Apparently there is a bar at the Monte Carlo hotel where I’m staying at during my trip to Las Vegas this August called the Houdini Lounge, which as I understand it, was where Michael Close performed for three years. Now, Michael Close is not a name that anyone should recognize (well, they should, but no one does), unless you are just uber, uber magic aficionados. 

     Michael Close is literally one of the country’s greatest performers of close-up sleight-of-hand magic. And if your brain just conjured up names like Copperfield or Criss Angel, or David Blaine or even Blackstone, or Henning, these guys are / were all titanic showmen, but when it comes to sheer technique and skill, true masters of sleight-of-hand artistry, no one…absolutely NO ONE can touch the likes of Michael Close, or Eugene Burger, or Eric Mead, or Jamy Ian Swiss. 

     It was brought to my attention recently that for three years, Michael Close performed close-up sleight-of-hand magic nightly at the Houdini Lounge in the hotel where I’m staying, and I decided this was absolutely something I needed to see during my magic trip. It would have been like seeing Slydini perform in front of you back when he was alive. Seriously, forget his stupid ass name. If you have any interest in magic whatsoever and have half an hour to kill, click on cavett.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/conjuring-slydini/ and watch the video of his performance on the Dick Cavett Show back in the 70’s. I got chills down my spine watching that man’s hands at work. What an amazing performer…

     Anyway, so again, for the third time, Michael Close performed for three years at the Houdini Lounge in the hotel and casino where I’m staying, and I decided I needed to see this.  Unfortunately, after doing a little bit of research, I discovered that Michael Close actually retired from his run at the Lounge some few years ago, and as far as I know the Houdini Lounge is just a bar that serves fairly kickass drinks but no live magic to speak of that I’m aware. 
     Damn!  Oh, well. 

     So, as of right now, I will be in Las Vegas the weekend of August 13-16.  I've spent the last year scrimping and saving at the hospital and,in defiance of a crappy economy, have nevertheless lined up front row VIP seats for Lance Burton, Mac King, and Penn and Teller, all of whom are fabulous magicians. I have, for all intents and purposes, a full free day in Las Vegas before my non-stop 32-hour smorgasbord of magic shows begins (every time I type that out, I get just a little more excited. The sheer unapologetic nerdiness of it is just exhilarating!) I would like to explore Vegas, see the fountains at the Bellagio, maybe check out the lions at the MGM Grand, etc. So, if anyone has been to Las Vegas and has suggestions of things I should do during the day, I welcome any suggestions.

     HOWEVER, if any one knows of some good close-up guys I can see…i.e. if my time can be filled up with MORE MAGIC, then it automatically defaults to the schedule. Seriously. This weekend is not about going to see Las Vegas and also seeing magic shows as a byproduct.  It is, in fact, the exact opposite. 
     Yes, that’s right. That’s right. You heard me. 
     I, Marcel van Bulck, IN DEFIANCE OF GOD’S WILL, am setting out to Las Vegas, Nevada, with the sole agenda of seeing as much damn magic as I humanly possibly can, and the fact that this just happens to take place in Las Vegas is merely a circumstance of an almost blasphemously nerdier agenda.

     That being said, though, if anyone has been to Las Vegas before and knows of things during the day that they feel very strongly that I absolutely have to see before leaving the city, I would absolutely love to hear from you.