8 The QUEE NS Courier • december 4, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Pearl Jam fans to hold fundraiser at Kew Gardens bar in ongoing efforts to bring band to Queens David Blaine performs for children and staff at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center BY SALVATORE LICATA “out of this world” that one doctor even said, “I’m [email protected]/@Sal_Licata1 going to pass out,” because he could not process how Blaine could pull off the tricks. It’s magic! In one act, Blaine had a volunteer come up and place David Blaine, one of the most famous illusionists in 10 cards in his breast pocket. He then asked for the the world, came to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center on man to cover his pocket with his hand so people knew Nov. 25 to visit some of the children in the pediatric he wasn’t cheating. Blaine proceeded to ask the man ward — and he wound up putting on a magic show how many cards he now wanted in his pocket. The man for the hospital staff as well in a sign of gratitude for answered “eight.” So Blaine flicked the deck of cards in all they do. his hand eight times and told the man he now had 18 The show lasted for an hour and was filled with all cards in his pocket. types of card tricks and mind-boggling acts. It was so When the man pulled the cards out he counted 17. Already stunned, the man asked why there were only 17 cards in his pocket and not 18. Blaine then told him to check under his wrist watch, where the man found the 18th card folded up. The man jumped and yelled, not understanding how Blaine pulled off the trick while the room filled with applause. After the magic show, Blaine stayed to take pictures with the staff and sign some autographs. He then went back to visit more children in the pediatric ward. It was something that Ramon Rodriguez, president and CEO of the hospital, greatly appreciated. “We were so grateful to have him here,” he said. BY ERIC JANKIEWICZ [email protected] @ejankiewicz Pearl Jam fans are holding a fundraiser at Austin’s Ale House in January as part of a push to raise money for a crowdfunded attempt to get the ’90s band to play at Forest Hills Stadium. The organization, Pearl Jam Forest Hills, has raised over $70,000 so far, bringing the head of the organization, Daniel Sheffer, closer to his dream of seeing the band live at Forest Hills Stadium. The money will be used to try to lure the band to play at the stadium. “It’s beyond my wildest dreams. We’re thankful for all of our supporters,” Sheffer said. “It’s like there are actually people who believe in this and it makes us want to keep going and pushing harder.” Forest Hills Stadium has held many high-profile music shows over the years, including the Talking Heads and the Beatles. The Who is slated to play in 2015. But if Sheffer and his ilk are successful in convincing the band to come, it would be the first completely publicly funded concert held in the venue. The fundraiser will be held on Jan. 8, and Sheffer is confident in the the bar’s ability to host the fundraiser since they’ve held other similar events before. Sheffer is also taking the opportunity to help raise money during the fundraiser for charity organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project and Team Gleason. People who come to the fundraiser can choose what organization they want to give money to. They will also be able to contribute to the Vitalogy Foundation, a nonprofit organization created by the band members of Pearl Jam. “We’re staying humble, and whatever happens, we consider what we’ve already done a success,” Sheffer said. Danny Clinch/Flickr Creative Commons
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