Time to Vote for your MeetUp Location!

It's time to vote for where you want to hold a meetup. Remember - since most Borders Bookstores are staying open for the launch, that's a great place to go.
A bit of a MeetUp RoundUp:

1463 people signed up
in 335 different cities.

You need 5 people signed up to have a MeetUp - there are 101 cities withContinued...

David Thewlis talks Lupin (Lucas?)

Thanks to HPANA for pointing us to this this interview with David Thewlis, who talks about playiing Professor Lucas in PoA. (No comment! None at all! :)

"Two weeks ago I was in a pink leotard being smeared with Nivea by three old men." Just for fun, or did this have anything to do with the film? "IContinued...

Win a Potter book...

...from the Viaslia Times Delta.

If you are younger than 18, send us a brief essay on this topic: "If you could go on vacation with Harry Potter, where would you go? And why?

Waterford potty over new Harry Potter book

The Waterford News & Star in Ireland reports on the staggering numbers of preorders for Book V.

Barn Owls Rescued, Thanks to Harry

The Express Star reports that "A bird rescue centre has been flooded with neglected barn owls in the wake of the Harry Potter films which star a magical white owl called Hedwig."

Book Magazine Article Now Online

The Book Magazine article featuring TLC editors Melissa Anelli and Heidi Tandy is now online. Warning - potential spoilers in the article.

Waterstones Training Wizards

CBBC reports Waterstones is training up loads of actors to fill their stores with magic the night of the Book V launch.

Watson "Seen" at Teen Bender

It was bound to happen. As the actors from the Harry Potter movies get older, the media will start catching them in teen situations and blow them out of portion. Here's the first - Emma Watson at a party where underage alcohol is being served so says the Oxford Herald.

Fool's Take on Scholastic Layoffs

The Motley Fool's Rick Munarriz takes a look at Scholastic and Harry Potter.

Harry Potter and the Order of Burgers & Fries

A bit of satire and humor from the Christian Science Monitor's Ron Charles regarding the potential for "out of control" marketing.

California's Books Inc to hold Mindnight Launch Events for Book 5 - Including Disneyland Store

According to a news release Books Inc., the West’s Oldest Independent Bookseller, is hosting midnight release parties for the much anticipated Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, beginning Friday evening, June 20, 2003, at seven Books Inc.Continued...

To Pre-Order or Not Pre-Order

The Kansas City Star has an intriguing article about whether to stick with an online preorder or to visit a store. I think I prefer going out and joining a party.

Scholastic Lays Off 400

It looks like Book V didn't come soon enough. Newsday reports that Scholastic had to lay off 400 in its global workforce.

Book V Launch Events in Canada - Chapters/Indigo

Thanks to reader pedant, we've found that Ticketmaster Canada is actually selling tickets to Book V launch events at Chapters and Indigo locations in Calgary, Alberta and Ontario. I'm surprised there hasn't been any articles or news about it thus far. We will add all these entries to MUARIContinued...

UK Audiobook Not Due Until September 22nd, 2003

There's been some confusion as to why the US edition audio versions (CD and casette) of Book V will be out June 21st and the UK edition won't be released until September 22nd, 2003.
Reader Liz sent us a response from the BBC that should clear things up:

We are delighted to be able to confirmContinued...