Running Numbers

A scholarly look at the digits that matter.

by Nick Norlen

200 Age that Edgar Allan Poe will turn — in his grave, obviously — next year. To celebrate, the Central Library's Rare Book Department is holding "Quoth the Raven: A 200 Year Remembrance of the Life and Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe" — featuring rare autographed manuscripts, first editions and Poe family heirlooms — through February 2009. The department is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with tours at 11 a.m. Baltimoreans admitted only upon receipt of Poe's body.

40 Number of years Philly jeweler Henri David has held his Halloween Ball. Celebrate "Four Decades of Devine Decadence" on Oct. 31 at the Sheraton Center City, 17th and Race, with a midnight costume contest, prizes and a likely appearance by Gov. Ed Rendell. Tickets are $25 for those in costume and $60 for "voyeurs" and are available in advance at the Halloween jewelry store, 1329 Pine St., or at the door before 10 p.m. Call 215-732-7711 for information. I think this is finally the year for Rendell in drag, aka "The Governess."

12 Number of weeks of full-time training that Stache, a black Labrador retriever, received at the Philadelphia Policy Academy in 2005. Now a "certified cadaver dog," Stache and his handler, Jim McCans of Havertown, will be among the eight honorees at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Humane Awards in New York on Oct. 30 for their role in missing persons searches in Iraq and Philadelphia. Cadaver dog? Isn't that a Poe story?

$10 Cover charge — a portion of which will go to Philabundance — for admission to the "First Annual Halloween Poetic/Performance Bash" at Robin's Bookstore, 108 S. 13th St., on Oct. 31 at 9 p.m., featuring poetry performances followed by a "costume dance party" (also the title of a lesser-known Poe story).

0 Number of events ever featured in this column at which body paint was "especially encouraged" for attendees. That changes with the Philadelphia première of Curious Fish, a performance of Butoh, a Japanese dance featuring performers in white body makeup. The event takes place at the Mascher Space Co-op on Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. for $12, followed by a Halloween Dress Up/Dress Down Party at 10 p.m. for a $10 donation. Costumes are encouraged, too — if you want to be the only one not wearing body paint.

Hey ... can I get your digits? I want to hear about the numerals you need to see. Let a number-runner know at runningnumbers@gmail.com.