There was a restaurant in El Centro that we enjoyed, called Magica Cuchara, or “The Magic Spoon.”  It was owned by a very talented local magician, Juan Estrella, who is a member of the exclusive Magic Circle of international magicians.  Juan also performs around the world, and in many places in the United States.  When you dined there (and the food was enough to bring you in), the owner would often show up unannounced and perform table magic right in front of you.  It was always amazing, and we would spend the rest of our meal trying to figure out how he did that!

Unfortunately,  the restaurant is right on the Transvia path, which means the street has been torn up and almost unreachable for more than a year.  Juan had to close the restaurant… but like the magic Phoenix, it has been reborn as a weekly magic theater.

The Magic Spoon is now a theater each Thursday night, alternating between Spanish and English presentations.  Juan intends to have each of the 23 magicians from his Cuenca Magic Association perform at the new theater.  He also hopes to open the restaurant again next year, after the Transvia rail system is operational, and business returns to Gran Colombia (the street of his theater cum restaurant).

Last night, we went there for the English performance by Juan Gonzolas.  His English patter was a bit stilted at times, though he was easily understandable.  His first tricks looked rather clumsy (intentionally, as it turned out), only to then end with a flourish that left you wondering “How did he do that??!”

This show was called “Elements”, and had a series of tricks based on the elements of traditional Chinese beliefs.  You can see above where he is lighting a series of envelopes on fire, each of which you think may have a $20 bill in it.  After all are burned, he has the audience participant open his hands, unfold the empty envelope in his hand — only to see the $20 bill there.

The magic is all “close up,” with a tiny theater seating only about 40 people (we were in the first row). He was never more than 6 feet from us, and most of his tricks involved someone from the audience right at the table with him.  As far as I know, nobody in the audience figured out how he did any of his magic.

Definitely a fun evening, and one we will be repeating when future magicians come to this theater.