Harry Potter Party 2007

I've been a Harry Potter fan since 1999, when a friend implored me to buy the first book because her family loved it and she knew mine would too. So I bought it, and we were hooked. We bought every book since then, usually on the day of issue.

This year I signed up to get the book at my local independent bookstore, but was intrigued by what the newspaper billed "The largest Harry Potter party in Michigan." My kids weren't available so I begged my reluctant husband to accompany me to it -- the Aria Bookstore Diagon Alley party in Howell, Michigan.

I picked him up from work at 10:30pm (he works crazy retail hours) with a picnic dinner and we drove to Howell, about a 45-minute drive.
It was worth it. Here's one of tonight's sketches:

This is Aria Bookstore from across the street at midnight when they first opened the doors and let fans in to buy the book.

Charlie and I had fun walking the street and admiring the antique stores that were still open (for the party). Scavenger hunt questions dotted store fronts, and many stores featured Diagon Alley signs, props, and sidewalk drawings. It was pretty cool.
The way we see this, it's history.

Harry Potter Night

The release of the last Harry Potter book brought crowds of people to the Aria Bookstore, in Howell, Michigan, last night. Thousands of people crowded into the bookstore from 6 o'clock until 2 or 3 in the morning. (The book could not be sold until 1 minute past midnight) The town was full of people dressed up and having a great time. It was a gala event.

Harry Potter Look alike	Win A free book	Lines waiting outside	Channel 7 interview
Channel 4 interview	People at the counter	We have a winner!	Muggles Security
Cakes for Cakewalk	Face Painting	Daniel with full face painted	Hunter and Jake
Floaters	Harry Potter on Scavenger Hunt	Vast Crowds crossed the streets at every light	Crowd outside bookstore at 10 minutes to 12
10 minutes to 12 lined up around the corner	They're not here to buy the book	July 21 (1 Minute Past Midnight)	Getting their books
Picking up free T-shirt	Good-bye to Harry Potter	Crowd snaking around the building	Movie at 12:30 A. M.