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Why I Love The Lockhart: Wingardium Leviosa

Downward Fluffy

The Drake Hotel recently started hosting Harry Potter yoga, from which I can tell is yoga with wands and Harry Potter decor – I’m going next week so I’ll report in detail. All the major Toronto publications reported on the unusual style of yoga, which reminded me of another Harry Potter-esque thing in our city that made headlines - the proclaimed Harry Potter bar, The Lockhart.

(Courtesy of @TheDrakeHotel)

A story told across the lands

The Lockhart is/was one of the most talked about bars in Toronto, with 60 articles by publications worldwide. It started with an article titled “Toronto gets a Harry Potter themed bar” by Now Magazine food writer Natalia Manzocco. After the piece was published, The Lockhart’s social media blew up with followers and other publications tried to file their stories before it became old news. The bar then became one of the hardest places to get into. Every time I tried to visit the 36 seat establishment I was met with a line. Even the days I was walking home from work with no intention of attending, there was a line. It took me over a year to check out what all the fuss was about.

Potions & Elixirs

As soon as I walked in, I understood the hype. As a Harry Potter fan you can’t help, but get excited by the neon heart capturing the final words of the series, the “Potions & Elixirs” wall, the framed Dobby posters of the character sporting different outfits, themed drinks such as ButterBeer (pictured below) and The Dementor’s Kiss as well as the “Have You Seen This Wizard” wanted poster in the front window perfect for that next profile picture.

(Courtesy of @redvelvetswan)

(Courtesy of @mariejoseelebel)

While the focus is on Harry Potter, the bar also offers drinks from other classic shows and movies including Star Trek: Then Next Generation,WatchmenandDoctor Who. Yet with all its wizardly décor and the press naming it the Harry Potter bar, it’s understandable why those sci-fi nods are ignored. In fact, I remember going on a date with a person who knew the owners and told me the whole Harry Potter aspect was intended to be somewhat subtle and not the essence. Even BlogTO said the Harry Potter aspect was blown out of proportion.

All was well

Regardless, if you are a Harry Potter fan, you will love this bar. On occasion you’ll see people in attendance dressed as characters from the film franchise, whether in full attire with glasses, robe and lightning bolt drawn on their forehead or just a simple Gryffindor scarf. I would have worn my retro Harry Potter-esque glasses had I known I was finally going to end up at the bar on that mild December night.