Where's my Eric Northman?
Actually, I saw an ad that featured Alexander Skarsgard on a side of a bus later that afternoon! Ha ha! More Viking Vampire please!
But back to our next stop, a store dedicated to all things Harry Potter and wizards, Whimsic Alley on Wilshire Blvd. Look at the address, 5464 3/4! Just like Platform 9 3/4! It's right next to an Indian restaurant...
It's pretty dark inside and it looks like a fantastic mini movie set. I read somewhere that the interior was indeed designed by Hollywood set designers. Whimsic Alley is L.A.'s version of Diagon Alley. There are mini rooms off the main part of the store. It's not that large in there but they have so much stuf packed in. This particular room held all kinds of witche and wizard hats, from simple to elaborate. We really liked this cool Sorting Hat! Gryffindor!!! Hufflepuff!!!
There was a small candy display that had various Harry Potter themed candies like Chocolate Frogs, Bernie Bott's All Flavor Beans (the gross jelly bean flavors included sausage, onion, grass, and liver), and a candy/chocolate cockroach. Ugh!
More candy in jars...
This was the Wand Room - the wands were very well made and were exact replicas of the ones used in the movies. The names of the wands however could not use the corresponding character's name (maybe due to copyright?) but they had a list that identified which wand belonged to each character. There was a cool one that had a horse's head on the handle that TC liked but it was a "Deatheater" wand. The woman working the counter was so helpful in answering TC's questions. She really knew her wands too! She liked to keep the Weasley's wands together (Ron, Fred, George, Ginny, the parents, etc) on the rack. The wands were $29.95 each. The perfect prop for your Hogwarts costume!
This was the front desk. Notice the quilled pens?
View looking towards the front door from the front desk. The side rooms on the right held books, games, toys, potion bottles, and clothing. The rooms on the left had uniforms (ties, skirts, vests, sweaters), jewelry, accessories (ties, scarves), and hats.
The facade is supposed to look like Gringotts bank. There is a long hallway off to the side which leads to a private banquet room, the "Great Hall".
Candles were hung by clear filaments so they appeared to be floating. There were rows of large tables just like in the movies (but on a much smaller scale of course). This is where they hold childrens' birthday parties, private functions, and high tea events.
Bathrooms were at the end of the hall and were labeled "Witches" and "Wizards". This was the "Witches" bathroom - check it out, a black toilet!
Oh no, what's this? As much as I heart RPattz, you'd never see me wearing this shirt! Look how young he was.
There was a young girl celebrating her birthday that day. The staff was dressed in their Hogwarts gear and were gathering the kids to the Great Hall. I chatted with the birthday girl earlier in the wand room. She was turning 11 and was super excited about the next film, "Deathly Hallows Part 2". She was dressed in her Gryffindor robe and tie.
They also had the poster with Sirius Black, "Have You Seen this Wizard?"! Loved it! Lucius Malfoy is one bad MF!
We spent a good hour or so in there and left with a few goodies. Here is what TC bought with some of her gift money. Unfortunately, I lost her Tom Riddle pin when I wore it to the DH-2 movie. It was on my house robe and fell off. We didn't realize it until we got home, so now someone from Regal Theaters has a Tom Riddle pin. When I went recently with D (to be posted later), they were out of those pins.
Bert and I shared this candy. That marshmallow filling really does flow out like that! It's a messy candy! I liked the thickness of the chocolate cups though. You need a wetwipe or papertowel to eat this.
Here's a pretty short (and shaky) fanmade video of the store:
Who else went to Whimsic Alley?
Jenn of JustJenn Rants
as well as Geek with Curves
Official Website of Whimsic Alley
If you're a fan of the Harry Potter series, you definitely have to check this place out!
2 comments:
Oh my god I want to go here!!
Hi Mary - You would totally LOVE IT here! You'd go NUTS here! Make a special trip up!!!!!
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