Latest news with #MagicCastle
Chicago Tribune
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
The Hand & The Eye will be a new, $50 million magic theater off Magnificent Mile
With a $50 million investment in the struggling Magnificent Mile, the Chicago healthcare entrepreneur Glen Tullman is opening a massive new live entertainment venue in the historic McCormick Mansion (100 E. Ontario St.), most recently the home of Lawry's Prime Rib restaurant. Tullman said the new venture, called The Hand & The Eye, will employ some 200 people and offer seven different performance spaces, along with multiple bars and a dining experience, all devoted to the art of magic. 'This is not some six-month pop-up thing. This is a once-in-a-generation project,' Tullman said during a tour of his venue under construction. Opening night is anticipated for March 2026. The closest comparable existing venue is probably the long-established Magic Castle in Los Angeles, first opened in 1963. Tullman said that Chicago's 36,000-square-foot The Hand & The Eye will be larger than that famous venue (by some 10,000 square feet) and will feature an interior design by David Rockwell, known for Broadway shows as much as his restaurant interiors. 'People come to Chicago from Iowa and Indiana and they want to be amazed,' Tullman said. 'This will amaze them.' Although there are multiple stages and performance nooks, the plan for The Hand & The Eye is to be open seven nights a week and offer a single inclusive ticket that will move audiences through numerous performances and a dinner, with patrons making timed reservations and then traversing all the rooms in a bespoke fashion. The price point has not yet been set, but it is not likely to be cheap. Tullman, 65, described his intent to offer an upscale, all-adult experience with a dress code. 'This will not be a jeans and sneakers kind of place,' he said. Along with the one-night, all-inclusive ticket aimed more at visitors to the city, the venue also plans to offer club memberships for residents and regulars, allowing members the ability to come and go to the various stages and bars through a dedicated entrance, perhaps to see a favorite magician. Members, Tullman said, will be required to learn a magic trick, but otherwise memberships will be open to everyone, creating a Soho House-like experience, albeit with an illusionary theme. Numerous magicians, including 'curator of magic' Jeff Kaylor, have already moved to the city to work on the project. 'We're bringing something special to Chicago,' said Kaylor, 'but also to the world of magic.' Performers, Kaylor said, will be a blend of resident magicians and 'world-class' special guests. 'We want to open up people's imaginations,' Kaylor said, 'and we also want to create a place where every magician in the world wants to perform.' A tour revealed a historic building being gutted virtually to the studs, albeit with the preservation of the original grand staircase, fireplace and a few other elements. The historic exterior of the building, which dates to 1899, is landmarked and cannot be changed. L. Hamilton McCormick, the nephew of famed agriculturalist Cyrus McCormick, and his wife, Constance Plummer McCormick, commissioned a four-story Italian Renaissance home with bricks imported from Belgium (and wrapped in straw) on the corner of Ontario and Rush Street. At various points in its history, the house also housed a puppet theater and a members-only nightclub called the Continental Casino. A fourth-floor ballroom hosted as many as 400 guests including, on occasion, visiting royalty hosted by Mrs. McCormick. Rockwell's new design will include a roof garden as part of the venue. The seven theaters inside the mansion will range from about 25 to 100 seats, Kaylor said, offering conditions for different levels of magic from tight close-up through more medium-range illusions. In a nod to Chicago's long history of bartender magicians, bars will be set up as much for trickery as for cocktails. The operation will also feature live jazz and have a full-time music director and there will be a retail outlet for magic tricks that come with human instructions. Opening hours are projected to be from 5 p.m. until midnight. Tullman also said there would be an educational component, offering opportunities to young Chicago magicians from the city's neighborhoods, as well as some weekend brunches and daytime performances opened up to a family audience. In a phone interview from Madrid, Rockwell said he was intrigued by the possibility of 'doing something that had never been done, of creating an intimate audience experience that integrated both performance and hospitality spaces.' Rockwell said his design byword was 'hand-crafted' and that, as a theater designer, he had obsessed over theatrical lighting and audience sightlines, often not preoccupations of traditional interior designers. 'This is the first time I've worked on a hospitality project where the building blocks are the one-on-one human interactions that comes from theater,' Rockwell said. Levy Restaurants CEO Andy Lansing, also a self-described magic geek, said 'magic and dining and design have all been treated with equal care, instead of existing in their own silos.' Food is likely to be retro in orientation. 'Think the Pump Room in its heyday,' Lansing said. 'And the food will be served in the most beautiful of dining rooms.' The Hand & The Eye hardly will be the only magic venue in the city. The successful Chicago Magic Lounge operates in Andersonville, offering two stages and a bar. Longtime Chicago magician Dennis Watkins plies his craft multiple times a week in the basement of Petterino's Restaurant a little further south in Chicago's Loop, under the auspices of the Goodman Theatre. And the Rhapsody Theatre presents magic in Rogers Park. All are likely to face formidable new competition, although an argument can be made that more venues will create more demand in a city with an auspicious history of prestidigitation. 'This will be part of the reinvigoration of Michigan Avenue,' Tullman said, noting that he did not have any partners in the venture beyond himself. 'I'm betting on the city.'
The Independent
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The 10 best family-friendly hotels in LA for experiencing Hollywood with children
Los Angeles is a playground for all ages. Where else can you tour a film studio, ride a rollercoaster and hit the beach all in one day? Beyond the famous sights of Hollywood and Venice Beach, the sprawling city is home to a mind-boggling array of family-friendly attractions. For film fanatics there's Disneyland, the Universal Studios theme park and the Paramount Pictures studio tour. Sports nuts won't want to miss catching a Lakers or Dodgers game, and you'll also need to budget some time to explore the city's museums, beaches and entertainment-packed piers. If you're keen to make your time in the City of Angels truly unforgettable, the key is choosing a place to stay that manages to keep the magic going even when bedtime finally rolls around. Here's our round-up of some of the city's most unique and inventive hotels that will appeal to children both young and old. Best family-friendly hotels in LA 2025 1. Magic Castle Hotel Hollywood The Magic Castle is one of those only-in- LA locations that even locals find themselves curious about: a private members club for magicians that is strictly invite-only. Other than being personally invited by a magician, there's only one way of getting inside to enjoy the show: booking a stay at the Magic Castle Hotel next door (it should be noted that while children are made to feel especially welcome at the hotel, they're only allowed into the Magic Castle itself during Saturday and Sunday brunch shows, and a dress code must be observed). The property, a yellow-hued converted apartment building built around an outdoor pool, has plenty to keep kids entertained the rest of the time, including a daily supply of free ice cream at the self-serve soft-serve machine, complimentary snacks and soda and a special red phone by the pool known as the Popsicle Hotline that can be used exclusively for ordering ice lollies. That's not to mention the close-up magician who performs three mornings a week during breakfast. Parents, meanwhile, will be especially won over by the laundry service available for any guests staying two nights or more: no matter how large or small, all laundry is done free of charge and returned wrapped in brown paper and twine with a sprig of lavender. 2. The Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel Beverly Hills The Peninsula Beverly Hills is a luxury hotel that takes children's travel seriously. Add their 'Camp Peninsula' package to any room booking, and when you arrive you'll be greeted by the hotel's adorable mascot Peter Bear. Then inside your room you'll find a charming Camp Peninsula tipi set up, complete with a cuddly s'mores campfire, making it undoubtedly the only hotel to offer indoor glamping in the heart of Beverly Hills. Parents, meanwhile, will be equally delighted by the elegant Afternoon Tea service, the opulent spa and the refined Roof Garden swimming pool. It's by no means a budget option, but if you're splashing out then it's an experience that won't soon be forgotten. 3. The Queen Mary hotel Long Beach From 1936 to 1967, The Queen Mary sailed the Atlantic as a luxury cruise liner for Cunard Line (save for a few years serving as a troopship during World War II). After she retired and was permanently docked in Long Beach, this majestic ship reopened as a tourist attraction and was later converted into a hotel. Today, a stay on board offers the chance to explore the ship's fascinating history through organised tours or just by wandering the decks and seeing what exhibits you can find. Then, bed down in one of the beautiful Art Deco staterooms or suites. The hotel's Chelsea Chowder House & Bar specialises in seafood and offers breathtaking ocean views. 4. The Langham Huntington hotel Pasadena The Langham Huntington is a grand hotel in Pasadena that dates back to the Gilded Age, which children may well recognise from its starring role in the Lindsay Lohan comedy The Parent Trap. On top of its movie set looks, swimming pool, playground and gorgeous, sprawling gardens, the Langham Huntington is also a great choice for families thanks to the hotel's dedicated kids program. For a reasonable $30 fee, children get kid-size robes and slippers, a complimentary meal each night of their stay (as long as a parent or adult eats with them) and a special Langham Kids Passport scavenger hunt booklet that will earn them a complimentary prize once completed. 5. The Pendry West Hollywood hotel West Hollywood This stylish five-star hotel on the Sunset Strip is in a prime location to explore West Hollywood, offers spectacular views of the city and goes the extra mile to make children feel right at home. That means milk and cookies will be waiting to welcome them after check-in, and parents shouldn't forget to ask about the chain's 'Plush Toy Amenity' that offers kids the chance to pick up a stuffed animal for their stay, and to take the toy home with them. The Pendry also has great in-room dining options, but it should be noted the rooftop pool does tend towards a more sophisticated crowd so it's worth getting there early if you want to splash around without getting stared at. Address: 8430 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, 90069 6. Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa There are three hotels on-site at Disneyland, but the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the pick of the bunch (and, consequently, the most expensive). Built as a grand example of American Craftsman architecture, the hotel combines a rustic ambience with luxury details. At the centre of the soaring six-story lobby you'll find a grand piano where usually someone will be belting out Disney tunes. The rooms themselves are relatively light on Disney decor, and parents who want to hide out in the luxurious spa may forget they're at Disneyland at all. The kids won't though, and for them the most significant draw about this property is that it's the only hotel with a direct entrance to the theme park. It may be worth the splurge if only for the ability to beat the crowds. 7. Palihouse Santa Monica hotel Santa Monica This boutique beach lodge in Santa Monica dates back to 1927 and is a beautifully-maintained example of Moorish-influenced Mediterranean Revival Architecture. In 2001 the property was designated a Santa Monica Historic Landmark, and it combines that sense of longevity with plenty of modern touches. It's also an ideal place for families: located in a quiet residential neighbourhood, it's nevertheless walking distance from the beach and the area's many seaside attractions. Parents will be won over by the stately home ambience, which is playful rather than stuffy, while children will love the free games in the lobby, the bocce ball on the lawns outside and all the complimentary cookies. Address: 1001 3rd St, Santa Monica, 90403 8. The Kinney hotel Venice When first-time visitors to Los Angeles picture the city in their minds, they're often thinking of Venice Beach. The broad sandy beach, framed by palm trees and dotted with skateboarders, outdoor gym enthusiasts and assorted eccentrics, has starred in a million movies and TV shows and remains an unbeatable spot for people-watching. If you want to stay in the area, stay at The Kinney. A hip boutique hotel decorated with colourful murals, the property is built around a courtyard known as The Quad, containing fire pits and table tennis tables. It's also just a short walk from Abbot Kinney Boulevard, the stretch of shops and restaurants once dubbed by GQ 'the coolest block in America'. 9. The Garland hotel North Hollywood The Garland is a chic hotel with retro charm and a big, inviting outdoor pool. It also has one attribute no other property on this list can rival: It's just 10 minutes from Universal Studios, and provides a free trolley bus service that ferries families back and forth from the famed theme park. The hotel is family-owned and gets the details right: book yourself into a family suite and you'll find rooms with a separate kids' nook complete with bunk beds and a TV. By the outdoor pool there are activities like macramé classes and 'Dive-In' movies. The hotel's restaurant, The Front Yard, features a recently renovated private dining area known as The Tangerine Room, which combines 1970s glamour with signature drinks like the tangerine martini. Which you might just need after a full day at Universal. 10. STILE Downtown Los Angeles by Kasa hotel South Broadway If you're travelling with a big group in tow and want to base yourself downtown, the STILE Downtown Los Angeles by Kasa is the pick of the options thanks to its sizable rooms and reasonable pricing. This Spanish Gothic tower block started life in 1927 as an office block that also housed the United Artists Theatre, and at that time was the tallest building in the city. In 2014, it was renovated to become the luxury Ace Hotel and operated under that name for a decade before abruptly closing last year. The property has since been taken over by Kasa, who run it as a limited-service hotel which manages all bookings via a tech platform. The ornate theatre on the ground floor still hosts bands, stand-up comedians and orchestral performances.
