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Did You Know Chicago Has Its Own Style of Magic?

By Mina Bloom | March 26, 2015 5:45am
 The Chicago Magic Lounge takes over Uptown Underground, a new retro-themed cabaret and burlesque venue at 4707 N. Broadway, every Thursday evening.
The Chicago Magic Lounge takes over Uptown Underground, a new retro-themed cabaret and burlesque venue at 4707 N. Broadway, every Thursday evening.
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UPTOWN — Every Thursday there's magic in Uptown.

In the form of a magic show, that is.

The Chicago Magic Lounge takes over Uptown Underground, a new retro-themed cabaret and burlesque venue at 4707 N. Broadway, every Thursday evening.

While there are other magic shows around the city, the recurring one in Uptown is the "only immersive show [in Chicago] where there's magic happening all around you — at your table, on the stage and at the bar," according to Joey Cranford, producer and host of the show that begins at 8 p.m.

There's a rotating cast of performers, including headliner Jim Bergstrom, John Sturk, Lee Benzaquin, Luis Carreon, Kex Lang, Mike Rhodes and Bill Weimer, author of Chicago magic book "Now You See Them, Now You Don't."

Thursday's performance marks magician Ryan Plunkett's first performance at the lounge.

One trick that Cranford said still boggles his mind: a glass of water turned upside down in a glass that doesn't come streaming out until it's held over a bucket. It's performed by Sturk.

Another favorite that's performed at the lounge, known as the sugar cube trick, debuted in the '40s.

"If you want to learn it, you have to learn it from a guy who learned it," Cranford said, adding that one of their performers was taught by another longtime magician.

The encore act kicks off at 10 p.m., which is when the headliner and other performers will test out new material. The latter is dubbed the "Magic Lab."

The Chicago Magic Lounge aims to revitalize close-up magic, or what's known as Chicago-style magic, developed in the 1920s. It's magic that's performed right at your table.

Close-up magic gained popularity in the '60s and '70s, when city dwellers flocked to magic bars like Schulien's in North Center and Little Bit O' Magic on the South Side, among other places.

General admission is $20 and can be paid at the door or by visiting Uptown Underground's website.

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