WANDER WOMAN
EXPLORING HIDDEN GEMS oF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON
www.killermagicshop.com
By Afton Nelson
Phases. Every kid goes through them. The silly jokes phase, a favorite shirt they want to wear every day phase, or the phase when they figure out the correlation between the speed limit sign and your car’s speedometer. My 13-year-old son, Isaac, is smack dab in the middle of the magic trick phase. He loves card tricks, dice tricks, coin tricks and cups and balls tricks. He watches YouTube videos and has curated an online wish list of tricks he wants to buy. He is totally into it. He was thrilled to find a fantastic resource for magic supplies, shows and education right here in Clark County. Dave’s Killer Magic Shop is located on 18th and Main Street and just happens to be the only magic shop in the Vancouver or Portland areas. (There is a magic kiosk at Mall 205 in Clackamas, but Dave’s is the only full-service shop.) I rounded up both of my boys for a visit one day over Spring Break. No surprise, Isaac was eager, and quickly jumped into the car. Fourteen-year-old Jonah was not interested. “I don’t like magic,” he said. “I don’t want to go.” Luckily, I had a few magic words of my own. “It’s for Wander Woman and I need you to go,” I told him. And just like that, he, too, was in the van and we were on our way. Jonah didn’t have to worry, though. Dave’s has so much more than just magic tricks and supplies. The front of the store holds a nice selection of items for boys in their “prank” phase, and their “rubber chicken” phase. (Jonah happens to be going through both.)
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Jonah loved checking out the finger tentacles and bacon candy as well as the nice selection of latex animal masks. A little farther back is the amazing selection of tricks, props, decks of cards, videos, books and other supplies. Isaac spent a long while examining everything. Beginners will enjoy many tricks to choose from, including several kits Dave himself has put together which include links to online training videos. Intermediate or advanced magicians will also find plenty of tricks and supplies to interest them, as well. “Would you like to see some magic?” the young man behind the counter asked. He didn’t need to ask twice. Jonah and Isaac moved towards the counter like moths to a flame and watched as he made coins disappear in Isaac’s closed hand, and amazed Jonah with a seemingly impossible card trick. Behind the counter, tricks like Scotch and Soda (the coin trick) and special decks (the card trick) were available for purchase. continued on page 12
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • May 2017