Magic Castle plans to reopen on Friday following yesterday's fire. Due to the blaze, the venue's highly anticipated Halloween event was cancelled. No one was injured in the fire, which broke out in an attic space around lunchtime on Monday. more ›

Following a fire this afternoon, Magic Castle will be closed for Halloween, reports L.A. Now. The fire broke out around lunchtime, and was quickly attended to by about 120 firefighters. It was doused by 1:34 p.m., but apparently had done enough damage to warrant the shuttering of tonight's festivities. more ›

UPDATE: 1:43 PM The LAFD report that the "stubborn" fire has been put out. No injuries were reported. The Los Angeles Fire Department is on the scene at the famed Magic Castle in Hollywood, where a fire broke out in an attic space. more ›

This week the Magic Castle is commemorating the 100th anniversary by conjuring up a series of celebratory events. Yesterday afternoon LAist was invited to witness Jim Bentley recreate Harry Houdini's famous straitjacket escape trick (see a video embedded below). more ›

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continues its series “Hollywood’s Greatest Year: The Best Picture Nominees of 1939.” On the big screen is the John Steinbeck classic Of Mice and Men with Lon Chaney Jr. as Lennie and Burgess Meredith as George. The tickets are $5 and there’s a “Buck Rogers” serial chapter at 7 p.m. and the feature presentation at 7:30 p.m. All screenings will be held at Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. more ›

I am thankful for… Thanksgiving - even though I think it’s a stupid holiday, and I pretty much hate all the food associated with it - for giving me the opportunity to spend the day with family that I love and actually enjoy being around. I am thankful every day that I am able to make a living being creative and doing something I love. (Except for when I’m on strike) I am thankful... more ›

While it is hard for most to understand or imagine, once you have become entrenched in the archipelagic enclave of skyscrapers and bona fide mass transit that is Manhattan Island, it is difficult to leave. For a New Yorker, geographic displacement can fester into a self-induced internalized affront (even if just for a few short days). But the compelling lure of a free trip to Los Angeles to accompany my aunt on a business trip... more ›

So you know how you have to be invited to The Magic Castle and know secret words and be able to levitate like the MindFreak or something or other in order to get in? Well, tonight, for one night only, the three regular Friday night magicians - David Lovering (the drummer for The Pixies), Rob Zabrecky (of Possum Dixon fame) and Fitzgerald - are performing for the general public tonight at the Steve Allen Theater in support of their new DVD. Tickets are $10 and we're so late on announcing this but if you didn't have plans for tonight, now you do. The show should be great. more ›

Rumour has it that the latest chapter in the Harry Potter saga, "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince," goes on sale Saturday, July 16th. more ›