When Kindness and Creativity Collide at Vandy High Tea.

Magic, laughter, and a backyard full of wonder at Vandy Manor.

Some afternoons feel like dreams you don’t want to wake up from — the kind that remind you why you fell in love with magic in the first place. That’s exactly how it felt as Jamie and I shared our magic at Dick and Arlene Van Dyke’s Vandy Camp High Tea at Vandy Manor, right in their beautiful backyard.

A Backyard Full of Joy, Music, and Magic

Imagine a perfect Southern California afternoon: a gentle breeze, laughter floating through the air, and the unmistakable warmth of community. Guests sipped tea and smiled beneath the Malibu sun as we performed in a backyard that has probably seen more joy and creativity than most theaters.

We were honored to share our magic alongside our friend Captain Tall Tale, whose larger-than-life stories had everyone grinning from ear to ear. What made the afternoon truly special wasn’t just the magic tricks or laughter — it was the intention behind it all. Every moment, every note sung, and every illusion shared was in service of something bigger: raising money for a meaningful cause and spreading that patented Dick Van Dyke joy and love.

Stories, Songs, and a Living Legend

At one point, Arlene and Dick gathered everyone together to share stories. And when Dick Van Dyke tells a story, the world stops for a minute to listen. He spoke about his love for magic — something I never knew ran so deep.

In his autobiography, My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business, Dick talks about being fascinated with sleight of hand as a kid. He used to perform tricks for friends and family, trying to understand how wonder worked. That love of magic, he said, helped him become a better performer — because magic teaches timing, mystery, and connection.

He even shared how he developed friendships at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, where he’s a beloved figure. Listening to him talk about discovering wonder — about realizing that magic isn’t about fooling people, but about making them feel something — I couldn’t stop smiling.

As a magician, that hit me right in the heart. That’s exactly why I do what I do.

“Stay 13 Forever”

One of my favorite quotes from Dick Van Dyke is something he’s said many times:

“I just want to stay 13 forever.”

That simple phrase might be one of the most profound life lessons ever shared. As adults, we tend to lose that sense of wonder. We trade curiosity for convenience. With every answer just a Google search away, fewer things surprise us. But listening to Dick that afternoon reminded me that wonder isn’t supposed to fade — it’s supposed to evolve.

Magic, at its best, gives us permission to feel young again. To pause. To laugh. To gasp. To remember that the world still has mysteries worth believing in.

The Magic in Everyday Moments

Between stories, the music began — and the Vantastix (yes, that Vantastix) filled the backyard with harmonies that made everyone’s spirits soar. Watching Dick, Arlene, and their friends sing together, surrounded by laughter and love, I realized that this is what real magic looks like.

It’s not just tricks or illusions. It’s connection. It’s generosity. It’s people coming together to create something joyful and meaningful — even if just for an afternoon.

And in that backyard, among legends and dreamers, I felt it. That same spark that got me hooked on magic when I was ten years old — the one that made me believe that the impossible could happen.

A Grateful Heart

I drove home that night with a full heart — grateful to have shared our magic, grateful to have listened to stories from one of my heroes, and grateful to have witnessed what happens when kindness and creativity collide.

Arlene and Dick Van Dyke didn’t just host an event. They created a space for magic, music, and meaning to live side by side. They reminded all of us to stay young at heart, to give joy freely, and to keep believing in the extraordinary — even in the ordinary.

Because if Dick Van Dyke can still sing, dance, and smile like he’s 13 forever… maybe the rest of us can, too.

-Jonathan Molo

The Man in the Purple Suit