Sherlock in Chicago

I keep being pulled back to Chicago like a yo-yo.

In June I had the honor of speaking to a dinner meeting of the Torists International on "Sherlock Holmes Gone to the Dogs: Canine Capers, Canonical and Otherwise." It was wonderful fun.

Now Ann and I are looking forward to the end of the month. On my 60th birthday, Sept. 28, I will attend the annual dinner of Hounds of the Baskerville (sic) in Skokie. The next day we will attend the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes Symposium at Chicago's Newberry Library, 60 West Walton Street, co-sponsored by the Hounds.

The symposium, an annual event, is free and open to everyone. Its purpose is to highlight the remarkable works and memorabilia housed in the Newberry's C. Frederick Kittle Collection of Doyleanna. Three speakers will be featured in the 9:30 a.m. to noon program:

•  John Lellenberg and Daniel Stashower: "Dangerous Work: Conan Doyle's Diary of Arctic Adventure"
• Susan E. Dahlinger: "Essanay Studios, William Gillette, and the Lost Film of Sherlock Holmes"
• Geoffrey M. Curley, "The Science of Deduction: The Interpretations of Sherlock Holmes for an Engaging Museum Experience"

No reservations are required, so it's not to late to join the fun. For more information, check out the Newberry Library website.