Changes at two New York City magic shops have affected the texture of the local magic retail landscape. In Manhattan, Magick Balay, a longtime fixture as a demonstrator at Fantasma Magic has left his position there. Meanwhile, in Queens, Roger Quan, proprietor of Rogue's Magic and Fun Shop, has moved the store out of its stand-alone location. He now is selling magic within another nearby retail store, sharing the space with the Emerald 99 Cent Store at 84-08 Queens Boulevard.
Balay has departed Fantasma at the same time as he has emerged as one of the lead cast members in a nationally airing TV program, Close Up Kings, which is shown in the United States on the Syfy network and on other networks internationally. The program shows Balay and his two friends and fellow magicians Loki and Johnny Blaze in a city-to-city journey that showcases magic influenced by the culture of each locale they visit. Balay also regularly performs in a variety of public and private performances, including, for example, two February 15th shows in Windham and Catskill, New York at which he will headline a bill that also features fellow magicians Steve Dane, Sean Dooly, and Dave Murillo.
Quan, who is more widely known by his stage name, Rogue, began his magic retail endeavors selling tricks on the street from a backpack. He briefly sold magic and presented shows from his mother's apartment before taking space within a bookstore in Rego Park and eventually leasing his own shop on Queens Boulevard where his store was located for 14 years. Recently Rogue established a magic bar in the Panda Asian Restaurant at 95-25 Queens Boulevard. Free shows are presented there on Friday nights. Rogue was also a contestant on America's Got Talent last season and performs at a variety of local venues. He will be part of the next Magic Mania show at the West End on 107th Street in Manhattan on February 8 where he will share the bill with Harrison Greenbaum and Rich Marotta.
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Balay has departed Fantasma at the same time as he has emerged as one of the lead cast members in a nationally airing TV program, Close Up Kings, which is shown in the United States on the Syfy network and on other networks internationally. The program shows Balay and his two friends and fellow magicians Loki and Johnny Blaze in a city-to-city journey that showcases magic influenced by the culture of each locale they visit. Balay also regularly performs in a variety of public and private performances, including, for example, two February 15th shows in Windham and Catskill, New York at which he will headline a bill that also features fellow magicians Steve Dane, Sean Dooly, and Dave Murillo.
Quan, who is more widely known by his stage name, Rogue, began his magic retail endeavors selling tricks on the street from a backpack. He briefly sold magic and presented shows from his mother's apartment before taking space within a bookstore in Rego Park and eventually leasing his own shop on Queens Boulevard where his store was located for 14 years. Recently Rogue established a magic bar in the Panda Asian Restaurant at 95-25 Queens Boulevard. Free shows are presented there on Friday nights. Rogue was also a contestant on America's Got Talent last season and performs at a variety of local venues. He will be part of the next Magic Mania show at the West End on 107th Street in Manhattan on February 8 where he will share the bill with Harrison Greenbaum and Rich Marotta.
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