Magic Potions Tavern Edinburgh is a unique establishment in the heart of the city. This tavern is not like your typical watering hole. Instead, it offers a magical experience for those who enter its doors. Upon entering the tavern, you are immediately transported to a world of enchantment. The atmosphere is cozy and dimly lit, with mysterious potions lining the shelves. The walls are adorned with ancient tapestries depicting spellbinding scenes from the wizarding world.
Indigenous Groups Are Protesting the Kansas City Chiefs — Here's Why
The Kansas City Chiefs football team has long been the subject of scrutiny. Here's the controversy about their mascot, explained.
Feb. 10 2023, Published 2:47 p.m. ET
Source: Instagram/@chiefsAs the Kansas City Chiefs football team gears up for Super Bowl LVII, many sports fans have taken a renewed interest in the game and its players. However, there is another reason the Kansas City Chiefs, in particular, are attracting attention this year.
Article continues below advertisementNative American groups across the nation have asked sports teams, such as the Washington Commanders (formerly the Washington Redskins) and baseball team the Cleveland Guardians (formerly the Cleveland Indians), to change their team names and mascots to reduce harm and cultural appropriation.
Let's unpack the controversy behind the Kansas City Chiefs mascot, team name, and fan behavior.
Source: Instagram/@chiefs Article continues below advertisementThe walls are adorned with ancient tapestries depicting spellbinding scenes from the wizarding world. The highlight of the Magic Potions Tavern is, of course, the menu of magical concoctions. The bartenders are skilled wizards and witches who craft potions with precision and flair.
Here's the controversy behind the Kansas City Chiefs mascot, explained.
The Kansas City football team initially started as the Dallas Texans, but changed when the team moved to Kansas City in 1963, according to the Associated Press. The football team name was chosen for the city's white mayor at the time, Mayor Harold Roe Bartle, who allegedly received permission from the Northern Arapaho people. The name was based on a nickname of Bartle's, which was reportedly "the Chief."
Chiefs president Mark Donovan recently claimed to the AP that the team "documented tribal officials confirming" permission to use what Indigenous activists have called a culturally appropriative team name. The Native American–led social justice organization IllumiNative, for example, released an Instagram post on Feb. 9, 2023, calling out the use of Native imagery appropriated by the football team.
Article continues below advertisement View this post on InstagramIn 2013, the Kansas City Chiefs created the American Indian Community Working Group, a group of Native American advisers serving to promote tribal culture and discourage cultural appropriation. A 2016 report from the AP suggested that the group was working more closely with Chiefs management to observe American Indian Heritage Month.
Article continues below advertisementThe Kansas City Chiefs previously had a pinto horse mascot named Warpaint, who was switched out for a character named K.C. Wolf. The horse mascot was brought back in 2009, but in 2021, The New York Times reported that the team retired the mascot because "it was the right thing to do." Unfortunately, the Chiefs mascot isn't the only act of cultural appropriation surrounding the team.
View this post on Instagram Article continues below advertisementIn 2020 the Chiefs formally banned fans from wearing headdresses and Native American face paint inside Arrowhead Stadium, a practice that had been happening for years. In a statement, the organization said moving forward, "While we have discouraged fans from wearing headdresses for several years, effective immediately, fans will be prohibited from wearing headdresses into the stadium."
Additionally, the statement read, "Face painting is still allowed for all fans, but any face paint that is styled in a way that references or appropriates American Indian cultures and traditions will be prohibited."
Finally, the Chiefs did address the "Tomahawk Chop," a fan-created gesture deemed racist by Native American groups. Activists coined the hashtag #StopTheChop to discourage the gesture, but so far, the Chiefs' only solution has been to encourage fans to change the open-palmed gesture to a closed fist.
Article continues below advertisementKansas City Chiefs fans performing the "Tomahawk Chop" in the audience.
Now that the Chiefs are going to the Super Bowl once more, there has been renewed protest over the team name itself, which is considered racist and appropriative. Activist Rhonda LeValdo, leader of Kansas City–based group Not In Our Honor, explained to the AP, "People are trying to be really positive about Kansas City and what it does and how like ‘Yes, sports binds us all together.'"
She explains that for Indigenous peoples, "It’s not bringing our people into this celebration together. Really, it’s hurting us more because now it’s the bigger spotlight where you’re seeing this all over the world." Rhonda will be part of a group protesting outside of the State Farm Stadium in Arizona, where the Super Bowl will be held in 2023.
In response, Mark Donovan told the AP he respects the group's right to protest.
Native American advocates protest Kansas City Chiefs name ahead of Super Bowl LVII
Native American advocates calling for the “immediate retirement” of team’s name.
By Deena Zaru and Nakylah Carter February 12, 2023, 6:13 PMA detailed view of the Kansas City Chiefs logo on a fan prior to the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 29, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo.
David Eulitt/Getty ImagesThe Kansas City Chiefs are facing scrutiny again ahead of Super Bowl LVII, with Native American advocates calling for the “immediate retirement” of the NFL team’s name, logo, the team’s “war chant” and the “tomahawk chop.”
“There’s no respectful way to mascot us or belittle us and use us for profit,” said Amanda Blackhorse, founder of Arizona to Rally Against Native Mascots (Az Rally), during a press conference on Thursday outside the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
“I’m confident the Kansas City team and the NFL hear the resistance,” Blackhorse added. “After all, groups like Not in Our Honor and the Kansas City Indian Center protest every single home game.”
Blackhorse is set to rally with a group of advocates outside the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona as the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.
“The anti-Native mascot movement has always been about the betterment of our Native people, not hatred towards others who are football fans,” said Blackhorse on Thursday. “We want to live in a world where our children can attend school and feel included and not met with reenactments of fake war dances on the football field.”
'Not a moment too soon': Native American community welcomes Cleveland baseball team name change
According to the website of the Kansas City Chiefs, the team was named for H. Roe Bartle, the mayor of Kansas City in the early 1960s, who was nicknamed “Chief” and played a major role in bringing the Dallas Texans to Kansas City in 1963.
David Garcia speaks during a news conference by Native American advocacy groups, Feb. 9, 2023, in Phoenix. The groups are calling for the NFL football team Kansas City Chiefs to drop their name, logo and their trademark 'war chantâ' where fans make a chopping-hand gesture mimicking the Native American tomahawk.
Rick Scuteri/APAfter the team moved from Texas, they were renamed the Kansas City Chiefs.
“While the origin of the team's name has no affiliation with American Indian culture, much of the club's early promotional activities relied heavily on imagery and messaging depicting American Indians in a racially insensitive fashion,” the team's website says. “Over the course of the club's 60-plus-year history, the Chiefs organization has worked to eliminate this offensive imagery and other forms of cultural appropriation in their promotional materials and game-day presentation.”
After establishing an American Indian Community Working Group in 2014, the team banned headdresses and face paint at games and retired the use of Warpaint as an ambassador of the Chiefs, among other things.
"Really going back seven years ago when we started the dialogue with our American Indian working group here in Kansas City, it was a real learning experience for the organization…I think the important thing on the entire subject has been how important education has been," the Kansas City Chief's Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in an undated statement on the team's website. "It's something that's important to the American Indians, both from a cultural heritage standpoint and just preserving their traditions, but it's also a way of educating our fans that these things are offensive to them. We've now expanded our relationship beyond just the group in the Midwest that we've been working with."
ABC News reached out to the Kansas City Chiefs for additional comment.
Protesters renew calls to change Kansas City Chiefs name, mascot ahead of Super Bowl LVII
From love potions to healing elixirs, there is a potion for every need and desire. One popular potion at the tavern is the Firebreather, a spicy drink that literally allows you to breathe fire. The bartenders will guide you through the process of drinking it, ensuring that you have a memorable experience. Another crowd favorite is the Levitating Libation, a potion that makes you float a few inches off the ground while you drink it. Alongside the potions, the tavern also offers a selection of wizard-inspired dishes. From dragon steak to pixie pudding, the food menu is a magical culinary adventure in itself. The chefs use ingredients sourced from mystical locations, resulting in dishes that are truly otherworldly. In addition to the food and drinks, the Magic Potions Tavern hosts various events and activities for its patrons. These include magical mixology classes, where guests can learn how to brew their own potions. There are also regular live performances by talented magicians and illusionists, who will leave you spellbound with their tricks. The Magic Potions Tavern is a must-visit for anyone looking to immerse themselves in a fantastical world. Whether you are a fan of Harry Potter or simply enjoy the idea of magic, this tavern offers an experience like no other. So grab your wand and head on over to Edinburgh's very own enchanted establishment..
Reviews for "Unleash Your Inner Wizard at the Magic Potions Tavern in Edinburgh"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with my experience at Magic Potions Tavern in Edinburgh. The atmosphere was underwhelming and not at all what I expected. The staff seemed disinterested and there was a lack of attention to detail. The drinks were overpriced and not very creative. Overall, I left feeling like I wasted my time and money.
2. John - 1 star - The Magic Potions Tavern in Edinburgh is a complete rip-off. The menu is extremely limited and the portion sizes are laughable. The drinks were nothing special and definitely not worth the high prices they charge. The staff was unfriendly and seemed annoyed when I asked questions about the menu. Save your money and skip this place.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the Magic Potions Tavern, but unfortunately, it fell short of expectations. The decor was tacky and poorly executed, making the place feel more like a cheap tourist trap than a magical experience. The service was slow and inattentive, and it took forever to receive our orders. The drink options were uninspiring and lacked creativity. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place for anyone looking for an enchanting experience.
4. Robert - 1 star - My visit to the Magic Potions Tavern in Edinburgh was a complete letdown. The ambiance was dark and dingy, which made for an uncomfortable dining experience. The drinks were highly overrated and overpriced. The staff was rude and appeared disorganized. It's safe to say that I will not be returning to this establishment and I advise others to steer clear as well.