The Lantern

Issue date: 7/4/08 Section: Arts

Media Credit: Nicole Schmidt Alex Kistner, store manager, performs a trick for a customer.

Media Credit: Nicole Schmidt

Be Amazing Magic shop, the only magic shop within 200 miles, celebrated its third anniversary Tuesday.

Be Amazing Magic Shop is a magic store for magicians of all types, beginner to professional. Tricks range from simple card and sponge ball tricks to advanced hypnosis DVDs and books.

Alex Kistner, store manager of Be Amazing Magic Shop, said the most frequently purchased item is a book of tricks, Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic.

"It's a beginner's guide to all things magical," Kistner said.

Kistner said his favorite trick to perform is the Ambitious Card Routine - a card trick in which a card is placed into the middle of the deck and magically keeps jumping to the top of the deck.

Several notable magicians have come into the store to visit while touring in Columbus, including Justin Miller, a local magician who performs international magic, and John Armstrong, Magic Castle's (a members-only magic club) magician of the year.

The shop has also appeared in Columbus Monthly Magazine.

Kistner said his most memorable moment as a magician was last year.

"At the 2007 magic convention, Magifest, the most memorable moment would be hanging out with all the famous magicians and watching them perform and teach me tricks," he said.

Kistner also said Harry Potter is his favorite book.

"I wish I was a wizard but this is the closest I can get," he said.

For anyone interested in learning magic, whether it is to learn basic card tricks or advanced hypnosis, Be Amazing Magic Shop is a great local store to visit.

The store offers magic lessons to customers by appointment before the shop opens and after it closes. Lessons cost $20 for a 30-minute session.

Although the shop does not do in-store performances, employees will perform a trick a customer might be interested in purchasing.

Also, lectures are held by the shop for magicians and other people interested in learning about magic. For these lectures, local professional magicians are scheduled to teach and perform tricks.

In addition, the shop has a list of local professional magicians to recommend for customers interested in booking private events.

The shop is located at 5022 Sinclair Rd. Readers may also visit the store's Web site at beamazingmagicshop.com.



Nicole Schmidt can be reached at schmidt.469@osu.edu.



A misspelling was fixed in this article.

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