Toronto: Brant Matthews lecture

From the Browser's Den:

SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

Though BRANT MATTHEWS has been a customer of Browser’s Den for over twenty years he has spent much of that time traveling the world with his special brand of street performing (Fire, Juggling, Magic, Comedy).

He has seen all the right and wrong approaches to street performing and busking.  It was Brant’s idea to give this lecture. He truly wants to give back to the community some of what he has learned the hard way…through trail and error.

Read more.

FCM Video Q&A with Gwyn Auger

Go over to Full Circle Magic to watch Gwyn Auger's live video Q&A!

Broken wand: Jack Bateman

I'll post more details as they become available to me.

From the IBM Ring 17 Facebook page:

I am sorry to report the passing of an old ring 17 member. Mr. Jack Bateman, also known as the Wacky Wizard, passed away last Monday evening at Scarborough General Hospital. A good friend, a great mentor, and always inventing new ways to display his magic. R.I.P. Jack. You will be missed

Toronto: Playing Card Collectors Meeting

From the Browser's Den:

Sunday March 2nd, 2014

Calling all playing card collectors within a 200 kilometer radius of Toronto and the GTA!

With the help of 52 Plus Joker (North American Playing Card Collector's Club), the Browser's Den proudly offers you the opportunity to spend an entire afternoon with World renowned Playing Card Experts and authors of the Hochman Encyclopedia of Playing Cards - Mr. Tom & Judy Dawson.

Read more.

Brian Michaels remembered in the Hamilton Spectator

From The Spec:

Brian Moynagh crammed more life into 39 years than most do in a lifetime, his wife says.

While the Burlington magician was known internationally for his seamless tricks, he was awe-inspiring off stage, too, as he persevered against his cystic fibrosis.

Moynagh — who went by the stage name Brian Michaels — died Feb. 7.

Aware from the start of his CF diagnosis, Carrie Lamers says she and her husband lived life together "with eyes wide open but a healthy dose of denial — We knew what we were getting into, but we never dwelled on it at all."

Even after receiving a double-lung transplant in 2006, he was back on stage in two months.

Read more.

[via Ring 17]

Joan Caesar and Jay Sankey at Blackpool 2014

Joan Caesar and Obie O'Brien will be hosting the "The Four F's Stars of Close Up Magic."

Jay Sankey will be lecturing and performing at Blackpool 2014, February 21st to 23rd!  For more information, visit the Blackpool Magicians' Club website.

WowFest news round-up!

Watch Ryan Pilling talk about WowFest on BT Calgary.

Ryan Pilling and Gwyn Auger interviewed by Swerve magazine.

http://t.co/k1EADluCxm Time to get your tickets for the first and possibly ONLY Garden Variety Show of 2014! #calgary #letsgetmagic
— James Jordan (@GVS_varietyshow) February 13, 2014

Review: Lee Asher's Catch 33

From Wayne Kawamoto:

Classic Monte with a Killer Ending

Lee Asher offers this amazing take on classic three-card monte that's taught via a downloadable pdf file that you can view on your computer or mobile device. Asher not only teaches the basics of the monte, he offers a stunning switch at the routine's end that may very well surpass the classic "bent corner" ploy. It's an entertaining routine at a great price.

Read more.

Toronto: Magic at the Winchester has moved

From Reality Based Magic:

I very much regret to report that due to circumstances beyond our control, The Winchester Stage and Bar is no longer available for our performances on Sunday evenings.

Fortunately, our Tuesday night venue, The Cage 292, has taken us in. Going forward we will continue to offer our shows ever Sunday night at The Crimson Lounge, located inside The Cage 292 (292 College Street @ Spadina). We will continue to honour all tickets and reservations from Magic at the Winchester at the new location.

Read more.

David Blaine a Ford fan

News reports about David Blaine's meeting with Toronto Mayor, Rob Ford:

From The Star:

Meanwhile, well over a dozen journalists, plus TV cameras and photographers, were camped outside Mayor Rob Ford’s office waiting for famed magician David Blaine to appear.

Blaine had apparently phoned Doug Ford Thursday night to see if he could pop over to city hall and meet Toronto’s notorious mayor.

Read more.

From Global Toronto:

The magician entered and exited the mayor’s office through the back door and was kept out of the gaze of Toronto’s media.

The impromptu meeting was apparently set up late Thursday night when Doug Ford said he received a call from the magician.

“He said ‘I’m a big fan of your brother, and I’d love to come by and do a few tricks,’” Ford claimed.

Read more.

From Sun News:

Mayor Rob Ford got a magical visit from David Blaine on Friday.

Blaine — clearly a master magician — managed to enter and leave the mayor’s office through the back door, avoiding media gathered out front.

“David Blaine was amazing,” Ford said after the private show for a collection of mayor’s office staffers, councillors and the city’s top bureaucrats. Ford’s staff did show off a bent quarter and a playing card — the five of hearts — as evidence of Blaine’s appearance.

Read more.

Celebrity divas react to Ryan Joyce

Full tution scholarship to Sorcerers Safari Magic and Peformance Camp

From the Society of American Magicians:

In addition, the Magic Endowment Fund Is Providing Scholarships to ... [snip] ... the Sorcerers Summer Safari located near Toronto in Haliburton, Ontario, Canada for the week of August 15 to August 20, 2014. The Magic Endowment Fund Is Proud to Offer the Scholarships Which It Has Done for the Past 21 years. Involvement in the magical arts not only makes a crucial difference in the lives of youngsters during their formative years, it has been proven to develop character and good traits and combat juvenile delinquency.

Read more and apply.

David Acer in the Montreal Gazette

David Acer, John Carney, Michel Huot and Rafael DiCaprio will perform Sunday, Feb. 16 at the Comedy Nest.


From the Montreal Gazette:

MONTREAL — In keeping with the spirit of Sochi, David Acer, ace close-up magician/standup comic, is demonstrating his Olympic card trick. It entails no skates or snowboards or moguls. It does entail, however, mittens as well as a deck of cards.

“It’s a sleight-of-mitten trick,” says Acer, co-owner of the Comedy Nest, where this demonstration is taking place. “Just to make sure I can’t do any digital trickery.” Phew. No worries about impromptu prostate exams, let alone much card trickery — not with those clunky mitts

Read more and watch video.

Michael James on APTN tonight

From Michael J Magic:

@TheCandyShow New episode featuring #Halifax #Magician @MichaelJMagic airing tonight on APTN 10pm EST/ 11pm AST @canadasmagic

— Michael James (@MichaelJMagic) February 12, 2014

Richard Forget on the cover of Vanish

Richard Forget is featured in the current issue (12) of Vanish International Magic Magazine.  You can read it as a live eMagazine here (requires Flash).

Grateful for our February sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support.  We're pleased to have the support of:

• Clive Court - The Fun-da-Mentalist,
• Evelyn & Phil Matlin, owners of Perfect Magic and
• Jeff Pinsky, owner of The Browser's Den of Magic!

The next time you see them, let them know you saw their sponsorship here!

For more information about purchasing Sponsored Posts or about our Platinum, Gold, or Silver level sponsorships, please visit our Sponsorship page.

Or, you can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year! 

Donations of any size are always welcome.

Broken wand: Brian Moynagh (Stage name: Brian Michaels)

Updated February 15th to add obituary information.  From Obits for Life:

Stage Name: Brian Michaels
Bravely at the Toronto General Hospital on Friday February 7, 2014. Brian Moynagh in his 40th year, beloved husband of Carrie Lamers, loved and devoted father of Sydney. Loving son of Jackie and Ray Moynagh and dear brother of Alison (Jay) Macmillan. Brian will be sadly missed by his grandmother, Audrey Wiecha, and his mother and father in law, Mary and John Lamers. Brian joins in heaven his grandparents, Bridget (Bea) and Ambrose Moynagh and Jack Wiecha. Brian will also be missed by many aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Brian performed his magic and illusions from coast to coast in Canada and Internationally. He touched and wowed thousands of people with his talent, his personality, his wit and his values. A CELEBRATION OF BRIAN’S LIFE will take place on Sunday February 16, 2014 at 2 pm (doors open at 1:30) at the OE Banquet & Conference Centre, 2245 Speers Rd, Oakville ON. 

Read more.

Updated February 11th to add a link to an article about Brian from Inside Halton, "Illusionist recovering from dose of reality "Double lung transplant recipient Brian Michaels returning to the stage after nearly succumbing to cystic fibrosis."

Tweets of remembrance have been added to the bottom of this post.


From Owen Anderson:

Brian Moynagh (Stage name: Brian Michaels)
March 28, 1974 - February 7, 2014

Beloved Husband of Carrie, Father of Sydney, Son of Ray & Jackie, Brother of Alison
Forever in our hearts.....

Please join us on Sunday February 16, 2014 @ 2:00 pm
Doors open @ 1:30 pm
Reception to follow with light refreshments

OE Banquet & Conference Centre
2245 Speers Road
Oakville, Ontario L6L 6X8
http://www.oebanquet.com/contact-us.html

In lieu of flowers, a trust fund has been set up in Sydney's name. Donations can be made at any RBC branch or via internet banking to account # 00712-5117429.

If you have photos or stories or would like to share at the memorial, please contact Carrie Lamers at memorialforbrian@gmail.com

From Peter Mennie:

@canadasmagic Magician Brian Michaels died Feb 7 Recep: Feb 16 @ 2pm Doors @ 1:30 http://t.co/Rpek4JmyM5 memorialforbrian@gmail.com
— Peter Mennie (@petermennie) February 10, 2014

R.I.P. magic friend since he was a kid Brian Moynagh (Stage name: Brian Michaels) March 28, 1974 - February 7, 2014. Too soon.
— Owen Anderson (@OwenTAnderson) February 10, 2014

So sad to hear of the passing of friend and fellow magician Brian Michaels. Definitely one of the good guys...
— Murray Hatfield (@MurrayHatfield) February 10, 2014

Toronto: Dan Trommater's Intimate Illusions

From Eventbrite:

Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th

Fresh from his appearance at the World Famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, magician Dan Trommater presents this exceptional performance on Valentine's Day weekend.

This will be an intimate evening of magic and mystery.  With only 40 tickets per show, you'll be close enough to see every moment.

Blending stunning magic, comedy and respectful audience interaction, Dan will create an experience perfect for Valentine's Day weekend.

Read more and buy tickets.

Gwyn Auger's live Q&A

Updated February 15th to add link to Full Circle Magic to watch Gwyn Auger's live video Q&A!

From Gwyn Auger's Facebook page:

Post by The Magic Assistant.

Watch James Alan on CP24

Watch James Alan on the CP 24 Breakfast Show tomorrow between 9:15am and 10am!