Nevermore 2009

A citywide Poe celebration was just announced for 2009, the 200th anniversary of the author's birth. The details are below, and here's a video, featuring John Astin, to get you in the mood.

Nevermore 2009 is a cooperative citywide festival organized by the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA), the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA), the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, and the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance (GBCA). The festival will officially kick off in January 2009 with a variety of events to celebrate Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday, and will be followed by a year of lectures, wine tastings, art exhibitions, theatrical performances, special tours and more, all to commemorate the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe.

Signature events of the festival include:

· Baltimore City’s Edgar Allan Poe Bicentennial Birthday Celebration– January 17, 18, 31 and February 1 – including tributes by “The Addams Family” actor and Baltimore resident John Astin

· Edgar Allan Poe: More Than A Poet exhibition at the Enoch Pratt Free Library – Begins January 19

· Art of Darkness exhibition inspired by Poe at the Baltimore Museum of Art – October-December

· Cask of Amontillado Wine Tasting Among the Bones – March 27

· The Fall of The House of Usher – June 13

· Public Viewing of Poe's Body on the Anniversary of His Death – October 9

· Re-enactment of Poe's Funeral Service – October 10

Major citywide events such as Artscape, the Baltimore Book Festival and BaltiMORE for Less Weekend will also include tributes and events honoring Edgar Allan Poe. Locals and visitors interested in learning more about Nevermore 2009 can find event information, Poe-related Baltimore attractions and more online at www.Nevermore2009.com. Additional events will be added as the launch of the festival draws closer so guests are encouraged to return to the Web site often.