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October 30, 2008

Baltimore's party for Edgar

Edgar Allan Poe Don't look so gloomy, Edgar, it's party time!

In Baltimore, 2009 will be one long celebration of Edgar Allan Poe, who gave birth to the detective story and was a master of horror. This morning amid the treasures of the Enoch Pratt's Poe Room, local officials outlined a long list of events -- from lookalike contests to a funeral re-enactment -- marking the 200th anniversary of his birth. (Mayor Sheila Dixon was so enthusastic she mistakenly claimed Poe was born in here. Sorry, mayor, Boston holds that claim.)

Among the events: A Poe tribute in January by actor John Astin (The Addams Family); a Pratt exhibition of memorabilia, including a handwritten poem and lock of hair; and a Cask of Amontillado-themed wine-tasting in the Westminster Hall catacombs. There will also be Poe-related performances, including a one-man show by David Keltz.

Details and ticket information are at Nevermore2009. Baltimore's Poe House and Museum has its own calendar at PoeBicentennial.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Edgar Allan Poe

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Edgar Allan Poe is 200!

All you need to know about the macabre master including Poe-themed events, photos, video and a trivia quiz.

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About the bloggers

While she always preferred The Hardy Boys to Nancy Drew, Nancy Johnston grew up reading nearly everything she could get her hands on, including a probably unhealthy amount of R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike, with the obligatory Jane Austen thrown in. She'll still read just about anything you put in front of her, especially the funny or weird. She lives in the city with her books, cat and drum set.

Dave Rosenthal came to The Baltimore Sun as a business reporter in 1987 and now is an assistant managing editor and Sunday editor. He reads a wide range of books (but never as many as he'd like), usually alternating between non-fiction and fiction. Some all-time favorites: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole; Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupery; and anything by Calvin Trillin or John McPhee. He belongs to a book club with a Jewish theme.