). But, in any event, Joel came up with the following:
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To My Favorite Canonical Villain "To your favorite villain," said Elliott Black, |
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*Joel offers a note of thanks to Carolyn for
the final rhyming couplet. Try sometime to come up with a rhyme
for "Cyanea Capillata!"
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We express our sincere gratitude to both the Criterion Bar Association and The Torists International for their warm hospitality. We look forward to another opportunity to visit with these illustrious scions.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45219
<sherlock@sherlock-holmes.com>