Press Release
This year, Poetry Downtown Festival proudly honors the legacy of Edgar Allan Poe with a four-city celebration. The festivities will take place in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. In New York, five events will be organized, with the most important the Poetry Downtown New York Reading at the Poe Cottage on September 28.
Poetry Downtown New York Readings
Each year, Poetry Downtown invites the finest poets to participate in its festival. This year, the festival’s jury selected the following emerging poets to read in New York:
1.30-1.50 pm Shakira Croce from Lynbrook, NY
1.50-2.10 pm Ashley M. Stephenson from West New York, NJ
2.10-2.30 pm M M De Voe from New York, NY
2.30-2.50 pm Thomas Fucaloro from Staten Island, NY
2.50-3.10 pm Kate Graham-Shaw from New York, NY
Competition
Those five poets will read each 20 minutes. They will read their selected “The Raven” work as published in the annual Poetry Downtown anthology and additionally their own work. To be considered for selection, poets had to submit a poem inspired by “The Raven” by September 1, as the festival celebrates the 175th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s death on October 7, 1849.
Jury
The poets were selected by this year’s panel:
– Erik van Loon: Dutch artist and founder of the Poetry Downtown Festival
– Chris Semtner: Curator of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, author and artist
– G.H. Mosson: Poet with with multiple nominations and prestigious journal publications
Poe Cottage
In each city, the poets read at unique locations. In Boston, they read at the Long Wharf Pavilion, in Baltimore at Protean Books & Records, in Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Ethical Society and in New York at the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage. The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage is the oldest Poe Museum, first opened in 1913. The cottage was built in 1812, and is a New York City and State landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic house museum is famous as the final home of the writer.
All events on September 28 in New York
10.30-11.00 am Gathering Neither Snow Nor Rain
Under Neither Snow Nor Rain at Penn Station poets on the poetry train and poets from New York itself and other cities in America come together. At exactly 11.15 we will take the D-Train from Herald Square to Poe Park.
12.30-12.45 pm Opening Poetry Downtown New York
Erik van Loon will official open the festivities in New York, he will welcome the poets and its audience, and introduce Roger McCormack.
12.30-1.30 pm Lecture Edgar Allan Poe in New York
Unlike in Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, we will not organize a Poetry Cycle in New York to follow the steps of Edgar Allan Poe. Instead, Roger McCormack from the Bronx Historical Society will present a lecture on Poe’s years in New York. Drawing from his extensive research, Roger will explore with whom, where, when, why, and how Poe lived in the city. This lecture promises more than just a traditional format; attendees will also experience what it was like to live in Poe’s former home, now known as Poe Cottage, where he resided with his aunt and his wife, Virginia.
1.30-3.30 pm Reading Poetry Downtown Reading New York
Read Above
5.00-6.00 pm Workshop Zine Making
At the Poetry Train artist Erik van Loon will make with the poets, artist, musicians, writer and others on the Poetry Train the Poetry Train Zine!
5.00-6.00 pm Tournament Ultimate Typewriter Showdown
At the Poetry Train we will host also the Ultimate Typewriter Showdown: where speed, accuracy and skill determin the ultimate typewriter champion.
* all events are free
Boston – New York – Philadelphia – Baltimore
As mentioned before, the 4th Poetry Downtown Festival will take place in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. This year’s festival promises a rich array of events and culinary delights, including 12 distinct dishes, four poetry readings, four lectures, three poetry cycles, three Ultimate Typewriter Countdowns, one talk show, and one radio play. Poets will journey on the Poetry Train, traveling between cities and towns across eight states from Boston to Baltimore. This unique and affordable experience offers poets the chance to network and collaborate, connecting poets in twenty different cities and towns.
Poetry Train
Erik van Loon envisions leasing a dedicated Poetry Train by 2025, equipped with restaurant, sleeper, disco, bar, and library cars. This year, he aims to welcome 40 poets aboard the Poetry Train, further expanding this unique festival. Support Erik’s American dream and help unite the country through the power of poetry. Visit https://poetrydowntown.com/crowdfunding for more information on how to become a sponsor.
More info:
4th Poetry Downtown Festival
Erik van Loon
+316 E VAN LOON / +316 3 826 5666
www.poetrydowntown.com
Poetrydowntownfestival@gmail.com
