OAKLAND, California - “Magic thrives in Oakland” (Piedmont Living Magazine) as Dennis Kyriakos currently offers the only close-up magic show in the Bay Area, and fans have lined up to experience his CONJURING WONDER – Magic: Up-Close and Personal every month at the Claremont Club & Spa in Berkeley.

For the past year, Kyriakos has been entertaining sold-out audiences at the Claremont with his high-caliber magic and mind reading. His one year anniversary show is scheduled for Thursday, May 25th at 7:00 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit conjuring.live.

“This is a one-of-a-kind experience in the Bay Area,” said the talented magician behind CONJURING WONDER. “There are only 30 seats available for this interactive close-up magic show so everyone has a front row seat. The magic happens in the hands, minds and hearts of the audience as they participate in the show.”

Join us May 25th to celebrate the one year anniversary and all guests (21 & over) receive a complimentary glass of champagne.

Kyriakos provides sophisticated entertainment at corporate meetings and conferences, incentive weekends, trade shows, hospitality suites and high-end private events across the country and around the world. For the past 25 years, he has been a featured performer and host of Monday Night Magic – New York City’s longest-running magic show – and Magical Nights at Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency – The Nightclub of New York.

Kyriakos has been a repeated guest lecturer at NYU's Psychology Department and at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California, talking about "Visual Perception in Magic" and "Lying and Deception." He has also been profiled on the popular website The Art of Manliness.

For more information about Kyriakos and to purchase tickets to CONJURING WONDER, visit conjuring.live. He can also be followed on Instagram at @conjuringwonder.

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“The show was really engaging and entertaining! I’m an astrophysicist with excellent perception and logical skills, yet I couldn’t figure out how Dennis did his illusions.”

— Alex Filippenko, Distinguished Professor of Astronomy, UC Berkeley

World-renowned professor Alex Filippenko experienced our March installment of CONJURING WONDER at the Claremont Club & Spa with his wife, Noelle, and questions the nature of the universe even more deeply now!

Sign up and be the first to hear about future dates for CONJURING WONDER at The Claremont Club & Spa.

Piedmont Living Magazine came to see the February installment of CONJURING WONDER and shared a brief interview with their readers in their March 2023 edition!

Up-Close & Personal: Magician Dennis Kyriakos

by Karen Silva

The exciting world of magic thrives in Oakland. Magician Dennis Kyriakos is presenting his one-man show, CONJURING WONDER – Magic: Up-Close & Personal. 

Dennis Kyriakos’ CONJURING WONDER amazes and delights audiences at the Claremont Club & Spa every month

Dennis said, “CONJURING WONDER is a rare, intimate experience of close-up magic presented in the stunning lobby bar of the Claremont Club & Spa. We limit seating to thirty guests, so you’re close enough to touch it. And people often do. It’s a wonderful evening out and a great date-night.” Dennis shared, “Working up-close is demanding and exciting but so is changing people’s perspective about what magic can be.”

Dennis has been steeped in magic for over 40 years. He said, “There were two moments when I was about 10 years old. I remember watching a magic show on Saturday morning TV and distinctly recall the feelings of wonder, astonishment, and joy.” 

“Magic thrives in Oakland....experience a delightful evening of mystery and wonder...”

— Piedmont Living Magazine

He stated, “Then I discovered a handful of old magic books at our local library and realized I could learn to create the same experience for others. So, first I was enchanted and then obsessed.

While magic might look easy to some, it requires dedication and practice.

Dennis said, “The real secrets of magic come from careful study, thoughtful practice, real-world experience, and they are passed along through mentorship and community. There’s no shortcut.” He stated, “For many years I worked at a weekly magic show in New York City and that became my training ground. It’s where I got close to a couple of the world’s greatest sleight-of-hand artists and magical thinkers who became my mentors and I'm fortunate to be part of that unbroken chain of sharing secrets with like minds.”

To experience a delightful evening of mystery and wonder, check out Dennis’ show at the Claremont. Visit www.conjuring.live for information and tickets.

DJs / Music

DJ Airsun

It’s not a party if people don’t dance. DJ Airsun has been putting people in the mood to groove at private parties, events and clubs since 2011. Airsun’s experience spinning for diverse groups with different tastes means the dancing at weddings and private parties is always a blast and always curated for the people of the hour.

www.djairsun.com

Denon & Doyle

While there is no secret formula to our success, there is something special about the way we approach each event. There is a fusion of tradition and innovation, experience and youth, charisma and calm, that exists at D&D.

www.djay.com

Gatsby Event Studios

An elevated level of production focused events with all the great entertainment services you know and love.

www.gatsbyeventstudios.com

Catering

Carrie Dove Catering & Event

Our mission is simply stated – “to work hard to create comfortably elegant events in partnership with our clients”.

From your first inquiry to your last bite everyone you meet from Carrie Dove Catering & Events will exemplify hard work, humility, happiness, team work and a good attitude.

www.carriedovecatering.com

Day Darmet

Day Darmet provides a catering experience with a tailored handheld feel.

From client meetings, product launches, all day conferences, and more… we create menus to fit your exact catering needs providing end to end customer service.

www.daydarmet.com

Hugh Groman Group

Call us saucy, but we think gatherings should be fun–fun for guests and fun for the people who host them. Comfortable. Easy. Surprising. Delicious. You could say we are full-service caterers and event planners. Or, you could say we make magic happen. Let us delight you.

www.thehughgromangroup.com

Off The Grid

From outdoor office lunches or team happy hours to corporate holiday parties—we bring the lively atmosphere of our Off the Grid market experiences to every catered event. Curbside, inside or outside, we curate moments that are as diverse and thoughtful as the local, small food businesses we work with.

www.offthegrid.com

Tonic Bererage Catering

From humble beginnings in a questionable garage to our position as an independent brand within a highly regarded hospitality group, our team has put in the literal blood, sweat and tears to make Tonic what it is today. We produce hundreds of events per year across the Bay Area and Beyond from the most intimate gathering to the grandest experience.

www.tonicbeveragecatering.com

Venues

The Battery

I have been fortunate enough to have been involved with The Battery since the beginning. First, I was booked to perform at their opening night and I have been the Resident Magician there since 2015, entertaining members and guests in The Musto Bar.

The Battery features a wide variety of event spaces, both indoor and outdoor, as well as hotel suites. The Penthouse is a great place to host an event with stunning views of downtown San Francisco.

It’s one of my favorite places to visit.

www.thebatterysf.com

The Bridgeyard

Formally a maintenance facility for the Bay Area’s ubiquitous street cars , The Bridgeyard is now a dedicated event space with panoramic views of Oakland and San Francisco it’s a “blank canvas” waiting for you add your vision.

Having visited countless event spaces, The Bridgeyard is a breath of fresh air.

www.thebridgeyard.com

Claremont Club & Spa

What can you say about The Claremont Club & Spa.

Stunning. Iconic. Historic resort charm in the heart of Berkeley with sprawling spaces and incredible attention to detail everywhere you look.

And I hear they have an amazing magic show happening there every month!

www.fairmont.com/claremont-berkeley

Odette Estate Winery

Odette Estate Winery is run by my friends at PlumpJack Group and their hospitality is second to none.

If you’re looking for a venue in Napa to host your holiday event you can’t go wrong with Odette Estate Winery.

www.odetteestate.com

Press Club

One of the first planners I met when I arrived in the Bay Area was Ashley Guillory and we ended up working a handful of events together. Ashley is now Director of Private Events at Press Club, a sophisticated and social wine bar in the heart of downtown San Francisco. If your group enjoys seasonal small plates and thoughtful pairings, Press Club is your spot.

www.pressclubsf.com

CONJURING WONDER celebrates National Magic Week with a special performance on October 26th

OAKLAND, California — San Francisco Magician Dennis Kyriakos currently offers the only close-up magic show in the Bay Area. Fans are lining up to experience CONJURING WONDER – Magic: Up-Close & Personal each month at the Claremont Club & Spa in Berkeley.

Since May, Kyriakos has been entertaining sold-out audiences at the Claremont with his high-caliber magic and mind reading show. His next performance is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26th at 7:00 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit conjuring.live or watch the highlight video:

“To celebrate Halloween, our October 26th performance will feature an act rarely seen by modern audiences,” Kyriakos explained.

“More importantly October 25 - 31 is National Magic Week, which celebrates the charitable contributions made by the Society of American Magicians throughout the years. In that spirit, all proceeds of this month’s performance will go to the Jazy and Angel Scholarship Fund.”

Jazy and Angel Sotelo Garcia, two Berkeley HS students and brothers were shot and killed at a house party in Oakland on October 1st.

Asked why he decided to donate ticket sales, Kyriakos said, “I’d like those affected by this tragedy and our community to know that even though there may be darkness in the world, you will also find joy and wonder and light in equal measure.”

For the past 25 years, Kyriakos has provided entertainment at corporate meetings, incentive weekends, trade shows, fundraising gala, and high-end private events across the country and around the world.

He has been a featured performer and host of Monday Night Magic – New York City’s longest-running magic show – and Magical Nights at Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency – The Nightclub of New York. He has been a repeated guest lecturer at NYU's Psychology Department and at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California, talking about "Visual Perception in Magic" and "Lying and Deception." He has also been featured on the popular website The Art of Manliness.

Kyriakos is available for interviews and demonstrations for reporters at television stations, radio, and newspapers.

For more information, visit conjuringwonder.com. He can also be followed on Instagram and Twitter at @conjuringwonder.

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Tickets for this SPECIAL EDITION of CONJURING WONDER are on sale now!

Excited to share the new promo video for CONJURING WONDER - Magic: Up-Close & Personal.

Join us monthly at The Claremont Club & Spa in Berkeley for The Bay Area’s Premiere Close-Up Magic Experience.

Tickets available at www.conjuring.live.

Oakland, CA - Dennis Kyriakos sells out the premiere performance of CONJURING WONDER at The Claremont Club & Spa, in Berkeley, CA.

Imagine making your way through the stunning lobby of the Claremont Club & Spa and unwinding with a glass of wine while mingling with other guests.

Take your seat around the table as a dapper gentleman is introduced and the mysteries unfold.

Suddenly, objects vanish and reappear before your eyes. Uncanny coincidences unfold. Secret thoughts are revealed.

You are left charmed, bewildered, and amazed.

CONJURING WONDER will be presented monthly at The Claremont Club & Spa. Stay informed when future tickets go on sale here.

One of the most frequent questions I’m asked after a performance is “Where do you learn all this stuff?”

The majority — if not all — of the secrets of magic are hiding in place sight. Here at home, I have a working library of about 250 books that I’ve been collecting since high school and that’s where your study begins. However, another important method of learning is community and mentorship.

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to immerse myself in the experience when I traveled to Columbus, Ohio for the 90th Annual MagiFest. Approximately 500 attendees (typically 1000 but they restricted registration to keep us safe) were present for 3 days of lectures, shows, tributes, and informal sessions.

Here’s a quick peek…

My good friend, Matt Holtzclaw making his convention debut. His first time ever attending a magic convention and he was on the bill!

A peek at the informal gatherings that last well into the morning.

Jason England (left) is one of the world foremost gambling and card cheating experts. Jamy Ian Swiss (right) is a prolific author, book reviewer, and professional performer. Among other things, he’s also a dear friend and mentor I’ve known for at least 20 years. If I can point to one person who has had the most impact on my life in magic, it would be Jamy.

Probably the best part of a magic convention is spending time with close friends and colleagues. (L to R) Jamy Ian Swiss, Matthew Holtzclaw, and Mark Calabrese.

Jamy shares his encyclopedic knowledge on one of the most important sleights in card magic.

Apollo Robbins (right) made himself known in the magic community as The Gentleman Thief. He is the greatest theatrical pickpocket in the world

Apollo Robbins talking about this career and time hosting Brain Games on The Discovery Channel.

Apollo Robbins sharing his ideas on stealing watches. Exhibit A.

Exhibit B.

It’s quite rare that I spend much time in the magic community but I always return inspired and excited to continue my journey.