Ballard’s whimsical wand shop and wizard pub is getting closer to opening.
The Splintered Wand is the creation of Geoffrey Thaddeus Constantine Balch and Andrea Ravnholm (AKA, Widow Balch). It will be a place of magic and wizardry for all ages — a wand shop upstairs, and the pub downstairs.
The wand shop is on the second floor, and will be open seven days a week, from 11am to midnight. Wandmakers will use each customer’s astrology to select one of 13 North American wooden wands, made by artists in Maine. The wand core itself will be chosen by the customer, who will be asked to cast a spell over cauldrons of “alabastron” — the stuff of magic.
The downstairs bar (21+) is a sight to behold, with ancient rhododendron branches standing guard before a copper-lined, glowing onyx countertop. Near the bar is a seating area with black walnut benches, across from a stand of 35-year-old living trees planted in the floor.
On the third floor will be the “Euphorium”, a private events space filled with magical items such as skeletal fairies encased in glass (photo above) and an ornately carved fireplace. There will be two long tables in the room, which Geoffrey says will be for meetings, parties, or special VIP guests — “playtrons”, as he describes.
On one end of the Euphorium is a glass room with colorful hanging lanterns, which will be perfect for Tarot readings, Geoffrey says.
There will be lunch and dinner served at The Splintered Wand, with a decidedly British flare: think pasties, Yorkshire pudding, and Shepherd’s Pie.
The Splintered Wand will likely be open before the end of the year, pending some inspections and permitting.
We’ll update with more information when we know more…