At Magic|Bar, bartender/magician extraordinaire Benjamin Schrader’s weekly Monday pop-up sleight-of-hand saloon, the magic is intimate and happens just a few feet away, making each card trick all the more impressive. A dozen lucky patrons sip specially crafted cocktails and have their minds blown by a rotating roster of guest performers, all of whom, also are headlining magicians at the Magic Castle.

Once the wooden doors of Magic|Bar slide shut, a small group of wonder-seekers bond over shared moments of amazement. Old jazz records spin on a turntable. Decks are cut. Booze is imbibed.

And poof! Just like that, at least for an hour or so, the outside world disappears