Weekly Round-Up
by SCOTT WELLS
March 23, 2009
Howdy friends. Spring has sprung and love and magic is in the air. Lots of things happening in and around Houston this week and in the near future. I mentioned that we have quite a line-up of lecturers coming through soon and that’s a fact. I also mentioned that the Magic Island is under repair but that’s a rumor. I mentioned that “love is in the air” because one of our local magic aficionados will soon be tying the knot that can’t be undone. Looking around the state Austin, TX will host their annual auction in a few weeks and they have also announced their state-wide magic competition open to all comers. Back to Houston, the T.A.O.M. will host its mid-year meeting in Houston this weekend; we have our monthly I.B.M. Ring meeting tonight at our recently remodeled regular location; plus lots of magicians working around town including a séance. (Read More…)
The I.B.M. Ring 39 meeting is scheduled for tonight, Monday March 23rd at 7:30 at the Bayou Manor, a retirement community complex. We are returning after a couple month hiatus while they remodeled following a fire. Boy, they have really been hit hard lately…first Hurricane Ike last September then the fire in January. We are anxious to see how the new facilities look but we are thankful that we still have a place to meet. For any I.B.M. member wishing to join us, please do come. Directions, location and more information are all listed on our website through http://www.houstonmagic.com/
Houston will host the T.A.O.M. mid-year meeting this Saturday March 28th in the Woodway Room of the Omni Hotel, site of the T.A.O.M. convention slated for September 4-7. This is the mid-year meeting for the Board of Directors to discuss the business of our organization and tour the facilities of the hosting hotel for the convention. The meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m. following a guided tour of the resort at 1:30. Following the meeting we will travel to the H.A.O.M./S.A.M. magic clubs’ meeting hall to celebrate Houston-style with some of the best barbeque in the State and some magic that’s sure to please. Then we will relax as Jamie Salinas entertains with his comedy magic and mystifying Houdini séance. For those traveling to Houston who plan to stay the night, the Omni Hotel is providing us a special rate for this meeting. Call 800-843-6664 and mention the Texas Association of Magicians.
Long time fan of magic and daughter of the late Ed Campagna, PJ Campagna, is set to wed Shon on Saturday April 4th. This promises to be a magical date for many in our community. H&R Magic even had to move the Martin Lewis lecture to accommodate the wedding for fear of low attendance. PJ says she expects about 300 at her magical reception. And indeed it will be a magical reception that will include many local magicians strolling followed by a stage show compeered by Lanny Kibbey. I will be sure to give you more details following the event along with photos. It should be fun!
Remember that the Martin Lewis lecture will be the night before the wedding at H&R Magic Books on Friday April 3rd at 7:00 p.m. I will post more information on this lecture as I receive it. The Tuesday following the wedding will be our dual lecture by Richard Turner and Doug Gorman. Houston will be their fifth stop on an eight city tour I arranged that takes them from Nashville to New Orleans and San Antonio to Kansas City. We are all anxiously awaiting this dynamic duo. We are also excited to hear that Richard has just released a new book of fiction entitled, “Re-Deal: A Time Travel Thriller”. This promises to be an action-adventure thriller that includes time travel, karate, and gambling.
Matt McCain, a young man trying to overcome personal loss and family misfortune, and his amigo Juan, a Mexican orphan turned evangelist, are pitted against the Cyphers, a family that utilizes evil for every gain. The presence of Miss Guided, the angel who doesn’t always get it right, changes them all.
With more twists than a switchback trail, Re-Deal is a time traveling race against evil and misfortune. An 1882 poker showdown promises to change history forever, and Matt McCain aims to be the winner. But first he must match skills with the greatest cheaters of the Old West—from Doc Holliday to S. W. Erdnase. The players, the power, and the present all hinge on the journey back to 1882, a trip through time that Re-Deals history in a startling conclusion.
Richard said he wrote Re-Deal for his fans; card and magic aficionados; lovers of time-travel, action-adventure, and thriller novels; young men; and anyone who enjoys a good tale well-told.
The World Famous Austin Magic Auction is slated for Saturday April 18th but auction items need to be in by March 31st. Items for the auction are coming in from all across the country from Massachusetts to Utah and of course all across the great (big) state of Texas. They are expecting nearly 1,000 items to go under the gavel at the auction this year. As with the past couple years, auctioneers will be the trio of Kent Cummins, David Hira and Scott Wells. More information on this auction at: http://www.austinmagicauction.com/
It you are interested in collecting magic or magic history, then you will want to be at Richard Garriott's home the night before the auction. This will be a special night-before collector’s meeting event at the home of a gentleman who has travelled into space and been featured on the cover of M.U.M. magazine. Oh yes, he is a multi-millionaire thanks to the video gaming industry, too. Contact Ron Cartlidge at: texashoudini@msn.com to RSVP and don't forget to include the numbers and names in your party.
And speaking of Austin, S.A.M. Assembly 206 is opening the 2009 Magic Competition to anyone interested in competing. The event is slated for June 15th and will be held at the famous Austin City Limits soundstage. They have opened the competition in hopes of encouraging people from Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and other cities to apply. Applications must be completed and submitted along with a video of your act by May 1st. You can Click Here to download a flyer containing more information. Then Click Here to download an application form which must be sent to Hull Youngblood, Assembly 206 President (and T.A.O.M. Vice President).
I thought Houston’s Magic Island would have a future and a re-opening date. I was hopeful, but my dreams may have to remain just that…dreams. It appears that the Magic Island isn’t very serious about remodeling. I have spotted large trash bins in the parking lot but no construction vehicles or personnel doing any kind of work. Scott Hollingsworth, Entertainment Director for the Magic Island, continues to get the “run around” from management for the past several months with promises to call him back with details on the project. They have not done so. I do not believe they will open their doors again under the current ownership. My prediction is that it will go up for lease within nine months and, because of the economy, no one will be interested in leasing or buying it because of the enormous cost to bring it back up to code. So it will probably be torn down within 18 months. That’s my fatal prediction…and I’m an optimist. We shall see
So, who is performing around Houston? Scott Wells 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 March 26th from 7:00 to 9:00. Shane Wilson will perform there on Saturday March 28th from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. 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.
Scott Wells and Jamie Salinas will be conducting their theatrical séance once again this week on Sunday, March 29, 2009 at La Carafe. This is their quarterly séance that they have been performing for three years now. As many of you may already know, we conduct many séances in the month of October but we also present one once a quarter as well.
The Houston Chronicle rated their seance four ghosts out of four ghosts! There will be limited seating and reservations are recommended to ensure your spot. They have a special deal for Magicians. You get in free when you bring another person. Admission is $20.00 per person. The mystery begins at 8:00 pm for their "meet and greet" hour hosted by Scott Wells. Séance begins at 9:00 pm.
Call 832-724-3045 or send an email to jamie@magicbyjamie.com for more information or to make reservations. Also, please visit their website at http://www.houstonseance.com/.
I think it is only appropriate that we end this week’s offering with a beautiful quote that can be applied to marriage, “Where there is woman, there is magic.” – Ntozake Shange
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Be sure to watch this space for ever changing news of what's happening in and around the Houston magic scene. If you have any information or reviews on magic happenings or events in our area, then please send it to me. You can leave a public comment, suggestion, advice, opinion or question on this week's article by clicking on the link at the bottom of this blog. If you prefer, then you can leave a private message by sending an email to: Scott Wells
