Two things from popular New York City radio station Z100 today. First, they report that a spoof is in the works! Yes, coming this year, Scary Movie 3: Episode I: Lord of the Brooms (Ok, but have they seen Giverius’ Lord of the Snitch?). Also, the station’s morning show had a very rowdy discussion today …read more!

BCC news reports that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone has won an award for Best Family Film from the Las Vegas Film Critics’ Society. Also from the BCC; an article on Miriam Margolyes, soon to be seen as Professor Sprout in Chamber of Secrets (thanks to Amanda for the link). According to Sunday People, …read more!

Weasley sweaters as made for the Harry Potter film can be ordered from Pride and Joy, along with “Neville Longbottom sweaters” and “Hermione berets.” A reader pointed us to the website for The King’s School, one of the locations used for filming Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. From the New York Times; a priest …read more!

Wishing everyone a happy 2002! More on the Russian version of Quidditch (from The Times (UK); thanks to Alena for the link). The BBC reports on a Harry Potter reading marathon to raise money for a cancer charity. From a nondescript factory on the outskirts of Missouri’s capital city, trucks carry the magical world of …read more!

Yahoo news (UK) reports that wizards take movie box office to fairytale finish. The Archbishop of Canterbury mentions Harry Potter in his his New Year’s message (from itv.com). Scholars ponder magic of Potter (from The Times-Picayune).

Thanks to Muridae, color=”#008800″>FictionAlley is pleased to present screencaps from the BBC biography of JKR which aired on December 28. Among the images are drawings by JKR of Harry at the Dursley’s, Dumbedore leaving Harry on the doorstep, members of the Weasley family, and Professors Sprout and Snape, as well as the oft-debated List Of …read more!

New Mexico church burns Harry Potter books (from the BBC). Ananova reports that Quidditch has been turned into a real game by a Moscow children’s club. The National Post reports that the new husband of J. K. Rowling has yet to decide whether to go back to work. According to the New York Times, the …read more!

Miriam Margolyes (who will be portraying Professor Sprout in Chamber of Secrets) has been honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE).

From the Sunday Mail: Two faces that shaped 2001: J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe. J.K. Rowling — From struggling single mum to one of the world’s most famous – and richest – authors, it’s been quite a year for Edinburgh-based Joanne Kathleen Rowling. The movie version of her first book, Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s …read more!

Spell was broken before film began: Kids ready for Harry Potter got R-rated flub (from the Seattle Times). Readers Allison and Lila let us know that “Discovering the Real World of Harry Potter,” a one-hour documentary special telling the story of the real-life sources for the best-selling “Harry Potter” books, will be rebroadcast in the …read more!