During day 2 of Creative Cypher’s XL Fest, I attended an absolutely fabulous networking mixer by CynCity Creative. According to their website, they’re “committed to equipping Chicago creatives with the tools, team, and strategy needed to turn creative passion into professional success—without leaving their city, their roots, or their authenticity behind.” With that said, I knew I had to get in the mix and discover what’s poppin’ among Chicago’s creatives.
First off, I love that this mixer focused on building connections by incorporating prompts and activities that spark conversation. Normally, at these events, I’m so worried about appearing cool that I’m too nervous to approach anyone. But the CynCity Creative team was down-to-earth and generous with their knowledge and connections.
DJ HowieDo kept the vibes right by playing a wide variety of hits. He absolutely lived up to his ‘music curator’ title. Experiencing multi-platinum Producer Kosine playing along to contemporary chart-toppers with his saxophone was—you had to be there.
Photographer Blake Martin (@mrblakemartin) worked his butt off, gifting everyone FREE headshots. Totally unexpected and undeserved! Blake is so talented; I showed up with no makeup—nuffin—and in 10 seconds he captured beauty, professionalism, and everything I love about my face. Very grateful.
Of course, I hit up the snack table with delicious treats from Strugglebeard Bakery. Truly a silly name for a bakery, but please know, those treats were not a joke. They were decadent and delightful. I enjoyed their brownies and the chocolate chip cookies. I would have doubled back for those red velvets, but girl, everything in moderation.
Another surprise delight was the Medase mocktails. I’m ordering a whole case ASAP. During the CynCity Creative mixer, I sampled Madase’s Hello Sunshine Margarita and the Golden Hour Jamaican Rum Punch. Yoooo, *claps hands enthusiastically*, these cocktails were so refreshing. We have a handful of warm weeks in Chicago, so I’m making it my mission to drink a few more.
I also bought a T-shirt from CynCity Creative that says ‘screenwriter’. I love that they print the T-shirts on location versus ordering styles and sizes that might not sell. We celebrate minimizing waste. Smart thinking, team!
Sadly, CynCity won’t be hosting another mixer at XL Fest. But, good news, you can always attend their monthly In The Mix event at their studio in Bronzeville. Just sign up for their newsletter or follow them on Instagram (@cyncitycreative) for updates.
XL Fest is a Chicago-based film festival and summit that’s focused on eliminating the need for permission by connecting undiscovered diverse talent to mainstream media platforms. Creative Cypher’s XL Fest ends Saturday, August 23. There are so many exciting films, workshops, and socials. The full schedule and tickets are available at https://events.eventnoire.com/e/xl-fest-25/tickets. If you’re looking to get in with Chicago cinema professionals, this is definitely the place to be. The Tate Brothers and Troy Pryor are really making big moves in Chicago.
