The muggle-run Museum of Science and Industry scored the second most visits of all Chicago museums last year, just behind the Shedd, without the aid of any hocus-pocus. Now that the Hyde Park institution has snagged the premiere of Harry Potter: The Exhibition, a sure-to-be-blockbuster featuring costumes and props from the movie series, we expect even more impressive feats of magic. Harry, if you’re listening, we present our top five requests for 2009.

GO: Harry Potter: The Exhibition. Apr 30–Sep 27. During museum hours (Mon-Sat 9:30-4; Sun 11-4): $19-$26, including general admission; after hours (daily 4-9): $15-$18. 5700 S Lake Shore. msichicago.org

Quidditch is named a 2016 Olympic sport—and Soldier Field is named the place to see it. The Trib takes a cue from The Daily Prophet and figures out how to print live-action photos, saving newspapers everywhere. Dan Ryan traffic improves inordinately when all commuters locate Portkeys. Forget that proposed downgrade to five days of mail service. Owls take over for USPS, with 24-hour delivery in hail, sleet, and snow—even on Sundays. Cash-strapped diners who can’t afford $225 meals get a taste of Alinea’s extraordinary cuisine via the penny-a-pound Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans.

Photography: (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) © 2007 Warner Bros. Ent. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J. K. R.