'Fantastic Beasts' Roaring 20s NYC OnLocation Tour

Phenice Arielle with wand in hand and wearing Hufflepuff t-shirt is at entrance to The Old Rabbit Club which is the Blind Pig speakeasy in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.’ — Phenice Arielle with wand in hand and wearing a Hufflepuff t-shirt is at the entrance to The Old Rabbit Club which is the Blind Pig Speakeasy in ‘Fantastic Beasts.’

*For a fantastic ride, literally speaking, the Fantastic New York City Tour, inspired by “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” in a 1920’s New York City is a must.

I’ve lived in New York all my life but took the ride on the luxury OnLocation Tours bus. I was amazed and indeed taken aback by the magical tour that included a number of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts enthusiasts.

One of the Fantastic Beasts tour riders Phenice Arielle, an author in her own right [Arielle’s captivating young adult, speculative fiction novel “The Phoenix Rising: Destiny Calls” is an Amazon hot item), was most impressed by The Writers House. The home shared by sisters Queenie and Tina in FB is based on that townhouse. A big fan of Harry Potter and “Twilight,” Arielle told me why Writers House was one of her favorite stops.

READ RELATED STORY: THE FILM STRIP: ‘FANTASTIC BEASTS’ J.K. ROWLING WEATHERS STORM OF RACISM

MACUSA head Seraphina Picquery (Carmen Ejogo) and crew (Jaap Buitendijk Photo) — MACUSA head Seraphina Picquery, left (Carmen Ejogo) and crew at NYC tour inspired location (Jaap Buitendijk Photo)

“Writers House is also the literary agency of Jodi Reamer and she represents Stephanie Meyers,” she said. “Meyers’ ‘Twilight’ films star Robert Pattison. Pattison is also Cedric Diggory of the Hufflepuff House in the Harry Potter movies, the same Hufflepuff House that Newt Scamander, author of ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ belonged to,” she enthused.

Other FB stops on the tour that inspired the movie include the Flatiron district, Old City Hall, Tenement Museum, Old Rabbit Club, and the Woolworth Building where MACUSA, headed by Seraphina Picquery (Carmen Ejogo). The tour guide Molly made sure not to give away any movie spoilers for those who hadn’t seen FB, but she gives away T-shirts, other movie trivia items, and a Newt replica wand. Tours are Thursday and Saturdays.

For info, go to: https://onlocationtours.com/tour/fantastic-beasts/

Syndicated Entertainment journalist Marie Moore reports on film and TV from her New York City base. Contact her at [email protected]