Magical {last minute} Friday night plans
You might be a Muggle if you weren’t aware that tonight (well really early tomorrow morning!) is the release of the much-anticipated, much sought after last literary installment in the magical world of Harry Potter. Thats right, book seven, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released at exactly 12:01 am.
Several years ago book sellers across the globe started hosting magical midnight parties to celebrate the release of the book and entertain the hundreds of thousands of people waiting for its release. Tonight is no exception. It is a bittersweet night for Harry-lovers. Many of us are eagerly waiting the answers to questions - some of which have been pending since the books first came out so many moons ago. And yet we are sad, knowing this is the last in Harry’s journey. Thankfully we can read and reread the books for many years to come.
In case you didn’t make plans yet and want to attend this final Midnight Magical Experience here are several options for the Tucson area:
Borders Bookstores - Both Tucson locations are hosting a Grand Hallows Ball complete with “wizardly activities, fantastical games, and stupendous giveaways!” Festivities start at 9:30 pm for both stores. If you live close to the northwest side visit the store at 4235 N. Oracle Rd and on the east side visit the store at 5870 E Broadway Blvd.
Barnes and Noble Bookstores - Both Tucson locations are hosting their Midnight Magic party complete with games, activities and other magical happenings. Catch the fun at the northwest location, 7325 N La Cholla Blvd, starting at 6 pm or at the east side location, 5130 E Broadway Blvd, starting at 8 pm.
U of A Bookstore - for those of you located centrally near the university you can catch the fun at the U of A Bookstore, 1209 E University Blvd, starting at 10 pm and lasting until 1 am. There will be a costume contest, movies and kids activities.
If you pre-ordered the book and it is being delivered to you or you want to wait and get it later you can still host your own Harry Potter party! The following sites can give you ideas for fun, food and games to create some magic of your own.
The Floo Network
Muggle Net
The Leaky Cauldron
The Official J.K. Rowling site
The Official Warner Brothers - Harry Potter site
Enjoy your magical evening! Don’t forget to stop and eat or sleep this weekend as you devour your book. I know I will be totally engrossed until I finally find out how this whole journey ends!
Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry Potter
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:26 am
Am I the only one who finds this Harry Potter stuff disturbing? on a variety of levels!
For instance, the zig zag lightning strike symbol in Harry Potter is the same as the gestapo of the 3rd reich– Hitler’s Germany! I have seen innocent children whose parents should have know better proudly sporting this symbol on their shirts and heads.
Also on a religious level. The bible CLEARLY tells us that witchcraft and the like is an abomination before the Lord. We are to shun it. What are we teaching our children? To emulate evil. THERE ARE NO RIGHTEOUS WITCHES people. If you are a witch or a wizard you follow Satan and his army. If you teach your children that it is okay to emulate them, you are responsible to God for the evil you have taught your little ones, whom He gave you a stewardship over.
We are to avoid even the appearance of evil, when are we going to do that?
Oh, and please spare me the ‘I don’t know what I am talking about’ — I have read the 1st Potter book to make sure I knew what I was talking about and was appalled by the amount of evil teachings it contained which darkens the minds of our children step by step. Yes it was entertaining! That is how the devil works. We wouldn’t sin if it was no fun, now would we? I have also read the Bible a couple of times through, and I have taken several history classes. SO, yes I do know what I am talking about. If you agree, voice it. If you disagree, voice that too, it’s what freedom of speech (which we still have, barely )is all about.
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:25 pm
I have been told, “Well, they are good witches”. Really? Well, from where do they get their power?
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:05 pm
I think we’re just seeing the slow slide (maybe “fast” would be a better adjective) downward of our country. We’re losing our moral compass faster and faster.
At some point, the line has to be drawn… especially by parents! Of course, trumping all of this is the fact that the Bible clearly mandates we stay away from this type of stuff… whether it’s relatively “tame” or blatant. Right is right and wrong is wrong. It’s like being pregnant. Either you is or you ain’t! There is no “kinda pregnant.” There’s no “kinda wrong” or “kinda right.” What if someone gave you a beautiful, gourmet plateful of delicious food. The kicker is that there’s a small amount of poison hidden somewhere in there. Would you eat any of the food on that plate? Of course not!! So, a bit of wickedness in a book, story, movie, whatever is okay?
What’s really sad is the glorification of witchcraft in this day and age. It’s not even “soft-peddled” anymore. It’s right out there, in your face, and unashamedly proud of itself. Shame on people who spit in the face of what God has clearly said.
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:11 pm
I know that witchcraft is real. I also know where the power comes from (Satan). As a lifelong Christian, I have read the Bible many times and am familiar with what it says about witches (a warlock is a male witch). The Bible is still relevant today because all that has changed over time is our environment, not human nature. I choose to believe God, He certainly knows more that we do. I am not saying that I am any better than anyone else in following Him and His commandments, but I try and have made progress in my life.
The biggest danger with things like the Potter books is that we are sending an approving message to our children and grandchildren about something that God has condemned. Do we also read the scriptures to them and teach them about God?
July 28th, 2007 at 8:19 am
I don’t think Harry Potter teaches anything bad if you’re mature enough to realize that it’s not real and its just a story. I think that if people would realize that then we wouldn’t have any problems…..
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