By Michael Barbieri***Okay. Full disclosure:I am not a Potterhead! I am not a die-hard Harry Potter fan who’s read all the books, knows which of the Hogwarts houses he belongs to or makes regular pilgrimages to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter amusement park in Orlando, FL. I’ve seen the films… at home… on DVD. That’s it.
So color me hugely surprise
d, when my friend Mary Alice—a Harry Potter superfan, invited me to join her for the soft opening/fan club preview of Harry Potter NY, the New York Mecca for all things Potter… and I had a BLAST!
Located on 22nd Street between 5th Avenue and Broadway, Harry Potter NY is a stunningly designed retail space, featuring an astonishing attention to detail, and just about anything a superfan could want! There are 15 themed areas in which to shop, interactive displays and merchandise designed exclusively for the NY store! You’ll find a mini version of Olivanders wand shop, an area devoted solely to the Potter books—complete with copies “floating” overhead, a confectionary where you can buy the famous chocolate frogs and the infamous “Every Flavor” jellybeans, and an enchanted forest that features toys and collectibles like broomsticks and plush versions of Hedwig the Owl! There’s an area in which to personalize your purchases, and a chamber devoted to the House of MinaLima, the designers who created all of the graphic art found in the Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.
Of course, there are many Instagrammable photo opportunities—a Ministry of Magic phone box in which you can pose, a giant pair of Hagrid’s shoes you can step into, a giant replica of the snake Nagini that 
hisses in Parseltongue, a huge Griffin rotating above the spiral staircase in the Atrium of Awe, and much, much more! Interactive features include actual props from the films, a giant, croaking chocolate frog and a magical Wand Table that resembles a Pensieve; simply touch a wand and the domed screen in the center lights up to give details of the wand’s owner, or better yet, lets you engage in a wand duel with other fans! In addition, fan club members who have the official Harry Potter app can unlock all kinds of secrets throughout the store by searching for Enchanted Keys that can be scanned into the app.
Best of all, later this summer, two Virtual Reality experiences will open, allowing shoppers to immerse themselves even more deeply into the world of Harry Potter. “Chaos at Hogwarts” lets fans journey through Hogwarts castle, while “Wizards Take Flight” allows them to “fly” on a broom through London, towards Hogwarts and around the castle grounds!
My favorite area, personally, was the Butterbeer
Bar! Butterbeer is a non-alcoholic quaff enjoyed by the young students of Hogwarts; a fact I know solely because of the films. Designed to look a bit like a magical English pub—an exposed brick wall with embedded barrels of the potion, menu boards that “float” in midair behind the servers, and glowing bottles that seem to be flying above the counter, it does feel like you’re at The Leaky Cauldron! Here, customers can buy Butterbeer, either on tap or in bottles. I was interested to sample it and it’s absolutely delicious! Tasting something like a cross between cream soda and butterscotch, it was refreshing, lightly carbonated and not overly sweet! And you get to keep the little plastic mug! I actually ended up having two of them! The bar also features sweets and snacks including chocolate wands, cookies 
shaped like the Hogwarts Sorting Hat and Weasley family jumpers, and even cupcakes with a buttercream rendition of Hedwig the Owl perched atop! Now, kids with an extreme sweet tooth might enjoy those, but unfortunately, Mary Alice tried one and told me the cake itself was too dense and the buttercream was cloyingly sweet! Oh, well…
At any rate, Harry Potter NY had its official opening on June 3rd and as I live directly across the street, I’ve seen long lines of people waiting to get in. But I’m sure some of the hype will die down and entry will become easier in the future. And yes, this is a cash cow for the producers of the Potter films and all the associated merchandise, but for fans of the franchise, the place will be a magical piece of heaven on earth. And even if you’re not a Potterhead, the shop is a lot of fun! I’ll even admit to having bought a Deathly Hallows t-shirt in the Dark Arts department!
So climb aboard your Nimbus 2000, find the nearest Portkey, or get your Marauder’s map and say “I solemnly swear I am up to no good!” But however you get there, get thee to Harry Potter NY! Oh, and have a Butterbeer for me!
For information on Harry Potter NY, go to www.harrypotterstore.com.
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