Crystal is a cocktail & culture writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
A Stockton, CA native, she graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in magazine journalism. Her work has been featured in the SFist, San Francisco Bay Guardian, The Bold Italic, Golly Magazine, Design*Sponge, San Francisco Appeal and Liquor.com, where she was assistant editor. She is also the co-founder of Voices from the Margins, a monthly reading series for writers of color. When she's not sulking at a local bar, you can find her listening to podcasts–all the podcasts.
Feel free to contact Crystal for collaborations, commissions or even bar recommendations, why not? hello@crystalsykes.com
Writing
"I'm Not Your 'Black Friend'" (The Bold Italic)
"Cellarmaker's Taco Hands: A Beer that Tastes like Tacos" (Sfist)
"Pork Belly Burgers? Need We Say More?" (The Bold Italic)
"Cocktail Subscription Boxes: Everything You Might Need to Know" (Liquor.com)
"Road Soda; What It's Like to Own a Traveling Cocktail Bar" (Liquor.com)
"There's a Way to Vaporize Your Cocktails for Maximum Effect. Here's How it Works" (Liquor.com)
"Are Mini Cocktails Most Definitely the Next Big Thing?" (Liquor.com)
"I'm Still Not Your Black Friend" (The Bold Italic)
"Home For Brews" (SF Bay Guardian/48 Hills)
"Coquettish" (SF Bay Guardian/48 Hills)
"Kronnerburger" (SF Bay Guardian/48 Hills)
"Four Bay Area Distilleries Where You Can Taste" (SF Chronicle)
A Nate Parker Roundtable Discussion (Within Our Gaze)
Video
On the Rocks - A Cocktail Video Collaboration Series with Sara Washington
- How to Make a Sidecar (Featured in Design*Sponge as "Behind the Bar: Crystal Syke's Sidecar")
- How to Make a Boulevardier
- How to Make a Lavender Whiskey Sour
Other
"Cheers" (Golly Magazine Issues 01 & 02 - Print Only) - Cocktail Recipes