By Karen Feldman.kfeldman@news-press.com

Local muggles who can’t find their way to Platform 9Y´ - from which the train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry departs - have an easy alternative: a trip to The Shell Factory.

The North Fort Myers tourist attraction, which has been around at least as long as Hogwarts, continues to enchant mere mortals with all sorts of spells and creatures.

One of the place’s big draws these days is the party room where anyone can change into the bespectacled young wizard and his pals for a day.
Simply rent the party room and tell them you want a Harry Potter party.

“We set up the house with wood floors, tapestries on the wall, long tables with black tablecloths and candelabras with screw-in lights,” says Pam Dunmire, the factory’s self-described “vice president of fun stuff” and unabashed Potter-phile.

They distribute little robes, goody bags with wands and serve a kid-friendly buffet meal in grand-looking silver and copper bowls and tureens.

And, of course, no Potter party is complete without Hagrid, the unusual-looking giant who befriends Harry and gang at Hogwarts.
The 6-foot-tall character has a big overcoat and dark beard.
“He’s absolutely adorable,” Dunmire says.

The party runs $275 for 15 children, she says, which includes pretty much everything but the cake.

That’s the minimum number of children needed to rent the room.
For details, call the Shell Factory at 239-995-2141, ext. 110.

Recipes….

POTTER’S DRAGON SNOT
8 ounces lemon-lime soda
1 scoop lime sherbet
Place sherbet in a glass and pour soda over it. Serve with spoon. Serves 1.
Recipezaar.com

BERTIE BOTT’S EVERY FLAVOR BEANS
Pull-string bag
Pen
Jelly beans (such as Jelly Bellies)
Label each bag “Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans.”
Fill bags with jelly beans and pull string tight.
Serve as part of goody bags.
Kaboose.com

BUTTERBEER
1/2 stick of butter, softened
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg, grated
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened
1 quart apple cider, heated
Cream butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves together. Beat in vanilla ice cream. Refreeze mixture. Scoop frozen mixture into a glass. Pour hot apple cider over ice cream mixture.
Thatsmyhome.com

PUMPKIN PASTRIES
1 pound puff-pastry dough
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon ginger
Dash nutmeg
1 egg
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Thaw dough according to instructions on package.
In a medium-sized bowl, mix pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg. Set aside. In a small bowl beat one egg and set aside.
Roll out pastry sheets until 1/16th inch thick and cut into four large circles. Using a pastry brush, put dabs of beaten egg all around the edges of the circles. Spoon the pumpkin mixture into the centers of the circles. Fold circles in half. Press down on the edges with a fork to seal the edges together. Brush tops of pastries with remaining egg. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. May be eaten warm or cold.
HarryPotterFanzone.com