It is one thing to watch a magic show, with an illusionist able to deliver smooth patter and clever conjuring from the distance of a stage, the aid of clever lighting and the possibility of audience plants. But it's a very different matter to have dinner with a 'mentalist' and illusionist and experience the magic at close quarters and in an unpredictable setting.
World-famous mentalist Scott Silven is a natural-born raconteur, and he is hosting a series of intimate dinners to show off his mentalist's skill and his showman's energy.
The dinner is held in the suitably gothic surrounds of Chapter House and includes three courses with matching drinks. Silven hosts the evening, weaving stories of his childhood in Scotland with otherworldly tales designed to delight and astound.
Along the way he connects with each of the 24 audience members, developing a rapport and displaying his prodigious skill in illusion to turn even deep-seated sceptics into believers. The show had two sell-out runs in New York and has toured the world.
Tickets are a quite expensive $399 (including the meal and drinks, of course), but this is an experience you are unlikely to be able to ever experience again. Those who wish to be delighted, astounded and perhaps a little bit spooked are advised to book early, as tickets are extremely limited.
If your budget for illusion does not stretch to $400, however, don't fret – you can catch Silven's stage show Wonders at the Speigeltent.