Weekly Round-Up
by SCOTT WELLS
October 13, 2008

Howdy friends.  This week is shaping up to be a good one here in beautiful H-Town. There is a crispness to our usually humid air with the advent of Fall which makes outdoor gigs all the better.  The stock market may be unsteady but magic in Houston is solid as a rock.  This week we will see a lecture by a top touring professional followed by a workshop later in the week.  Also we are excited about the new theatrical production of "Death and Harry Houdini" for a very limited engagement.  We are also getting prepared for our upcoming annual auction, plus an update on the status of the Magic Island, HoustonSeance.com, and more. (Read More...)

I mentioned earlier that Kostya Kimlat will be lecturing this week in Houston as he kicks off his southern lecture tour here this Tuesday.  But it was just announced that he will return to Houston for a workshop at H&R Magic Books this Saturday at 2:00.  First, the lecture...as mentioned before, this is the third in the H.A.O.M. Magic Lecture tour and the last for 2009.  For those who have paid for the series, there is no additional cost. For those who have not paid for the series, the cost is $15.00 for members, $20.00 for non-members and $10.00 for juniors, guardians and H.A.O.M. spouses.  The November lecture with Reed McClintock has been canceled so the Lecture Series will pick up again next year with a new lecturer.

Kostya is most well known for his "Road Runner Cull" which he will cover at the lecture but explain in more detail at the workshop later this week.  Kostya will be limiting the workshop to 12 people as he really wants this to be an interactive, hands-on learning experience. So you must register ahead to save a spot. Half the spots have already been filled on word of mouth alone. H&R will provide the usual refreshments (sodas, chips, brownies, etc.). This workshop will be more expensive than usual, but you'll also receive several DVDs, a CD and a book. You can register for the workshop by calling (281-540-7229) or e-mailing Richard Hatch at richard@magicbookshop.com, or through Kostya's website: http://kostyamagic.com/workshopdetails.php

I am excited to tell you about the limited run production of "Death and Harry Houdini" which will play for four shows at Lone Star College-North Harris this weekend.  This follows on the heels of the successful, albeit a short run, of John Cash Carpenter's original production of "Edon" that debuted some magic illusions that will be featured in this new play.  This production is an entry into the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

The publicity release says, "LSC-North Harris Theatre packs a hat full of tricks to trace Houdini's mystical life-long battle against Death.  From Chinese Mysticism to Classic Vaudeville, the show features Houdini's original Metamorphosis, Singing, Dancing, Silent Film, Handcuff Escapes, Underwater Struggles, Ghosts, Goblins and Darwin Gilmore risking life and limb for your entertainment in the deadly grip of Harry Houdini's most famous escape...THE WATER TORTURE CELL!" What better way to observe this magical season and the 82nd anniversary of Harry's Halloween death?

"Death and Harry Houdini" will be presented on October 16, 17 and 18 at 8:00 p.m. with a matinee on October 19th at 2:00 p.m. For reservations, call 281-765-7963.  Ticket prices are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students (with ID).  Such a deal! The LSC-North Harris is located at: 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive, Houston, TX 77073. Please use parking Lot H

While on the subject of Halloween happenings, more will be posted as they are known, but Scott Wells will be performing at Circle S Vineyards in Sugar Land, TX on Halloween.  Robert Berry will be entertaining on Halloween at Lazy Brook Baptist Church.  Jamie Salinas and Scott Wells continue with their séances at La Carafe throughout the month of October on Wednesdays and Sundays except for this week only.  Check out their website at www.HoustonSeance.com for more info and interesting videos on haunted appearances that have been reported there.  More later.

Rick Hebert will perform walk-around magic from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the South Shore Harbor Food and Wine Festival this Saturday, October 18th.  For more information on this event, visit: http://www.southshorefestival.com/festsched.html. 

Also this Saturday,  October 18th Robert Berry will also be doing some strolling at another event called the "Texas Fest" then he will later be seen performing in the V.I.P. tent.  For more info and tickets on that event, check out www.mycigarcigar.com 

Magic Island Update: as mentioned earlier, it was optimistic to think that the Island would reopen on November 1st.  They are now saying that it will reopen in mid November; however, I personally think that is also optimistic. It does not appear that much has been done from the outside but perhaps they are working like demons on the inside.  One room that will forever be changed is Cleopatra's Chamber. The hieroglyphic type drawings on the wall that told of Cleopatra's life in drawings suffered too much water damage to save. So they have painted over the beautiful graphics and plan to tile those walls, too. Very sad.  More on the Island as the renovations near completion.

The Kingwood Magic Roundtable will have their monthly social meeting in north Houston at Luby's restaurant in Deerbrook Mall, Humble, TX on Tuesday October 14th.  Just so you have an idea of it general location, that is not too far from Bush (Intercontinental) Airport and very near H&R Magic Book Shop. So, if you have time before your flight out, you might want to join them and take a short side trip to perhaps the world's largest magic book shop.  John Laws sends out a reminder to people wanting to get together and talk magic up there.  You can contact John at njlaws3@kingwoodcable.com and ask to be on his distribution list.

S.A.M. Assembly #19 and the H.A.O.M. will hold their Annual Auction to be held on Sunday November 9th at 1:00 p.m.  As usual, there will be two auctions running at the same time: the verbal auction for larger items and collectibles and the silent auction for smaller and usually less expensive items.  There is no fee for buyers. All items sold will be subject to a 10% seller's fee that will go to the club for its operations. Doors open for the auction at 1:00 p.m. Admission $5.00 - Free for S.A.M. #19 and H.A.O.M. members. You can bring in your items for auction as early as Saturday, November 8th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and get your Seller/Buyer number early. Bring your auction items no later than 12:00 noon on Auction Day, November 9th. This is always a very popular event that brings in local magicians as well as many from around the state. We usually host about 60-80 people at this annual, fun event. So put this on your calendar today!

Shane Wilson will perform magic "on the grill" this week at Tokyohana's Grill and Sushi Bar at 3239 Southwest Freeway (I-45) on Thursday night on October 16th from 7:00 to 9:00 then again on Saturday October 18th from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Braeden Clark-Tarpley is the resident magician at Zake Sushi Restaurant where you can watch him this and every Saturday night from 8:00 to 11:00.

Eric Falconer continues as the house magician two nights a week at Sakekawa, a sushi restaurant in the Woodlands, a northern suburb of Houston. Eric will be performing tableside and "grill" side each Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 then again on Saturdays from 6:30 to 8:30.  You can call Sakekawa for reservations at 281-419-5988.

Since I alluded to illusions in the new play coming to our area, I think the following quote is warranted: "Don't part with your illusions.  When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live." - Mark Twain