A Tall Glass of Inspiration

I was in Baltimore for the first time a couple weeks ago and was taken to a fabulous little tavern on the corner of S. Clinton and Fleet Street. It is called Annabel Lee after Edgar Allen Poe's last poem, "Annabel Lee."

Their website states, "We, on a daily basis, celebrate Edgar Allen Poe, Baltimore, and Maryland." I was astounded as soon as we walked in the door. A pub dedicated to a poet? Of course! Who knows more about booze than writers and bartenders? The wheels in my mind began to spin wildly as I saw what I could do with my passion for literature. Who would I dedicate my business to? What would it be? Another tavern? A coffee shop?

I was in fine tourist form as I snapped pictures of everything from my entree to my husband's beer glass. We were fortunate that evening to be in the presence of the proprietor, Kurt, and he spoke to us about his passion for Poe as we sat at the bar in sunbeams that were streaming through the windows. There were lines from "Annabel Lee" painted on the purple walls, along with Poe's portrait and lines from "The Fall of the House of Usher" which we learned was Kurt's favorite short story. He even had an armful of tattoos in honor of Poe.



I could barely concentrate on eating I was so geeked, but I managed to appreciate my dinner. They call their food "upscale comfort" and I for one felt very cozy as I devoured my plate of sweet potato fries. The chicken salad sandwich that accompanied them was crisp and fresh and enormous! But the bill was not. And for that I was also very appreciative.

It was neat to get a chance to talk with Kurt and get an idea of what a bit of passion and ingenuity can accomplish. I was inspired. I was so inspired, in fact, that the next day when we went to a book store on Rehoboth Beach I had to buy a collection of short stories that contained Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death."

I can't wait to get back to Baltimore because of its proximity to the ocean and because of the Annabel Lee Tavern. Next time we're there I hope to see E.A. Poe's grave and accompanying museum. I also hope to find an affordable apartment and a job because I love what I've seen of the city and we have to get out of Michigan.



Take a look at the Tavern's website: http://www.annabelleetavern.com/ and make sure you read "Annabel Lee."

Here's my favorite stanza:

But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.