|
Sherlock
Holmes and all that Jazz!
|
There are a few genuine Sherlock Holmes
and all that Jazz deerstalkers left over for collectors.
Click here
and take a look.
|
It
started almost as a joke! Your Classic Specialties' host and hostess (Joel
and Carolyn Senter) were sitting at a table with the legendary Don Izban
when Don posed the question, "What do you suppose would happen if
we had a gathering of Sherlockians, who were also Jazz fans, held it in
New Orleans, and called it something like, 'Sherlock Holmes and all
that Jazz?!'' We said, "Don't be ridiculous,
Don, nobody would come all the way to New Orleans for a Sherlockian affair!"
"Bet they will, " said Don. The next thing we knew, The illustrious
Izban had advertised the affair in his Sherlockians by Invitation Only
Society (SBIOS)
award winning newsletter. We called Don and said, "Oh, we see that
you are going to try the SHAATJ gathering in New Orleans?" Sez he,
"No, YOU are." Sure enough, upon examination of his announcement
in the SBIOS newsletter, we find that he had given our address as the
place to write and register for the affair! Since no one (well, almost
no one) ever says "no" to Don Izban, we had to get off our duffs
and hustle to try to make this thing come true - and it was a hustle -
but well worth it! Through the joint efforts of your hosts and that marvelous
Chicago travel agent, John
(Black Jack) Moore (for e-mail, please click his name) we began
to pull this thing together!
|
|
|
|
|
So, after many letters, phone calls, and e-mails, the following intrepid Sherlockians cast their respective lots with us: Aldo and Marian DiBenedetto |
|
Many of our
good Sherlockian friends from Greenville, SC; New York, Indianapolis,
and Nashville, to name a few, couldn't come and were missed as much as
they missed a good time - maybe next year!
|
 |
The Venue
|
 |
|
Through
the influence of that great travel agent, John Moore, we were able to
procure a block of rooms at The French Quarter's famous Le Richelieu hotel
(1234 Chartres St, 70116), so we designated this stately old hotel as
"the convention hotel" for SHAATJ.
|
 |
 |
Welcome,
all!
|
|
A
most inviting lobby!
|
 |
 |
The
pool in the courtyard! Even if you don't swim, this is a great place to
have a cool one, enjoy the flowers, and just bask in the layed-back New
Orleans atmosphere. Le Richelieu serves breakfast, lunch and light dinners
in this courtyard and the adjoining verandah.
|
|
The
first formal gathering of the Sherlock Holmes and all that Jazz attendees
was a wine and cheese social hosted by Carolyn and Joel. Le Richelieu
was kind enough to allow us to hold our "social hour" in the
Paul McCartney suite overlooking Chartres St. Yes, Paul McCartney actually
lived in this suite for two months! Here we began the first (annual?)
meeting of SHAATJ on March 8, 2002
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Ed and Bobbie
Letwenko arrive through the door of the McCartney suite for wine and cheese!
|
Left to right:
John Klein, Katherine Klein, Gord Shriver - all from Atlanta - awaiting
the issuance of their custom SHAATJ deerstalkers.
|
 |
 |
|
Left
to right back row: Aldo
DiBenedetto, Allan Devitt: front row- Don
Izban, Tony Cetera
|
All attendees
at SHAATJ were invited to write a toast to Mr. Holmes's violin. Here Isaabel
Egar reads her toast to the assembled wine and cheesers. Carolyn
supervises; Joel supports the wall.
|
|
 |
|
Clockwise:
Gayle Simnick (back toward camera), Maryjane Kunnath, Isabel Egar, Bobbie
Letwenko, Nancy Wrobel, Susan Diamond
|
Left to right: Gayle Simnick,
June Kinnee, Maryjane Kunnath, |
|
The winner of the "toast to Holmes's violin" toast contest was Gayle Simnick To the Stradivarius The violin that
Holmes would own The old pawnbroker
who kept the store The shopkeeper
had not a clue Then one day that
special one Holmes thought
he got a bargain To soothe his ruffled
spirits Gayle Simnick |
|
This
toast, along with those of the other entrants were published in issue
1, vol. 1 of "The Basin Street Journal" distributed to the SHAATJers
at the wine and cheese gathering. Included in that seminal publication
was also a marvelous essay by Carl Heifetz entitled "The Case of
the Jewish Pawnbroker or How Sherlock Holmes Got His Violin" reprinted
by permission of the author. (Click
here to read Carl's essay)
|
 |
|
After
socializing and enjoying a bit of wine and cheese, the group set out on
the short walk (special facilities were provided for those having mobility
difficulties) along charming Decatur Street, past the statue of Joan d'
Arc, and the Jackson Brewing Company, to the landing on the Mississippi
where New Orleans's only steamboat was docked. Passage for SHAATJ had
been booked aboard the Natchez for a jazz cruise and elegant buffet!
|
 |
 |
|
Carolyn passes
jazz cruise tickets to the SHAATJers.
|
The Atlanta
delegation on the banks of the mighty, muddy Mississippi.
|
 |
 |
|
Don Izban,
Nancy Wrobel, Susan Diamond, and Allan Devitt sport their SHAATJ deerstalkers
while waiting on the levee to disembark. (photo courtesy of Gord Shriver)
|
SHAATJers
queue up on the riverbank.
|
 |
 |
|
Everyone
poses for their official Sherlock Holmes and all that Jazz group picture
beside the riverboat Natchez. (photo courtesy of Martha DalSanto)
|
On board
at last! After the tasty buffet dinner Don Izban, Tony Cetera, and Nancy
Wrobel enjoy the music of . . .
|
 |
 |
|
THE
CRESCENT CITY STOMPERS!!!
|
Don Izban
can never resist getting up to dance when he hears Dixieland music! Susan
Diamond and Bobbie Letwenko look on in amazement!
|
 |
|
The final "official" gathering of Sherlock Holmes and all that Jazz was held at Arnaud's exceptional restaurant on d'Iberville near Bourbon Street. Here we had arranged for the "Jazzers" to order from the special Table d'Hote menu which included: Choice of Followed by Then choice of: For dessert, pick
one: (All preceeded and/or followed by one's choice of a la carte adult beverages!!) WOW! WAS THIS GOOD! |
 |
 |
|
Carolyn chats
with Katherine and John Klein of Atlanta's Confederates of Wisteria Lodge
while awaiting dinner at Arnaud's
|
Our tables
are ready and the SHAATJers assemble to order. Great anticipation is exhibited
by Don Izban (with deerstalker), Joel and Carolyn Senter.
|
 |
 |
|
Chicago's
Ed and Bobbie Letwenko seem to be enjoying the ambiance, company, and
great food at Arnaud's (Photo by Gord Shriver)
|
Music by
Arnaud's Jazz Trio!!
|
 |
 |
|
(L to R)
Al Simnick, Martha DalSanto, Arnaud's Jazz Trio, Don Izban
|
Your host
and hostess partake of a little refreshment after an evening of jazz,
dining, and good Sherlockian fellowship.
|
|
Afterglow
|
 |
 |
|
Although
the last "official" gathering of the 2002 Sherlock Holmes and
all that Jazz Society was the jazz dinner at Arnaud's, some of the attendees
who didn't have to run for their planes, continued to enjoy the delights
of The Crescent City. Sunday morning found a few "die hards"
gathered for a really delightful jazz brunch at The Commander's Palace.
Pictured above (start at 9 O'clock going clockwise) Carolyn Senter, Joel
Senter, Don Izban, Nancy Wrobel, Tony Cetera, Marian DiBenedetto, and
Aldo DiBenedetto.
|
|
|
And,
Finally
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Had we known
about this place before the fact, it would certainly have been on the
itinerary of SHAATJ! On Sunday evening three of those reluctant to leave
The Big Easy (Carolyn, Joel, and Tony Cetera) wandered, quite by accident,
into a delightful little jazz restaurant and bistro on Decatur Street
called "The Palm Court." Left above, The Palm Court Jazz Band
(some of the personnel of this band are also performers at Preservation
Hall); a truly fine musical aggregation for the Dixieland buff! Right
above, Joel Senter pretending to be in "the second line" as
the Palm Court Jazz Band holds forth (umbrellas furnished by the establishment!).
|
|
|
Everyone who attended "Sherlock Holmes and all that Jazz" reported having a great time and volunteered that they would happily attend another such event (one SHAATJer said, "Just give me the date so I can put it on my calendar!") Tentative plans for a 2003 Sherlock Holmes and all that Jazz are underway. If you feel that you would be interested in joining other Sherlockian Jazz Fans in such an endeavor, we do invite you to e-mail us. Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez! |
|
Added attraction |
 |
 |
|
Since the introduction of
the game, Spot a Sherlockium |
|
|
And
on the way home, more Sherlockia
|
 |
 |
|
What Sherlockian
could possibly pass up a town called "Wiggins" even in Mississippi?
|
Antique shops
are usually great places to Spot-A-Sherlockium. Here is one such spot,
called "Serendipity" in downtown section of the thriving metropolis
of Wiggins, MS.
|
 |
 |
|
Among the
Sherlockia to be found at "Serendipity" was this antique RCA
Victor ("His Master's Voice") "gramophone." Do you
recall which Canonical yarn contains a reference to a "gramophone?"
|
In addition
to a "gramophone" and other assorted Sherlockia, much to our
surprise this antique shop also in the little town of Wiggins MS featured
a real-life delicatessen! The sign outside announced the special of the
day - a New Orleans style muffuletta (a sort of hoagy with really tasty
olive relish).
|
 |
 |
|
The personnel of "The
Deli at Serendipity" (the real name of the place) Left to right:
Karen Wallsmith (owner and operator), Miranda Colvin, and Denyelle Jones.
They |
And who can
take leave without paying respects to a water tower with the very Canonical
"Wiggins" inscribed thereupon?
|
Thank you
for your kind attention!
Laissez
Les Bon Temps Roulez!
|
Now, how about Sherlock Holmes
and all that Jazz - II! Go with us as we begin our search! Click the arrow!
|
 |
