diff --git a/jupyter_kernel/magics/kernel_magic.py b/jupyter_kernel/magics/kernel_magic.py
index 75eacd7e..1350cc89 100644
--- a/jupyter_kernel/magics/kernel_magic.py
+++ b/jupyter_kernel/magics/kernel_magic.py
@@ -7,19 +7,25 @@
 
 class KernelMagic(Magic):
     kernels = {}
+    kernel_name = None
 
+    @option(
+        '-k', '--kernel_name', action='store', default="default",
+        help='kernel name given to use for execution'
+    )
     def line_kernel(self, module_name, class_name, kernel_name="default"):
         """
-        %kernel MODULE CLASS [NAME] - construct a kernel for sending code.
+        %kernel MODULE CLASS [-k NAME] - construct a kernel for sending code.
 
         Also returns the kernel as output.
 
         Example:
 
-            %kernel bash_kernel BashKernel bash
+            %kernel bash_kernel BashKernel -k bash
 
-        Use `%%kernel bash` to send code to the kernel.
+        Use `%kx` or `%%kx` to send code to the kernel.
         """
+        self.kernel_name = kernel_name
         module = __import__(module_name)
         class_ = getattr(module, class_name)
         # FIXME: monkeypatch to replace methods of class
@@ -28,9 +34,13 @@ def line_kernel(self, module_name, class_name, kernel_name="default"):
         self.kernels[kernel_name] = class_()
         self.retval = self.kernels[kernel_name]
 
-    def cell_kernel(self, kernel_name="default"):
+    @option(
+        '-k', '--kernel_name', action='store', default=None,
+        help='kernel name given to use for execution'
+    )
+    def cell_kx(self, kernel_name=None):
         """
-        %%kernel [NAME] - send the cell code to the kernel.
+        %%kx [-k NAME] - send the cell code to the kernel.
 
         Returns the result of the execution as output.
 
@@ -39,11 +49,33 @@ def cell_kernel(self, kernel_name="default"):
             %%kernel bash
             ls -al 
 
-        Use `%kernel MODULE CLASS [NAME]` to create a kernel.
+        Use `%kernel MODULE CLASS [-k NAME]` to create a kernel.
         """
+        if kernel_name is None:
+            kernel_name = self.kernel_name
         self.retval = self.kernels[kernel_name].do_execute_direct(self.code)
         self.evaluate = False
 
+    @option(
+        '-k', '--kernel_name', action='store', default=None,
+        help='kernel name given to use for execution'
+    )
+    def line_kx(self, code, kernel_name=None):
+        """
+        %kx CODE [-k NAME] - send the code to the kernel.
+
+        Returns the result of the execution as output.
+
+        Example:
+
+            %kernel ls -al 
+
+        Use `%kernel MODULE CLASS [-k NAME]` to create a kernel.
+        """
+        if kernel_name is None:
+            kernel_name = self.kernel_name
+        self.retval = self.kernels[kernel_name].do_execute_direct(code)
+
     def post_process(self, retval):
         return self.retval
 
diff --git a/jupyter_kernel/magics/parallel_magic.py b/jupyter_kernel/magics/parallel_magic.py
index 75cfeda4..ced7d229 100644
--- a/jupyter_kernel/magics/parallel_magic.py
+++ b/jupyter_kernel/magics/parallel_magic.py
@@ -110,7 +110,12 @@ def _clean_code(self, expr):
         '-k', '--kernel_name', action='store', default=None,
         help='kernel name given to use for execution'
     )
-    def cell_px(self, kernel_name=None):
+    @option(
+        '-e', '--evaluate', action='store_true', default=False,
+        help=('evaluate code in the current kernel, too. The current ' +
+              'kernel should be of the same language as the cluster.')
+    )
+    def cell_px(self, kernel_name=None, evaluate=False):
         """
         %%px - send cell to the cluster.
 
@@ -125,7 +130,7 @@ def cell_px(self, kernel_name=None):
             kernel_name = self.kernel_name
         self.retval = self.view["kernels['%s'].do_execute_direct(\"%s\")" % (
             kernel_name, self._clean_code(self.code))]
-        self.evaluate = False
+        self.evaluate = evaluate
 
     def post_process(self, retval):
         return self.retval