Thirty Second Annual Black Orchid Banquet

The Nero Wolfe Literary Society presents the Thirty Second Annual Black Orchid Banquet
and Nero Award for the Best American Mystery

December 4, 5, & 6, 2008

The packed schedule will include a Friday night book discussion/media viewing, Saturday's Assembly and Black Orchid Banquet, and a Sunday brunch.

Weekend events will begin on Friday evening, December 4, at 6:30 p.m. Book Discussion accompanied by viewing of a televised version of PRISONER'S BASE (1952). Moderator will be the Werowance Emeritus, Jonathan Levine. This event will take place in a private room at historic Pete's Tavern at the corner of Irving Place and E. 18th Street in Manhattan. Price includes buffet dinner and limited drinks.

Saturday, December 5, at 2:00 p.m. is the afternoon Assembly with a varied array of speakers on Wolfe-related themes, including Ira Matetsky's discussion of the recent discovery of several Wolfe stories with different endings in the books from those in the original magazine versions. Even if you think you've read the entire Corpus, you will hear some paragraphs of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe that you have never read before! The Assembly will be held at the Hotel Jolly Madison Towers, Madison Avenue and E. 38th Street.

Saturday evening starting at 6:30 p.m. and 7:15, the Thirty-Second annual Black Orchid Banquet, also at the Hotel Jolly Madison Towers, will feature:

Cocktail "hour" with cash bar stating at 6:30 p.m. (For those looking to relax between the Assembly and the Banquet, a comfortable bar/lounge is located in the hotel lobby.)
Banquet starting at 7:15 p.m., based upon recipes inspired by The Nero Wolfe Cookbook and the Corpus
Keynote Speech by a well-known fan of the Nero Wolfe novels
Presentation of this year's Nero Award for best American mystery. Nero Award winner is planning to attend in person to accept his or her award
The inevitable quizzes and toasts, including some based on our theme this year, the 75th anniversary of the first Nero Wolfe novel, FER-DE-LANCE (1934)

Sunday Brunch on December 6 will begin at 12:00 noon. Festivities include audio-visual screenings of various Nero Wolfe related items including rare interviews/ footage with Rex Stout and his sister, noted gardener, Ruth Stout. Like the book discussion, the brunch will take place in a private room at Pete's Tavern, Irving Place at 18th Street.

For more information and registration, go to: www.nerowolfe.org

The 2009 Nero Wolfe Award Finalists
The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross (Harper Collins)
The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller (MIRA)
The Fault Tree by Louise Ure (Minotaur Books)