First, let's do the numbers.

According to www.potterparties.com, 1,914 Harry Potter parties will be held this week to celebrate the release of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the latest entry in J.K. Rowling's celebrated series. Of those, 1,549 will take place in the United States, 107 in Texas and 12 right here in Central Texas.

Now, let's re-do those numbers.

As of Friday morning, www.potterparties.com did not include at least three local celebrations: the ones at downtown feminist retailer Book Woman or the two nearby Borders outlets. So: 1,917, 1,552, 110 and 15.

And counting.

That's an awful lot of costume competitions, trivia contests and glasses of Butterbeer for one hot summer night. But six books in, the mania for Harry Potter continues to resist Newton's First Law of Fabulousness: All pop-culture phenomena eventually fall back to Earth. If the proliferation of parties is to be believed, readers of all ages continue to clamor for all things Potter. Why else would weary parents and sleep-deprived children alike stay up Friday night until midnight to purchase a book the moment it becomes legally available when they could just get up Saturday morning and buy it like a normal human being?

On page 3, for the abnormal among you, is a guide to the various Potter Parties that Central Texans can attend this Friday evening. (Note: Most, but not all, parties start at 9 p.m. Call each store for details.)

Barnes & Noble

All six of the local outlets (five in Austin, including the BookStop next to Central Market, and one in Round Rock) are throwing parties that will include such activities as face-painting, wand-making and Magic Bean-counting contests. In order to manage the crowds and make things easier on people who don't want to wait in a long line, starting at 6 p.m. Barnes & Noble will sell wristbands that ensure you can just come by and grab a book at midnight if getting your face painted isn't your idea of a magical time.

Locations: 4001 N. Lamar Blvd., 452-9541; 701 S. Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360), 328-3155; 5601 Brodie Lane, 892-3493; 10000 Research Blvd., 418-8985; 14010 U.S. 183, 249-5644; 2701 Parker Road, Round Rock, 600-0088.

Book People

The grand old lady of Austin Potter Parties (this will be the store's fourth) will offer fire dancers, a magician and free treats from Amy's Ice Cream. Also, local theater chain Alamo Drafthouse will show a 'surprise' movie on its 'Travelling Roadshow' screen in the parking lot. Kids Events Coordinator Amarin Enyart says the store has ordered 400 copies of the book and already taken advance orders for some of them.

Location: 603 N. Lamar Blvd., 472-5050.

Book Woman

The downtown feminist bookstore had a lot of success with its debut Potter Party last time around (it sold out its stock of the book), so it's taking the plunge again. This all-day event will include a palm reader, fake Diagon Alley storefronts and 'a big cut-out of the Knight Bus that people can have their pictures taken in,' said clerk Marla Fisher, who has been busy all week painting the bus purple. Fisher notes that the Potter books are female-friendly because 'they're written by a single mother and have strong female characters in them.'

Location: Book Woman: 918 W. 12th St., 472-2785.

Borders

This national chain's North and South Austin outlets will offer, in their words: 'Wizardly activities! Fantastical games! Stupendous giveaways! Tasty treats!'

Locations: 4477 S. Lamar Blvd., 891-8974; 10225 Research Blvd., 795-9553.

Hastings

The Amarillo-based chain's outlets in New Braunfels, Round Rock and San Marcos will offer such goodies as pizza, door prizes and 'a glass of Gillyweed potion.'

Locations: 651 Business Loop Interstate 35, New Braunfels, (830) 643-0685; 2200 S. Interstate 35, Round Rock, (512) 244-2223; 917 S. Texas 80, San Marcos, (512) 754-0033.

Hill Country Bookstore

This Georgetown establishment has gotten the city to close down Main Street and turn the center of town into Potter Land. Local restaurants will serve such dishes as Aragog's Eggs, 10-Ton Toffee and Vomit Stew and the public library, which will transform itself into the Forbidden Forest, has rented a train, dubbed Hogwarts Express, that will transport people to the stores on Diagon Alley.

Location: 719 S. Main St., Georgetown, (512) 869-4959.

Monkeywrench Books

The lefty cooperative is throwing its first Potter Party this year, in support of a book that has been banned in a few places, and also to give stressed-out parents an alternative to all 'the really crowded bookstores.' Monkeywrench will screen a Potter movie and offer door prizes. Kids also can peruse Monkeywrench's selection of progressive children's books, such as 'Happy to be Nappy,' 'Boys Will Be Girls Will Be Boys' and 'The Sissy Duckling.'

Location: 110 E. North Loop Blvd., 407-6925.