A casual not-so-vacancy at 9 and 3/4

Today is not only the 23rd anniversary of the first episode of The Simpsons, but it is also the second anniversary of the self-immolation of Tunisian produce vendor Mohamed Bouazizi, whose suicide helped to spark the Arab Spring. Today is also the 25th birthday of both Bo Guagua (son of disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai) and Bradley Manning (an American soldier who leaked information to WikiLeaks). But enough about all that because Platform 9¾, the spot at King's Cross station where young witches and wizards catch the Hogwarts Express, used to be marked only by a sign (and perhaps some light staining where Muggles tried to run through the wall). But as of the not-long-finished weekend, a Harry Potter shop sits between Platforms Nine and Ten. The 9¾ shop lets Potter fans enjoy a small taste of Hogsmeade while they await their trains, perusing Hogwarts house gear and neatly stacked boxes of wands. Sadly, it isn't accompanied by a fire whisky bar. But you don't need fire whisky to celebrate when Gangnam Style gets to one billion views. So click here and join the revolution!