We attended Trickery on Saturday 04/18/26. Aaron was adept at working with a diverse audience to…read moreinclude them and maintain control of his performance in a very intimate setting. Because it's BYOB you'll get the 20-somethings that feel they have to get loaded beforehand and then act the fool while attending (do you hear that "Neil"? No one wants the focus on you acting like it was your first experience with alcohol) but Aaron was skilled at bypassing them without causing tension or escalating bad behavior. Aaron's attitude is one of someone who has worked hard to make this little venture work, and he deserves respect and recognition for his obvious commitment and work ethic. His act included variations of tricks performed by other magicians, with his own twists. He is an expert at sleight of hand and distraction, which is considerably more difficult in a room about the size of an average residential living-room. He had an appropriate sense of humor aligned with an audience coming to Boystown, an overtly gay neighborhood in Chicago (if you're not familiar). However he wasn't garish, flaming, flamboyant, or offensive; he managed a perfect balance of innuendo humor and audience engagement without being cheap or ingenuine. The snarky one-liners will likely go over your young kids' heads (although bring them to an early show, your 9 year old doesn't belong in Boystown at 10 pm on a weekend), and he carries himself with class avoiding the use of profanity or graphic terms. Again, I can't overstate that his tricks were amazing, impressive, and captivating - as magic should be. You leave the show shaking your head and wondering how it's done - which truly makes it "magic". You would be hard-pressed to spend $36.36/person for an hour of live entertainment that can match Aaron's performance. Pro-tip: If you're driving there you will need to use an app to reserve parking, as there aren't garages like downtown Chicago and every street is filled with so many signs there's no way you will return and find your car not-towed or not-ticketed. Chicago does this on purpose to generate revenue; you'll see "street cleaning" on Tuesday from xx hour to xx hour, no parking when snow is over 2 inches OR any time from Dec 1 through April 1, loading zone, 15 minute stopping/standing with flashers, no parking, residential permit zone only, bike lanes, bus stop restrictions, etc. If you find street parking and think you've beaten the system, think again. Nobel Prize Laureates, Rhodes Scholars, Ivy League PhDs, Mensa members - you can meet them all at Chicago Central Auto Pound retrieving their vehicles. Stephen Hawking couldn't drive, but if he could and he parked in that neighborhood all the quantum mechanics in the world wouldn't make his towed car reappear from the Chicago Parking space-time continuum. The nice thing is if you do reserve parking and give yourself enough time you can walk to many, many restaurants and bars in the area that are open even after the 10 pm show ends. Thank you Aaron for a wonderful experience, you made my wife's birthday memorable for both of us.

I highly recommend going to this show!! Super affordable and BYOB! He even has plastic cups if you…read moredidn't bring one. He also has sodas, snacks, and little magic trick gadgets for sale. Space is small (only about 4-5 rows) but we loved how close we could be. I've been to Chicago Magic Lounge up in Andersonville but I loved how intimate his show was and his was a LOT more affordable. Whole thing was really cool and funny. I wish more people knew about his show, check it out if you can!

We rented two party buses for my son's wedding. The drivers were amazing and we all had a wonderful…read moretime. Very professional, on time just amazing!

Amazing company! They help my birthday become a hit with just a short notice! The ladies that took…read moremy request were wonderful! Would love to do business with them again!

Smarty Pants was fantastic at our recent event AND each and every time I've seen him perform over…read morethe years - which is many times (because many people see how amazing he is)!! It's not just his talent with super fun and surprising balloon characters but his adaptive nature and outstanding personality, engaging everyone at the parties/events. I would absolutely recommend him for all types of occasions : private or big birthday parties, festivals, block parties, - anywhere there will be children!! He is one less thing at your party you need to worry about because he is a sure thing! Truly, he is a whole family favorite!!

What a fun performer. I came across him at the Park Ridge Kiwanis annual pancake breakfast, where…read morehe was doing some entertaining mostly for the kids but definitely for the adults as well. It's through him that I heard of the Central Street Busker Festival that took place the next day and his line was loooong! Most recently, we went to his show last week that the Mt. Prospect Public Library held for spring break. That was very very well attended, with a long line of folks waiting to get in (and that's with all of us registered to attend!), but the show was a lot of fun. He did a little magic, a little comedy, and some fun balloon tricks. This guy has been doing this all his adult life--unless that's also a joke and part of his act--but regardless, he's great at his job. I'm looking forward to seeing him again and my little one having the chance to pick her balloon creation on her own.

This is the worst place I have ever received an eye exam. The employees give you the run around…read morewhen needing basic services such as a correctly documenting prescription. They want you to constantly come into the store to fix mistakes that never should occur because they "never had an issues with it". Simple tasks aren't simple. If you have a lot of time to waste with incomplete services, please visit them.

Dr. Carter, Jasmine, and Isaac are all wonderful. They have been helping me out and taking care of…read moremy vision for over 10 years. I moved to Michigan and still come into town to see Dr. Carter. Highly recommended.

Let me just say Sugar Shenanigans is with the Shenanigans. Her drink menu is so delicious and…read moreespecially her flatline punch. She's my favorite bartender with a great vibe. Definitely a great time with her serving us our drinks. Very creative!!

From the owner: I provide the experience of happy juice created by me! I’m a master mixologist not only for adults…read morebut also for children and teens. I make my creations come to life with the best customer service, and experience. I give peace of mind while allowing you to be a guest at your own event.

This is a cool little hidden gem. Picture the menu sort of like Panera, but way better priced. The…read moreitems are all made to order and delicious. Very cozy little vibe. I like that they have a craft table you can peruse while you wait for your food.

I went in with my daughter for the first time today. The woman at the counter greeted us and was…read morevery nice. She recommended the turkey bacon avocado panini so I ordered that and a can of strawberry sparkling water. Dessert was on my mind as well so I opted to buy a chocolate chip cookie. While my daughter and I were waiting, I was noticing how pretty the decor was and pictured it to be a fantastic place for a friends night out. Let's get to the good part.., so, I love that they use quality ingredients by adding Boar's Head deli meats. If you're not familiar with that brand, it contains no artificial ingredients, no preservatives, and no antibiotics! So you know you're getting fantastic quality meats. Let me tell you, when I bit into that panini, I was in heaven!!!! The bread was perfectly crisp, flavors were delightful, and the chocolate chip cookie was a bonus! I plan to return to this place with my friends in the near future!

I don't live in the suburbs, and I don't even wish I did, but every so often you discover one of…read morethese amazing places . . . The Cermak Family Aquatic Center is awesome. A holy-grail destination for summer days with kids. They have a lazy river full of innertubes, and giant 2.5 foot deep pool with a play structure and various splashing items, plus a splash pad, and a junk food concession. It is neither a real swimming pool nor a water park. Not a real swimming pool because the deepest part of the pool is 2.5 feet deep. Not a water park because there's no actual waterslide, though there is a slide ... into the water -- if you grasp the distinction I'm making. But as a consequence this means that you can feel much more comfortable giving even young kids a decent amount of freedom (obviously not too much! be safe!) and generating the kind of wet, chlorinated, hot, happy, exhausted summer day that you may have grown up with as a kid. Chicago is a big city of rich amenities, so there are not a ton of things that I say are clearly worth a 45 minute drive from my house, but this is one of them.

Located inside Forest Preserve District of Cook County; Cermak Woods. Free parking for customers…read more Wonderful recreational area to enjoy with your family and friends. This is a well designed water recreational area. It has been changed, upgraded and redesigned throughout the years, but still here providing a great relaxing service to this community and visitors. You can grab a towel at the nearby Marshalls, and sunscreen as well. Plenty of grocery stores and restaurants nearby if you would like to enjoy a picnic with your family as well. Enjoy this wonderful experience.