Rain on my Looptopia parade

I want to love Looptopia, the all-night eating, drinking, mulit-venue party held in the Loop for the second time this weekend. Sadly, I can’t, and it’s not just because of this weekend's weather. This year’s enthusiastic showers trumped the freezing wind of last year, adding cancellation confusion to the mix. Here’s how my adventure went down Friday night:

6:20 p.m.: I'm in the Loop. I scan the streets for spectacle. My first sighting: An MCA artist is stacking red books in a Macy's window on State Street. The books are stacked pretty high. I wonder what she'll do when the window is full: restack? A guy shuffles past and shakes his head. “Lame…” he pronounces.

6:30 p.m.: Heading to Daley Plaza. On State Street, a woman dressed in white and covered in clear plastic is plucking petals off a white flower while dismembered plastic babies writhe on the floor of her platform. Neat. I hope she's part of the show.

6:45 p.m.: I arrive in Daley Plaza where a small crowd is watching the Bethany Pickers Trio. I wait for friends to arrive. I study my official map and realize that I've already missed several artists I wanted to see. The Cirque du Soleil-trained “Kooza” kids breeze in with kites. A few are on stilts. Now it’s my turn to shake my head: Lame.

7:15 p.m.: I trot over to the Seventeenth Church of Christ Scientist (55 E. Wacker Drive) to see the Brickheadz perform at 7:30 p.m., but the breakdancing crew has cancelled due to rain. I’m soaked. An ominous, amplified voice announces that tornadoes are expected in 30 minutes and the venue is closing. I grit my teeth and head back to Daley Plaza.

7:40 p.m.: Back at Daley Plaza. Nothing is going on, save for spectators dodging raindrops. I'm frustrated and my shoes are squishy. I’m about to leave when my friends finally arrive. We decide to eat at Emerald Loop. Alcohol should lift my sprits.

7:50 p.m.: Is Chicago on fire? No, it's performance group Blaze, juggling, eating and dancing with flames along the Riverwalk. This is the first spectacular act I’ve seen all night.

8:20 p.m.: Emerald Loop is full, so we grab a table outside and eat. The weather is finally cooperating.

10 p.m.: Midnight Circus is performing in Daley Plaza. At least, I think they are. The stage is just short enough that the performers are mostly invisible. We crane our necks for longer than we should. I study the backs of people's heads.

11 p.m.: Palmer House Hilton. Broadway in Chicago is hosting cabaret performances. We marvel at the packed, decadent space and duck into the hotel's new lounge Potter's. My friend cringes while singers from "SHOUT! The Mod Musical” entertain the crowds. I didn’t know he hates cabaret.

11:20 p.m.: We hop into a cab and head to Greektown bar Dugan's where we spend the next two hours not discussing Looptopia.

>>> DID YOU GO TO LOOPTOPIA? WHAT DID YOU THINK?