A 'PHOENIX' RISES FOR HARRY POTTER FANS.Byline: Fred Shuster Staff Writer Delivery trucks are rolling, libraries and bookstores are steadying their shelves, and moms and dads are looking forward to a little peace and quiet "A Little Peace and Quiet" is the second segment of the first episode of the television series The New Twilight Zone. Details
also called estancia (Argentina and Uruguay) or fazenda (Brazil) In Latin America, a large landed estate. The hacienda originated in the colonial period and survived into the 20th century. as the world prepares to crack open J.K. Rowling's new 38-chapter, 896-page opus, ``Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.'' The Scholastic-published book about a bespectacled teen wizard has already set printing records, even though it won't be placed on display until midnight Friday at local outlets. Along with the title's initial press run of 8.5 million copies, 575,000 copies of the 26 1/2-hour audio book have been readied. The Potter phenomenon, which takes in four previous Rowling books and two feature films (with another two in various stages of production and pre-production), is apparently in no danger of waning. But nobody's taking chances - alongside books and audio books, clerks will stock a variety of Potter merchandise, including magic wands a wand used by a magician in performing feats of magic. See also: Magic and wizard robes. The anticipation has been building since ``Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,'' the fourth installment in the projected seven-book series, gave booksellers an unusually magical Christmas three years ago. Yet, few outside of the most highly trusted gatekeepers have turned their Hedwig-like gaze upon any part of the 896-page ``Order of the Phoenix,'' which carries a hardcover retail price of $29.99. ``Nobody's seen the book (except for select Scholastic editors, executives and shippers),'' said Virginia Anagnos, a publicity spokeswoman on the project. ``That's standard because they want everyone everywhere to get the story at the same time. Most folks at Scholastic don't even know what the book is about.'' The richly humorous and cleverly written Potter series has moved 200 million books worldwide and has been translated into 55 languages since the 1998 publication of the first volume, ``Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.'' The fifth and latest, ``Order of the Phoenix,'' is the longest yet, finishing at 255,000 words with the only illustrations coming at the start of each of its chapters. The 8.5 million copies being shipped to bookshops and other outlets make the title the largest first printing of any book ever, said Scholastic spokeswoman Judy Corman. Meanwhile, the manufacture of ``Order of the Phoenix'' audio books is apparently also a record-setter. Random House, which produces tape and CD versions of the Potter series (the latest title will be available this weekend unabridged in packages of 17 cassette tapes at $45 or 23 CDs at $75) says its combined run of 575,000 copies is the largest in audio-book history, the Wall Street Journal reported. The audio version is narrated by stage star Jim Dale, who has done the other four novels. Party with 'Potter' With the midnight Friday release of the much-anticipated ``Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,'' bookstores around the country are throwing parties to celebrate. Local booksellers are getting in on the festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. with book release celebrations and activities, such as arts and crafts arts and crafts, term for that general field of applied design in which hand fabrication is dominant. The term was coined in England in the late 19th cent. as a label for the then-current movement directed toward the revivifying of the decorative arts. and storytelling Storytelling Aesop semi-legendary fabulist of ancient Greece. [Gk. Lit.: Harvey, 10] Münchäusen Baron traveler grossly embellishes his experiences. [Ger. Lit. , for the fifth installment of J.K. Rowling's series about the adventures of a young magician and his friends. You don't need Headmaster Dumbledore to know that the stores will be crowded, so be sure to get there early. BURBANK Barnes & Noble, 731 N. San Fernando Road San Fernando Road is a major street in the city and county of Los Angeles. It starts off in Castaic as The Old Road, passing through Santa Clarita and the Newhall Pass, where upon its intersection with Sierra Highway near the junction of the Golden State (I-5) and the . Games, activities and arts and crafts, 6 p.m. to midnight Friday. (818) 558-1383. CALABASAS Barnes & Noble, 4735 Commons Way. Crafts, 7 to 8 p.m.; storytime, 8 to 9 p.m.; lineups to buy the book begin at 9 p.m. Friday. (818) 222-0542. CANOGA PARK B. Dalton Bookseller, Topanga Plaza, 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Games and giveaways, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. (818) 883-8195. Borders, 6510 Canoga Ave. 10 p.m. to midnight Friday. (818) 887-1999. Release party with refreshments, trivia and giveaways. Priority cards for sales lines will be handed out at 7 p.m. ENCINO Barnes & Noble, 16461 Ventura Blvd. Book release party with face-painting, balloon hats and picture-taking, 9:30 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday. Books only available to preorder customers. (818) 380-1636. GLENDALE Barnes & Noble, 245 N. Glendale Ave. The Sorting Hat Ceremony, 10 p.m. to midnight Friday. (818) 246-0630. NORTHRIDGE Borders, 9301 Tampa Ave. 11 p.m. to midnight Friday. (818) 886-5443. Release party with refreshments, trivia and giveaways. Priority cards for sales lines will be handed out at 7 p.m. PALMDALE Barnes & Noble, 39228 10th St. W. Balloon hats, face painting and contests, 9 p.m. to midnight Friday. (661) 272-9958. B. Dalton Bookseller, Antelope Valley Mall The Antelope Valley Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Palmdale, California. Opened in September, 1990, its buildings take up around 1 million square feet (90,000 m²). Its physical main building, parking lots, and ring road businesses encompass an area a bit less than 0. , 1233 W. Avenue P, No. 413. Opening at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. (661) 274-2998. SHERMAN OAKS Borders, 14651 Ventura Blvd. 11 p.m. to midnight Friday. (818) 728-6593. Release party with refreshments, trivia and giveaways. Priority cards for sales lines will be handed out at 7 p.m. STUDIO CITY Bookstar, 12136 Ventura Blvd. Midnight Madness Party, 9 p.m. to midnight Friday. (818) 505-9528. THOUSAND OAKS Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd. Midnight Madness Party, 9 p.m. to midnight Friday. (805) 446-2820. VALENCIA B. Dalton Bookseller, Valencia Town Center, 24201 Valencia Center. Open 7 a.m. Saturday; first customer of the day wins a gift bag; raffles for Harry Potter prizes. (661) 287-4309. Barnes & Noble, 23630 Valencia Blvd. Line tickets for presale customers will be distributed at 8 p.m. Friday; costume contest and arts and crafts from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday. (661) 254-6604. Borders, 24445 Town Center Drive. Arts and crafts, raffles and games after 9 p.m. Friday; priority cards for sales lines will be handed out at 7 p.m. (661) 286-1131. VALLEY VILLAGE Dutton's, 5146 Laurel Canyon Laurel Canyon can refer to several things:
WOODLAND HILLS Barnes & Noble, 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Midnight Magic Party with games, art lessons, readings and giveaways, 9 p.m. to midnight Friday. (818) 704-3850. OTHER LOCATIONS Compass Books & Cafe, Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort is a recreational resort complex in Anaheim, California. , 325 W. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim. Exclusive Disneyland Annual Resort Pass holder Harry Potter Party with a look-alike contest, trivia and quidditch match, 11 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday. Dutton's Brentwood Books, 11975 San Vicente San Vicente (sän vēsān`tā), city (1993 pop. 28,529), central El Salvador. Among its industries are textile manufacturing and sugar milling. San Vicente is the commercial center of a region that produces coffee and sugarcane. Blvd., Brentwood. (310) 476-6263. Party with book release countdown, 11:30 p.m. Friday. Storyopolis, 116 N. Robertson Blvd., Plaza A, Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . Transfiguration Transfiguration, in the New Testament, manifestation wherein Jesus appeared "shining" before Peter, James, and John. The traditional explanation is that in it Jesus' divine glory shone in his earthly body. Mt. , palm-reading and wand-making classes, book readings and Harry Potter snacks, 9 p.m. Friday. (310) 358-2512. Borders, 330 S. La Cienega There are at least three places with the name La Cienega (from the Spanish La Ciénaga: swampland, marsh or bog): Borders, 1415 Third Street Promenade The Third Street Promenade is a pedestrian street in Santa Monica, California, United States. It is considered one of the premier shopping destinations in West Los Angeles and frequently draws crowds from all over Los Angeles County. , Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. . 11 p.m. to midnight Friday. (310) 393-9290. Release party with refreshments, trivia and giveaways. Priority cards for sales lines will be handed out at 7 p.m. CAPTION(S): 11 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) Merry `Harry' fans Librado Romero/The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times (2 -- color) no caption (Harry Potter and other characters) (3 -- 7 -- color) no caption (cover of books) (8) Jessica Weinman, 11, sixth grade, Portola Middle School (9) Adam Montes mon·tes n. Plural of mons. , 13, eighth grade, Portola Middle School (10) Brandon Gale, 10, fourth grade, Woodcrest School (11) Catherine Frederick, 11, fifth grade, Woodcrest School John McCoy/Staff Photographer Box: (1) PARTY WITH `POTTER' (see text) (2) THE STORY SO FAR... - Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. |
|
||||||||||||

Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion