One of my favorite local librarians described J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels as "Something beyond a phenomenon" and I couldn't agree more after installing the Denver Museum of Miniature, Dolls and Toys latest exhibit inspired by the popular series of books.

This exhibit includes various store-bought Harry Potter Dolls, collectables and memorabilia as well as a unique hand made interpretations of Harry Potter scenes and places. Highlights of the dolls include a Tonner doll of Ron Weasley at the Yule Ball. This figure with hand-painted face detail wears white formal shirt and velvet bow tie underneath vest with black pants; all under the 'vintage' tapestry robe with lace trim has been generously loaned to the Museum by the Denver Doll Emporium along with a Tonner hand-painted resin figure of Hermione's cat, Crookshanks.

The real highlight, for me, is the unique miniature scenes of the Diagon Alley Apothecary, the Potions Closet, The Leaky Cauldron and St Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. But don't expect to see miniature versions of the movie sets. Creative local artists carefully combed the pages of the novels and used their imaginations to come up with their own versions of these imaginary places. Some of my favorite details are the crystal ball lighting on the first floor of the hospital, and devilish face adorning the Leaky Cauldron Bar, a list of items on sale in the Apothecary and sinister looking jars on the Potion Closet shelves.