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I'm heading to the local chapters to get my midnight copy. I'm totally insane, since it's not really local, and I'll have to drive the hour-and-a-half home and work in the morning, but I'm going.
My housemate and I dressed up last time, I as Madame Rosmerta, and she as a Death Eater. She scared a few children in that costume, and we decided this time to go with that theme. We're both going this time as Dementors. With any luck, we'll be the only unaccompanied adults in costumes again this year.
Are we the only ones who do things like this?
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I wish. Stupid no good commuter rails. The closet I will get to it is going to the supermarket at midnight to get my copy of HP. I will dorkily go there about an hour or more early.
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I thought about going dressed up but I chickened out. But my friend works at B&N, so we're going over there at midnight.
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For Harry Potter it is! They have these little parties, with prizes for best costumes, and little snacks and all, and everyone gets really pumped for their brand new book. It's awesome.
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I'm dressing up as a Gryffindor student! My friend's a Ravenclaw. We made our robes when the third movie came out. They are awesome. The kids will be jealous...oh yeah.
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I'm taking my teenager. We went to the last one, and she had a blast. I tried to talk her into costumes, but no dice. Now me, I like the idea of going as a Dementor or a Death Eater, because the idea of "scaring a few children" and making them jealous makes me grin.
The best costume we saw was the girl dressed as Moaning Myrtle--toilet seat on her neck and all. My teen was sorted into Gryffindor, and that team won the trivia contest. They got HP pins. But it was a small independent bookstore.
We're going to Borders this year. The party starts at 9 and goes 'til 2 a.m. Of course, we live in a fairly large city, so that may have something to do w/ the extra-late hours. I can't imagine that many would stay that long, as they'll be eager to get home and start reading.
Posts: 68 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Going to Borders, about half of us in costume. Then heading to my house to read it all together.
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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To those who have gone to parties? How are they?
I imagine alot of little kids but are there alot of older fans (high school to adult) that I can converse with.
I'm going to Barnes and Noble with my best friend. We're wearing special t-shirts but not really dressing up. I figured we'd go alittle early to get in line for the midnight pickup but we might go alittle early-early if its worth it. I'm all about being a dork and enjoying the more youthful side that HP brings out of everyone, but there's a fine line between catering to kids and catering to wanna-be-kids.
Besides its midnight. How many parents take their kids out at midnight??
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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I'm going to the Borders by my house, but I'll be helping out as a "volunteer" as all volunteers will get a free copy of the book (and a free meal before the party). It pays to have a sister who is good friends with employees at book stores.
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Going to a Border's at eight thirty in CT to partake in the general craziness and then after, a tradition we've started in the AllNightReadingParty. Definitely will be dressinguppedness to be had.
Posts: 3636 | Registered: Oct 2001
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We're going at 8:30 and my two nieces are dressing up this time so now I am thinking of dressing up as well. Or I may just wear my Gryffindor jersey again, Hogwart's clothing being rather warm for summertime in Alabama.
I remember we had to stand in line for a long time last time, and we all got really sleepy before midnight and camped out in the science fiction section trying to nap on the floor but it was lots of fun.
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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I'm going to help out at a party at the local public library! It should be a lot of fun. Last year, they had a magic show, an owl from a local wildlife center, pictures with a guy dressed up as Dumbledore, face painting...great for all the kids.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Shanna: To those who have gone to parties? How are they?
I imagine alot of little kids but are there alot of older fans (high school to adult) that I can converse with.
I'm going to Barnes and Noble with my best friend. We're wearing special t-shirts but not really dressing up. I figured we'd go alittle early to get in line for the midnight pickup but we might go alittle early-early if its worth it. I'm all about being a dork and enjoying the more youthful side that HP brings out of everyone, but there's a fine line between catering to kids and catering to wanna-be-kids.
Besides its midnight. How many parents take their kids out at midnight??
This will be my third midnight HP release party - I've been to the ones for the last two books. The one for book 4 was fairly tame, as far as these things go. My friend and I showed up around 8 or 8:30, and were handed numbered badges upon entry. We had something like 162. Passing through the second set of doors, a woman was leaving with her kid, muttering something about wild parties and late at night, and gave us her number - 101. Jumping over 60 spots in line was a welcome thing, needless to say. There were kids there, but not too many - the books hadn't hit quite the mass of people they had...
at the Book 5 party. I was at the B&N in Madison (WI), and by midnight there were over 1000 people there. There were more kids than the last time, but most of the people there were college-age or older. We got there around 7 this time, but had picked up the sorting sheet earlier in the day, so we were among the first to get the book. This one was more organized, with trivia games and a costume contest and the like, but I spent several hours getting a crash course in the history of the X-Men from a friend who's vaguely obsessed with them.
This year, I'll be at the B&N West in Tucson starting around 6, but maybe as early as 4. I'd be there at noon, but alas, I've got class. Damn those Romans and their making of a stupid language! This one promises to be even more organized than the last one, so I'm looking forward to a good time No costume for me, though. Posts: 3932 | Registered: Sep 1999
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My friends and I are really excited about the wand making at B&N. We're going to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory before that so it should be quite the entertaining evening.
Posts: 2867 | Registered: May 2005
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My mom works for a small, locally owned chain of supermarkets. They have a store that's been in the same location for over 20 years, and it's a very popular one. Now, in this same shopping center is an independent bookseller that has been there less than 10 years.
Now, my mom's store sells books, mostly paperbacks and magazines, your typical grocery store selection. The store also closes at midnight. Now, for Harry Potter release, they special-purchased 200 copies of HBP, and have decided to keep the store open until 2 AM and have a costume contest. All in good fun, right? Have a good time, sell a few books, no harm done.
Well, the independent bookseller called the news and put up fliers all over the shopping center accusing Western of trying to run her out of business.
On the news last night, she made the comment that "We have an agreement that we don't sell each other's products in this shopping center. It's just not neighborly to try and take someone else's business away."
I'm just astounded at the ridiculousness of her claim. For one thing, Western has been selling books in their stores for more than 20 years and she's never complained about it before. And Western's VP was on tv last night and he had a perfect response: "We're very confused by her claims. She sells sandwiches and drinks in her bookshop, and so do we but that doesn't bother us. We sell insecticide and light bulbs and so does the hardware store two doors down. We just don't understand what she's getting at."
*shakes head* People can be so strange sometimes! I mean, the VP even told her when she called him (she called the headquarters and asked him to not sell the books at all, I guess she wanted him to just send them all back) and he told her their plans and that they routinely do special deals like this on certain items that are expected to be "hot" Her complaint was that everyone in the area would buy their books from WEstern at the midnight-2 AM party and it would cost her business. The VP told her she was certainly welcome to stay open past midnight herself if she wanted to compete head to head, and she said no, she wasn't going to be open that late, and out of consideration for her, WEstern shouldn't be open until 2 either.
Okay....
The cool thing is, the owner of the shopping center called her and kindly asked her to remove all her signs that disparaged Western because it violated a city ordinance. She refused, so he called the police, and all the signs were taken down.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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LOL....she wasn't willing to stay open from midnight til 2am on the night of the HBP release?? I don't think Western is the one who doesn't want her to stay in business. That would be the one looking back at her in the mirror.
addited: I'm thinking about going to B&N tonight to get my copy, though it's totally insane.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
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209. That is my number. I will be the buyer of the 209th copy sold at one of the Barnes and Nobles in Omaha. My friend picked up my wristband and a poster (she's helping with wand making tonight).
What a great friend.
Posts: 2064 | Registered: Dec 2003
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not this year...I went for the last 2 books (but didn't dress up). This year, I ordered my book online. I have to get up at 6:00 in the morning, so I can't really go out and get a book at midnight (since if I got it, I would have to read it).
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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Well, we had a great time. There's lots of little kids there, and we scared a few of the smaller ones. One little girl was a bit more scared than we intended and started wailing. Her mother said we were really the last straw, and all the people and the late hours were probably the real causes. She was very nice about it - I don't know what I'd do if two complete strangers made my kid burst out crying.
We also got "banished" more than a few times by kids who remembered the spell. But we wouldn't let them banish us until they told us what shape their patronus would be. We talked to a few adults, but also had a lot of fun talking to the kids, too. They know this stuff, just as well as, or better than, their parents. They drink it in. They have some good opinions and stories and it's fun talking to them. We also tried to sell a few of them on other great YA books we enjoy, like Pratchett or Tamora Pierce.
Also, I was really glad the bookshop was air-conditioned, because the cape and the layers of tatter really were hot.
What a great evening. And a great book.
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My friend's a Ravenclaw. We made our robes when the third movie came out. They are awesome. The kids will be jealous...oh yeah.![[Evil Laugh]](graemlins/evillaugh.gif)
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But it was a small independent bookstore.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
but it was lots of fun.
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