The countdown to the end of Harry Potter is ticking away—second by second—until that fateful moment when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , book seven of the seven part series , is finally released to the masses. Countless hordes of giddy children and adults alike will be staying up until 12:01 a.m., the first minute of its release on Saturday, July 21, at bookstores around the nation. Here in Albuquerque, there’ll be a lot of Potter-style partying going on, so dust off your wizard hats and get ready for the beginning of the end. Or maybe not … Barnes & Noble Booksellers 6600 Menaul NE • 883-8200If you want to be assured you receive a copy of Deathly Hallows promptly at midnight, come to Barnes & Noble dressed in your best Harry Potter-inspired costume. The winner of the costume contest will be the first in line, and right behind him (or her) will be the winner of the board game competition. Or, just enjoy making arts and crafts while you wait in line. Bookworks 4022 Rio Grande NW • 344-8139Rock music, broomless Quidditch, divination, Diagon Alley and, of course, tons of Harry Potter look-alikes will take over Bookworks starting at 9 p.m. and going until 12:01 a.m. when the first copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be handed out to an excited, screaming muggle. Hogwarts-themed activities will be happening all over the store, including a raffle for a chance to win a real Nimbus 2000 (see “Sweeping Up” for more details) and a live performance by the winners of the Wiz Rock band competition. For more details, visit www.bkwrks.com. Borders 2240 Q Street NE • 884-77115901 Wyoming NE • 797-568110420 Coors NW • 792-3180Join the Grand Hallows Ball for an evening of magic and wonder and all that stuff. Muggles, squibs and wizards alike will enjoy fantastical games, wizardish activities and loads of giveaways. And, of course, copies of Deathly Hallows for all at midnight. Hastings 12501 Candelaria NE • 332-88554315 Wyoming NE • 299-77501201 Juan Tabo NE • 296-61076051 Winter Haven NW • 898-92276001-R Lomas NE • 266-1363Every Hastings in town is having a Harry Potter party with costume contests, trivia, games and butterbeer, but each store’s activities are slightly different. Events get started at the Candelaria location at 9 p.m. and will include arts, crafts and wand-making. At the Wyoming location, the party starts around 8 p.m., and don’t be late to Potions or Snape might make you do lines. Get sorted into houses then attend Transfiguration and Potions at the Juan Tabo location, and be sure to enter the raffle for a chance to win tickets to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , or a PSP or PlayStation 2 with the fifth game. The Winter Haven and Lomas locations will both have most or all of the same events and both start around 7 p.m. Loma Colorado Public Library 755 Loma Colorado NE, Rio Rancho • 891-5013Join in the Hogwarts experience at the Loma Colorado Public Library starting at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 20, with a sorting hat ceremony. Then take classes in divination, defense against the dark arts, potions and transfiguration. After that, you can compete for the "House Cup" in the Harry Potter trivia challenge. Participation is free and no registration is required. Students are advised to leave their toads, owls and animagus rats at home. Page One Bookstore 11018 Montgomery NE • 294-2026Why not bone-up on some magic while the hours until book no. seven’s release pass? Page One will host many Hogwarts classroom activities (and you’ll get a report card to prove your prowess) as well as shopping in Diagon Alley, a costume contest and a chance to win one of seven iPods or a handcrafted magic wand. Class starts at 9 p.m. and ends with the most highly anticipated book release of all time at midnight. UNM Bookstore 2301 Central NE • 277-5451If you can’t stay up until midnight (or if you want more Harry Potter action), the UNM Bookstore is hosting a Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows release party at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 21. There will be refreshments, games and discounted copies of Potter’s last chapter.
The Death Of Harry Potter
Well, The End Of The Series, At Least
4 min read
