05 March 2026

Harry Potter 25th Anniversary

 


On May 7th Warner Brothers Studios - Leavesden, will introduce a new program celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the release of Harry Potter and the Philosipher's Stone.

Enjoy a new show explaining the secrets of sound effects, as well as demonstrations of the magic used to film quiddich matches and other flying scenes in the series. You'll also be able to experience Wizard's Chess on the same scale that Harry, Ron, and Hermione played before Quirrel met his demise.

As I've previously reported, this tour is one of the best entertainment-based presentations I've ever experienced. If you have plans to be anywhere close to the metro London area, I strongly suggest making time to catch a train to Watford Junction to visit the studios at Leavesden.

Reminder - tickets must be booked prior to your arrival!

Full details on the First Year at Hogwarts can be found here.

02 March 2026

Upcoming Trip

 I'm reasonably sure my wife doesn't read my blog unless I tell her there's something I'd like her to take a look at, so here's a sneak peak at our upcoming trip, that I'm almost certain she has forgotten about.

When we took our cruise from Bayonne last November we spent an extra night in New York, the first time we visited that amazing city since our daughter's 16th birthday, in 2012. If you'd like to review the details of that adventure it's right here. (It will open in a new window, so you won't lose your place.)

As luck would have it, just prior to that trip it was announced that Tom Felton would be joining the cast of Cursed Child to reprise his role as Draco Malfoy - the week AFTER we had tickets for the show.

UGH!

While waiting for our flight home at the end of the cruise I thought it would be an epic surprise to go back to New York in the spring and see Mr. Felton.

Then I discovered that Daniel Radcliffe would be on Broadway in Every Brilliant Thing.

The wheels started turning.

Tickets, showtimes, dates, hotel, flights, restaurants; a mass of Venn diagrams. Maybe we visit during our anniversary? Nope - that won't work. Two sequential evening shows? Hmm, those tickets were a bit pricey. Ah, Brilliant Thing has a Wednesday matinee, we can make that work! Tickets for Cursed Child Thursday evening? A bit better than Friday or Saturday.

We had our dates.

Convenient hotel - procured. Rates are decent for New York, location is good. 

Flights booked (again, flying on a Tuesday tends to be a more economical choice.)

The big reach - dinner reservations at a bucket-list restaurant.

Reservations for April opened up this morning, and we now have a table at Le Bernardin. If Eric Ripert makes an appearance during our visit I may just keel over on the spot.

We haven't done a trip of this nature in a very long time, so I'm looking forward to this getaway.