Seconds With Steff

The Magic Castle is the most exclusive private club in LA: only members, guests of members, and hotel guests can enter. Neil Patrick Harris had been the president years ago. In 2019, Sabrina and I didn’t get tickets for dinner and magic because the road trip that I was on did not allow for an evening gown… oh yes, it is very very formal! So I asked if I could enter just to see the lobby since I was staying at the hotel, and I snapped a bunch of pictures; however, in 2022, I figured out the eveningwear and made reservations in December for June.

So when my original confirmation was for the wrong date, I called the hotel and made sure it was in the system correctly. They fixed it immediately. I again called in the spring to ensure the date had been changed because I never received a re-confirmation email and was again assured all was good! The morning of the my reservation, I received a “what to expect” email and upon arrival at the hotel, was given my ticket for the night.

The staff at the hotel is amazing! Knowing I was alone, a young woman came to my room to zip me up and her co-worker drove me across the parking lot so I didn’t have to hike up a hill in heels. After waiting in line and having my picture snapped (I hate my hair), I gave the doorman my name, and that’s right, you guessed it, my reservation was for the original wrong date! That being said the staff took care of everything immediately and I was allowed in. Unfortunately, pictures are not allowed past the lobby.

All this being said, please understand that I have never once seen a live magician before this night. This was truly one of the best nights ever! I can’t even begin to describe what tonight was like. I had the most delicious dinner of Lobster Cobb Salad, watched six different mind bending and hysterical magic shows, took a tour of the castle itself, and got to participate in a few acts.

I even interacted with Irma, the Castle’s piano playing ghost. That is right, I sat in a lovely Victorian era room with a piano where no one sat as people requested songs that were played. I requested “Miami 2017” and got “New York State of Mind”. The woman next to me requested Irma’s favourite song and “Suddenly Seymour” was played. The woman then leaned over to show me her strikingly gorgeous Audrey II leg tattoo. Just MAGIC!