Friday, July 20, 2007

PotterPalooza!

Tonight the Borders down the street from me hosted the second largest (after Borders in NYC) Harry Potter All Hallows Ball. Unable to resist a festival, I grabbed a sugarquill, a fresh roll of parchment, and went down to see the madness for myself.

Borders magically transformed itself into Flourish & Blotts by hanging a bedsheet above the door with the words "Florish & Blotts" painted on it. (If it's that easy, I'm hanging a bedsheet above my door that says "Buckingham Palace"). Perhaps the magic is in the stunning lavender "red" carpet leading into the store. Presumably all of this purple pomp is for the Wizarding Dignitaries that would be arriving to attend the All Hallows Ball. Folks like Merlin, and you know, Sabrina the Teenage Witch (pretty sure her schedule is wide open).

Other transformations were Ben & Jerry's into Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, McGinty's Pub into The Leaky Cauldron, and Marimekko into Madam Malkins Robes for All Occasions. Whole Foods was on hand distributing Butterbeer, which this young pirate(?) declared, "Not very good."


I took his word for it, and didn't wait in line. But I was still curious so I butt in to take a picture. You know, for journalistic purposes.


A little way down the street, the Ball was in full swing with this songster and his young Harry Helper who was rockin the jingle bells.


The street was crawling with Witches, Wizards, Muggles, Dumbledores, wand and glow stick distributors, and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Nameds. Here are but a few:





To look at these guys, you'd never guess that there were hundreds of people in capes parading by them all night. They are just that cool.


I'll be getting my book next week, and will probably fall off of the face of the planet for the few days it will take me to read it. We'll all discuss it then.

9 comments:

soundofstilhed said...

I want to be in on the fun! I like to think that if I still lived on the 8th floor of your building you would have invited me along for the festival...and that occasionally I could still come visit Buckingham Palace!

Camie said...

I forgot I wanted to check out the HP party with you. I wish you would have reminded me....

liloat said...

NEXT WEEK!?! What are you waiting for? I've already finished it once and have started it again. What kind of book-whore are you?

erinmalia said...

man, this actually scares me just a little. alright, it scares me a LOT.

Gretchen said...

@liloat - First of all, I had to wait for Amazon to ship it to me. I wasn't expecting it to arrive until next week, but it came Saturday. Too bad I was already in the middle of the EXCELLENT Austenland book - which I had to read twice before getting out of my system. Now I can get to the Potter.

Don't question my whoremanship. I'm practically running a book brothel over here, sista!

liloat said...

Alright, I see that you have everything in hand, Madam Libarian.

The Austenland will have to wait until after the release of eclipse, my plate is over flowing right now as it is. But I know better than to not read a book that you have turned me on to. Call me when you finish potter and we'll chat.

Daniel said...

G, off the subject - I recently discovered this: “I judge people on their English and grammar” about you. Frankly, this frightens me. How did we ever become friends? How can you stand me? I am the most word clumsy person I know. Not to mention how badly I can slaughter any spelling no matter how easy it may seem.

Nik said...

I wish you were having a blog discussion of some sort. I just stayed up until 2:30 am to read the book and I'm feeling a little traumatized. What did you think?

Gretchen said...

@ Nik - I haven't finished it yet ... but I promise when I do, we'll definitely have a formal discussion. I'm concerned that you're "traumatized". Eeek!