Stroger Makes Hollywood Play
Put Down Your Nanowrimo And Leave The House
Sox Shuffle Continues
Jay-Z Announces 2010 Tour Dates. Chicago Not On List.
The Dusk til Dawn Cultural and Artistic Celebration that is Looptopia is upon us once again. Even though last year was sort of a let down, there was still plenty of cool stuff that happened and we've got hopes this year will be better, especially after officials said they'd scale things down and be better prepared for the crowd. Bank of America or no Bank of America, the show must go on. For a full schedule, click here or pick up one of their comprehensive brochures at various business establishments around the Loop. We're keeping an eye on the the weather and hoping it doesn't throw too big of a wrench into plans.
There's plenty afoot (hundreds of artists, dozens of locations, etc.) but check out a few that caught our eye after the jump.
One note - to stay after midnight, you'll have to procure a (free) Late Night Wristband at one of the many information booths located around the Loop.
Performance Art
The Rubber Monkey Puppet Company will perform their crazy shadow puppetry and percussion in the Nordstrom Storefront windows (24 State St.) from 5:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Those amazing acrobats from Cirque du Soleil will be roaming the entire Loop from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. performing KOOZA Kite Action, where kite flyers will interact with dancers and acrobats as they move in character through the crowds. (Good luck with those kites in this weather, guys.)
Do you like breakdancing? Of course you do. So go see local breakdancing troupe Brickheadz throw it down Electric Bugaloo style at the Seventeenth Church of Christ Scientist, Chicago (55 E. Wacker) from 5:30 - 5:40 p.m. and 7:30 - 7:40 p.m.
Comedy
Comedy group and Friends of Chicagoist Schadenfreude will perform "How To Be A Cowboy" at The Fine Arts Building (410 S. Michigan Ave) from 6:15 - 6:30 p.m. and 6:45 - 7:00 p.m.
The popular musical comedy troupe The Cupid Players, will perform selections from their hit show "Cupid Has A Heart On" at the The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University (50 E. Congress Parkway) from 1:40 - 2:30 a.m.
Music
Chicagoist faves May or May Not will be playing a whopping 30 minute set at Daley Plaza (Washington & Dearborn) from 7:20 - 7:50 p.m.
If Broadway is more your thing, check out the "Broadway in Chicago Cabaret," featuring performances from the cast of Wicked, Jersey Boys, and Shout! at the Palmer Hilton House (17 E. Monroe) from 11:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Film
Look at Rubbish will present a Midnight Film Fest of short films at the Depaul Center (25 E. Jackson) from 12:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m.
Flashpoint Academy will present a series of new student films at the First United Methodist Church at The Chicago Temple (77 W. Washington) from 2:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Readings
If you're looking for family-friendly late-night entertainment, there will be a reading of favorite children's stories at First United Methodist Church at The Chicago Temple (77 W. Washington) from 12:45 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Wacky Miscellaneous Stuff
The Chicago Architecture Foundation (224 S. Michigan) will feature models of the Hancock Tower, the Trump Tower, and the Sears Tower MADE OUT OF LEGOS. Hell yes, we say. Adam Reed Tucker of Brickstructures Inc. will also be building a model of Marina City throughout the night so be sure to check it out from 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Local bluegrass favorites Tangleweed will throw down some bluegrass jams at Downtown Hoe-Down. They'll be joined by a traditional dance caller who will teach you, the audience, the moves of square dancing. Check out the fun at Daley Plaza (Washington & Dearborn) from 8:00 - 9:30 p.m.
And if you have any energy left at the end of it all, head down to Millennium Park at 5:00 a.m. where Elegant Mr. Gallery invites the entire city to come play a giant game of Hide and Go Seek.
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rain or shine?
@jenniferexacto
According to the woman at the Chicago Loop Alliance I spoke with, yes. Rain or Shine. She said most of the outdoor venues have canopies so they would go on unless "it's storming really bad." And, of course, all indoor events will go on.
Tangleweed are not your average bluegrass band, the're frickin' amazing. They remind of a band that would be playing on a pirate ship outside of New Orleans in the 1920s.
Chicago J - "They remind of a band that would be playing on a pirate ship outside of New Orleans in the 1920s."
Ok, fine, I'll ask: what the hell does that mean?
Regarding Tangleweed: Go see 'em.
well, i hope they've learned from their mistakes and kicked things up a notch. this has the potential to be such a cool event.
-- i know *i've* learned from my mistakes. as much as the scooter was handy to get around the loop, i have no intention of busting my knee open again. that, and i'll be seeing the lemonheads tonight.
hope they have a better time of it this year. i noticed they had almost no advertising again (that i noticed), but hey, 130,000 more people showed up than expected, so what do i know.
TafkaVINCE AND LAUREN AT 8:00
STATE & MONROE 3RD FLOOR GALLERY
:)
(Yawn)
If not for the awesomeness that was TJ and Dave last year, this would have blown. I think I'll sit this year out.
Looptopia - the biggest, gayest party this side of the pride parade and any old day at Wrigley Field.
should we be worried that going to looptopia.com brings up an error message that says their account has been suspended and they should contact the billing dept.?
stpete, I think this is an ominous sign of things to come.
I'll probably give it a walkthrough on my way home from work, but otherwise I'm staying far away.
I heard that someone hacked into their website and crashed it. They re-built it in like 3 hours...
Just went to the hoe-down and midnight circus show...AWESOME! How fun is this event?!