Every man should know one card trick.
Failing that, he should know where to find someone who does.
Enter: a curious and uncanny date night at the spankin’ new Chicago Magic Lounge, the buzzy new speakeasy dedicated to the art of sleight-of-hand and trickery. (Yes, there’s also cabaret.)
Also on the agenda: dinner at Lincoln Square’s new destination-worthy eatery and some crisp threads to give your date-night act a refresher.
Step One: The Look
Tonight is all about confidence and charisma — just ask the magic practitioners you’ll meet later. So, you’ll wanna look the part. This black polka dot chambray shirt from local menswear label Stock Mfg. Co. falls squarely between casual and dressy, and proves to your date you’ve still got a few tricks up your sleeve.
www.stockmfgco.com
2136 W. Fulton St. (map)
Step Two: The Pre-Magic Dinner
From the folks that gave us Gather comes The Warbler, a new veggie-forward American restaurant serving up elevated comforts in a relaxed space in Lincoln Square. Chef Ken Carter, who also runs the kitchen at Gather, is offering an assorted range of crowd-pleasing favorites. You’ll want to start off with the grilled sausage before moving on to the whole wheat Bucatini. Then order up some crispy cauliflower for the table. As for drinks, try the Songbird, which features barrel-aged and unfiltered gins and blackberry wine. But don’t get too tipsy: the Chicago Magic Lounge might be a quick cab ride away, but you’ll need to focus to actually find it.
www.thewarblerchicago.com
4533 N. Lincoln Ave. (map)
Step Three: The Magic Show
One part cocktail bar, one part magic show, the Chicago Magic Lounge is an immersive new nightlife experience dedicated to the craft of “close-up magic,” also known as “tableside magic,” a style of magic many argue originated in Chicago. An unassuming entrance will take you through a laundromat, where, fingers crossed, you’ll find an entryway that will reveal a 6,000-square-foot space of roving, card-carrying magicians. What you need to know: there’s the Blackstone Cabaret, a 120-seat theater that hosts stage performances (see the schedule here), but if you’re looking for a more intimate experience, visit the 654 Club, a smaller back room where you and yours will be treated to an exclusive close-up magic performance. All in, you’re looking at one of the best out-of-the-box date nights our city has to offer.
www.chicagomagiclounge.com
5050 N. Clark St. (map)
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