# Where are you going to be on July 16th 12:00a.m.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 5, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199 "2005-07-05T22:14:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/41 "2005-07-06T21:05:09Z")
My copy is pre-ordered at the B&N near Lincoln Center; Union Square is still tooo freaky for moi. :eek: Not gonna do the midnight thing, though, but will get there when the store opens and 8, grab a bagel and mocha, go to Central Park, sit down on my favorite bench, open book, and not move until I cannot feel any part of my lower body anymore. Walk thru Park (counting all the acid-green covers among fellow parkgoers) to Burritoville. Order and consume Holy Mole burrito (shredded chicken in chocolate mole sauce, mmmm) while continuing to read book. Finish, get up, get on subway back to civilization in the Bronx. While reading book. Anybody else re-reading Five to get themselves ready? I’ve seen a great many midnight-blue-blocks-of-Rowling on the subway and parks and all these past few weeks (I always take off the cover so it doesn’t get ripped when shoved into bags). Still in Sirius Black’s house. Even better fourth (?) time around. And oh yeah, my neighborhood has a twist; since we have so many Irish and Caribbean-Brit immigrants, you see lots of people carrying around the UK editions, and get to recognize them too. ---
**Author:** ![dare\_devil007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@dare\_devil007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dare_devil007)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/42 "2005-07-06T21:15:13Z")
> [@Mama Zappa](#): > > Hahahahaha… most Americans (and those in the UK who haven’t got the adult versions) have missed out on a lot of hot Ron’n’Hermione action… not to mention the original inspiration for Naked Quidditch (google it) - Harry ‘n’ Ginny… > > JUST KIDDING. Yes, as far as I understand it, it’s just a difference in the cover art. > > Or so they tell me (I’ve got the kids’ version)… 🙂 I am a bad, bad girl…I googled “Naked Quidditch”. Oh, I am so bad. I should go to confession and ask God for forgiveness. This [site](http://www.nodignity.com/freaks/nqm/nqm1.html) was the first hit. Don’t worry, it’s work-safe. It’s just a fanfiction someone wrote up. It’s hilarious. It’s a bunch of letters and notes that the characters write to each other after McGonagall sentences the Gryffindor Quidditch team to go starkers and play. I’ve forgotten how hilarious the Harry Potter-verse can be, especially with George and Fred. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/43 "2005-07-06T22:49:58Z")
I might go to the midnight selling in town as I think it would be fun to see all the little kids get dressed up and stuff. Plus… FREE FOOD! I should call the bookstore and make sure they’re selling it that night, not just the preorders. Book 5 I picked up the next day from the bazillion copies sitting out. I’m not worried about it selling out anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![Corii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Corii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corii)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/44 "2005-07-06T22:50:14Z")
I am thinking about picking up a copy for my SO that weekend, after we get back from camping. I have not read the books yet, so personally I can wait. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/45 "2005-07-07T00:25:54Z")
Well, if I can’t get to sleep for the excitement, I will haul my rear end over to B&N for my pre-ordered copy and stay up a couple of hours to read some of it. Otherwise, I’ll probably get up early on Saturday and tool over to get it and spend the rest of the day in bliss. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/46 "2005-07-07T02:29:53Z")
By that time I’ll be sound asleep in anticipation of an o’dark thirty awakening to move tables, chairs, set up and inflate a moonbounce, move and power the outdoor sound system, tap beer kegs and put sodas in ice trays, get the volleyball and horseshoes set up, the marquee changed, and handle everything else that needs handling before a hundred fifty firemen, their families, and former members descend on the station for our annual pic-a-nic. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/47 "2005-07-07T03:43:50Z")
I’m teaching an ESL class on Saturday mornings, so I can’t in good conscience buy a book at midnight knowing I’ll spend all night reading it. I have to wait til my class is over at ONE PM!!! The agony! I figure it’ll take me about 45 minutes to get from downtown, where the class is to the North Side, where my book will be held. By 2 pm I expect to be safely ensconsed in a cafe with my book. Mmm…book… ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/48 "2005-07-07T04:17:43Z")
I will be teaching my second period class. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/49 "2005-07-07T12:11:40Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Waiting for my younger brother and sister to start fighting over who gets to read it first, so I can sneak in and steal it. 😃 And it just dawned on our family that we’re out camping that weekend. Out of 14 people who are going to be there, at most 3 of them **aren’t** Harry Potter fans. Who planned this? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/50 "2005-07-07T15:38:26Z")
> [@dare\_devil007\_](#): > > I am a bad, bad girl…I googled “Naked Quidditch”. Oh, I am so bad. I should go to confession and ask God for forgiveness. This [site](http://www.nodignity.com/freaks/nqm/nqm1.html) was the first hit. Don’t worry, it’s work-safe. It’s just a fanfiction someone wrote up. It’s hilarious. It’s a bunch of letters and notes that the characters write to each other after McGonagall sentences the Gryffindor Quidditch team to go starkers and play. I’ve forgotten how hilarious the Harry Potter-verse can be, especially with George and Fred. That is one of the funniest things I’ve read in a long time. “What’s he going to do? jump up and down and yell kill us.?” _snort_ ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/51 "2005-07-07T16:09:51Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Harry Potter book releases were clearly not arranged with Orthodox Jews in mind. The next one will be, actually. It’s tentatively titled _Harry Potter and the Bris of Crookshanks_. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/52 "2005-07-07T16:14:29Z")
> [@Mr. Goob](#): > > That is one of the funniest things I’ve read in a long time. “What’s he going to do? jump up and down and yell kill us.?” > > _snort_ I did! I DID taw a bid bad Moldiemort! “I mocked Voldemort - Ask Me H-…” ::gurk::… ::snrkxxxxxxxx::… ::choke::… ::die::… ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/53 "2005-07-07T18:37:04Z")
Midnight Saturday? Probably awake, but at home. I can certainly wait until morning to buy the book. I doubt it’s going to be like the PS2 where you HAD to pre-order to find it in stock. I’m re-reading the whole series to get ready for it. I’ve only read each book once so far, and I’ve forgotten a lot since OOTP came out back in 2003. Right now I’m about 1/3 through COS, and I plan on finishing that one on my train ride home tomorrow night, as if history repeats itself, I’m going to read POA in one sitting, so it might as well be this weekend. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to force myself to get through GOF, since the majority of that book was worthless the first time around…if I manage that, hopefully I’ll get OOTP finished in time to pick up book 6, and get it read before too many spoilers start leaking out. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/54 "2005-07-07T20:07:41Z")
I’ll be behind the counter, dressed as Hagrid. Should be a good party. My bookstore is a small one, but we attract quite the loyal group of fans. When the last book came out, we had a line on the sidewalk when we opened the store at 11:30 pm. The total number of people at the midnight release party represented over 3% of the town’s population. Pretty amazing, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/55 "2005-07-07T20:49:31Z")
Does anyone know of a website that has “The story so far…”? I don’t want to re-read all five previous books, but I don’t want to be totally cold when my pre-ordered copy arrives on my doorstep in nine days (and counting). ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/56 "2005-07-07T22:44:38Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Does anyone know of a website that has “The story so far…”? I don’t want to re-read all five previous books, but I don’t want to be totally cold when my pre-ordered copy arrives on my doorstep in nine days (and counting). [Here](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/2985582.stm) is one, from the BBC, no less. You could always use [Harry Potter Lexicon](http://www.hp-lexicon.org/index-2.html) for more detailed accounts. Depends how much of an HP geek you are 🙂 I ordered mine from a semi-independent bookstore that may not have the resources to be open at midnight. If it is, I’ll go. It’d be an intetresting experience to meet people as obsessed as I am in real life, instead of just online 😃 ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/57 "2005-07-07T22:55:58Z")
**Hamish** , yer wunnerful - thanks! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/58 "2005-07-08T00:07:50Z")
mehitabel, union square should have a live feed of ms rowling reading from the new book. ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/59 "2005-07-08T01:22:49Z")
Me? I’ll be at [Spellbound! 2005](http://www.spellbound2005.com) dressed as a Slytherin student with two of my friends. We have just about finished sewing our robes today and my friend even made us wands. I started rereading the series at fifty days left so I’d have ten days a book, even if I read really fast. I’m on the fifth one at the moment. Eight more days! _squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!_ Ahahahahaha, that Naked Quidditch fan fiction is the best. _It’s all fun and games till someone gets a killing curse flung at them…_ ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199/60 "2005-07-08T02:26:58Z")
Oooh, I hadn’t heard that. I’ll see if I can find out more. I’ll brave the freaks to hear that! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-you-going-to-be-on-july-16th-12-00a-m/311199.md?page=4)