New Target opens with a whimper

After waiting for what seemed like a looooong time for new Target to open on Airline Drive in Bossier City, I expected the VIG (Very Important Guest) event would be the party of the year. Alas, it was not to be.My husband and I dressed up last night - all excited for the ribbon cutting and new Target event. I have gone to similar soft openings and found live music, food tastings, vendors offering samples and more. When we arrived at the new Target, though, it was business pretty much as usual. There was a lonely clown, and a sandwich tray, some discounts, and that was about it.People inside were shopping as if the new store had always been there.Maybe the opening of Chik-Fil-A has tainted me. After all, it's hard to top the chance to win free food for a year and that's what the fast food chicken outlet offered people who came from as far as Arkansas. Chik-Fil-A fans even spent the night in the parking lot before the opening.I can only hope Sunday's official grand opening is better.

Don't burn your Harry Potter t-shirts

When the first Harry Potter movie and book came out, I marvelled at how well written it was. But I also marvelled that it caused some controversy.
"How could a fairy tale inspire such religious angst?" I thought.
Haven't any of these people read Snow White or Cinderella? All these bedtime fairy tales were riddled with violence, really mean stepmothers, witches, spells and eventual redemption.In fact, with Snow White there even was her jealous stepmother with poison and a huge knife that would rival any Crips or Bloods street gang.
I was once in the Big Dog outlet store in Bossier City and was contemplating buying a Big Dog shirt with a Harry Potter theme for my son."You're not going to buy that, are you?" asked the woman in line ahead of me. "That's just evil."
"Oh no," I lied. "I'm just holding it before I burn it."
Now, it seems the controversy has worn thin and many people are just enjoying the story of Harry Potter, a lost orphan who discovers he can have power and learns to use it wisely.
There even will be a party to celebrate the next installment in the Harry Potter book series at Borders Books at 9:30 p.m. this Friday at the Louisiana Boardwalk.
At the party, there will be costume contests, a Harry Potter spelling bee, and for parents - huge discounts on the book.The party is free and open to the public.
For those who make it to midnight, there will be a chance to buy the book at 40 percent off the cover price.Best of all, no one is too young or old to participate in the fun.After all, fairy tales are for everyone.
If you don't agree, please take the time to tell me about it on the Bossier Voices blog at www.shreveporttimes.com.