Theatre Northwest opens with a mystery play
Tacoma’s newest professional theater company debuts with “The Final Toast,” a Sherlock Holmes mystery by novelist Stuart Kaminsky. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, also 3 p.m. Feb. 28. $22, $34. Theatre on the Square, 915 Broadway, Tacoma. 253-591-5894, www.broadwaycenter.org, www.theatrenorthwest.org

Yin-yang glass at Traver Gallery
Portland artist Carmen Vetter layers frit and powdered glass to explore polarities and balances of hue. Opening 4-7 p.m. Feb. 14, then 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, noon-5 p.m. Sundays through Mar. 8. Free. 1821 Dock St. Suite 100, Tacoma. 253- 383-3685, www.travergallery.com

Music of the spheres in the Pantages
“Universe of Dreams” merges Shakespeare read by NPR’s Neal Conan, Celtic music on early instruments by Ensemble Galilei, and projected images from the Hubble Space Telescope. 8 p.m. Feb. 14. $32.50-$62.50. Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, Tacoma. 253-272-0809, www.tacomaphilharmonic.org

ArtWalk Thursday
“Sex and Politics” in glass at Fulcrum, Darwinian evolutions at Impromptu, multilayered paintings at Mineral, metal modernism at Sanford, free museums: it’s all at ArtWalk Tacoma. 5-8 p.m. Feb. 19. Free. Fulcrum: 1308 MLK Jr. Way; Impromptu: 608 S. Fawcett. Ave.; Sanford and Son: 743 Broadway. www.artwalktacoma.com

“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore…”

Any guesses?

Of course, it’s Edgar Allan Poe, that giant of Gothic literature. And even if you haven’t read any Poe (“The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” etc) you’ve probably heard that famous Raven reference somewhere, enough to chime in with the ending: “Quoth the Raven—NEVERMORE!”

It’s this American writer’s genius for spine-chilling spookiness that has inspired vampire novels, Hitchcock films, even a whole genre devoted to spoofs of the ruthlessly rhyming, relentlessly Romantic poet. (Hey, I’m getting into the spirit of this!)

Whether you love Poe, or love Gothic, or just love poking fun at it all, you’ll want to come to SymPOEsium, a week-long Poe-fest being held by the University of Puget Sound next week. In celebration of Poe’s bicentennial, the SymPOEsium includes academic discussions, theatrical events and even open-mics related to Poe and his world with, as the press release puts it, “the same intellectual ardor, and occasional absurdity, that characterized Poe’s work.”

Oh, and let’s not forget the propensity for melodramatic alliteration, dark and eerie locations, trudging rhythms, ominous animals and the like. If you possess these qualities yourself, you’re a shoo-in for the open mic.

All events are free and open to the public. Academic sessions will be held in Trimble Forum Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Here’s the list of evening events, all at 7 p.m.:

Tue. Feb. 17: Lecture by UPS President Ronald Thomas on “Detecting Poe,” with music, and poetry reading by Bill Kupinse. Rasmussen Rotunda, Wheelock Student Center.
Wed. Feb. 18: Tacoma actor Tim Hoban performs “Edgar Allan Poe: The Poet’s Journey,” a one-man show by Northwest playwright Bryan Willis. Opening for Hoban will be the finalist of the Bad Poe parody writing competition (which is now closed to entries, unfortunately.) Rausch Auditorium, McIntyre Hall.
Thur. Feb. 19: Screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds.” Rausch Auditorium.
Fri. Feb. 20: Open-mic night. Bring along your melodramatic stage renderings, your Poe-ish poems (parody or otherwise,) your brooding music and dance. There will be prizes. Oppenheimer café, Thompson Hall.

More details: www2.ups.edu/SymPOEsium
Campus map: www.ups.edu/directions/xml
More about Poe: www.poemuseum.org