Quoth the
Raven
Nevermore 2009

Although he was born in Boston, Baltimore is the city of Edgar Allan Poe mainly because Baltimore possesses him, tucked neatly in his grave. But this year the cradle is the topic as the city commemorates the 200th anniversary of Poe’s birth on Jan. 19. Events continue throughout the city all year. One is Poe in Person, a one-man show running at the Baltimore Theatre Project. Actor David Keltz re-creates the persona of Poe and of characters from many of Poe’s poems and stories. Sept. 21– Oct. 4. 410-752-8558; theatreproject.org.

ave Date

FELLS POINT

the

The Original
Ghostwalk
Fridays and
Saturdays

An evening walking tour of homes, shops and pubs to introduce participants to the spirits of Baltimore’s past as a rough-and-tumble port town. 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, including Halloween.

baltimoreghosttours.com

MOUNT VERNON Mummified Through 2010 The Walters Art Museum exhibit features images from CT scans and a virtual autopsy performed on the museum’s mummy. Learn more about the person wrapped inside as well as mummification. 410-547-9000; thewalters.org

CITY GUIDE
Baltimore

“Art of Darkness: Inspired by Poe” is an exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art. The exhibit presents works of art from two centuries, inspired by Poe and his images: The Raven by Édouard Manet (left), for instance, and a portrait of Poe by Henri Matisse. Oct. 4– Jan. 17, 2010. artbma.org.

Other events include a candlelight service at Poe’s grave and a funeral with a horse-drawn hearse. nevermore2009.com.

Édouard Manet. The Raven. 1875. The Baltimore Museum of Art: The George A. Lucas Collection, purchased with funds from the State of Maryland, Laurence and Stella Bendann Fund, and contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations throughout the Baltimore community, BMA 1996.48.5172

A Star-Spangled-
Banner Weekend
Baltimore is
most historically
renowned as the
birthplace of the
national anthem.
It was the morning
of Sept. 14, 1814,
that Francis Scott
Key looked up and
saw a giant Ameri-
can flag still flying
over Fort McHenry.
After 25 hours of
British bombard-
ment, the flag still
flew at the mouth

of Baltimore’s har-
bor and a legend
was born. The leg-
end is celebrated
every year at Fort
McHenry, now part
of the National
Park Service. This
year’s celebration
runs Sept. 11–13
and includes
parades, reen-
actments, ships,
children’s events
and the flying of
a replica flag,
42 feet wide by
30 feet high—the
same dimensions
as the original
sewn by Mary
Young Pickersgill.
410-962-4290;
nps.gov/fomc.

FEDERAL HILL
Street Beat
Festival
Sept. 20
The biggest street
festival of the year for
historic Federal Hill,
featuring live bands
and 100 food and craft
vendors. On Charles
and Cross streets.
historicfederalhill.org

MOUNT VERNON
Baltimore Book
Festival
Sept. 25–27
One of the largest
festivals of its kind on
the East Coast brings in
more than 100 authors
for unique interaction
with festivalgoers, plus
books, live music, crafts
and food. Washington
Square. 410-752-8632;
baltimorebookfestival.com

CITY CENTER
Chocolate
Festival
Oct. 8–10
Fudge, truffles,
chocolate-covered
strawberries (and
anything else that can
be covered), layer cakes,
cookies and chocolate
pies. It’s three days of
heaven at the Lexington
Market. 410-685-6169;
lexingtonmarket.com