A hidden magic show in Brooklyn that you may not have experienced… yet
A theater at Art of Play in Brooklyn Heights, where magic happens up close
There’s something rare about walking into a space and feeling like you’ve discovered something not everyone knows about yet.
That’s exactly what it felt like stepping into 69 Atlantic at the beautifully designed Art of Play store in Brooklyn Heights - opened in the fall of 2024.
You’re first welcomed into the Art of Play store - a space filled with unique curiosities, games, and puzzles - with a cup of complimentary wine. It made me slow down and explore at the end of a busy day.
Owner Adam Rubin, along with business partners Dan and Dave Buck, envisioned the store as more than just retail. When they moved to Brooklyn, they knew a physical space was essential to bring their world of Art of Play (founded in 2013 in San Diego, California) to life.
Guests arrive early, browse, ask questions, and chat with the team. It feels less like a venue and more like being welcomed into someone’s living room or library. Right before the show begins, the shop transforms into a theater space. And suddenly, everything becomes more intimate.
The space seats just 26 people per show - small enough that every reaction is shared together with the audience.
The theater is managed by Hal Schulman, who does a bit of everything - from booking acts to pouring wine to running sound and lighting.
“I live in Prospect Heights. Adam lives in Carroll Gardens, Dan in Boerum Hill. It’s a lot of heart and a small team, but we make it work every week.”
Rather than creating distance between performer and audience, this format pulls you directly into the experience. You’re not watching magic from afar - you’re part of it.
Hal and the team bring in magicians from around the world - many of whom are deeply respected within the magic community but not necessarily mainstream names.
“The people who are the best magicians in the world aren’t necessarily the ones that are on TV or TikTok. The magic world is very small… we’re lucky enough to call a lot of these folks friends.”
Hal shared a few recent examples of the kind of talent they bring in - from Denis Behr (Munich), known for his precision and mastery of card magic, to Inés (Spain), part of a rich tradition where sleight of hand is treated as high art, to Shimpei (Japan), a classically trained violinist who performs silent, music-driven magic set to composers like Franz Liszt.
The show I attended featured Cuiffo & Sobelle (Something Amazing, March 2026), NYC-based performers who blend classic magic with unexpected moments. They are artists who have spent years refining sleight of hand, storytelling, and performance.
Every person in the audience was invited to participate in some way - my guest held onto a fully concealed card throughout the trick, yet it was revealed at the end with no obvious explanation. Another moment involved a participant who, with eyes shut, sensed exactly where someone else had been tapped - after the two shared personal memories and seemed to connect on a deeper, almost mysterious level.
Part of what makes the experience so memorable is how little you’re told going in. Guests are often brought by friends with no explanation of what’s about to happen.
Hal says: “I’m just a great believer in… under promise, over deliver. And so when people walk in and all they think is they’re looking at a really cool store and they’re sipping wine, but it’s getting kind of crowded. And then eventually the evening transforms and transpires into an hour in the company of the world’s finest sleight of hand.”
In a city that can often feel commercial and fast-moving, 69 Atlantic offers something different - intimate, thoughtful, and playfully mysterious.
Shows run every evening Wednesday - Saturday. Sign up to their mailing list to get notified of new shows every Wednesday.
69 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn
(Next to Montero Bar & Grill - between Hicks St & Furman St)
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