Loopy and Looptopia

I am not a Chicagoan but I live so close, I feel like one most of the times. I'm sure the natives recognize me for what I am, a weekender looking up at the tall buildings. I don't wear the prerequisite jaded look when I come to town. The real Chicagoan love their city with the emotions of an old suitor--cool, nonchalant, confident that the object of their affection returns their ardor.

Not me. I'm goofy about the city, going into town whenever I can. I have this spring ritual where I walk down Michigan Avenue on the first day that the weather turns good for sure, something like John Travolta strutting his stuff in Saturday Night Fever. I'm sure the stupid smile on my face marks me as a suburbanite. Most Chicagoans are too cool to smile.

While trolling the web for stuff about the upcoming festivals, I came across something new. Looptopia! Sounds like dinotopia. I don't know who came up with the crazy name but the idea sounds fantastic. It is being touted as the country's first all-night cultural and artistic party and it all takes place in the loop. Patterned after the "White Night" event in Paris and Rome, they are even having a slumber party at Harold Washington Library and a sunrise buffet at Millennium Park.

It all takes place May 11th and 12th from 8 p.m to 6 a.m. Most of the offerings are free, the others are for a nominal fee. There's dancing, movies, lectures, oh, my! What I'm looking forward to the most is the showing of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers at the Chicago Cultural Center in the wee hours. I think I will pass on the knitting circle event (yes, you read it right) but there are so many other things to do I won't get to sleep until Sunday afternoon.

For a complete list of the events, check out www.ChicagoLoopAlliance.com.