Back at Cosmic Underground

My friend Chuck and I were finally able to coordinate our schedules with Cosmic Underground to see a performance. I recapped the experience at Cosmic Underground on Global Traveler.

Although not by profession, Chuck is a magician. He has done more than 2,700 in-room shows at hospitals, among other performances. I am especially grateful for his hospital visits, but that's for another time.

I was happy Chuck could make the show, because I wanted his take on the experience. Owners Kayla Drescher (who I previously interviewed and who has made an appearance on Penn and Teller Fool Us) and Harrison Lampert combine magic, mentalism and comedy into a night of pure entertainment.

After the show, Chuck admitted her knew all of their secrets, but more importantly, he was impressed by their skills. Their sleight-of-hand and misdirection were masterful.

I also must mention Harrison's ability to name ever cereal mascot. Proving his skill, he rattled off about a dozen, then challenged the audience to stump him. Nobody did, although we threw out another dozen cereals.

I really hope Cosmic Underground succeeds. Kayla and Harrison are so positive. I look forward to a return visit.

For more info, go to cosmicundergroundtheater.com. Check here for more of my Chicago area pop culture bits.

Kayla Drescher, Chuck, Harrison Lampert and me in Chicago, IL-December 2025.

Welcome Cosmic Underground Theater

A while back, I interviewed magician Kayla Drescher on Talking Travel for Global Traveler. Although she's a Chicagoan, I have never met her. That changed last week.

I saw her post on social media about a new project she had, long with Harrison Lampert. The couple was opening a new entertainment spot on the near northwest side of Chicago. Fortunately, I was free that night and was able to make the big event.

Cosmic Underground Theater opened a few weeks prior, but this was the ribbon-cutting ceremony. I talked to both Kayla and Harrison about it all. About a year of planning led to this moment. The theater will host magic shows, workshops and comedy (and probably more as it really gets going). 

It's housed in a cool building and i love what they did with the setup. It's intimate, capable of holding about 40 patrons, but I think that limit will be tested.

Kayla and Harrison are two exciting folks. I can see their passion. I told them they would see me back there and I plan on keeping that promise.

For more info, go to cosmicundergroundtheater.com. Check back here for my coverage, too.

Harrison Lampert and Kayla Drescher in Chicago, IL-June 2025.

Talking Travel with Kayla Drescher

Magician and mind reader Kayla Drescher was the latest guest on my Talking Travel interview series on Global Traveler. Kayla was kind enough to give me her time during the blizzard and freeze over last weekend.

As I told her to end the interview, I first saw her on Penn & Teller Fool Us in 2017. I loved her act. It was one trick, involving two sheets of paper, two scissors and Teller. There was no talking, but a beautiful story was told. It was theatrical magic at its best.

When I saw she started a month long run at Rhapsody Theater on Chicago's north side, I thought it was the perfect time to interview her on GT and also the Chicago Patch (probably more important for the specific performance run). Kayla was as delightful as the act I saw on television.

She discussed her start, the difference between magic and mind-reading, the challenges video technology brings and more. On the travel end (to keep my GT big cheese happy), she talked about adjusting to audiences in different cities, where she loved performing, cities on her bucket list and more. Of course, she also talked about performing in her hometown.

It was a fun interview which came together quickly. I appreciate Kayla's time and consideration.

The interview video and recap is on Global Traveler at Talking Travel with Kayla Drescher. Also, get more info on Kayla at magicinheels.com. Lastly, please subscribe to the Global Traveler YouTube channel for all sorts of interesting travel content (and to help my job security LOL).