Quidditch sandwitch flies into Manitoba deli
[Posted by Dave Haber on Wednesday, 04/14/10 11:53 am] [Comments] [Permalink] [Tweet This]I'm not making this up. According to several reports on the internet today, a new Harry Potter-themed deli in Manitoba, Canada, has a very interesting sandwich on its menu.
It's called a Quidditch, and it is made up of (hold your stomach) pickles, mayonnaise, radishes, alfalfa spouts, and wild moose meat.
I'd like to tell you how I feel about that recipe, but I can't spell "Ewwww!"
I think most Harry Potter fans could think of a much better idea for a Quidditch sandwich. I'd think it would at least have to contain small meat balls made from some bird, like chicken or turkey.
Oh my, I need to get the taste of that Manitoba Quidditch sandwich out of my mouth, someone please pass me a Butterbeer.
Half-Blood Prince nominated for Bafta awards
[Posted by Dave Haber on Thursday, 01/21/10 7:37 pm] [Comments] [Permalink] [Tweet This] Nominations for The Baftas, which take place two weeks before the Academy Awards in Hollywood, and are often seen a prediction of possible Oscar winners, were announced today in London.
The sixth Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, has been nominated for Baftas in two categories, for Production Design and Best Visual Effects. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, released in theaters last July 15, was directed by David Yates, who is also directing the final two Harry Potter films which are currently in Production.
Winners of the Baftas are chosen by members of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, apart from the Orange Rising Star category, which is open to the public. The winners will be announced at a star-studded ceremony at the Royal Opera House on February 21.
Swish and Click
[Posted by Dave Haber on Tuesday, 01/19/10 9:42 am] [Comments] [Permalink] [Tweet This] Wizards have many tools that assist them in doing magic, from charms to potions. But even Lord Voldemort knew, if you want to be a really good wizard, you have to have a really good wand. Wizards in England all know Ollivander's is the place to go for the best wand, but what if you can't get to Diagon Alley? Well, now you can get a real, working, magical wand on the Internet!
The Magic wand television remote can learn up to 13 commands from your existing remote controls and map them to particular magical motions. Flick the wand from side to side to flip the channels, twist the wand to turn up the volume. We're not sure how these wands work, but the technology is very much like motion sensing used in the iPhone and Wiimote. Unicorn tail hair and dragon heartstring might also be involved.
The wand is compatible with almost all makes of TV, DVR, or really anything with a remote. It's only 18 galleons, 12 sickles and 2 knuts ($89.99) and you can check it out at Think Geek.
Two Harry Potter actors nominated at Irish Film and TV Awards
[Posted by Dave Haber on Friday, 01/15/10 3:47 pm] [Comments] [Permalink] [Tweet This] The 2010 Irish Film and Television Award (IFTA) Nominees were announced in Dublin, Ireland, earlier this week.
In supporting roles in films, the nominees include Michael Gambon for his work as Professor Dumbledore in "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince".
| | Michael Gambon and Brendan Gleeson |
In addition, in the television acting category, Brendan Gleeson, who plays Mad Eye Moody in the Harry Potter films, has been nominated for "Churchill: Into the Storm", who's director, Thaddeus O'Sullivan, was also nominated in the Best Television Director category.
Aine Moriarty, CEO of the Irish Film and Television Academy, said, "It's a tremendous lineup of strong, diverse Irish production for IFTA 2010, and the Nominees' showcase of work reinforces the fact that Ireland has a superb resource of creative talent, despite the difficult Irish economic year."
The winners of all 37 Film and Television categories will be announced at the 7th Annual IFTA ceremony on Saturday, February 20th in Dublin.
Harry Potter: The Musical is one of the best viral videos of 2009
[Posted by Dave Haber on Thursday, 01/14/10 10:23 am] [Comments] [Permalink] [Tweet This] EW.com has named its best viral videos of 2009. Among its top 10, Entertainment Weekly has listed "Harry Potter: The Musical," a.k.a. "A Very Potter Musical," created by University of MIchigan students.
| | Ron, Harry and Hermione in A Very Potter Musical |
In the show, Harry sings:
I know I don't deserve these stupid rules made by the Dursleys, here on Privet drive.
Can't take all of these muggles, but despite all of my struggles, I'm still alive.
I gotta get back to Hogwarts, I gotta get back to school.
Gotta get myself to Hogwarts, where everybody knows I'm cool.
It's not the Weird Sisters, but it's fun nonetheless. If you missed the video in 2009, you can see it here.
(Thanks to AnnArbor.com.)
2010 World of Harry Potter calendars now available
[Posted by Dave Haber on Saturday, 10/31/09 6:37 pm] [Comments] [Permalink] [Tweet This] The 2010 World of Harry Potter calendars are now available from Andrews McMeel.
The calendars are available as a Wall Calendar, Mini Wall Calendar, Desk Calendar and Day To Day Calendar.
 |  | | 2010 World of Harry Potter Wall and Desk calendars |
In the Wall Calendar, photos and art from one of the first six Harry Potter films combine into a stunning visual collage on each monthly spread of this calendar. In the Mini Wall Calendar, all six of the Harry Potter blockbusters are included in this small wall calendar, giving fans a unique glimpse of the saga's progression.
A different scene from one of the first six Harry Potter films is presented on each weekly spread of the engagement-style Desk calendar. The hard cover conceals a sturdy spiral and is heavily embossed.
Click on the links above for more info on the new calendars.
Half-Blood Prince in HD for free from Sky+HD
[Posted by Dave Haber on Friday, 10/30/09 8:00 am] [Comments] [Permalink] [Tweet This] Harry Potter may be "the chosen one," but Beyond Hogwarts readers have been chosen as special by Sky+HD!
Sky are giving their UK high definition customers a complimentary ticket to watch Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on Sky Box Office HD in their homes the same week that it is being released on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK, and they wanted you, Beyond Hogwarts Harry Potter fans, to be the first to know.
It is part of the Sky+HD Party campaign, a chance to share the Sky+HD experience with friends. To help the party give customers the best experience of Sky+HD, Sky are offering their HD customers a complimentary Sky Box Office HD movie and a £10 M&S; voucher.
Customers can take their pick from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Angels & Demons or The Hangover, showing exclusively from 11th – 13th December.
To set up their party, customers can visit sky.com/hdparty, and use their Sky+HD account number to sign up. Just so you know, this site currently has a holding page and will go live between 2 and 4pm GMT today.
Customers must set up their party and get 3 or more friends to accept their invitation before 5pm GMT on 17th November.
The parties are limited! Sky has allowed Beyond Hogwarts to tell you about this before the rest of the general public finds out about in on Sunday, so that the most loyal of Harry Potter fans in the UK gets to take advantage of this special opportunity.
For more information, visit sky.com/hdparty.
New book explores Christian symbolism in Harry Potter
[Posted by Dave Haber on Monday, 09/14/09 12:13 am] [Comments] [Permalink] [Tweet This] A new book, The Lord of the Hallows, by Denise Roper , examines the Christian themes present in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter, and compares Rowling's series with The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.
The Lord Of The Hallows also gives a fascinating explanation of the sources of Harry Potter's subtle religious symbolism, which includes a study of iconography derived from the Bible, the writings of the Early Church Fathers, Ancient and Medieval bestiaries, Christian artwork, and the Arthurian quest for the Hallows of the Holy Grail.
The book's author, Denise Roper, has been a guest lecturer on the deeper meaning of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels at fan conventions, book stores, and public libraries. She attended her first Harry Potter symposium, Phoenix Rising, in 2007, which led to her becoming a presenter at Portus 2008 in Dallas, Texas and Azkatraz 2009 in San Francisco, California. Denise is also a member of the Mythopoeic Society, devoted to the study of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.
Wrockstock the Third announces performers line-up
[Posted by Dave Haber on Tuesday, 09/01/09 4:22 pm] [Comments] [Permalink] [Tweet This] The planning team for Wrockstock, the annual Wizard Rock festival at the YMCA Trout Lodge in Potosi, Missouri, has just announced their full performance schedule.
Friday, November 6th
8pm The Moaning Myrtles
9pm Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Sugar Quills
10pm Ministry of Magic
Saturday, November 7th
2pm Draco and the Malfoys
3pm Creevy Crisis
4pm Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls
8pm Diagon Alley
9pm Swish & Flick
10pm Gred & Forge
Sunday November 8th
2pm Catchlove
3pm Riddle TM
4pm The Whomping Willows
8pm Tonks & the Aurors
9pm The Mudbloods
10pm The Remus Lupins
This year's festival will take place between November 6 and November 9, 2009. Tickets are available now on the Wrockstock Website. After September 5, ticket prices will go up to $150/$100/$50 respectively, so order your tickets soon. All tickets must be purchased with a Trout Lodge reservation for accommodations.
For more information, visit wrockstock.com and participate in the forum at wrockstock.com/forum. Also, be sure to check out Facebook for updates, special content and other Wrockstock related news.
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New exhibition explores Harry Potter's renaissance roots
[Posted by Dave Haber on Thursday, 08/13/09 3:26 pm] [Comments] [Permalink] [Tweet This] "There was a lot more to magic, as Harry quickly found out, than waving your wand and saying a few funny words." - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Since 1997, millions of readers have followed Harry Potter to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he discovers his heritage, encounters new plants and animals, and perfects his magical abilities. Although a fantasy story, the magic in the Harry Potter books is partially based on Renaissance traditions that played an important role in the development of Western science, including alchemy, astrology, and natural philosophy.
Incorporating the work of several 15th- and 16th-century thinkers, a seven-part exhibition series from the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, Harry Potter's World - Renaissance, Science, Magic and Medicine, examines important ethical topics such as the desire for knowledge, the effects of prejudice, and the responsibility that comes with power.
The exhibition, using materials from the National Library of Medicine, explores Harry Potter's world and its roots in Renaissance magic, science, and medicine. It runs from October 2009 through October 2012, in local libraries all across the United States. Click here for the full schedule
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