"But you don't have to be a wizard, and you don't have to be in London to pay a visit to that fabled alley.
Just go to Oak Park Avenue and Lake Street in west suburban Oak Park on Friday, June 20. For that one night, a stretch of shops will be transformed into Diagon Alley to mark the first sale of the new Harry Potter book.
Starting about 9 p.m., the Magic Tree children's bookstore will become Flourish & Blott's bookstore, Cafe Winberie morphs into the Leaky Cauldron, and C. Foster Toys will take on the appearance of Quality Quidditch Supplies.
In fact, most of the businesses on the street will shed the mundane for the magical and start selling Harry Potter-inspired merchandise or refreshments.
Even US Bank will become Gringott's Wizarding Bank, with goblin-led tours to its basement vault.
Many characters from the book will be strolling about, as well....
The idea originated with a couple of her employees who noticed the success the nearby Oberweis Dairy had when it stayed open late for the release of the last Harry Potter book, which went on sale at midnight." [Chicago Sun-Times]
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