Press release
This year, Poetry Downtown proudly honors the legacy of Edgar Allan Poe with a four-city celebration. The festivities will take place in Boston on September 27, New York and Philadelphia on September 28, and Baltimore on September 29. The four cities will be connected with the 3rd Poetry Train.
Poetry Train
The Poetry Train is a real train. It’s actually an Amtrak train which we convert each year into the Poetry Train. At the first edition in 2022 five people joined the Poetry Train, in 2023 we had a set back and only one poet joined the Poetry Train. This year we hope to pick up 2 poets a per city. The Poetry Train stops this year in 19 big cities and small towns between Boston and Baltimore and that means that we hope to attract 38 poets this year on the Poetry Train. It’s gives poets a cheap, fun and unforgettable opportunity to meet, talk, learn and work with other poets while traveling from the city of birth till the city of death of Edgar Allan Poe.
Route
The Poetry Trains has the following three stages:
9/28 | 6.35-10.51 am | Poetry Train Boston to New York
On September 28, the second day of the festival, the Poetry Train will bring poets living in or near the following twelve cities from Boston to New York:
– Boston (South Station and Back Bay Station) and Route 128 all Massachussets
– Providence, Kingston and Westerly all Richmond
– New London, Old Saybrook, New Haven, Bridgeport and Stamford all Connecticut
– Rochelle and New York City all New York
9/28 | 5.05-6.30 pm | Poetry Train New York to Philadelphia
On September 28, the Poetry Train will also pick up poets living in or near the following five cities and bring them from New York to Philadelphia:
– New York City, New York
– Newark, Newark Airport, Metropark and Trenton all New Jersey
– Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
9/29 | 11.56 am-1.10 pm | Poetry Train Philadelphia to Baltimore
On September 29, the third and last day of the festival, the Poetry Train will also pick up poets living in or near the following five cities and bring them from Philadelphia to Baltimore:
– Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
– Wilmington, Delaware
– Baltimore, Maryland
Events
To attract people at the Poetry Train we even organise two culinair events and one talkshow. At September 28 poets on the Poetry Train will get from 7.30 and 8.00 am Johnnycakes served at the Poetry Train. Johnnycakes are Rhode Island classic, thick and crunchy pancakes made from whitecap flint corn served with butter and between 5.00 and 6.00 pm the Poetry Train will host a Talkshow about The Raven. At September 29 poets at the Poetry Train will get served a Conductors Delight – All you can snack buffet served from 12.00 – 12.30 pm.
REAL 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
