Steve Cohen the Magician is Magical
Steve Cohen in Chamber Magic.
Image Credit: Chamber Magic
I should point out that this is not 100 percent on the Upper East Side, but it’s close and it’s worth every extra block. Steve Cohen the Magician has been performing for celebrities and other notables for the past 20 years. His show, Chamber Magic, is now the resident magic show at the Lotte New York Palace hotel (on Madison and 51st), and was one of the most fun nights we’ve had in a long time. Full disclosure, I’m not really into magic, but this performance is incredible.
The 90-minute show is held in a parlor, just off The Gold Room, and cocktail attire is encouraged, making it feel like a special occasion. I wish we would have made time to have a pre-dinner cocktail at the bar. The show is adults-only and limited to 64 people so that the environment feels intimate and elegant.
Without giving away any secrets, Cohen has worked to recreate parlor entertainment that was popular in Manhattan’s early 20th century, when magicians were invited into the homes of wealthy patrons to entertain friends and family. This event feels like you’ve stepped back in time before iPhones, when an audience is captivated by entertainers. Cohen has a psychology degree from Cornell University and studied at Waseda University in Tokyo. He also holds the rank of Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star, awarded by The Magic Circle in London. He’s performed for loads of celebs like Warren Buffet, Martha Stewart, Tracy Morgan, Buzz Aldrin, Stephen Sondheim, the Queen of Monaco, and royal family members, to name a few. His tricks, in a nutshell, are mind bending (especially the Think-a-Drink). If you’re going to do one new thing in NYC this year, I highly recommend this. It would also be really fun for visiting guests.
Chamber Magic is held twice every Friday and Saturday. Shows take place at Lotte New York Palace hotel. Tickets start at $125; get them here.
The Perfect Picnic in Central Park
Here’s what to bring (and buy) for the perfect picnic in Central Park.
One of my favorite things about living on the Upper East Side is the proximity to Central Park. Since moving to NYC in 2007, the only other place we’ve lived was on Ave C in the East Village for one year, and while I loved that neighborhood, too, I really missed going to the park.
One of our favorite activities is having a picnic in Central Park. There certainly aren’t any rules to picnicking in the park, but there are a few things that I like to bring and do.
First, decide when you’re having a picnic. We’ve done brunch/am picnics with bagels from Tal, cream cheese spreads, lox, and mimosas. You can have a lunch picnic, where we’ll often stop at Milano’s for Italian sandwiches and grab-and-go sides. Or, you could do the aperitivo picnic, where we’ll bring along wine or canned cocktails and small apps like chips, nuts, cheese and crackers etc.
Over the years, we’ve rounded out out picnic gear to include the following, which makes it more festive and fun, but there’s still not too much to carry.
Wine and snack tray: This tray is fun and functional. I purchased this one on Amazon for a gift and it’s perfect for a bottle of wine and a sturdy table for a few snacks. Plus, it’s easy to carry, and folds up to fit easily in our tiny apartment.
Picnic backpack: I love the idea of a basket, but this backpack has proven to be a lot more practical. This thing has everything you need for a picnic for four people including an insulated cooler for food storage, waterproof blanket, wine cooler, wine opener, cutting board, cheese knife, plates, glasses, cloth napkins, and cutlery.
A portable speaker for tunes: We’ve had a few portable speakers over the years and this one is by-far the best—plus, it’s a fraction of the price of a Bose or other brand name. This speaker is waterproof and the battery lasts forever.
That’s all, just take off your shoes (sneakers make for the perfect cup holder), and chill out with a picnic in Central Park.
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Date Night at The Met
“Date Night” Continues on Fridays and Saturdays at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Every Friday and Saturday night, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., is now Date Night at The Met. The concept was introduced last spring and has continued through the summer months (and perhaps beyond). We visited on one of the initial Friday evenings, and meandered the museum while sipping cocktails, listening to live music, and checking out the 5,000 years of art.
A note from the Met: Events and performers are subject to change. All events are free with Museum admission, which is always pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and NY, NJ, and CT students with valid ID. (Pay-what-you-wish tickets can only be reserved in person; allow extra time for lines.)