Chicago magicians Houdini you in our video series

It's going to be another hot weekend, so unless you're heading to the lake or a pool, you're going to need to keep the kids busy indoors. Here's one way to pass some time: Watch these nifty videos, featuring four of Chicago's best magicians, and see if you can figure out how they pulled off their tricks. (We'll warn you: We shot all them all right here at TOCK Headquarters—each in one take, no tricky editing—and even we don't know how to explain the various appearances and disappearances.)

Our inspiration to assemble these guys and make the videos came from Dennis Watkins and the cool show he's starring in, Death and Harry Houdini from The House Theatre. Recently, we told you about Watkins and his family legacy—his grandfather was a talented magicia,n too—and we gave you the heads-up that the much acclaimed, sold-out show would be returning for the summer following a run in Florida. Suitable for kids ages 9 and up, Houdini just reopened at Chopin Theatre in the Ukrainian Village.

We'll have a full review next week. Meanwhile, here's a reminder tip: We're sure you won't find a more eclectic live show all summer. This is part magic show, part musical, plus stunts and short films in the mix too. Get your tickets before they sell out again.