Sniffies came to Market Days with one mission: to cruise.
The app—known for its unapologetically sex-positive vibe—made its first appearance at Chicago’s largest street festival in Northalsted this past weekend, teaming up with Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St., to put cruising culture front and center.
“We’re not a dating app, we’re a cruising map, and what better place to cruise than Market Days?” Sniffies Spokesperson Brandon Osorio told Windy City Times.
Sniffies’s “Twink of Staff” Micah Eames worked the crowd, swapping cruising confessions as festival-goers browsed racks of jockstraps, briefs and jerseys. For Eames, it was a homecoming—he grew up in Deerfield and first came to Market Days in 2014.
“I have Chicago roots, and it’s so exciting to be coming back for the first time in over 10 years—to work with Sniffies and for my first time post-transition,” he said. “The things people say about using deodorant, that’s real. It’s real.”
The pop-up sat right beside Sidetrack’s famously long entry line and Market Days booth. Sidetrack manager Brad Balof called the collaboration a success and hopes for co-branded merchandise next year.
“Sidetrack is one of Chicago’s most iconic queer spaces, right in the middle of the action,” Osorio said. “When we started planning Market Days, they were the obvious choice. They align perfectly with our brand and were just as excited as we were to help put Sniffies on the map—literally.”
All weekend, the app’s Chicago map lit up with users searching for hookups, parties and prime cruising spots. “One question I asked is like, ‘Do you have any crazy Sniffies stories?’ And the answer is always yes, and crazier than they might think it is,” Eames said.
“It’s a very sex-positive company, and so that’s been fun, too,” he said. “The idea of what’s not safe for work is very different here.”
Osorio said Sniffies’s branded apparel helps cruisers connect in person: “Our gear is an invitation. It lets cruisers show who they are and what they’re into before they even say hello. And honestly, our jocks and tees are just fun to wear, especially when they end up on the floor.”