Come out to the Barnes & Noble stores in Kendall (7710 N. Kendall Dr.; 305-598-7292) and Aventura (18711 Biscayne Blvd.; 305-935-9770), at 11:00 p.m. Friday, July 15, for games and door prizes. At the Borders stores in southern Miami (9205 S. Dixie Hwy.; 305-665-8800) and North Miami (11401 NW Twelfth St.; 305-597-8866), you can expect costumed clerks and Harry Potter-inspired refreshments, like butter beer and chocolate frogs.
The Books & Books chain is hosting a Harry Potter bonanza all its own. The countdown to midnight will begin Friday, July 15, at 9:00 p.m., and both the Coral Gables (265 Aragon Ave.; 305-442-4408) and South Beach (933 Lincoln Rd.; 305-532-3222) stores will be aflutter with magic fever. Enjoy live music while you join in wacky wizard activities and play the Harry Potter trivia game. Sport the witchiest getup for the Character Costume Contest and you can score a weekend getaway for a family of four at the Biltmore Hotel, passes to the Miami Seaquarium, and free ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery, among other fun prizes.