Bring Some Magic Into Your Life

Levitating Card
We live in a frightening world. A world filled with bullies, cheaters, fanatics, murderers, incompetent politicians, and an endless array of other less-than-pleasant individuals. As a result, it really should come as no great surprise that so many people like reading books, watching films, and playing video games that allow them to indulge in a fantastic world in which every problem can be swept away with the wave of a hand. In fact, almost everyone will experience something at some point that makes them realize that they could really use some more magic in their life (whether that magic is in the literal or figurative sense.) And, if you have reached a point in which you could really use some more magic in your life, you’ll be pleased to know there are a number of magicians performing in the Boston area this weekend that would be more than happy to help you find it.

First, if you’re looking for a magic show that is aimed at the younger crowd, you may want to get tickets for Davey the Clown. Davey the clown is an accordion player, comedian, juggler and magician performing at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA at 10:30 A.M. tomorrow morning (Saturday, January 24, 2015.) This show is not just your typical clowning around, however, as you and your kids can expect to see a wide assortment of balloon sculptures, tricks, unicycle riding, a rubber chicken, and more. For more information on Davey the Clown’s show at the Coolidge Corner Theatre and/or to order tickets, please visit the Coolidge Corner Theatre website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a magic show that is aimed at a more adult crowd or you just find clowns to be extremely creepy, the Hampshire House may be your best bet. This is because the Hampshire House is hosting an event entitled Four-Handed Illusions: An Intimate Evening of Laughs and Wonder at 6:30 P.M. on Sunday (January 25, 2015.) This event will allow you and your friends to enjoy a pre-show reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres (the hors d’oeuvres are free, but the drinks are not) before you watch two talented magicians, Joel Acevedo and Steve Kradolfer, make objects appear and disappear out of thin air, read minds, teleport, and more. For more information on the Four-Handed Illusions show at the Hampshire House and/or to order tickets, please visit the Four-Handed Illusions webpage.

Finally, if you’re looking for some of the lounge-style magic that you only typically see in Vegas, but you don’t really want to go to Vegas, you may want to check out The Comedy Studio in Cambridge. The Comedy Studio has a live magic show with a guest comedian every Tuesday night from 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. entitled Mystery Lounge Magic. This show will give you a chance to see a professional magician perform an assortment of new and classic tricks while a comedian cracks jokes about pretty much everything under the sun. For more information and/or to order tickets for Mystery Lounge Magic, please visit The Comedy Studio website.

Photo credit: jeff_golden / Foter / CC BY-SA

Kid-Friendly Activities This Weekend

Easter on the Death Star
Wow.  Even these guys know that spring is here!

Let’s face it. Winter in New England is cold, and if you’re a parent who isn’t a big fan of your kids losing their extremities, you may have been a little less than keen on the idea of letting them go outside and dive into a snow bank in 10 degrees. The only problem is that when you keep a child cooped up in the house all winter long, they tend to go a little stir-crazy and take you right with them. Fortunately, if the weather outside is any indication, the time to let them escape is finally upon us. In fact, if your wallet is feeling a little light after all of the money that the nice heating man (or woman) took to keep your house warm all winter, there are a number of kid-friendly activities this weekend that won’t make you (or your wallet) scream in pain.

First, if your kids just can’t wait to have an Easter egg hunt and/or your Easter plans really don’t leave a lot of time for a hunt next weekend, you may want to head on over to Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester tomorrow. This is because Phillips Candy House is sponsoring the 22nd Annual Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Spring Egg Scramble in the park from 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. tomorrow, April 12, 2014. This event will allow your children to join an enormous number of other children to search the park for nearly 10,000 eggs filled with toys. Best of all, the event is completely free. For more information on the 22nd Annual Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Spring Egg Scramble, please call 617-333-7404.

Secondly, if your kids are more interested in magic and optical illusions than they are in eggs (which, depending on the purpose of the eggs, may not be such a bad thing), the Davis Museum at Wellesley College has a program that your kids won’t want to miss. This is because the Davis Museum at Wellesley College is hosting a special program tomorrow, April 12, 2014, entitled “Family Day at the Davis: The Art of Illusion” from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. This event will allow you and your family to see artwork that is designed to trick your eyes, watch magic tricks, take part in a scavenger hunt, and a whole lot more. Best of all, the museum and all of its programs are completely free. For more information on Family Day at the Davis: The Art of Illusion and other programs at the Davis Museum, please visit the Davis Museum Event page.

Finally, if your kids would really prefer to hear some music, the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA may have a show that’s more up your alley. This is because the Coolidge Corner Theatre is hosting Josh and the Jamtones tomorrow, April 12, 2014 at 10:30 A.M. This group is a Boston-based rock band that plays family-friendly music for kids 3 and up, and seeing them perform won’t break the bank because tickets to the show are only $10 for adults and $8 for kids. For more information on the Josh and the Jamtones show at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, please visit the Coolidge Corner Theatre website.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)