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One of our goals at 69 Atlantic is to expand the public perception of what sleight of hand can mean by presenting a variety of magical entertainment. In that spirit, we've invited avant-garde visual artist, Jay Gilligan to Brooklyn to present his mind-blowing show "Stories About Gravity." Jay is a creative hero to many in the variety arts. His work is experimental, thought-provoking and usually, enormous. When he visited us, he squeezed his one-man spectacular into a 26-seat theatre. Imagine Blue Man Group in a bathroom stall. Jay is a renowned innovator in the world of circus. For 19 years, he was the head of the juggling program at the Dans och Cirkushögskolan in Stockholm, Sweden and he has been a guest instructor at every major circus school in the world. His ideas on the subject are truly revolutionary. For those who think of juggling as nothing more than throwing and catching things you are in for a spectacular surprise. This is unlike any demonstration of dexterity and reflex you have ever seen.

Mac King is a revolutionary magician who rose to fame because of a trick so difficult almost no one manages to pull it off: he is hilarious and astonishing at the same time. Mac's tricks are so good and his humor is so natural. He is wise and kind and sophisticated, even though he plays a yokel on stage. When Mac walks out in a baggy plaid suit and the first thing he says is, "Howdy," most of the audience is rolling their eyes, thinking, "There's no way in hell this hayseed could fool me." But by the end of the show, they're all slapping their knees and scratching their heads in disbelief. It's a delightful surprise and a wonder to behold. Mac's one-man show is the longest-running in Las Vegas history. It is beloved by critics, fans and fellow performers alike. We've seen it so many times we've lost count. But one thing's for sure: it felt a little different at 69 Atlantic. There are twice as many people in the front row of his normal showroom than fit in our whole theatre! When we were watching from the back and Mac started his first show with a "Howdy," it was unforgettable.

In Spain, card magic or “cartomagia” is a kind of religion and Dani DaOrtiz is the reigning high priest. He is the kind of outrageous folk hero who inspires awe and devotion from followers around the globe and many make pilgrimage to his native Malaga just to meet him. Dani is the winking fool, the drunken master, sloppy and chaotic with cards falling to the floor and everyone laughing until the moment they realize it’s all an illusion and by that point, it’s too late… the impossible becomes real. Over and over again until it’s so damn bewildering you’re not sure whether to laugh or cry or shout out dirty words. Dani DaOrtiz uses silly little playing cards to lure you into his world. Once you are there, you have no choice but to embrace the fantasy. Rules do not apply and everything you know is wrong. It is a truly baffling experience.

Welcome to Magic Up Close - fascinating chats with artists from around the globe. We're thrilled to kick off this series with one of our favorite performers on the planet, Zabrecky. To know Zabrecky is to love Zabrecky. For the uninitiated, Zabrecky is strange, spooky, funny and, let's be honest, sexy like a diamond. He doesn't do a traditional magic show, more like a surrealist celebration of storytelling, music and mind reading. You may just be inspired to embrace the strange in ways you have never attempted before.