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.