Illusions Magic Bar keeps entertainment license despite challenge from Paul Robinson, hater of noise, magic and beer pong
Illusions Magic Bar faced off against the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association in Baltimore circuit court today. The venue, which is owned by magician Spencer Horsman, had its entertainment license challenged by the neighborhood association, which claimed its members were adversely affected by "noise, parking and crime from Illusions and other nearby bars and clubs."
But the court sided with the magician, reports John-John Williams IV, and allowed him to keep the license:
Judge Audrey J.S. Carrion dismissed the association's motion, citing that a number of the complaining neighbors lived too far — one as many as three blocks away from Illusions— to be negatively affected.
The neighborhood association, headed by Paul Robinson, will meet soon to plan its next move. With this challenge, Robinson has distinguished himself as a hater of both magic and beer pong. Two years ago he pushed for a ban of drinking games at Baltimore bars.
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Wow Maza! I didn't know that you were so funny.
"Paul Robinson, hater of noise, magic and beer pong"
The thing that sucks is that they still had to pay for a lawyer for representation. Congratulatoins to Illusions, hopefully others will follow.
Posted by: fhneighbor | February 7, 2011 4:51 PM
File Mr. Robinson under "People who need to get laid".
Posted by: Sucio410 | February 7, 2011 5:31 PM
wow. what a tool.
With the exception of some of the older, dive bars, Ilusions is probably the most low-key bar in Fed Hill.
Posted by: tom | February 7, 2011 5:50 PM
This past Friday, a guy was dragged out of Nobles and thrown into a paddy wagon while dropping n* bombs at the black cop who arrested him. Later that evening, another guy was being strapped to a board and loaded into an ambulance in front of Mother's while some douchebag meathead was pushing the bouncers.
And that just happened to be when I was passing by. Who knows what went on the rest of the night, but I have a feeling nothing like this happened because of Illusions.
Federal Hill is totally out of control on the weekends these days, especially on Friday and I think these folks are correct in trying to protect their neighborhood from these thugs. But their ire is misdirected.
I guess an entertainment license is an easier target than a liquor license.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 7, 2011 6:04 PM
What is the deal with Paul Robinson? Who voted to put him in charge of what you can or can't do in that area?
Also, re: parking--you live in a nice, popular area of the city. Parking is going to be rough. You can't/shouldn't try to shut down a business by citing parking.
Posted by: Chappy10 | February 7, 2011 11:58 PM
Yea Illusions is not bothering anybody, they are a doing their own thing, and keep to themselves, unlike alot of the other bars that attract the douchebags, and bimbos on the weekends.
Anyway Illusions provides the area an alternative from all the riff raff
Posted by: Ted | February 8, 2011 9:30 AM
http://www.wbaltv.com/news/23045382/detail.html Mr. Robinson hates Under Armour too.
Posted by: Canton | February 8, 2011 9:42 AM
Paul Robinson is a bloated gasbag who presides over a snooty, do-nothing neigborhood association.
The FHNA tries to pick fights with little guys like Horsman because the big guys like Harborview and Ritz Carlton peed all Federal Hill.
Posted by: Kevlar-1 | February 8, 2011 11:21 AM
The FHHA (federal hill hospitality association) Offered to pay for a 100k playground to put on top of the hill, and paul robinson would not let the association put it in because it was the hospitality association... i know if i was a resident with kids i would be FURIOUS
Posted by: down w robinson | February 8, 2011 11:39 AM
I live in Fed. Hill, guess what? I made sure I didn't by a house near a bar. What do you expect when you buy a house or rent near a bar. Be a little smarter when selecting your house people otherwise don't complain.
Posted by: John | February 8, 2011 12:21 PM
That is pretty ridiculous. I walk by Illusions regularly and see NOBODY on the barstools. On a related note, I would think that a NIMBY-mindset would want more bars like Illusions and fewer like Nobles.
Further, I don't know WHAT kind of non-profit turns down $100 G's.
What a joke, it really is people like this that hold the city back. Do the neighborhood a favor and step down from your self-important perch.
Posted by: FrankieSez | February 8, 2011 12:57 PM
FHHA has a 100k? Wow! That seems like a lot of money, unless they were getting the money from a beer or liquor company.
What's going on with Federales?
Posted by: anonome | February 8, 2011 1:33 PM
Maybe Brian McComas is trying to find a way to embezzle the 100k to open Federales.
Posted by: intheknow | February 8, 2011 2:19 PM
Of all the spots to turn attention, why Illusions? Of all the bars in Federal Hill, this seems like the least disruptive.
And agreed, the disaster that's become Nobles should be addressed. There's the police force that patrols Federal Hill, then there's the one that is dedicated to Nobles.
Posted by: Barry Bright | February 10, 2011 12:54 PM
The police force in front of Nobles do noting but confront you when you confront a law breaking douche because they didn't in the first place. It's like Hamsterdam
Posted by: Tif | February 10, 2011 1:30 PM
Yeah Nobles is a piece of crap bar. I made the very stupid decision to go their a few months ago. The place had to have been in violation of fire code for having way too many people. I also observed the cops taking the fight from inside the bar, and bringing it outside with no intervention. I also liked how those cops got off on drunk girls that Rapistberger giving them a significant amount of attention. What a piss poor venue!
Posted by: Calvin | February 10, 2011 2:16 PM
Danny (owner of Nobles) is an immediate relative of Maryland senator Barbara Mulkulski. Nobles will never face a fine or shut down.
Posted by: Onewhoknos | February 22, 2011 10:28 AM