and deeper into Harlem, much to everyone's horror. But we still had some light, and true to plan, Athena and I bid our farewells to the group and proceeded up Malcolm X Blvd. Almost immediately, someone in a passing car shouted, 'Get out of Harlem!' This set everyone on edge. The tour ran long, and it was getting dark when we finally reached the edge of Harlem at the top of Central Park. I knew that would put me within blocks of 113th Street, so I made a plan to peel off from the Bond tour at that point and pay homage to my other great passion, Houdini. Part of the weekend would include a walking tour of locations used in the Bond books and films, during which I noticed we would travel to the edge of Harlem to see some locations from Live and Let Die. Then, in August 2005, I returned to New York with my then girlfriend, Athena, for a James Bond Collectors Weekend (yes, I'm also into Bond - see my other blog). Still, I deeply regretted not making the trek, and fantasized often about what it would be like to finally stand before Houdini's New York home. On my first trip to New York in 1990, I was just too overwhelmed by the city and subway system (hey, I'm from LA) to seek out the house - although I was somehow able to locate Houdini’s grave with only the information that it was 'in Queens.' Also, throughout the '70s and '80s, all one heard was how the house was located in what had become a “bad area” (which was pretty much said of ALL New York City back then). But in August of 2005, I finally made the pilgrimage and discovered the home of Harry Houdini for myself. It took me a ridiculously long time to do this.

While you can’t go inside, you can still view the famous brownstone from the street.

Not only that, but the house has remained largely unchanged (at least on the outside). One of the great gifts for all Houdini buffs is that Houdini's New York home at 278 West 113th Street in Harlem is still standing.

The houdini house