Uh-oh, It’s Magic
WED 7/2
There’s probably no convention as fraught with excitement as the International Brotherhood of Magicians convention. Where else might conversations range from sawing women into pieces to fitting ten birds into a top hat? And, most important, what happens when a whopping 1,000 magicians all get drunk in a hotel bar? The answers remain as secret as the levitation trick (unfortunately, the convention is a members-only affair), but for four nights at the Lyric Theater (1029 Central), magicians from around the world will cause things to disappear, float and turn into cute bunnies. The dance card is packed with exciting names like the Netcheporenkos and Shoot Ogawa, and each two-hour show offers a different lineup.
Shows run at 8 nightly from July 2 to 5. Tickets can be purchased at the box office ninety minutes before showtime or at the convention’s registration desk at the downtown Marriott. For information, call 816-474-7344.— Christopher Sebela
Peace, Dudes
Independence lets kids play in harmony.
TUE 7/1
Everyone worries about the violent media images kids see nowadays. But the Children’s Peace Pavilion in Independence is actually doing something to counter the socializing effect of, say, video games that feature burning vehicles and splattered pedestrians. Supporters hope the museum will offer kids new ways of thinking. “They might learn that anger is a normal emotion but that there are alternatives to hitting somebody,” says the museum’s Kelly Ellison. Activities include playing communication games, practicing harmony through music, creating peace flags, and playing with culturally diverse dolls. The Children’s Peace Pavilion, located at 1001 West Walnut, is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. For more information, call 816-521-3033.— Sarah Smarsh
No Wooden Nickels
DAILY
Young roller-coaster warriors who go to Worlds of Fun every summer might appreciate a road trip to an amusement park that remains unaffiliated with Snoopy. Silver Dollar City has created the neighboring Celebration City, which has more rides and a lower cheese factor than its nineteenth-century-themed predecessor. Open from 3 to 11 p.m., the park is being touted as a nighttime destination; that means there’s lots of electricity, whether it’s sparking the Electric Boardwalk, lining the mighty Ozark WildCat Wooden Roller Coaster or flashing everywhere during the closing laser show. The WildCat, one of the park’s three coasters, can’t beat some of Worlds of Fun’s steel beasts — but it does hit 45 miles an hour and drop eight stories with a 310-degree spiral. Tickets cost $22 to $27. For more information, call 800-475-9370.— Smarsh
