All Things Potter
So this weekend, my daughter and I went to see the Harry Potter exhibition. Located in Discovery Times Square, the exhibition just opened, and will be in NYC until September. And for anyone who is in love with the books and movies, I highly recommend going. A collection of hundreds of props and costumes that were used in the Potter movies, the exhibition is arranged in such a manner that you leave feeling as if you've actually been to Hogwarts.
Entrance is timed, and after waiting for your turn, you arrive at night in the fog on the train platform at Hogwarts. From there you're quickly "sorted" in the right house – although I did notice a significant number of Gryffindor candidates. And one woman who said anything but Slytherin please. From there you walk along a hallway with moving portraits, including Dawn French as the
Fat Lady, trying very hard to break a glass with a high note.
Fortunately, she's so preoccupied that you're manage to slip right into the Gryffindor common room and from there into Harry and Ron's bedroom. There are costumes and of course beds, complete with bed-curtains, and the odd packet of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. You see Ron's sweater (the one his mother made him) and if you've purchased the audio tour you'll hear from the set designers and costumers just exactly how they came up with each unique look.
From Gryffindor you wander into the various classrooms. Starting with the Dark Arts. And of course Snape. And a wonderful display dedicated (and no doubt designed by) Gilderoy Lockhart. Including the famous portrait of him painting his own portrait. You'll move on to see Umbridge's very pink office (and hear about how her "pinks" got deeper and darker as she slipped more under the influence of "he-who-shall-not –be-named".
And all along the way, you'll see character costumes along with their personal effects, and more importantly, each of their wands. Luna's (inexplicably in Gryffindor), Nevils, Harry's, Ron's, Hermione's, and of Draco Malfoy's. The darker side is covered as well, with the Death-eaters in full regalia. Bellatrix both before and after her release from Azkaban. And of course Voldemort.
You visit other classrooms, take a turn at quidditch, and even get to wrestle with your very own Mandrake. Then you wander through Hagrid's house (you can even sit in his chair) and meet Buckbeak and other of Hagrid's 'friends' before heading into the Forbidden forest and some not so friendly spiders and a rather angry dragon.
And finally you wind up in the great hall (complete with floating candles). It's the night of the dance, and you can almost see Hermione and Viktor Krum, Ron in his hand-me-down suit. And Harry, just on the edge of manhood, in his tuxedo. You also see costumes belonging to Tonks (my favorite) , McGonagall and of course Dumbledore. And then it's time to head back to reality, but not before saying hello to Dumbledore's Fawkes, and having a quick look at the Gryffindor sword.
Of course this is just a little taste of what's in store. There's Ron's brother's candy collection. And the marauders map and Harry's invisibility cloak. There's Hermione's time turner necklace and Hagrid's book of monsters. And all along the way clips from the movies to help you remember (although I'll admit we were so entranced we didn't watch any of them).
All in all a magical way to spend a day for a muggle with a love for Harry Potter.
What about you? Are you an HP fan?
