Opportunity is there for everyone.

Opportunity can be hard to spot, but it usually comes in the form of the universe opening doorways to help you deliver the creative ideas that come from within your heart. 

When the invitations to do this in the real world cross your path (sometimes with you knocking, but oftentimes without too), the mind instantly calls and asks the rules police first, whose only job is to fill your head with Debbie Downer-isms like "that'll never work out", "you'll probably fail", or worse, "who do you think you are?"

Maybe this is something that is programmed into us at a very young age and carries into adulthood, but the truth is we don't need anybody's permission to go after our dreams, except our own.

We encourage everyone to make their own way, to channel their creative ideas, and to bring them to life. Coincidentally, we know the perfect place, and it's ripe for people like you, who are eager to put their personal stamp in the world and create memories that will give everyone the warm fuzzies for years to come. 

Plenty of golden opportunities await you at Mixin Mingle. You can make connections while having fun at our Woodstock and McHenry locations. 

Special Announcements

The Sometimes Store & Artists' Gallery
We had so much fun becoming a store for a week, so we are doing it again! We will feature art and handmade from talented local people in our community, and we're even mixing in some fun workshops & make 'n takes. Check out our Woodstock location from Mon 8/21-Sat 8/26. Click here to see all the details on Facebook! Psst...GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY: we have some weekdays open in Woodstock and McHenry for creative thinkers like YOU to make their own retail store, artist's gallery, or other fun whacky whatever...surprise us!

A FOOD TRUCK FEST IS COMING TO WOODSTOCK!!!
Pinch us, but our advertising partners at McHenry County Living are bringing TRUCKOFF WOODSTOCK to our town square and HOLY GUACAMOLE it's going to be good. To celebrate, we are creating a VIP Lounge complete with craft beers and beverages. We are working with a local favorite, Rendezvous Bistro, to bring this fun event to life, so get your tickets now...we guarantee it'll be a good time, besides sampling tasty brews and drinks, you'll go home with a cool party glass and t-shirt! 

OPEN Farmer's Market Saturdays in Woodstock!
We have a great retail storefront location on the Woodstock Square, which just so happens to be right across from an award winning Farmer's Market, so you can imagine it isn't very difficult to get people to wander in...talk about a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY. We have Saturdays open in September and October and we're scratching our heads as to why they aren't booked?!? If you don't do it, we will! Call us at 815-308-5170, or send an e-mail to .

SOCIAL BUTTERFLY/MARKETING GURU?
We're looking for a very special person(s) to help spread the word for us on Facebook, Instagram and the Interwebs (side gigs for now). Send an e-mail to [email protected], and let us know what you're good at.

We can’t wait to see what you accomplish.

I get a thrill out of watching people create something from nothing and turning it into a smashing success.
 
The Woodstock and McHenry locations witness thousands of private parties and community events each year, and the sense of pride people feel about what they achieve in a matter of hours lingers long after the lights go down.
 
We are on a mission to provide go-getters in the community an easy way to do something truly inspiring.
 
Just like we hate to see our rooms sit empty, we would also hate to see your talents go unnoticed.
 
Sometimes, all you need to get started--is a little nudge.
 
All you have to do is get a hold of us and we will make it happen--together.

See you soon,
mixin mingle
815-308-5170

Special Announcements

Wizarding World of Woodstock was AH-MAZING! Thousands of Harry Potter fans took over our town last Thursday. Thanks to all who came to see the owls, to paint, and shop--many of the vendors sold out, which is always good to see.

We're opening a store this week in Woodstock! Some of our favorite local personalities are bringing in their doo-dads (robot lights, sculptured art, jewelry, decorative furniture, pillows, soap, handbags, scarves, tea, toffee and pecans) for our week long sale. Stop by Mon 7/31-Fri 8/4. Hours are from 10-8 most days, except Friday...when we hold our first ever Psychic Speed Reading event. Get your tickets now and join us, because they're selling quick. 

We know it's August and everyone's all making their back to school plans, but a reminder that our venues get full pretty fast in the Fall and Winter, so check out our calendars and get a hold of us ASAP to book your holiday parties and retail store events. Let's make this a banner year in both McHenry and Woodstock!!!

We are all connected.

Six summers have passed since we did a flash mob on Main Street during D.C. Cobbs Street Fest because it seemed like a really fun idea.
 
Footloose is one of my all-time favorite movies, because I will never forget the time I saw it in the theater when I was five years old, and Kevin’s character Ren said, “What's this I see? I thought this was a party. LET'S DANCE!” and all the kids jumped from their seats, rushed to the screen and started dancing along. It’s one of my fondest childhood memories, and I wanted to recapture that feeling of doing something unexpected with a whole bunch of strangers. PLUS, I had always heard about this Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon thing, and how we are all connected, and that kind of became the driving force and underlying theme behind everything we do at Mixin Mingle.
 
Flash forward to 2017. I’m sitting with Erica and Joe over at the McHenry County Living office making plans with my new advertising partners for the Mac and Cheese Throwdown (and other lifelong dream events) while eating White Castle sliders, which Joe can’t decide if that’s real meat, and I look over at their record player, and guess what’s spinning? Footloose.
 
Life is strange. But I’ve found it to be packed with so many special meanings and fun nuances. We are all connected. I’ve met the most kind-hearted people these past six years since starting my business, and we are continuing on this journey with our second shop we opened in McHenry almost a year ago. The current focus is creating a second financially viable hometown hub that people see as a community asset (and don't wonder what kind of weird single's club just opened on Green Street). Slowly but surely it will happen. Time takes time.

 

We think it'd be cool if you joined us!

Greetings!

Just popping over to say hello and send you a few quick updates on some new things our team of elves have been working on these past few months. (We don't really have a team of elves, but our chief troublemaker is an inch shy of the 5 foot mark, so she qualifies.)

FIRST: We've been getting our feet wet working with fun local people who have intriguing artistic and creative abilities to host their own pop-up stores with us. It's been a blast, and we have a new one scheduled featuring The Art of Megan Melonas. We are looking for people who can host their own pop-up store. It's easy to set-up, and we think it'd be cool if Mixin Mingle venues could become a revolving store during the week. Call 1-815-308-5170, tell us what you do, and we can work out a plan to get you in the books so you can put your personal stamp on our walls and in our hearts.

SECOND: We have a summer special on our most popular half-day weekend party blocks right now, so get your bookings in soon before it goes away. The special is listed on our pricing page, so check it out, and while you're there, take a look at all the new configurations we offer for various uses of our rooms.

THIRD: We've been adding a lot more fun activities and events throughout the year, and we have all these opportunities to participate. You can sign on as a vendor or offer a free activity to promote your business, or better yet, you can add something completely new to our calendar and co-host your "wouldn't it be cool if" event with us. We won't bite! (Check out what McHenry County Living did, because they're responsible for taking things to a whole new level.)

FOURTH: We are on the lookout for charities who would like to find new ways to fund-raise. Helping Paws recently had this to say in their newsletter: "Our 3rd annual Art for the Paws fundraiser kicked off the year this Spring and raised over $14,000 - a record amount for this event! More than 250 unique canvases were donated by over 100 different artists in February. All the canvases were displayed and up for bidding at the community reception held at Mixin Mingle in Woodstock on April 22. The bidding this year was fierce, many pieces of art selling for over $100. The highest bid was $405! We could not have done it without all the artists, donors. and sponsors who made this our most successful year yet." Just give us a call at 1-815-308-5170 so we can find a way to work together.

FINALLY: Our social calendar is filling up, so scroll down this e-mail to see everything that's coming up and join us! 

See you soon. 

XOXOXOXO,

Mixin Mingle
124 Cass St, Woodstock, IL 60098
1118 N Green St, McHenry, IL 60050
1-815-308-5170

There's always something new happening ~ JOIN US!

We get bored easily.

They say that "variety is the spice of life", but we say "variety is the spice of venues". 

Change keeps us on our toes and makes life less mundane.

People tell us all the time we need to be more like a wedding venue, or more like a retail store, or more like a banquet hall, or more like a rec center, or more like a fitness studio, or more like a performance venue, the list goes on. But we aren't really any of those places. We have fought very hard to be nothing, so that you can just do your thing when you're with us.  It makes us happy to be able to feature you, your work, and your accomplishments, so people can see how great you are. What is the meaning of life otherwise, if we cannot be known?

Now that we have two locations, the challenge is to fill our walls with tons of fun things for the community to experience. But we can't do it all by ourselves. We need you to join us. If you have been itching to go out into this world and create something you're proud of, then get a hold of us (like yesterday), because we've been waiting to meet you!

It's easy to host an event with us, because we've done it one-hundred thousand times already (rough estimate). Just scroll down and check out all the fun things to do in McHenry and Woodstock.

See you soon. 

XOXOXOXO,

Mixin Mingle
124 Cass St, Woodstock, IL 60098
1118 N Green St, McHenry, IL 60050
1-815-308-5170

The weather is always so unpredictable in our area, kind of like a roller coaster ride. We've had some beautiful summer-like days already and local Farmer's Markets and Cruise Nights are coming back to life. It's our favorite time of year when the days are longer, kids are out of school, festivals are going on, and everyone is out and about in the community.

We're in planning mode right now to bring you more fun events this summer and beyond. Starting this weekend, you'll find a lot of fun things to do at our Woodstock and McHenry stores. Scroll down this e-mail to see everything that's in store and join us!

Want to schedule your own shebang here? Give us a call or send an e-mail.

Mixin Mingle
124 Cass St, Woodstock, IL 60098
1118 N Green St, McHenry, IL 60050
1-815-308-5170

It's perfectly natural to dream big, but I often asked myself that very same question--do I have what it takes?

I was working full-time as a receptionist/secretary/office supply room monitor, and going to business school at night. As I typed letters for the President, I wondered how he got his company to grow to what it had become--he had to have started somewhere.

More importantly, I wondered if I could ever do that.

Did I have it in me to be an entrepreneur--because it takes a certain kind of personality, you know? Could I start something as big as Starbucks or Apple? I could almost hear my Mother tell me she had "no intention of bursting my bubble, but to become a fashion model, you need to be at least like ten feet tall," and I, unfortunately, was what the kids called me in grade school, "just a shrimp." Terrific.

Fast forward many years, and I did in fact open my own business. I had a crazy idea that I didn't know would work, and just rented a vacant storefront in downtown Woodstock in the middle of a very bad recession. I remember the landlord handing me the keys and basically said "good luck, and don't forget to pay the rent." 

Six years later I'm hosting another chamber mixer, and I catch myself telling the Mayor that one day I'm going to have locations all over the place, and that right now, I'm just getting my feet wet. It's exciting that the business' story will start with opening the first storefront on the lovely square in Woodstock, IL...across from the Farmer's Market...the same way Starbucks opened their first location by Pike Place Market in Seattle. 

It's so real in my mind, I can practically see it. 

But it's not there yet, by any means.

I can tell you this though.

I opened a second store in McHenry in September 2016, and in just 6 months, the location is doing just as good, if not better than the Woodstock store. 

Why is this good news?

Because it means it can be repeated. Over and over. In a variety of hometowns. 

It also means that all the hours, tears, and money I've invested in this dream will one day return the gift a gazillion fold, and I can finally say to myself...yes, kiddo, you do have what it takes.

And so do you! 

When people ask what the mixin mingle brand is all about, I want to look at them with a straight face and say it's a playground for people who refuse to push the snooze button one more time in life.

If you are someone who has ideas bursting through every vein, and the guts to go out and make it happen, then we invite you to join us, because you will be right at home here.

See you soon!
Naté @ mm
Chief Troublemaker

It’s here, it’s finally HERE!

Opening soon in McHenry, Illinois!

We are thiiiiis close to saying HELLO to a new space on Green Street near the beautiful Riverwalk on the heart of the Fox River in McHenry, Illinois.

Construction is in progress to make our second room for parties, events, meetings, classes, etcetera beginning mid-September 2016. This new venue will have all the same goodies and amenities as the Woodstock Mixin Mingle, BUT there will be space for up to 150 people seated in the same room, which will work great for events with longer guest lists.

We're already accepting bookings, so don't hesitate to call us at 1-815-308-5170 to reserve your date. We can't wait to see what you do in McHenry!

And in other news...

~ A New Venue & A New Baby...Fancy That ~
Skyler Monét was born the end of June, and she's baby number two for her proud Mom Naté (the founder of Mixin Mingle), Dad Steve, Brother Logan, and Maltipoo Torrey. Thanks everyone for loving on the new little one. Family is so important, and we are glad we all get to be on this adventure together.

~ We're Hiring ~
Weekend helpers are needed part-time to staff parties and events in McHenry. Click here for more info and to apply. We are also seeking a marketing communications & social media specialist who can help us grow. Please e-mail your resume to if you would like to chat with us.

~ Wish List ~
We're always on the lookout for new and creative events to come to one of our venues. We encourage individuals, businesses and charities who love to plan and organize events to venture out with us and do something extraordinary. 

Let's create nostalgia together.

It's hard to know for certain the true meaning of life, but one thing we're sure of is that we want to attract people who love having fun and creating experiences they feel good about.

Instead of being the venue of "no", we are the venue of "yes" because everyone should have access to an affordable, open space in a great location where almost anything's possible.

When we opened our first store on Cinco de Mayo nearly five years ago, we never expected it wouldn't succeed, but we didn't know how to make it work in the real world, and every month we were barely hanging on by only a flimsy thread.

Despite this, we overcame a series of personal, financial and professional
obstacles, and even though we aren't where we thought we "should" be by now, we're proud of how we've grown and still hope to expand to more towns when the time is right. (By the way, we're on the lookout, so if you know of any great vacant retail spaces).

Want to know the cool part about living your dreams? When you put your best foot forward everything falls into place at the time it's supposed to, and when it's all said and done, you get a beautiful gift of nostalgia that warms your heart until the end of time.

~ Announcing our Friday $pecial~ 
We're almost sold completely out on most Saturdays and Sundays through June, so we're open to wheeling and dealing on any remaining Friday bookings.

~ It'll be BYOB for Public Events Effective May 1st ~
That's right, we don't even drink, so having a license to sell beer and wine at public events was a little ridiculous for us. Saturday's Art for the Paws Fundraiser will be the last call and we'll be offering great specials to finish the remaining inventory. Come have a drink with Leonardo Dicaprio (wink, wink).

~ New Couches ~
Our old couches just got partied out so we got some new ones. If anyone would like to take the old ones off our hands for free just let us know! We can arrange pickup as early as this weekend.

~ Personnel Updates ~
The owner has been taking a little hiatus to the land of the Hobbits and will welcome a new baby girl in the coming months. You may have noticed a new presence at the store. Her name is Melissa and she's keeping everything all organized and running smooth. We're excited she's joined us, we love her family, and can't wait to see where things go from here--welcome aboard Melissa!

~ We're Hiring~
Weekend helpers are needed part-time to staff parties and events. Click here for more info and to apply.

~Vote for Us for Best Birthday Party Venue for Best of the Fox~
We know some people who have thrown some pretty cool birthday parties here, so we think you should click here and write in Mixin Mingle as the Best Birthday Party Venue! (We really need our own category, but this will do).

We love trying new things--it keeps life interesting.

We get to go on these mini adventures and have a variety of experiences, without going very far at all.

It makes our world feel a little fuller--like we have something we should be proud about.

That's a good feeling, and we want you to feel the same way every time you visit.

As we say hello to a new season, we invite you to join us at any of our upcoming events listed below--you can check out music, art, shopping, holistic health, and now even comedy--there's always something different.

And, keep us in mind whenever you need a room...Mixin Mingle is the perfect place where you can do almost anything. Call us at 1-815-308-5170 or visit us online at mixinmingle.com.

We like curious people.

It's becoming easier these days to spot them.

They are the go-to people in the community, have impeccable style, and appreciate the finer things in life. They immerse their senses with unique activities, music, food and drink. They have the low-down on the town's best kept secrets and feel good sharing what they love with others.

They never complain about being bored, because they're usually on the move (unless they're meditating).

To be taken curiously, one doesn't have to travel to Fiji or become a wine and cheese connoisseur, you just have take time out to explore. 

Woodstock alone is filled with some of the finest specialty shops and family-owned businesses, and there are very few places with as much charm. We are proud to reserve a storefront on our historic town square for curious minds to connect and explore.

This month marks a turning point as we endeavor to introduce new offerings and expand beyond our own gates. We look forward to watching the year unfold together.

You could say we got lucky over the weekend.

A surprise birthday party came to us with an out-of-the-box theme: casino night. Poker, black jack, and roulette tables were set up in honor of the birthday boy who has a passion for winning. The room was decorated to the nines. Everything was in place when suddenly someone whispered, “HE’S HERE!” Everyone immediately ran to the giant windows, opened the curtains, and yelled “SURPRISE!”

The look on his face was priceless--and the time his family spent with the secret planning, hiding of decorations, and trying to keep it on the down low--seemed totally worth it!

We have never had our space turned into a fabulous pseudo-casino like this before, and we will cherish the memories for years to come.

At Mixin Mingle, the possibilities are endless. You can literally have any theme for an event and turn it into something amazing. Whether it’s zombies, Lord of the Rings (if hobbits are invited, please ask them to wear shoes), 80’s or a gazillion other ideas, you can make your lucky guests feel so special.

Just give us a call at 1-815-308-5170, and we can put your plans in motion.

Permission granted.

Have you ever called a place to book their venue only to find the list of things youcouldn't do was actually way longer then the list of things you could do? And minutes after the fun police racked up your bill you thought to yourself -- "maybe we'll just squeeze everybody in to our house so we can do what we want and save a bundle while we're at it." 

We get it. It really isn't fair. Rules, schmules.

That's why we made Mixin Mingle FUN, and we define that as Festive, Unique, and Near-to-your-heart.

What does fun consist of? Well…parties for one. But not just any party. One that you can plan without the long list of don'ts. We give you the space, and you have the freedom to bring your creative ideas to life. 

Parties aren’t the only thing to get the fun juices flowing. Mixin Mingle is home to a variety of events like fundraisers, mixers, and even pop-up markets that can cause a surge in happiness. Anyone can come to an event here, or you can host your own. (Pinky promise: both are guaranteed to deliver a huge amount of the “feel-goods.")

With the year zooming by and the calendar filling up quickly, don't forget to schedule in some fun time. Experiment with a new recipe, learn a new craft, or take time to do something humbling for yourself.

We’ve got your back.

We love a good reason to reminisce on 90's rap songs by Will Smith.

Anyone know what happened to January?

Um, what does that have to do with Will Smith, or the 90's for that matter?

Realistically? Probably nothing, but here goes.

Stop and think for a moment how quickly January has zipped by, and how the 90's, while it may feel like yesterday, actually happened more than fifteen years ago. Time just seems to have a mind of its own!

But knowing what we know now, don't you think we would have savored each moment a bit longer, and tried to pack in as much fun as possible?

We wouldn't have cared so much what people thought we should be doing with our lives--we would have just been ourselves--completely content with finding our own way and exploring every opportunity life presented.

Want to know our recommendation for enjoying every minute?

Do what you love. If you don't know what you love, find out.

How do you find out?

Try new things. Explore. Insist on time for you. Find people and places that make you feel energized and support your journey.

The answers will be there.

And don't forget, you are always welcome here. 

We would love to see you for parties, events, classes, meetings, etcetera.