Chicago Magic Lounge: The Family Show Returns! (2023)
The Family Show at the Chicago Magic Lounge. Photographer: Sarah Elizabeth Larson (@selfoto on Instagram), courtesy of Chicago Magic Lounge.
Chicago Magic Lounge | 5050 N. Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
Magic Lovers and Harry Houdini enthusiasts: get excited! The Chicago Magic Lounge, a beloved magic bar on north Clark Street in Andersonville, has officially brought back their family-friendly magic shows. If you’re looking for a unique family activity with a generous dose of magic, this recurring special event at the Chicago Magic Lounge is the right place for you!
About the Chicago Magic Lounge
The Chicago Magic Lounge is a speakeasy performance bar and magic parlour that does Chicago-style magic. They are open 7-nights a week, serve craft cocktails and small plates of food, and have a variety of ways to appreciate live magic and, sometimes, live music.
The magical experience begins when you enter the venue, as The Chicago Magic Lounge is hidden behind what appears to be a commercial laundry building. You enter the fake laundromat, go through some secret doors, and you will see bar magicians performing in a bar reminiscent of a 1930’s speakeasy.
Adults over the age of 21 can always enjoy a magical time at the bar without tickets.
The main show each evening is held on the main stage in the stunning Harry Blackstone Cabaret Theater. For a more intimate experience, some performances are held in the formal close-up gallery, the 654 club.
There is a rotating cast of magicians that are constantly changing, so guests can see a different featured act every time they visit!
What is Chicago Style Magic?
Once upon a time, Chicago had a thriving magic scene with a twist; talented house magicians performed close-up magic tricks in restaurants, either while people waited for their food or while they were enjoying some drinks and a shrimp cocktail. Soon, local magicians popped up in bars and restaurants around the city, displaying the art of sleight of hand and other close-up tricks.
However, with their bustling live audiences and promises of career advancement, Las Vegas and Hollywood lured many of Chicago’s best magicians away. By the time the new century rolled around, most of the magic bars in Chicago closed.
With an appreciation of magical arts and nostalgia for Chicago history, owner, Joey Cranford, opened the elegant new nightclub to revive the Chicago-style magic scene. Now, Chicago Magic Lounge is the ultimate destination in Chicago for lovers of magic or anyone looking for a fun, unique way to spend an evening.
The Family Show
While the speakeasy bar is only for adults that are 21+, teenagers 16 and up can attend the featured performances with parents or guardians. Kids under 16 haven’t been allowed to attend any performances since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic…until now!
Twice a month on Sundays, Chicago Magic Lounge is featuring 55-minute magic performances for the youngest magic enthusiasts. The performances begin at 3:00pm, and audience members will participate, kids will laugh, doves will be pulled out of hats, and it will be a great first show for the kids.
The kitchen and speakeasy bar will be closed for the Family Show, but movie theater concessions will be sold and cocktails will be available for interested adults in the theater.
Tickets are selling out fast to the Family Show, so I highly recommend buying tickets as soon as possible.
Date Night
Kids are only allowed to attend the Family Show performances, but Chicago Magic Lounge is an excellent place for a date night if you’re looking for something fun to do without the kids. My husband and I attended a main stage show several years ago, and it was one of our most memorable dates.
You can always stop in for a drink at the performance bar without tickets. or you can see the ever-changing featured performances. Monday nights feature live Jazz performances, and a Mystery Show is debuting in April.
I can’t recommend the Chicago Magic Lounge highly enough. Check them out and let us know about your experience!
