MOST popular jump local items Cool coffee shops
Chicago may have a Starbucks on every corner, but it lays claim to something even more exciting: a robust community of local coffeehouses.
Rooftop dining
Here's a sampling of Chicago's best rooftop gardens and patios. But be warned: Like summer in the Midwest, they're only here for a limited time.
Fashion's best blogs
From snarky takes on silly trends (metallic leggings, anyone?) to tips on how to recreate your favorite star's hot outfit for less, these blogs rule when it comes to fashion.
Go for a bike ride
From five-mile loops to a 61-mile long haul, there's sure to be a ride that's right for you among these 10 bike trails.
Cubs bars
It's the ultimate weekend of bragging rights. If you're a Cubs fan, rest easy that you'll be with friends watching the games at any of these bars.
The stroke of midnight no longer belongs to Cinderella. Here's the scoop on bookstores that are staying open until midnight on July 21 for the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Grab your favorite Harry costume and head to bookstore parties that include plenty of magic and a whole lot of books.
Harry Potter Midnight Release Party
Bookie's Paperbacks and More
2419 W. 103rd St.
Chicago, IL
60655
(773) 239-1110 http://bookiespaperbacks.com Hours: 11 p.m. to just after midnight
The Bookie's Paperbacks & More will have plenty of pastimes to offer fans in the hours leading up to the final book's release. Group activities include trivia, a raffle with prizes and group games like "pin the beard on the wizard." There will also be snacks and refreshments and crafts like wizard hat making and wand making. The store has 60 books ordered for the big event and many of them are reserved already, so you'll want to get in line early.
Harry Potter Midnight Release Party
Borders
2210 W. 95th St.
Chicago, IL
60643
(773) 445-5471 http://www.bordersstores.com Hours: July 20, 9 p.m. until just after midnight
Borders will celebrate the release of the final Potter book by holding a Harry Potter spelling bee and hosting the "Great Snape Debate," where party guests are divided into two groups and asked to debate whether Snape is friend or foe. The store also encourages guests to come in noble finery or Hogwarts costume, as the store will crown a king and queen. Show up early in the morning to get a wristband to hold your place in line if you haven't reserved your copy for the midnight sale.
Harry Potter Book Release Party
Anderson's Bookshop
5112 Main. St.
Downers Grove, IL
60515
(630) 963-2665 http://www.andersonsbookshop.com Hours: July 20, 9 p.m. until just after midnight
Anderson's Bookshop will feature many employees in costume and window dressings that come to life. There will also be wand making, trivia contests and costume contests. In conjunction with the release of the book there will be a live "PotterCast" by the Potter experts from Leakycauldron.com at 10 a.m. on July 20 at the Tivoli Theater. Tickets are $5 per person.
Harry Potter Party
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
1550 W. 75th St.
Downers Grove, IL
60516
(630) 663-0181 http://www.bn.com Hours: July 20, 8 p.m. until just after midnight
Barnes & Noble will host a bevy of fun activities in the hours leading up to the final book's release. You can get a Midnight Magic photo with a Harry Potter standee (life-size cutout) or participate in a trivia scavenger hunt and Harry Potter costume contest.
Harry Potter Book Release Party
Women & Children First
5233 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL
60640
(773) 769-9299 http://www.womenandchildrenfirst.com Hours: July 20, 10 p.m. until just after midnight
The release of the seventh Potter book is being celebrated at Women & Children First in conjunction with the entire neighborhood. The store itself will offer a scavenger hunt, costume contests, a spelling bee, trivia and prizes. There will also be a 10-minute reenactment of book six performed by local performers. Keep an eye out for a fire juggler on the corner. The store strongly recommends reserving your copy of the new book.
Harry Potter Midnight Release Party
Borders
1700 Maple Ave.
Evanston, IL
60201
(847) 733-8852 http://www.bordersstores.com Hours: July 20, 9 p.m. until just after midnight
Borders will celebrate the release of the final Potter book by holding a Harry Potter spelling bee and hosting the "Great Snape Debate," where party guests are divided into two groups and asked to debate whether Snape is friend or foe. The store also encourages guests to come in noble finery or Hogwarts costume, as the store will crown a king and queen. Show up early in the morning to get a wristband to hold your place in line if you haven’t reserved your copy for the midnight sale.
Harry Potter Party
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
1630 Sherman Ave.
Evanston, IL
60201
(847) 424-0848 http://www.bn.com Hours: July 20, 9 p.m. until just after midnight
Barnes & Noble will host a bevy of fun activities in the hours leading up to the final book's release. You can get a Midnight Magic photo with a Harry Potter standee (life-size cutout) to remember the occasion by and participate in a bean counting contest, trivia scavenger hunt and a Harry Potter costume contest.
Harry Potter Midnight Release Party
57th Street Books
1301 E. 57th St.
Chicago, IL
60637
(773) 684-1300 http://semcoop.booksense.com Hours: July 20, 10:30 p.m. until just after midnight
The party 57th Street Books is holding is simply too large to be contained in the store. Instead it's at the International House located at 1414 E. 59th St. Here you'll find Auror training, refreshments like pumpkin juice and butter beer, games, theatrics and costumes. There are also a few magical surprises in store. The shop has 800 books on hand to sell.
Harry Potter Midnight Release Party
Borders
1539 E. 53rd St.
Chicago, IL
60615
(773) 752-8663 http://www.bordersstores.com Hours: July 20, 9 p.m. until just after midnight
Borders will celebrate the release of the final Potter book by holding a Harry Potter spelling bee and hosting the "Great Snape Debate," where party guests are divided into two groups and asked to debate whether Snape is friend or foe. The store also encourages guests to come in noble finery or Hogwarts costume, as the store will crown a king and queen. Show up early in the morning to get a wristband to hold your place in line if you haven't reserved your copy for the midnight sale.
Harry Potter Midnight Release Party
Borders
2817 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL
60657
(773) 935-3909 http://www.bordersstores.com Hours: July 20, 9 p.m. until just after midnight
Borders will celebrate the release of the final Potter book by holding a Harry Potter spelling bee and hosting the "Great Snape Debate," where party guests are divided into two groups and asked to debate whether Snape is friend or foe. The store also encourages guests to come in noble finery or Hogwarts costume, as the store will crown a king and queen. Show up early in the morning to get a wristband to hold your place in line if you haven't reserved your copy for the midnight sale.
Harry Potter Party
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
1441 W. Webster Ave.
Chicago, IL
60614
(773) 871-3610 http://www.bn.com Hours: July 20, 10 p.m. until just after midnight
Barnes & Noble will host a bevy of fun activities in the hours leading up to the final book's release. You can get a Midnight Magic photo with a Harry Potter standee (life-size cutout) to remember the occasion by and participate in a Harry Potter costume contest and witness a magic potion demonstration.
Harry Potter Extravaganza
Book Cellar
4736 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL
60625
(773) 293-2665 http://www.bookcellarinc.com Hours: July 20, 7 p.m. until just after midnight
This Potter fest features costumes, games like "guess the number of beans in the jar," trivia contests, treats like cake and punch and face painting. A show filled with colorful scientific and magical experiments will wow the gathering crowd. Most everyone will be in costume for either a contest or parade.
Harry Potter Midnight Release Party
Borders
150 N. State St.
Chicago, IL
60601
(312) 606-0750 http://www.bordersstores.com Hours: July 20, 9 p.m. until just after midnight
Borders will celebrate the release of the final Potter book by holding a Harry Potter spelling bee and hosting the "Great Snape Debate," where party guests are divided into two groups and asked to debate whether Snape is friend or foe. The store also encourages guests to come in noble finery or Hogwarts costume, as the store will crown a king and queen. Show up early in the morning to get a wristband to hold your place in line if you haven't reserved your copy for the midnight sale.
Harry Potter Book Release Party
Anderson's Bookshop
123 W. Jefferson Ave.
Naperville, IL
60540
(630) 355-2665 http://www.andersonsbookshop.com Hours: July 20, noon until just after midnight
The countdown to the sale begins at noon at Anderson's Bookshop, which will feature employees in costume and window dressings that come to life. There will also be wand making, trivia contests, costume contests and owl and raptor displays. In conjunction with the release of the book there will be a live "pottercast" by the Potter experts from Leakycauldron.com on Sunday, July 22 at 3 p.m. at Naperville North High School to talk about the new book. Tickets are $5 per person. Show your Anderson's proof of purchase to receive a $2 discount.
Harry Potter Midnight Release Party
Borders
755 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL
60610
(312) 266-8060 http://www.bordersstores.com Hours: July 20, 9 p.m. until just after midnight
Borders will celebrate the release of the final Potter book by holding a Harry Potter spelling bee and hosting the "Great Snape Debate," where party guests are divided into two groups and asked to debate whether Snape is friend or foe. The store also encourages guests to come in noble finery or Hogwarts costume, as the store will crown a king and queen. Show up early in the morning to get a wristband to hold your place in line if you haven't reserved your copy for the midnight sale.
Harry Potter Midnight Release Party
Borders
830 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL
60611
(312) 573-0564 http://www.bordersstores.com Hours: July 20, 9 p.m. until just after midnight
Borders will celebrate the release of the final Potter book by holding a Harry Potter spelling bee and hosting the "Great Snape Debate," where party guests are divided into two groups and asked to debate whether Snape is friend or foe. The store also encourages guests to come in noble finery or Hogwarts costume, as the store will crown a king and queen. Show up early in the morning to get a wristband to hold your place in line if you haven't reserved your copy for the midnight sale.
Harry Potter Party
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
1130 N. State St.
Chicago, IL
60610
(312) 280-8155 http://www.bn.com Hours: July 20, 10 p.m. until just after midnight
Barnes & Noble will host a bevy of fun activities in the hours leading up to the final book's release. You can get a Midnight Magic photo with a Harry Potter standee (life-size cutout) to remember the occasion by and participate in a bean counting contest.
Harry Potter Release Party
Barbara's Bookstore at UIC
1218 S. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL
60607
(312) 413-2665 http://www.barbarasbookstore.com Hours: July 20, 10 p.m. until just after midnight
Barbara's at UIC is catering a tad more to adult fans than most other stores. From 10 until 11:30 p.m. there will be an adults-only party featuring butter beer and live music. At 11:30 p.m. the store becomes family-friendly with a costume contest, games and trivia.
Harry Potter Midnight Release Party
Borders
6103 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL
60659
(773) 267-4822 http://www.bordersstores.com Hours: July 20, 9 p.m. until just after midnight
Borders will celebrate the release of the final Potter book by holding a Harry Potter spelling bee and hosting the "Great Snape Debate," where party guests are divided into two groups and asked to debate whether Snape is friend or foe. The store also encourages guests to come in noble finery or Hogwarts costume, as the store will crown a king and queen. Show up early in the morning to get a wristband to hold your place in line if you haven't reserved your copy for the midnight sale.
Harry Potter Midnight Party
Barbara's Bookstore
1100 Lake St.
Oak Park, IL
60301
(708) 848-9140 http://www.barbarasbookstore.com Hours: July 20, 9 a.m. until just after midnight (closed between 11 p.m. and midnight)
The entire village of Oak Park is going Potter nuts and Barbara's Bookstore is along for the ride. The store will be offering snacks and other party accouterments like movies, games and contests. Barbara’s encourages reservations for the book.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Book Release Festival
Magic Tree Bookstore
141 N. Oak Park Ave.
Oak Park, IL
60301
(708) 848-0770 http://www.magictreebookstore.com Hours: July 20, 10 a.m. until just after midnight
Magic Tree Bookstore will be full of Potter fun all day on July 20 leading up to the midnight sale of the final book. The bookstore will host a fortuneteller, a portrait of Dumbledore (which may come alive from time to time), face painting and lots of fun costumes. The Weasley family will also be on hand to explain certain muggle artifacts. The store will have 800 regular copies of the book for sale as well as many deluxe copies. Those who ordered the book in advance can pick it up across the street at the Oak Park Public Library.
Harry Potter Party
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
5405 Touhy Ave.
Skokie, IL
60077
(847) 329-8460 http://www.bn.com Hours: July 20, 9 p.m. until just after midnight
Barnes & Noble will host a bevy of fun activities in the hours leading up to the final book's release. You can get a Midnight Magic photo with a Harry Potter standee (life-size cutout) to remember the occasion by and design your own frame to go with it. You can also participate in a trivia scavenger hunt, Harry Potter magical tattoo parlor and a Harry Potter costume contest.
Harry Potter Party
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
55 Old Orchard Center
Skokie, IL
60077
(847) 676-2230 http://www.bn.com Hours: July 20, 10 p.m. until just after midnight
Barnes & Noble will host a bevy of fun activities in the hours leading up to the final book's release. You can get a Midnight Magic photo with a Harry Potter standee (life-size cutout) to remember the occasion by and participate in a bean counting contest and a Harry Potter costume contest.
Harry Potter Midnight Release Party
Borders
4718 N. Broadway Ave.
Chicago, IL
60640
(773) 334-7338 http://www.bordersstores.com Hours: July 20, 9 p.m. until just after midnight
Borders will celebrate the release of the final Potter book by holding a Harry Potter spelling bee and hosting the "Great Snape Debate," where party guests are divided into two groups and asked to debate whether Snape is friend or foe. The store also encourages guests to come in noble finery or Hogwarts costume, as the store will crown a king and queen. Show up early in the morning to get a wristband to hold your place in line if you haven't reserved your copy for the midnight sale.
Harry Potter Party
The Book Stall at Chestnut Court
811 Elm St.
Winnetka, IL
60093
(847) 446-0882 http://www.thebookstall.com Hours: July 20, 9 p.m. until just after midnight
The Potter party at the Book Stall includes a costume contest, a Harry Potter look-alike contest, a spelling bee, face painting, wand making and trivia. Professor Snape will be attending to teach a potions class alongside Professor Sprout who will test your knowledge of herbs. At midnight the store will begin selling its 800 copies of the book.
Autos 
Jobs 
Homes 
Place an ad 
Yellow Pages
Subscribe to newspaper EasyPay Reader Rewards
Customer service
Account login Free trial offer Subscribe to e-paper
The stroke of midnight no longer belongs to Cinderella. Here's the scoop on bookstores that are staying open until midnight on July 21 for the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Grab your favorite Harry costume and head to bookstore parties that include plenty of magic and a whole lot of books.
Print
Email
Map it
