Press Release
Poetry Downtown Honors the Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe
This year, Poetry Downtown is thrilled to celebrate the literary genius of Edgar Allan Poe with a dynamic four-city festival. Spanning Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, each city will showcase its own unique blend of poetry, performances, and community engagement, all in honor of Poe’s enduring influence.
Poetry Cycle Baltimore: Following in the Footsteps of Edgar Allan Poe
In Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, poets and enthusiasts alike can embark on a unique journey, exploring the life and legacy of Edgar Allan Poe by bicycle. This highly anticipated event has become a signature feature of Poetry Downtown, adding to the festival’s popularity. Poetry Cycle Baltimore, the third and final poetry cycle of Poetry Downtown 2024, will take place on September 29th. The ride begins at 3 pm at Gallery Area 405 and will trace Poe’s literary footsteps throughout Baltimore.
Event Highlights
The 5-mile poetry cycle will feature stops at key landmarks associated with Edgar Allan Poe, including:
- The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum: Poe’s residence from 1833 to 1835.
- Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) Museum: Old train station near Poe’s old home.
- Poe’s Grave at Westminster Hall and Burying Ground
- Orchard Street AME Church
- The Washington Monument
- The Peabody Library and Enoch Pratt Free Library
- Washington University Hospital of Baltimore: Where Poe passed away.
- Frederick Douglass Head at Fell’s Point
Dinner at The Horse You Came In On Saloon
Poetry Downtown is also a culinary experience, featuring 12 unique local dishes. At The Horse You Came In On Saloon, attendees will savor Old Bay Coddies, a local delicacy of codfish, potatoes, eggs, onions, and saltine crackers, perfectly seasoned with Old Bay and deep-fried to perfection. This historic saloon is said to be the last place Poe was seen before his mysterious death.
Baltimore Events on September 29th
2:00-2:15 pm – Opening Poetry Downtown Baltimore: Erik van Loon will officially kick off the Baltimore festivities, welcoming poets and guests, presenting the Poetry Train Zin, and introducing special guest Amy Branam Armiento.
2:15-3:00 pm – Lecture: Edgar Allan Poe – A Mad Genius: Amy Branam Armiento, English professor at Frostburg State University and former president of the Poe Studies Association, will explore Poe’s complex reputation and the personal struggles that contributed to his image as an erratic—sometimes mad—genius.
3:30-6:00 pm – Poetry Cycle Baltimore: See above for details.
8:00-10:00 pm – Poetry Downtown Reading Baltimore: Thirteen emerging poets, selected by the festival jury, will showcase their work in an evening of readings.
10:00-11:00 pm – PATCH Baltimore: At PATCH (Poetry And Tales Cocktail Hour), poets and attendees can mingle, share stories, and enjoy cocktails. The evening will also feature the Ultimate Typewriter Showdown, where participants will compete in speed, accuracy, and skill to claim the title of typewriter champion.
All events are free to attend.
Festival Overview: Boston – New York – Philadelphia – Baltimore
The 4th annual Poetry Downtown Festival promises an extraordinary lineup of events across four cities, featuring 12 unique dishes, four poetry readings, four lectures, three poetry cycles, three Ultimate Typewriter Showdowns, one talk show, and one radio play. Poets will travel on the Poetry Train, connecting 20 cities and towns across eight states from Boston to Baltimore. This unique and affordable journey offers poets unparalleled opportunities to network, collaborate, and celebrate the art of poetry.
More info:
4th Poetry Downtown Festival
Erik van Loon
+316 E VAN LOON / +316 3 826 5666
www.poetrydowntown.com
Poetrydowntownfestival@gmail.com
