Harry Potter the Exhibition, a muggle-friendly good time.

WARNING: Potential geek-out alert!

Authentic Azkaban prison uniforms!

Looking to satisfy your deepest, guilt-free obsession with all things Harry Potter? Do you lay awake fantasizing about a stroll on the grounds of Hogwarts, a ride on a Hippogriff? Well ponder no longer, and hurry to the latest exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park.

Harry Potter the Exhibition, to be precise.

I was invited to attend the media preview yesterday and was absolutely floored by this amazing collection. It is an outdoor, temporary exhibit that features over 200 costumes and props from the movies.

Needless to say, I was in HP heaven.

The tent is air and humidity controlled, so as to protect those undeniable gems. The exhibit is set up like an interactive maze. Part haunted house/part mental adventure, I was utterly enthralled the entire time. I walk in and was immediately greeted by a man in robes, who asked me-most appropriately with a British accent-if I wanted to get the “full” experience. Please and thank you.  I was then directed to a stool to be sorted by Sorting Hat. All the appropriate bells and whistles were employed: festive limerick, wild gesticulation of the arms. And then I was told I belonged in Gryffindor. (Yes, yes, yes!)

Next I was led to a dark room when approximately 12 TV’s displayed a brief synopsis of all the movies. A loud whistle was sounded at the end, and I was led by a full-scale Hogwarts Express train, where another man in robes urged me forward, claiming I was going to be late to the exhibit. Kitsch, and amazing!

The exhibit itself is divided up by themes and rooms. The first theme is portraits and, true to the books, some pictures are animated. For the fans, the much-loved Fat Lady painting is there.. in all her screaming glory.

The following areas include props and costumes pertaining to the different classes Harry takes, potion books, shoes, more TV’s depicting pertinent scenes. Continuing along, the room darkens and you will find yourself delightfully lost in the Forbidden Forest. A life-size (or what I would imagine to be life sized) Centaur, Hippogriff, and Acromantula spider are all gathered in what my mind recalls, as a room wrought with eerie sound effects and probably a fog machine.

Harry Potter overload. To anyone but me.

Take a look at some of the pictures I snagged at the event.

Being a journalist certainly has its perks!

Be sure to check this exhibit out. Chicago was selected out of more than a dozen other museum hopefuls around the world. It runs until September 27, 2009 before it is moved to its next global location- to be determined.

The white tarp on the left is the makeshift structure where the exhibit is held.

A "proclamation" for mail-carrying owls.

Costumes from the ball in the fourth movie.

Props from the Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

The Weasley family's flying car.