By the time we get to 'Phoenix'
10 things you can do to keep the wizardry alive as you await the new film and book
The force is with it: the "Harry Potter" phenomenon moves into warp speed with what the franchise's millions of fans worldwide must consider Christmas in July: the release Wednesday of the fifth movie, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," followed two weeks later by the last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
But if like kids everywhere, you can't wait for Santa to arrive, the Muggles here at the Daily Prophet have a few suggestions. So spin your Sorting Hat and fire up your Nimbus 2000, a universe of Harrymania awaits:
1. IN THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS: If you absolutely cannot hold out another day, HBO will broadcast a 13-minute preview of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" as part of its "First Look" series. Show times include 5:10 p.m. today on HBO Family; for more airings, go to www.hbo.com.
(Keith Hale/Sun-Times)
(Warner Bros./AP)
3. MEET THE WEASLEYS: Direct from the Land Beyond Hogwarts, real-life twins James and Oliver Phelps, who portray Fred and George Weasley in the "Harry Potter" films, will appear at the Hollywood Blvd. Cinema, 1001 W. 75th St. Woodridge. From Tuesday through July 15 (see Web site for specific times), they will meet and greet fans, and also will attend the midnight opening Wednesday of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." For details, call (630) 427-1880 or go to the theater's Web site: www.atriptothemovies.com.
4. BIG ENOUGH FOR QUIDDITCH: If you prefer your Potter at more than life-size, tickets are on sale for "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: An IMAX 3D Experience" at the Navy Pier IMAX Theatre, 700 E. Grand. A 20-minute segment from the film's finale has been transformed into IMAX 3D for a truly Hogwartian spectacle. Screenings begin at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. For tickets ($13, $15), call (312) 595-5MAX; www.imax.com/chicago.
5. A SLEEPOVER FOR MUGGLES: The "Wizard Science Overnight" July 15-16 at the Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., promises snacks, schooling (toward your OWLS proficiency), a sleepover in the museum's glass-enclosed Sky Pavilion, plus a special screening of "Phoenix" at the Navy Pier IMAX. Tickets ($75, $65 for Adler members) are limited; call (312) 294-0361 or go to www.adlerplanetarium.org.
6. HARRY ON THE INTERNET: The World Wide Web bubbles over with Potter facts, trivia and lore. Everybody knows about the official site (www.harrypotter.warnerbros.com) or Mugglenet.com ("The Ultimate Harry Potter Fan Site"). But some of the most inventive pop-culture takes on J.K. Rowling's universe can be found on YouTube.com. As staff reporter Misha Davenport has been humming: "Snape. Snape. Severus Snape."
You'll have to forgive him. He can't get a certain song out of his head, and he thinks you won't be able to, either. Head to YouTube.com for "Potter Puppet Pals," a series of shorts created by Flash animation wunderkind Neil Cicierega, his sister Emmy and his friend Alora Lanzillotta.
Start with "The Mysterious Ticking Noise." In it, Cicierega and crew have reimagined Potter and friends as puppets who are surprisingly rhythmic. And you have to love Cicierega's take on the title character as a hyperactive kid.
"Bothering Snape," done in 2-D flash animation, should also get a chuckle. In it, long-suffering potions master Severus Snape finally extracts his revenge on his two least-favorite pupils (Harry and Ron), while Dumbledore loses both his mind and his clothes.
7. BRUSH UP YOUR HARRYSPHERE: Northern Illinois University in DeKalb will kick off its second annual Muggle Academy, an academic summer camp modeled after Hogwarts, beginning July 29 and running to Aug. 3. Participants will have two options: a residential academy for campers in grades 8 through 12, and a day camp for those in grades 4-7. The cost ranges from $425 to $525. For details and registration, go to www.niu.edu/clasep/camps/muggle/ index.shtml
8. TRIWIZARDS TOURNAMENT, SUBURBAN STYLE: The third annual "Countdown to Midnight Festival," a daylong celebration of "magic, imagination, youth and literature," begins at midday July 20 throughout Oak Park, and culminates with the release of Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows at the witching hour (that is, 12:01 a.m. July 21). The festival features returning-favorites activities such as Muggle Golf, Divination Tea, Wizard Chess and the Quidditch World Cup Tournament. New this year is the addition of the Slytherin Reptile House and public debates on the nature of Snape: good or evil? For more information: www.visitoakpark.com.
9. ALL HALLOWS EVE: Barnes & Noble outlets nationwide will celebrate the release of The Deathly Hallows with "Midnight Magic Costume Parties." Stores will stay open late July 20 so that Potterheads may purchase the series' seventh and final book at the stroke of midnight, when the sacred tome officially goes on sale. For more details: www.barnesandnoble.com.
10. Need More Nifflers? Then check out our list of all things Harry at www.suntimes.com.