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The Upper West Side’s most famous purveyor of bagels, smoked fish and rugelach is adding a new specialty to the counter: sleight of hand.
On Thursday, October 1, Zabar’s will host its first-ever magic show, turning the Broadway market into an after-hours performance space complete with stage acts, close-up tricks and complimentary cocktails. (Whether anyone can make the line at the smoked-fish counter disappear remains to be seen.)
The one-night-only event comes from Underground Overground Magic, the new project from lifelong New Yorkers Ethan Mansoor and David Levine. The duo first developed a following through Underground Overground Comedy, staging pop-up stand-up shows in laundromats, barbershops and some of the city’s best-known food institutions—including Zabar’s itself.
Doors will open at 7pm, giving ticket holders a rare chance to browse the store after closing time. The magic begins at 7:30pm, with free drinks served throughout the evening. Organizers promise a mix of stage and close-up performances, though the night’s roster of magicians has not been announced.
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Mansoor and Levine launched Underground Overground Magic after regularly booking magicians for the after-parties at their comedy events. Audience reactions convinced them that the performers deserved a show—and series—of their own.
“We realized there are not many magic shows happening in New York City,” Levine told PEOPLE earlier this year. “Seeing how people were reacting to the close-up magic at our after-parties, we knew there was excitement for magic.”
The new series takes its cues from the pair’s comedy operation, pairing emerging performers with settings far removed from traditional theaters. Its rotating cast practices everything from card tricks and mentalism to sword swallowing, with planned venues including a scuba shop, an abandoned Williamsburg restaurant and, now, an Upper West Side grocery institution.
Zabar’s is no stranger to unconventional nightlife. In January, Underground Overground Comedy staged a show there as part of its Big Small Business Tour, which also brought after-hours stand-up to Barney Greengrass, Veselka, Economy Candy and Russ & Daughters. Guests at the Zabar’s stop received gift cards to shop downstairs before the performance.
There is one trick to attending next month’s show: Tickets are available only through the Underground Overground Magic waitlist. Prospective guests can sign up through the link in the group’s Instagram bio.