Besides seeing “Some Like it Hot,” the other thing I really wanted to do in NYC was to visit the Harry Potter store. We set out on the subway at the crack of noon on Wednesday, and the subway was packed with people, so we were all squished in and had to stand, except people were always eager to give Mom a seat. The funny thing is, this is the only time with subway was packed, and we rode it every day.
Harry Potter New York is downtown and when we got off the subway I spied this this iris blooming in Madison Square Park.
We found a bagel place for a quick very late breakfast, and then I was in heaven upon entering HP New York. Here’s the butterbeer bar, with bottles hanging from the ceiling.
The butterbeer ice cream sounded appealing but since I’d just eaten a big lunch, I skipped it for the moment. The store wasn’t as crowded as I’d worried it’d be and I had plenty of time to wander around.
Here’s the griffin at the top of the circular stairway down to the basement.
And here’s a quick video of the store.
Mom was content to sit in the butterbeer bar, giving me plenty of time to explore. I got somebody to take my picture standing in Hagrid’s shoes. I just read about the actor Robbie Coltrane; He chose the name in honor of the jazz musician John Coltrane, he was in many TV shows and movies including something called “Coltrane in a Cadillac (1993) which saw him cross North America from Los Angeles to New York City behind the wheel of a 1951 Cadillac Series 62 coupe convertible, a journey of 3,765 miles (6,059 km), which he completed in 32 days. Hmm, I wonder if it’d be possible to watch that anywhere?
The phone box which led to the entrance of the Ministry of Magic. (it didn’t actually lead there, unfortunately but that would have been a bit difficult to re-create.)
Harry’s firebolt, describe on the placard as an “authentic prop.” There were quite a few props around the store which was totally cool.
A golden snitch! I bought a small replica ornament for Kevin.
An Azkaban Death Eater mask – it almost looks creepier in the light of day.
Down in the basement there was an archway of books plus many books hanging all over the ceiling. They obviously put a lot of thought into creating this wonderful place.
Butterbeer ice cream! I asked somebody in line what it tasted like and they said “buter beer.” Very hardcore fans here and probably many of them have been to the Harry Potter World at Universal Studios. Anyway, the buterbeer ice cream was delicious and tasted like buterscotch.
You can have a birthday cake customized which looks like the one Hagrid gave to Harry.
What a magical place. There’s a Harry Potter London, but that’s the only other one, and there were people from all over the world in the shop. I wanted to buy many things but didn’t get as many as I’d have liked. But still, I got plenty.
We were there for a little over an hour which I felt was enough time for exploring. If you’re in NYC and a Harry Potter fan, you must go there.
Ok then,
Grace