Be spellbound at the MAGIC CASTLE Stride from MAIN STREET to Mendocino’s Bluffs
The Magic Castle ,adenof mystery and prestidigitation in a customized Hollywood hilltop mansion, has seen good times and bad. But the club keeps coming back, now with a set of new leaders who arrived in 2021 and 2022.
Inside you’ll find a dash of Vegas, a dash of Hollywood history, a dash of deep magic geekdom (more Harry Houdini, less Harry Potter). With an invitation from a member, you can make a reservation and turn up in formal attire, hand over $35-$45 per person, then step in through the secret door (which might or might not involve a bookcase). You’ll find a series of rooms with oak paneling,
The Atlas of California Adjectives, if there were such a book, would surely have a picture of Main Street, Mendocino, next to the word “quaint.” It’s an eerily attractive little town — perhaps because it looks so much like a misplaced corner of Maine (minus winter snow) despite being 150 miles north of San Francisco. On one side of Main Street, you find a series of snug, handsome galleries, boutiques, lodgings and eateries, including the Mendocino Hotel (built in 1878) and the terrific Gallery Bookshop (and its feline mascot, the Great Catsby, age 12 or 13). No franchises. Meanwhile, across the street, nature runs riot. Fog hangs in the air and scenic bluffs abruptly drop into the sea as tides fling battered driftwood onto the beach. The town (population: about 850) grew with the region’s logging boom in the late 19th century, revived with an influx of artists in the 1950s and is sustained by well-heeled tourists. The Mendocino Music Festival brings a flurry of classical and contemporary performances eerie oil portraits and handy bartenders. You’re obliged to order in the snazzy dining room (entrees: $45-$60). Proceed to a 45-minute magic show in the main theater, then meander through the mansion, dropping in on card tricksters, sleight-of-hand artists and other entertainers. The club is adults-only except for brunch performances on weekends, when children are welcome.
BONUS TIP: Book a night at the Magic Castle Hotel, next to the castle, and you’re in at the castle itself — no invitation from a member required. The hotel is a ’50s apartment building every July. The Ford House Museum probes local history. And Sol de Mendocino, also on Main Street, dispenses cannabis (which is a massive part of the Mendocino County economy).
Be sure to venture into Mendocino Headlands State Park, that’s been converted and stocked with free snacks. Rates start about $225 (and most units have kitchens). The furniture and grounds are worn, but which surrounds the village. Take the easy Mendocino Headlands Bluff Trail and admire the driftwood on Portuguese Beach and Big River Beach.
BONUS TIP: The Fog Eater Cafe on Albion Street is a tiny, vegetarian, Southern diner that service is snappy and familyfriendly. And one other thing: That red phone next to the pool? That’s the free popsicle hotline. serves dinner WednesdaySaturday and brunch on Sunday. I had a great meal there on my last visit. The restaurant’s backyard neighbor is the recently opened Fog Bottle Shop, specializing in natural and organic wines and house-made snacks.