Parties for Potter

Dress up like the famous young wizard, enter a trivia contest or see a magic show as area bookstores and libraries welcome the release of the fourth book in the Harry Potter series.

By TIM GRANT

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 7, 2000

CARROLLWOOD -- Young readers will be up past the witching hour tonight as the fourth installment in the wildly popular series about Harry Potter the boy wizard goes on sale at midnight.

One area bookstore will satisfy impatient fans by staying open as late as 1 a.m. so that readers can dig into the latest J.K. Rowling fantasy Goblet of Fire when it's released at 12:01 a.m.

Other bookstores and public library branches in northern Hillsborough County are planning daytime parties for everyone's favorite underage wizard.

"These books are very popular out here, and we just thought it would be a lot of fun," said Cory Bennett, a librarian at the New Tampa Regional Library. "We figured out that July 31 is Harry Potter's birthday, so that is when we will have a birthday party."

Bennett said there are 380 people on the waiting list for the new children's novel, which has not even come into the system yet. The library has no events planned for this weekend.

The books, which chart the life-and-death adventures of an orphaned child wizard and classmates who are enrolled in a witchcraft school, have have been the focus of some controversy throughout the country. Administrators at Carrollwood Elementary decided this year not to order any new Harry Potter books for the school library, fearing that parents might object to their witchcraft and wizardry themes.

Nevertheless, the runaway bestselling series is about to break all publishing records. The first three titles have sold 28-million copies worldwide and the fourth has an initial print run of 3.8-million copies.

The hype surrounding the release of the new 752-page Harry Potter book is unprecedented for a children's novel.

Barnes and Noble Booksellers at 11802 N Dale Mabry Highway will kick off the Potter release party at 7 tonight with a performance by local magician Rick Lambert. Kids will be invited to write letters to Harry Potter, which the store will send to Rowlings' U.S. publisher, Scholastic Corp.

From midnight to 1 a.m., the store will host a trivia and costume contest for children and offer giveaways that include Harry Potter eyeglasses and lightning bolt tattoos. Adults will get free coffee.

Some critics might say the midnight book party encourages kids to stay out way past their bedtimes, but Barnes and Noble spokesperson Demene Benjamin said it encourages more reading.

"You're talking about an event that is focused on reading, so some parents look at it as a good thing," said Benjamin, the store's community relations manager. "It's not like they are at a nightclub. It's nice to see people get excited about a book."

The celebration will end Saturday at noon with a chocolate cake with green icing like the one that made Harry Potter aware of his magical powers, Benjamin said.

Rival booksellers Waldenbooks and Borders bookstores plan to start sales on Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

Harry Potter-themed events will rule the day at Waldenbooks & More, 13101 N Dale Mabry Highway. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. boys and girls are invited to dress like characters from the series. The best dressed will win Harry Potter prizes, said store manager Julie Fedor.

Whoever makes the best guess on how many beans are inside a jar of magical jelly beans will win the jar and there will be a drawing for a free copy of the book. The store also will raffle gift baskets for parents filled with books and other assorted items.

At Borders Books Music & Cafe, 12500 N Dale Mabry Highway, refreshments will be catered by the fictitious Leaky Cauldron, a restaurant that Harry Potter and his pals, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, frequent while they shop for supplies they need at the wizard academy, Hogwart School.

Book sales will start at 9 a.m. A release party at 3 p.m. includes a costume contest and trivia contest.

"We anticipate a very busy day," said Teresa Searcy, community relations coordinator. "The demand should be very high. We've had a lot of inquiries from children and adults. They are anxiously awaiting the release."

To reach Tim Grant call 226-3471, or e-mail him at grant@sptimes.com.

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