“The Magic is Back!” at The Magic Lounge

Recommended ***  I truly love magic. Before Covid, when they opened the Chicago Magic Lounge in Andersonville, I was in heaven. A magic club where seven nights a week one could experience the magic that started right her in Chicago many years ago. If anyone recalls a bar on Irving Park called Schullians, they will recall the magic that was done at the bar and at each table ( the kitchen magic was pretty good too). My employed, George Beslow, loved this place and our yellow page company held many a meeting, party and dinner there just for the magic.

That is where it all started and I am happy to report that people who truly love up close and personal magic are in for a treat at The Chicago Magic Lounge. Part of the mystique of this venue is that one doesn’t know it is there. When you pull up to 5050 N. Clark Street, you see a sort of blank wall storefront containing a laundromat. You enter and see the washers and dryers spinning as if someone left their wash there and went down the street for a bite. Just ring the bell and the walls part. You are then greeted and checked in to another area where there is a cocktail lounge. At the bar, a magician who gets you in the mood. There are different magicians on different nights. We had “The Amazing Bibik” who has a great sense of humor and does some very close magic. I watched like a hawk  and never caught sight of how he does what he does. He is wonderful but because the room s small and the show attendees start to arrive, the noise level began to interfere with his act. A shame- I would have liked to have heard what he had to say.

As the people arrive in the “library” cocktail area, they are shown the wall of fame with some amazing memorabilia of Chicago and its magic. Then the wall opens up and we are escorted to the maitre de and to our tables ( or seats). The room is set up as a theater but with tiers of seats. Some right up front ( where you will end up part of the show) and others all the way upstairs. I was a little upset that the room was packed, and while they are asking us all to where our masks and show our vac cards, they did not leave any space between patrons. On the “bar” seats we were right on top of each other.

The seating took place at 7 p.m. and for an hour we could have drinks, food and during that period of time, six or more magicians went from table to table “doing their thing”. Magic Sam and Wes were two that spent some time with Frank and I ( Jane said magic two nights in a row would be to much) and since we are talking about this on Sunday ( WCPT at 2 p.m.) Frank joined me. Wes did a card trick with Frank that had him mezmerized from start to finish. Once again, even though we were right there, I could not spot anything.

Our emcee began the show at 8 p.m.. Jan Rose, who had been milling about during the “cocktail warm-up” is a delightful hostess who tells the history of magic in Chicago. The two headliners we watched perform were Justin Purcell, a young magician with a great sense of comic touch. I am positive that in the very near future this young man will be a headliner. The main act was Luis Carreon. He uses his Mexican heritage to add some comic touches to his act as well. He is sharp and does some tricks that will astound you. Because magic is something to see, I rarely talk about the illusions they perform, but one of the ones that was done was the splitting of a one dollar bill. A lady sitting in front of us , Bree, went onstage, with a crisp one dollar bill. Carreon tore the bill in four and then somehow put it back into one piece BUT mixed up. The picture is dark, but the question is, how did he get it back as a bill ( despite out of order)?

The main show lasted a bit over 75 minutes and then those who opted to attend another show ( we opted not to attend) went into another room called the 654 Club for a little more close-up magic performed by Paige Thompson, one of the resident magicians in this specialized venue. CML Owner was also on-hand to welcome us all back to the world as we once knew it and thanked us all for getting vaccinated and being there. As I said, this is a wonderful experience but I am hopeful that maybe they will consider spreading out the seating just to ensure 100% safety for those who love a night out.

Tickets range from $65 and menu items are priced decently. They are mostly shareables and more snack as dinner would be hard to time out. The room is loud before the actual show goes up , so if you are not crowd ready, you might want to attend something else for your getting back to normal.

To order tickets call the box office at 312-366-4500 or visit www.chicagomagiclounge.com

Chicago Magic Lounge is a 21+ Venue ( ages 16+ allowed only with parent or legal guardian)