Perris RichterThe Daily Northwestern
The view of the Chicago skyline from the Northwestern campus is such a tease. Because, let’s face it, between booze and books, the average Northwestern student is pretty broke. A night on the town is expensive, and for those of us who are underage, it becomes nearly impossible.
But, Friday, May 11, there are no excuses. That’s when Looptopia, the first all-night cultural event of its kind in the United States, will take place. It was inspired by the White Night events in Paris, Rome and Montreal – and aims to make its mark stateside. Night owls and “urban adventurers” of all ages are welcome, and best yet, most of the festivities are free.
For 15 hours, beginning at 5 p.m. that Friday, the east Chicago Loop will become a stage. There will be various performances in nooks and crannies throughout the area. Musicians and puppeteers will perform atop the gigantic planters that span State Street, movies will be project on the side of John Marshall Law School and resident artists from the Museum of Contemporary Art will be creating window displays at Macy’s.
“This event kicks off the warm weather and showcases how culturally exciting the Loop has become,” says Ty Tabing, executive director of the Chicago Loop Alliance. Tabing says she anticipates 100,000 people will attend Looptopia this year. The event is intended to become a Chicago tradition.
To quell the complaints of local party-poopers, there is a noise curfew beginning at midnight. But the Chicago Loop Alliance will not let that spoil their million-dollar party. In the loading dock of what used to be the department store Carson Pirie Scott, a silent dance party will take the place of dueling DJs who will be forced to retire their mics. People can turn on their iPods, rock out and give spectators quite the show.
The city is making one exception to the noise curfew, however. Stars from Broadway and Chicago theatre productions are hosting a late-night cabaret at the new Couch Place Theatre, an installation in the alley between State and Dearborn streets.
“It’s a nice opportunity to premier the newest addition to the Chicago theatre district,” says Tabing. Select cast members from Wicked, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The Color Purple will christen the stage with sing-a-longs to show-tunes and short vignettes. Consider it Broadway Shows 101 – an introductory taste-test of Chicago’s best.
If you’re afraid you can’t make it through 15 straight hours of festivities, you could always join the giant sleepover at the Harold Washington Library, or watch this year’s Oscar-nominated shorts at the Gene Siskel Film Center. But as diligent (or perhaps procrastinating) Northwestern students, the all-nighter is no stranger. And if you make it through the night, there is a handsome reward at the finish line: breakfast and ballet at Millennium Park, and the distorted reflection of your face in the Cloud Gate bean at 6 a.m. – priceless. 4
Medill junior Perris Richter is a PLAY writer. She can be reached at [email protected]
