There will be magic in the
air this Friday morning as everyone’s favorite wizard hits the big screen for one
last hurrah. —
Little ones (and big ones, too!) will flock to line up for opening
day in their Harry Potter get-ups, hoping to soak in as much Potter as they can
before those final credits roll.
It’s the series that has
transcended the traditional realm of entertainment–helping children fall in love
with reading while bonding parents and youngsters as they devour books together.
While the film series may come to a close, the Pottermania will undoubtedly
live on. As actor Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) said at the premiere, “People
will carry the story with them for the rest of their lives.”
In the spirit of doing just
that, we’ve created a guide to everything Harry Potter (short of taking the journey to Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter like this New York family). From related reads to
fantastic fandom to otherwordly events, we have just the magical dose for all
Potter fans.
Special Giveaway: To reward Potter fans across the city, we’re giving away 2 family
four-packs of tickets to Harry Potter
The Exhibition! From the Scholastic Store, we have one hardcover set of the full 7-book collection by J.K.
Rowling to give away, and two other hot Scholastic titles–Fire
World and Chronicles
of the Red King–that HP fans will adore. To win, visit our Facebook fan page
and tell us why Harry Potter is important to your family. Deadline is Friday, July 22.
Muggle Gatherings
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With more than 200 props
on display, the hotspot will of course be the Harry Potter The
Exhibition. -
Hone your inner Harry
Potter (and explore the MET) with the Wizard School Scavenger Hunt. -
Celebrated wand duelist Charlotte Ravilla will
offer dueling lessons in Central Park this Thursday. -
To witness a revamped version of Harry Potter (sans the kids),
check out A Harry Potter Musical on Friday at the Upright Citzens Brigade. Or, for a
true battle of the houses watch as Slytherin and Gryffindor face off at the Hogwarts Improvisation Society. -
The premiere of a Potter flick would be nothing without an
ultimate (free!) release party. This Saturday, The Scholastic Store will be buzzing with fans of the series who can
delight over HP crafts, music, potions, and much more.
Get Your Wands Ready!
Despite Uncle Vernon’s claim
that “there’s no such thing as magic,” the hocus pocus of Harry Potter will
always live on. For acts that will ignite the family’s imagination, everyone’s
favorite trickster Justin the Magician frequently materializes in the
Bryant Park Reading Room. For Potter fans who are looking to bring a piece of
the magic home, check out Tannen‘s Magic Shop in the heart of Midtown (bewildering
since 1925) or magic hotspot Fantasma Magic.
Fun On A (Broom) Stick
The wizarding world has officially
left its mark. Muggles have a new sport to fall in love with–Quidditch! Minus
the flying power, but still with brooms, non-wizards can revel in all the
magical fun themselves. Don’t believe it? Check out the International Quidditch Association.
To play, sign up with IQA and a volunteer will contact you. If you just cannot
wait for your chance at the golden snitch, head down to Dewitt Clinton Park on
July 13 for the Deathly Hallows Expo Match.
Magical Tales
So, what exactly do you after
you’ve read all the books in the series? Like the much loved Potter series, there
are many books that can jumpstart your youngster’s love for reading. Our
favorites include:
-
The Chronicles of Narnia: In case you haven’t already,
introduce your tot to a whole new world via an ordinary closet! Similar to many
Potter characters, Narnia presents a world where imagination, adventure, and
bravery are encouraged among children.%uFFFD -
Other classics
with similar themes to Potter (finding oneself, making friends, and the courage
to learn about the world) include The Hobbit, A Wizard of Earthsea, and Bridge to Terabithia. -
More modern takes
on the fantasy genre include Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (about a school for magical
students–sound familiar?) and the Ulysses Moore series. -
And for a quick (but
very touching) read, check out the goodbye letter actor Alan Rickman (Severus Snape)
wrote to author J.K Rowling.
Forest Explorations%uFFFD
Unfortunately, not many
schools (at least none we’ve been to) have their own forbidden forest but, luckily,
NYC does have its own Funky Forest! In this interactive environment,
children will discover a variety of sonic life forms that appear and disappear
depending on the forest’s health.
All Aboard!
If only trains in real life
could resemble the Hogwarts Express. Sadly, there is no platform 9 3/4 and no
train in NYC that runs on magic. The best solution for little ones in love with
Harry Potter would be this Lionel electric train set or the LEGO version of the beloved choo-choo.%uFFFD For real live train fun, hop on a nostalgia ride, courtesy of the New York Transit
Museum, and see where your trip down NYC’s memory lane will take you. Lastly,
what would the Hogwarts Express be without some sweet deliciousness from the
trolley? For some yummy fun check out Alivan‘s, whose online store takes inspiration
from Harry Potter classics such as Droobles.
Potter 2.0
Harry Potter fandom is so
immense and loyal that there is no one fan site that dominates. However,
claiming itself as “the world’s number one Harry Potter site,” is Mugglenet.
The Leaky Cauldron
serves up some competition with its own app and encyclopedia. Other top sources
for everything HP are Veritaserum and SnitchSeeker.
However, soon to dominate to
world wide web is J.K.Rowling’s very own gift to her fans: the interactive site
Pottermore.
Avid fans should check the website on July 31 (the birthday of both Potter and
Rowling) to enter an online challenge where the first million to compete will
help put the final touches on the website!
Dress To Impress
Itching to look like one of
the Potter characters for a couple of hours? Well, no need for polyjuice
potion! NYC is buzzing with yearround costume shops. Check out New York Costumes and Abracadabra Superstore
for the latest Harry Potter threads.
Spreading The Magic
One of the most inspirational
parts of Harry Potter is his journey from a boy with no true experience of love
to a boy who everyone loves. Taking the message to heart and thinking about
those who could use friends like Harry, we’ve sought out some organizations and
orphanages in need.
-
With a motto of “abandon no one,” The Foundling
looks to preserve families by joining children with foster parents. -
Take advantage of the season and share the joy of a
summer vacation by becoming a volunteer host family for the Fresh Air Fund. -
Helping a child in need has never been so easy.
Simply donate a cuddly pajama set or a book to the Pajama Program and see how your contribution can
make a difference in the life of a little one.
To get in the giving mood,
read with your children about inspirational characters like Harry. Our
favorites include include Oliver Twist, Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events, and the Boxcar Children series.
Parting
Words
For the Potter generation,
Harry has been so much more than books and movies. Perhaps he and his friends
have guided your little one in discovering the meaning of a true friend. Maybe
on an ordinary day, your child is inspired to be adventurous; let them! Take
away the fantasy elements and there lies a story of an ordinary boy whose path
to extraordinary relied more on friends, family, and a tremendous amount of
courage then on spells. It’s permanence in pop culture has established it as a
classic; a future without Harry is impossible.
So as fans prepare to say
goodbye to an old friend remind your little ones that what a mere fictional
character stands for can be followed and built on if real life, instill in
them%uFFFD the power of reading, and of course
remember to tell them everyday that you love them!
