Registration and reservations are now open for the BSI Weekend to be held from Wednesday January 15, 2020 through Sunday January 19, 2020 in New York City.
Sherlock Holmes’s birthday is celebrated every January in New York City. The Weekend is always fun, filled with formal and informal opportunities for Sherlockians new and old to gather for a common purpose.
The BSI schedules a number of events open to the public, and other Sherlockian groups arrange additional activities. In addition, the BSI has made arrangements for a block of hotel rooms with special BSI tax-free rates.
This page has details and links to reservations for the following items open to all Sherlockians:
- The BSI Distinguished Speaker Lecture*
- The Merchant’s Room (free)
- The BSI Luncheon Reception* Sold Out (no tickets at door)
- Lodgings at special BSI tax-free rates*
* requires prepaid reservations / tickets
See below for details and deadlines.
Other events during the weekend have their own ticket requirements and deadlines. See the Event Summary PDF for some of those events, and for full details, see Scott Monty’s listing of other Sherlockian events.
The BSI Distinguished Speaker Lecture
Thursday, January 16, 2020
6:15 p.m. at the Roosevelt Hotel (Vanderbilt Suite)
Open to the Public (advance tickets required)
This year’s Distinguished Speaker is Dr. Theodora Goss, World Fantasy and Locus Award-winning author. Her Athena Club series includes The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter (2017), European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman (2018), and The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl (2019). It features the female monsters that are often voiceless in the original classics such as Catherine Moreau (the puma woman from Dr. Moreau’s island), Beatrice Rappaccini, and Justine Frankenstein. She teams them up with Mary Jekyll and Diana Hyde, as well as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Her talk begins promptly at 6:15 p.m.
Tickets for the BSI Distinguished Speaker Lecture, which is open to the public, must be purchased in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door.
You can order tickets from the BSI Weekend Registration Form (PDF).
The Merchant’s Room
Saturday, January 18, 2020
9 am – noon at The Roosevelt Hotel
Open to the Public at no charge
A wide variety of Sherlockiana will be for sale on Saturday January 18 from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Merchants Room (aka Covent Garden West), located in the Vanderbilt Suite on the second floor of the Roosevelt Hotel (45 East 45th Street).
BSI Books will be offering our newest titles as well as books published in prior years. Twenty other vendors will be selling rare Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle first editions, books about Holmes, and unusual Sherlockian items and ephemera.
For information about selling at the vendor tables, contact Ralph Hall (2906 Wallingford Court, Louisville, KY 40218) (502-491-3148).
The BSI Luncheon Reception
Saturday, January 18, 2020
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at The Yale Club
Open to the Public (advance tickets required)
Open to all Sherlockians and their friends. A cocktail-party luncheon buffet and an open bar (wine, beer, juice, and soft drinks). Includes an auction of rare Sherlockiana for the Dr. John H. Watson Fund.
Tickets for the BSI Luncheon Reception, which is open to the public, must be purchased in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door. You can order tickets from the BSI Weekend Registration Form (PDF).
Lodgings
For all Sherlockians attending the BSI Weekend, arrangements have been made for a block of rooms at The Roosevelt Hotel at 45 E. 45th Street, NY, NY 10017 (map) with special BSI tax-free rates (subject to deadlines, contact Mary Ann Bradley at <mabmfw@sbcglobal.net> in advance to confirm availability if you want nights outside of January 16-18).
Pictures are available at the Roosevelt Hotel Photo Gallery. The hotel is a full-service facility. Breakfast is available at the hotel but is not included in the room rates; you will need to arrange for incidentals charged to your room to be paid at check-out.
Please note that if you choose to book directly with The Roosevelt Hotel or elsewhere, you will not receive the BSI tax-free group rates and you will be paying New York City and State taxes amounting to approximately 20% of your total hotel bill.
To secure BSI room rates, and save the 20% tax, the BSI is accepting reservations for lodging and BSI activities via the BSI Weekend Registration Form (PDF) – see the form for deadlines.
Location Addresses
The Yale Club of New York City at 50 Vanderbilt Avenue, NY, NY 10017 (map)
On the west side of Grand Central Station.
The Roosevelt Hotel at 45 E. 45th Street, NY, NY 10017 (map)
One block from the Yale Club.
Registration Instructions & Forms
General Registration / Reservations Form (PDF)
General Summary of Events (PDF)
More Information
BSI Weekend & Event Frequently Asked Questions
Other Sherlockian Activities During the Weekend (separate website)
Please note many of the other activities require separate advance reservations not handled by the BSI. See the details for each activity for deadlines, costs, and locations.
The Baker Street Irregulars 