Photo By Scott Crowder

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No, really. The magician and mentalist specializes in “the psychology of fooling people,” a passion he discovered after buying a set of tricks in the mall when he was 18. Now the recent Greensboro transplant can be seen at East Coast Wings and other local venues performing close-up magic using just simple props – a deck of cards, a fork, a business card. “I think actually experiencing magic in person, not on TV, not on stage but close up is a very surprising experience and a memorable one,” he says. “It’s something people just don’t see often.” That can be both a good and a bad thing, says Erik, who counts among his influences magicians David Blaine and Penn & Teller, as well as rockers Johnny Cash and Marilyn Manson. “I love that people don’t see it that often because I feel like I’m showing people something they will remember. People generally don’t know they like magic.”

What do you love about wearing a skirt? “The comfort. I’m a big fan of comfort, and it doesn’t get any more comfortable than in a skirt.”

What do you love about reading skirt? “I love the essays. I read a book awhile back called A Beautiful Lie. It was essays by women in different periods of their lives, and it shows you how people go through the same things. And the essays remind me of that book and the tone that it’s written in. It’s very interesting and self-reflecting.” 

Meet Erik at our anniversary party on Tuesday, March 31 at Undercurrent restaurant! Get the details and RSVP on Facebook.