Rather than putting a ton of effort into an outing and then only hitting one spot, why not extend the adventure? This week, we’re pairing tricks at the new Chicago Magic Lounge with late night Hopleaf treats.
Main attraction: Chicago Magic Lounge
5050 N. Clark St. 312-366-4500
How much: $10-$65
Conjuring up some date-night magic sometimes requires an extra hand — maybe a white-gloved one pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Old-school lounges that served up magic tricks alongside their cocktails used to be relatively common in the city, but at some point along the way — POOF! — they disappeared. This swanky new Andersonville space, opened just last week by the group of local magicians by the same name who previously performed out of Uptown Underground, aims to restore the retro tradition to playful greatness with magic shows seven days a week. Tickets are available for purchase online. Get all dolled up before you sip a Sleight of Hand gin cocktail ($10) while enjoying a mainstage show in the place’s theater or a more intimate performance in the smaller lounge space. Magicians can even be spotted behind the art deco bar. Fair warning: You’ll have to pull off one trick yourself as your evening’s getting started. The speakeasy-style establishment is hidden behind a nondescript laundry.
Don’t stop: Hopleaf More Top Picks Pool Tables
5148 N. Clark St. 773-334-9851
How much: $5-$32
Keep things enchanting in a more laid-back setting at beer lovers’ paradise Hopleaf just up Clark Street. The Belgian-inspired bar and restaurant is famous for its mussels and frites ($24 for a serving for two) and dinner’s served until midnight on weekends, but its draft beer list is just as impressive. Rotating local pours like 5 Rabbit’s Fabulosa Porter ($6) and Begyle’s Imperial Pajamas ($5) are wedged between more exotic craft offerings like Vander Mill Ginger Peach Cider ($6.50) and a selection of wines on tap. Find rarer specialty bottles, along with chilled wines and large format beers, hiding in the bar’s Off-Menu Cooler. And the booze isn’t all there is to drink in: The warm brick-and-wood decor and neighborhood atmosphere makes it a perfect low-key place to end your charming night.
Gwendolyn Purdom is a RedEye freelancer.