Chicago Magic Lounge

Taking your date to the laundromat may not seem like the ideal night out, but nothing is as it seems at the Chicago Magic Lounge. Washers and dryers, complete with spinning clothes, are what you’ll first see when you arrive, but a closer look reveals a knob. 

Pull it open and a doorway opens to a world of magic. These just aren’t any tricks though. This is Chicago-style magic, which is fast, funny, closeup and, for many, enjoyed with a cocktail in hand. Once popular throughout the city, this craft, which favors intimate interactions and classic sleights of hand over grand theatrical Vegas-styled shows, had all but died out until being revived at this Andersonville spot. 

The passion for Chicago magic is evident in every aspect of the venue, from the intimacy of the theaters to the secret doors. Shows take place in three distinct venues: the 107-seat cabaret theater, where guests can enjoy drinks and appetizers as they take in the show; the 654 Club, an intimate 43-seat theater; and the Performance Bar. 

All offer mind-blowing magic acts, but it’s the bar magic that most personifies the city’s signature style. Inside the warm and inviting bar, the magician stands behind a green felt table and banters with customers, who are standing close enough to touch him. Tricks come fast and furious and smiles quickly turn into cries of disbelief. 

All the while, bartenders serve up cocktails, including one called How Houdini Died, a version of a rum punch, named for the blow that ultimately killed the famed escape artist. Who knew a date night that starts in a laundromat could be so magical? 5050 N. Clark St., Chicago, Illinois, 312/366-4500, chicagomagiclounge.com