By Raphael Pallais of The Plaza August 29, 2012

We all know New York can be a magical place. But did you know that there’s real magic happening here? You only have to know where to find it.

Back in the 1800s, parlor magic was all the rage. European aristocrats would invite conjurers to entertain their guests with sleight-of-hand. Today, the tradition continues, and you don’t have to be a Vanderbilt to be invited. You do have to dress up, though.

Steve Cohen is “the Millionaire’s Magician” — he’s performed for Warren Buffet and the queen of Morocco, even at the White House — and his show, “Chamber Magic,” recreates the glamour and mystique of a 19th-century salon.

The show takes place in a plush hotel suite at the Waldorf-Astoria, and you’re encouraged to dress as if you’re attending a cocktail party. Your dapper host will likely be in a three-piece suit. He performs card tricks, turns dollar bills into hundreds, and makes objects move without a touch. Oh, and he can read minds, too. Just don’t expect anything as kitschy as sawing a female assistant in half.

When Mr. Cohen is not traveling, he performs Chamber Magic on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets are $75, and shows are capped at 50 guests to keep them intimate. Don’t be surprised to find a modern-day Vanderbilt seated next to you.