Immersive World of Harry Potter Exhibition

Continued from previous page were created just for Harry (these included the before and after and costumes for doubles and stunt doubles) and then get to see the enormous dragon (selfie! – in fact, so many Instagrammable scenes throughout).

In the Quidditch section (there’s an actual Golden Snitch!), we get to throw a Quaffle through a hoop to rack up points. We learn that filming was a grueling experience for the actors who had to straddle the brooms while suspended in air. But in the “Azkaban” film, they finally put foot pedals and bicycle seats on the broom and gave the actors extra padding for their behinds that would be concealed under their uniforms. (Chris Columbus wanted Quidditch to have the same flair and excitement of Muggle sports but needed a crash course in the rules from author J.K. Rowling before filming.

I love learning about how the costumes, wands and such changed over the course of the different films, as the characters grew and matured, as mores changed, how the designers literally weave the character into the costume with subtle touches, textures, lines, and learning the actors’ reactions as well as their input.

As a superfan, I am particularly enthralled by the notes that accompany each of the rooms – like chapters in the book or scenes in the movie – that begin with putting you back into the story, but then adding on the fascinating creative backstory.

So we learn that when graphic designers Miraphorn Mina and Eduardo lima were tasked with cre- ating four-walls-worth of a tapestry portraying Sirius Black’s family tree in number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, they knew the names of some of his relatives from the books, but needed many more to fill an entire room. So producer David Heyman called JK Rowling and asked if she could provide further information on the Noble 7 Most Ancient house of Black. Almost immediately, she sent back several pages with five generations of names indicating births, marriages and deaths, plus the family crest and motto.

Importantly, learning the backstory of how the effect was created doesn’t burst the bubble or the delight in the illusion that is film.

Tom Zaller, the CEO of Imagine Exhibitions that created the Harry Potter exhibition in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment and EMC Presents, knows the importance of preserving the magic – his backstory includes a longtime association with the magician David Copperfield. His company, renowned for creating blockbuster exhibitions (Titanic, Jurassic World, Downtown Abbey, DaVinci), was approached by Warner Bros. to create this exhibition. (Imagine currently has 45 different exhibitions on view around the world, including a second World of Harry Potter Exhibition in Paris with different original elements). All the original costumes, artifacts and props belong to Warner Bros. – Imagine created the sets, the immersive experiences, and the illuminating notes that explain the exhibits.

The Harry Potter: The Exhibition premiered in Philadelphia a year ago, then went to Atlanta, and has already drawn one million visitors in the two venues, and will continue to tour after leaving New York City.

After using the portkey to travel to the Ministry of Magic, I find Zaller sitting behind Dolores Umbridge’s desk. I ask how the notes were made – they have so much information yet are so concise; they put you into the story, but then give you the creative backstory. He tells me they worked closely with Warner Bros. and the people who worked on the film, the play and the themepark. “We went behind the scenes to learn why choices were made.”

Zaller, who has been producing block buster exhibitions for decades, says, “This is the biggest, baddest, most wonderful... We try to satisfy the fan and the super fan.”

I confess my thrill at seeing the actual Sorting Hat, the actual sword of Gryffindor, the actual Golden Snitch, the actual Elder Wand, the actual Resurrection Stone, mixing a potion, throwing a Quaffle, conjuring up my Patronus (10 points for Gryffindor!), and being in the places in three-dimension, that you either imagine in your mind from the books, or see on film.

The exhibit is well set up for the numbers of people who will be coming through – many stations for photos, wands, spells, divination, potions, repotting the howling mandrakes (which turns out to have been a real thing that jk Rowling incorporated, among the other real spells and magic traditions, like the Sorcerer’s stone).

Clever use of video (film), sound effects, even smells, and thank good-

Nutrition News

Pantry or Refrigerator?

BY CHARLYN FARGO

Where to store various foods can be tricky at times. We know milk, meat and eggs belong in the fridge. But many foods are less obvious. Should butter be kept in the refrigerator or out on the counter?

Will bananas turn black in the refrigerator?

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers a list of foods you may not be refrigerating but should be. Storing them in the fridge will help keep them safe and tasting great longer.

Tortillas -- Some tortillas are prone to molding. That’s why the fine print on many tortilla packages recommends refrigerating after opening. Chill tortillas to help them stay fresh. The date on their package is for quality purposes, so when stored properly, they may be consumed beyond their date, if there are no signs of spoilage.

Salami -- Cured meats, including sa- lami, are less likely to harbor bacteria than cooked meats, but that doesn’t mean they’re always 100% safe. Refrigeration can slow potential bacterial growth, but people who are at higher risk of foodborne illness, such as pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems should heat ready-to-eat foods such as lunch and deli meats. Store unopened salami in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. After opening, it should be consumed within three to five days.

Ripe bananas -- It’s fine to ripen bananas on the kitchen counter. Trouble is, they keep ripening, and ripening and ripening. Once they’re ready to eat, pop them in the fridge for up to three days. The peel may turn brown, but they’re still fine to eat.

Avocados -- Like bananas, avocados will continue ripening. Once they’re at the stage you like, put them in the refrigerator. You can also take the peel off and freeze the flesh for use in a smoothie.

Nuts -- Nuts’ fragile unsaturated fats can go rancid quickly. While that may not hurt your health, it can definitely be bad news for flavor. Keep nuts tasting fresh by stowing them in a sealed plastic or glass container in the refrigerator for four to six months.

Whole-wheat flour -- This flour can also go rancid quickly. You can refrigerate it or freeze it to prolong its life and taste.

Maple syrup -- Maple syrup has a surprisingly short shelf life. So if yours is sitting in your pantry, it’s time to relocate it to the fridge. Stored in the refrigerator, maple syrup usually can stay fresh for up to a year. However, if you notice any mold growth, be sure to toss it immediately.

Dried fruit -- Dried fruit has less moisture than fresh fruit, so it doesn’t spoil as quickly, but refrigeration can help it maintain its freshness longer. Keep it in the main compartment of your refrigera- ness the musical score of the films is so marvelous, because musical segments provide the soundtrack in each of the areas (and smartly the sound tracks do not overreach)

We get to see the Voldemort’s horcruxes - Tom Riddle’s diary and the Basilisk fang used to destroy Tom Riddle’s diary in “Chamber of Secrets”, Hufflepuff’s Cup, Ravenclaw’s diadem, , the iconic Resurrection stone, Deatheater’s cloak, even the invisibility cloak (spoiler alert: it’s invisible), Dumbledore’s Elder Wand,

You even get to fight the final battle of Hogwarts, activating the wands held by Harry and Voldemort (choose who you want to be).

It’s supposed to take 60 to 90 minutes to go through, but I love reading the notes and studying the objects so much, I spend over two hours.

See it here in New York, then go see it in Paris.

Harry Potter™: The Exhibition has transformed its space at 50 W. 34th Street (34th Street and Broadway), easily accessible from Penn Station, Port Authority and many subway stations. Tickets (for timed entry, but you can stay as long as you want) start at $29 for adults. The exhibition also offers a VIP ticket experiences with a flex schedule, commemorative lanyard, free access to the Harry Potter. A full schedule can be found at www.harrypotterexhibition.com

© 2023 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear. com tor for up to six months.

Ketchup -- Restaurants may leave their ketchup on the table, but that doesn’t

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