Atlas Obscura wants to know the "World’s Best Magic Shops"

From the October 9th article "Help Us Reveal the World’s Best Magic Shops" by Eric Grunhauser at Atlas Obscura:

NEED A DECK OF TRICK cards? Looking for a new set of cup and balls to impress your family with over the holidays? Hoping to pick up a cursed monkey’s paw? Magic stores were once one of the very few places you could turn to for arcane materials, or to discuss tips and tricks with fellow magic fans, often becoming little clubhouses unto themselves. There are still places like Tannen’s in New York, but as with many formerly physical gathering places, much of the magic scene has migrated online. And yet! There are still magic stores all over the world keeping the flash paper burning, and we want to know about your favorites.

Fill out the survey below to tell us all about your favorite local magic shop, and why you love it.


Read more and cast your vote!

Sheldon Casavant in East Texas Matters

The East Texas State Fair runs from September 21st through Sunday, September 30th.


From the September 19th article "New magic show to be first performance in historic Mayfair building in decades" by Daniel Pierce in East Texas Matters:

TYLER, Texas (KETK) - The East Texas State Fair is opening the historic Mayfair Building for the first time in decades to host an all-new magic show. After more than twenty years without a performance, fairgoers are being welcomed once again to the 100-year-old building for a show promising entertainment of epic proportions.

Internationally recognized magician Sheldon Casavant will headline the East Texas State Fair this year offering a nightly show beginning at 8:00 pm every day during the fair.

Read more.

Congratulations to Shin Lim!

From the September 19th article "Magician Shin Lim Crowned Season 13 Champion of America's Got Talent" by Karen Mizoguchi in People:

“When you told me at 16 that an awkward, shy kid would one day be performing at the Dolby Theatre performing on America’s Got Talent, I wouldn’t have believed them. To compete on AGT, it means the world to me,” said Lim, who opened up about his carpal tunnel syndrome due to a career-ending injury to his thumb tendons.

The 26-year-old self-taught magician, who was born in Canada and currently lives in Acton, Massachusetts, wowed audiences through sleight of hand magic and close-up tricks. For his final trick, Lim performed a card trick with host Tyra Banks and American Ninja Warrior co-hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila.

Read more.

Watch the announcement from the America's Got Talent YouTube channel:




Watch his final performance on the America's Got Talent YouTube channel:

Louis Pezzani and Ben Price at the Vancouver Fringe

Updated at 7:00am to add:

• There's a nice article by Janet Smith titled "Magicians find fresh form at the Vancouver Fringe Festival" from September 5th in The Georgia Straight.  [Thank you The Magic Demon!]

Thank you to The Magic Demon for informing me that in addition to Keith Brown, both Louis Pezzani and Ben Price have shows at this year's Vancouver Fringe.

The Vancouver Fringe Festival runs from September 6th to the 16th


From Louis Pezznai's listing in the Vancouver Fringe:

Master mentalist and magician Louis Pezzani has been blowing audiences’ minds around the world for decades. This astounding show features mindreading, lightning calculation, and incredible mind-over-matter demonstrations where metal bends, twists, and melts! Astonishing, interactive, critically acclaimed, and very funny. Unforgettable theatre for all.

Read more and buy tickets.

From Ben Price's listing in the Vancouver Fringe:

Have you ever wanted to attend the ultimate magic show? Ben Price uses his abilities in sleight of hand, thought influence, and comedy to take you on a journey through the perfect magic show. This 60 minute, interactive show will have audiences laughing, gasping, and cheering as Ben performs all kinds of marvels from card tricks to mind reading.

Read more and buy tickets.

Shin Lim smoking the semifinals of America's Got Talent 2018

From Shawn Farquhar's Facebook page:
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From the America's Got Talent YouTube channel:

A World of Magic in the Daily Hive

A World of Magic runs September 7 to 9.


From the August 21st article "Vancouver's first-ever magic festival is about to make its grand appearance" in the Daily Hive Vancouver:

 And it’s all happening because the International Magician’s Gala is partnering up with Canada Chuan Sheng Culture & Media Group and The Vancouver Magic Circle.

Now for the magician talent.

You’ll get to see Canada’s master illusionists Murray Hatfield & Teresa, world champion magician Juliana Chen, shock magician and daredevil Wayne Houchin, America’s Got Talent contestant Aaron Crow, the misfit of magic Ed Alonzo, juggling magician Claudius Specht, as well as “the inventor” of magic, Kevin James. 

You’ll be giving back by attending the magic festival as $3 from every ticket sold will be donated to the Richmond Hospital Foundation.

Read more.

Friday's Diversion

From the Diversion Twitter feed:
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Oubliez tout ce que vous pensez connaître de la magie vendredi 21h sur @TF1!
♣️@Gusillusionnist le Manipulateur
♦️@EnzoIllusion l'Insaisissable
♠️@AntonioMagicien l’Expert
🃏@ViktorVincentOf le Mentaliste
♥️@Caroline_Marx_ l'Ensorceleuse
⚗️@LucLangevin le Scientifique pic.twitter.com/SA6gC5cTkr

— Diversion (@Diversion) August 22, 2018

AGT live show recap

From the August 17th article "'America's Got Talent' Recap: First Live Show Stuns And Excites" by Carolyn Lipka in Forbes:

Shin Lim’s intricate and mind-bending close-up magic had him producing cards out of thin air, changing their patterns and ultimately making them disappear. Shin Lim is a powerful stage presence with tricks to match and I have no doubt that he’ll achieve success in magic regardless of his ultimate performance on the show.

Read more.

From the IBM Twitter feed:

Shin Lim, first place winner of The I.B.M. Close-up contest in 2015 moves forward to the semi-finals of America’s Got Talent. Congratulations Shin Lim! pic.twitter.com/kibKHGxOWe

— IBM (@IBMMAGIC) August 16, 2018

Chris Mayhew on Trickheads

From Chris Mayhew's Facebook page:

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Winnipeg magicians on "The Amazing Race Canada"

Tune in to "The Amazing Race Canada" on Tuesday Aug 14 to see Carey Lauder, Dan Wiebe, and Greg Wood!


From the August 8th article, "Winnipeg streets become the latest venue for The Amazing Race Canada" by Randal King, in The Winnipeg Free Press:

Since the production keeps a tight lid on the specifics of the competition to prevent spoilers, the show descended on the city with the impressive organization of a top-secret military operation. Only in a couple of instances — competitions at the Legion and The Forks — were members of the general public allowed to witness the proceedings. 

The Winnipeg leg was something of a homecoming for unflappable host Jon Montgomery, a former gold medal Olympian skeleton racer born and raised in western Manitoba town of Russell. 

Read more.

From the Facebook page of Carey Lauder:

The Amazing Randi in the media

James Randi celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this week.  Here are a couple of pieces from the internet.


From the August 6th post, "Magician the Amazing Randi has dedicated his life to promoting critical thinking" by Troy Lennon in The Daily Telegraph:

The interview on August 13, 1980, ended with Lane throwing to a commercial, telling Randi to “piss off” before storming out, flicking away Randi’s bent cutlery as he left. Randi was flustered but largely maintained composure. Lane later apologised for swearing but insisted the American had failed to prove anything. But the controversy made the sceptic more famous in Australia.

Read more.

From the Twitter feed of Interval Magic:

In honor of magician and skeptic James Randi’s 90th birthday, I posted a radio interview he did that hasn’t been heard since 1982. Enjoy! https://t.co/QsMQY1KRMH pic.twitter.com/t3lMrxOUw8

— Interval Magic (@intervalmagic) August 8, 2018

Bangkok: The Magnificent Seven

From the July 23rd article "Now you see it …." at The Nation:

September 19 and 20

The Magnificent Seven are Peter Gossamer and Rocco Silano from the US, Raul Alegria from Spain, Double Fantasy – Vitaliy and Helena Gorbachevsk – who hail from Ukraine, Pole Vlad Kryvonogov, Germany’s Sos and Victoria, and Ariann Black from Canada.

The show is produced and directed by Tony Hassini, the founder of the International Magicians Society who is often referred to as a walking encyclopaedia of magic.

Helping create the magic are lighting director Nick Morss, choreographer Maryna Popova and stage manager Mahdi Moammer, himself a professional magician.

Canadian Ariann Black is one of the best female magicians in the world and has staged six successful Las Vegas shows in six different casinos. She’s tailoring a new act just for Bangkok.

Read more.

Ian Stewart on Penn & Teller: Fool Us

Did you know that Ian Stewart is a 6-time Guinness World Record holder?  [Including 2011: The most chainsaw juggling catches, and 2016: The most consecutive maul juggling catches.]

Watch Ian on Penn & Teller: Fool Us Monday evening.


From the August 2nd article "Truro area magician appearing on Penn & Teller: Fool Us" in the Truro News:

Details about his appearance are being kept secret until the show airs.

Stewart also takes part in unusual activities like juggling axes and chainsaws, and hold world records in both areas.

Read more.

Chris Funk on Masters of Illusion season 5

From Chris Funk's Twitter feed:
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Chris Funk The Wonderist - Masters of Illusion s05e04 https://t.co/iizcw4zU0c via @YouTube is up!

— Chris Funk (@chrisfunkmagic) July 24, 2018

Billy Kidd in the Inquirer

From the July 26th article "Billy Kidd: Filipina, female, magical" by Rae Ann Varona in the Inquirer:

“Magic wasn’t even on my radar whatsoever,” Kidd told the Asian Journal, adding that she was never one of those kids who had their own magic kit to play with.

“I wish I had that story, but I don’t,” she added.

Born in Canada, Kidd has gotten away with being an actress since she was just 11 years old, something she’s called magic in itself.  The life of being able to miss periods of school, playing around, and getting paid for it made what she described as the “best life ever.”

But her introduction to magic came much later at a music festival where she saw a street magician from Australia doing a classic cups and balls trick in which balls appear and disappear under the cups at random.

Read more.

Review: The Year and Two of Us Back Here

From the Twitter feed of Michael Kras:
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YAY my play got a freaking great first review! #TheYearFringe #HamFringe #HamOnt https://t.co/viJliX6dev

— Michael Kras (@KrasMagic) July 23, 2018

The Browser's Den in Toronto.com

From the July 21st article "Inside a magical place: Browser’s Den of Magic in North York" in Toronto.com:

It would be understandable for visitors to Browser’s Den of Magic to leave the shop in disbelief. The cozy North York home of prestidigitation can leave customers mystified at times. The city’s go to spot for purveyors of the art of sleight-of-hand, under the guidance of proprietor Jeff Pinsky, offers a magical space to learn about magic. Whether you take in the monthly Magic Club meeting or enjoy a “demonstration” by Jeff, himself an accomplished magician, you are sure to be entertained. Of course the shop offers a huge variety of tricks and tools as well, for practitioners of legerdemain and illusion, no matter their level of proficiency.

Read more and see photos of great photos of Jeff Pinsky, James Harrison and some of the magic club attendees.

Shin Lim on AGT

Last Friday America's Got Talent leaked some footage of Shin Lim's appearance on tonight's (?) episode.


Watch "LEAK: Shin Lim Proves Magic Is Real With Unbelievable Card Tricks - America's Got Talent 2018" posted Jul 20, 2018 on the America's Got Talent YouTube channel:

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If you missed his previous appearance, watch "Shin Lim: Magician Blows Minds With Unbelievable Close-Up Magic - America's Got Talent 2018" posted May 28, 2018 on the America's Got Talent YouTube channel:

Toronto: Meet Brad Bond, Maya Franzoi, and Joey Machin

Meet Brad Bond, Maya Franzoi, and Joey Machin from the CBC Kids show The Thrillusionists and see the magic LIVE! July 18th/19th at CBC Kids days!


From Chris Mayhew's Facebook post:

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Edmonton: Matt DiSero at the Edmonton Comedy Festival

Matt was also recently featured on the Travel Tales Podcast.  Details at the bottom of the post.


From the Edmonton Comedy Festival:

The Edmonton Comedy Festival is back from October 10th to 13th, 2018 starring Letter Kenny’s Trevor K. Wilson, Not Skinny Not Blonde’s Monique Marvez, That’s So Raven’s Rondell Sheridan, The Debator’s Steve Patterson and Last Comic Standing’s Louis Ramey. New to the festival this year watch out for our comedy seminars and fundraising opportunities plus more chances to win your way into the festival!

From Matt DiSero's Twitter feed:

Pleased to announce I’ll be performing at the #edmontoncomedyfestival tbis year in October. Lots of fantastic comedians. Come check it out ! It’s great they’ve brought in a variety act such as myself too. Progressive of them. https://t.co/RXzA6v0y9S

— Matthew DiSero (@MattDisero) June 26, 2018

From the Travel Tales Podcast Twitter feed:

All-new ep w guest @MattDisero, Canadian comedy magician who has been around the world and both N & S Poles! Great Tales! https://t.co/JHtSTQRnVs
.#Canada #comedy #travel #traveltalespodcast #toronto #magician pic.twitter.com/jWcNUPbjcx

— Travel Tales Podcast (@TravelTalesPod) June 29, 2018