Houston Seance at La Carafe

For those of you that feel inclined towards entertainment falling in right in the middle of the catagory of odd will perhaps enjoy this pleasant distraction. After all how many people can say they’ve attended a séance.
The missus and I attended the Halloween séance and came back with the bottom line. Which is to say, you won’t find anything like this going on in Houston.
Jamie Salinas and his partner Scott Wells have been practicing magic in Houston since at least 1996. Needless to say (so why say it) they have their routine down pat.
The show (and it is a show) opens up downstairs in La Carafe with the two of them performing close up magic for about an hour. You get a couple drinks with your date, do a little chit chat, and see a few impossibilities that discression prevents me from disclosing.
The group (say about 15 people) then heads upstairs a private space and then the weirdness starts. Jamie and Scott do an excellent job presenting the séance as if its legit. More or less they tell you that they ain’t going to say its fake nor are they going to say it’s legit. You decide. And folks, its a tough call.
The second hour goes by pretty quick. My only complaint.
La Carafe is quite the tiny bar off of Market Square in an area that it would appear is experiencing a revival. Good on them I say.
Check out the webste for the times. Seems to be that business is good and they’re doing regular shows instead of just at Halloween.

Rating this was hard — on kitsch factor, it clearly deserves a «5,» while I’d imagine its séance authenticity and genuineness is about a «1.»
The evening is divided into two parts. Hour 1 takes place on the first floor of the wonderful La Carafe. While you imbibe beer or wine, a slight of hand magician visits with you, performing tricks with cards, coins, and other objects. Hour 2 takes place on the second floor, in the front corner by the windows. The person conducting this section is also a slight of hand magician. You’ll sign a release agreeing not to sue if killed or injured by unruly spirits, make a pendulum out of a coffin nail, and then… well, you’ll have to check it out yourself!
If you have a free night during these last days of October (and really, what says Halloween better than a séance at the haunted La Carafe?) and $ 20 burning a hole in your pocket, go! There are two sessions a night (at 8pm and at 10pm) and while you can purchase your ticket online, they also allow walk ins.