Tucked away in Brooklyn Heights, a new shop “dedicated to magic” is redefining the meaning of curiosity — and this time, it’s doing anything but killing the cat.
Art of Play, which opened its doors in October at 69 Atlantic Ave., aims to inspire curious minds with its curated collection of magical home goods, puzzles, games, toys and books — all of which conceal its hidden 18-seat theater designed for sleight-of-hand artistry shows.
“We are trying to create an antidote to the mindless scroll,” said Adam Rubin, a New York Times best-selling children’s author and partner at Art of Play. “In the traditional magic shop, everything has a trick. Here, everything that feels magical, the more you learn about it, the more magical it becomes.”
Initially based in San Diego, Art of Play was founded by identical twins Dan and Dave Buck, who began their journey producing custom playing cards inspired by their passion for magic and cardistry. Rubin joined forces with the Bucks after reaching out to collaborate on an idea rooted in his own curiosity.
“I had been interested in puzzles and optical illusions for a long time but had no idea about starting a business, so I so reached out to the coolest small business I knew about, which was Art of Play,” said Rubin. “We talked for a while and joined forces to create what is now a curiosity shop.”
While children are welcome to explore, Rubin said the shop is designed to appeal to adults just as much, if not more. In other words, these tricks are not just for kids.
“A lot of times when people think about play, they immediately think of children, but grown-ups need play too,” Rubin explained. “We want to present these amusements of curiosity with a level of design and sophistication that an architect walks in here and thinks, ‘These are the toys for me’ or ‘this is something that will bring me wonder and joy.’ That’s the guiding principle for how we curate the things we have here.”
Art of Play’s offerings include everything from intricately crafted puzzles and whimsical toys to sophisticated optical illusions and conversation pieces. However, its most exclusive feature is the secret theater tucked away in the back, where performances of sleight of hand magic cater exclusively to adults.
The theater hosts performances every Friday and Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., showcasing talent flown in from around the world. The intimate setting allows just 18 guests per show, with tickets starting at $75. Each ticket includes complimentary wine selected by the nearby Italian restaurant Popina.
Whether visitors come for a one-of-a-kind gift, an evening of up-close magic, or simply to rediscover the joy of play, Rubin and the Buck brothers aim to leave them with a sense of wonder that lingers long after they leave.
“We say epiphanies await a curious mind, and I think that comes true if you spend enough time in this room,” Rubin added.
