Perhaps the best part of January (because let’s face it, January is pretty abysmal in the Midwest), is the birth of one deceased author, Edgar Allan Poe (Jan. 19, 1809) and the unique celebrations that ensue.

There are typically two times a year that the Gothic raises its head in pop culture. One would be fall when everyone starts to think about creepy crawly things along with their pumpkin-spiced lattes. The second, is Poe’s birthday.

This year, I have been invited to attend and participate in a birthday party for Mr. Poe. The party will take place at a full-blown store/cabinet of curiosity down on 39th Street in Kansas City! The store is called Noir Arts and Oddities and is owned by my new friend Pam. This place, as it says on their website, is Kansas City’s best place for the strange and unusual.

I met with Pam a couple of weeks ago and took a little tour of the store. Pam and I talked excitedly about the upcoming birthday party and her big plans to celebrate the day. The event takes place on Friday, January 20th which happens to be Third Fridays down in the 39th Street district where stores stay open late and people flock for art exhibits, food, shopping, drinks and Victorian oddities!

If you’re in Kansas City on January 20th, come one down to Noir Arts and Oddities and meet a Poe impersonator, a talented artist who will be signing and selling his work, and me. I’ll be hawking copies of The Green Lady and doing a special edition bookmark giveaway. There will also be a drawing and the winner will get a free paperback copy of The Green Lady and a bookmark!

Here are the details:

Noir Presents Nevermore 3rd Friday

Celebrating Edgar Allan Poe’s 208th birthday

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

1609 W. 39th Street
Kansas City, MO 64111

Hope to see you there!