Tuesdays are usually my least favorite weekday, especially when New York City is alternating between extreme humidity and rainstorms. The weekend just feels like it’s a million years away. However, this week, Tuesday was by far the highlight after I attended my first-ever Magic, Unlocked show at Keys & Heels.
For the uninitiated, the show takes place in a discreet speakeasy that houses a swanky bar. After years of walking up and down down Second Avenue on the Upper East Side, I had no idea this wasn’t a locksmith’s shop. Truth be told, the facade is so believable, I considered going there to make a copy of my apartment key.
And, before we get to the magic show, I want it on the record that I’d go back to Keys & Heels just to sit under a disco ball, enjoy the chic, moody lighting and retro decor while drinking cocktails with fun names like ‘High Heeled Ambition’ (a spin on a bee’s knees) or ‘Late Night Lover’ (an espresso martini). They’re wonderful. Better yet, should you buy a ticket for Magic, Unlocked, you’re entitled to a cocktail, wine, or beer of choice since one drink is included with your purchase.
But wait! There’s more!
Magic, Unlocked ticket holders are also eligible for a free drink with the purchase of any pizza, pasta or entree at Uva Next Door, ironically located two doors down from Keys & Heels.
Now, let’s get to the show.
After checking in, my group was escorted to plush velvet couches facing each other. While the show was sold out, the room wasn’t cramped like at a comedy shows or musical. It’s the perfect, comfortable activity for a group of friends, or a date night, which can’t be said of most live shows in the City.
Hosted monthly by magician and mentalist Mark Clearview, Magic, Unlocked features a rotating cast of New York City’s best magicians, mind readers and mentalists, which means every show features entirely new tricks. At our show, three magicians rotated through the room doing table side tricks, which was great for small group participation and seeing the magic up close.
The magicians don’t reveal their secrets, but they still blew my mind. This is not a kid’s magic show with rabbits coming out of a hat, or rubber pencil tricks. No, at Magic, Unlocked, full decks of cards danced in front of my eyes, knots disappeared and signed dollar bills appeared in sealed cereal boxes.
Our night ended with the host personally saying goodbye to every audience member by name: the perfect evening’s perfect cherry on top.
Final verdict:
If you aren’t the best at locking in organized weeknight plans, make sure to snag tickets to Magic, Unlocked way ahead of time. The show takes place on one Tuesday a month, and the $65 tickets for their 90-minute 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. shows typically sell out within minutes. To make sure you’re on top of things, I recommend following Keys and Heels on Instagram, and signing up for their email notifications to get updates on when the next round of tickets drop.
Trust us, you don’t want to miss this. Before you know it, like me, you’ll start looking forward to Tuesdays.
Other can’t-miss shows in New York
Need more live entertainment in your life?
Here are just five NYC-based shows that might leave you saying “ooh” and “ahh” in the Big Apple.
• “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
• Stalker
Love live music, too? Take a look at our list of the 50 biggest concert tours in 2024 to find the show for you.
