talkmagic.co.uk

I'm off to NY on 21st Sept (QE2, a week in NY, then QE2 home). So excited, I can't sleep.

Can any of you NY magicians recommend a good magic store, club, show?

Anybody want anything brought back? (that last sentence was a joke - but don't let that stop you asking, or recommending).

Cheers

I was lucky enough to visit New York this time last year.

There are two main magic shops in Manhatten, Tannen's, and Fantasma, and they're not very far from each other. Fantasma is opposite Penn Station & Madison Square Gardens (above the SBarro and next to the Hotel Pensilvania), and Tannen's is round the corner from there, heading towards the Empire State Building. Tannen's entrance is a bit strange though, they don't have a shop front as such, it's a large room in an office type building, up a tiny elevator. See:

Fantasma:
421 Seventh Ave. 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10001
http://www.fantasmamagic.com

Tannen's:
45 West 34th Street, Suite 608
New York, NY 10001
http://www.tannens.com

as for shows, there's Monday Night Magic, http://www.mondaynightmagic.com at Bleecker Street Theatre, 45 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10012.

Their last show before a few weeks' break is 22nd September, and it's well worth a visit. Jeff Grow, Master Lee and Simon Lovell are performing that night.

Tannen's and Fantasma are well worth a visit, but Fantasma is a little pricey, lovely shop & staff though. If you're lucky you might bump into the owner, David Roth.

Hope that helps!

Much appreciated Magimax - I'll report when I get back. Cheers.
W

As long as you know the address you're looking for then Tannen's is fine to find (same street as the ESB, more or less opposite a newspaper kiosk). Fantasma is a little weird because you sort of go into the entrance to a subway station before heading upstairs.

I don't personally bother with Fantasma (Tannen's has more stuff, basically) but if you're on a one-off trip to the city then you've obviously got to visit both!

I imagine you'll come out laden with books since they're generally a fair bit cheaper over here.

Yeah books for sure ... no baggage limitation on QE2 (mind you there's the wife's shopping......).

Waldorfcartoons wrote:Yeah books for sure ... no baggage limitation on QE2 (mind you there's the wife's shopping......).

I swear I read that first time as "wife swapping"!!

Hope you have a great time!

Naughty girl...... anything you'd like me to bring you back?

Ah New York. Christmas Eve in Central Park. Ice-skating to the sounds of Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin. The Empire State Building at night with hundreds of helicopters buzzing over the city like mosquitos. It really is the centre of the known universe. Sigh. Take me with you? I'll hide in a lifeboat.

Get yourself out to see OLD Yankee Stadium before the team moves to the NEW Yankee Stadium next year. Tickets to games are sold out but the run tours of they ball park during the day... a truly magical experience for anyone who's at least half a sports fan!

I know you are going out on a Saturday, but if you get there early enough or are still there the following Saturday there is a regular Magicians meeting at Maui Tacos, 330 5th Ave. This is near the Empire State Building. I was made very welcome when I was there last year. I think they start about 2pm. You can ask at Fantasma or Tannens for more details.

Regards
Tim

magikmax wrote: Tannen's entrance is a bit strange though, they don't have a shop front as such, it's a large room in an office type building, up a tiny elevator.

3 bloody times I walked right past it trying to find it! then when I finally got there they were closing!
Trust us when we say "yes, it is actually in that building"