Loop Cities

How we pick

Each city's Loop is a weekly list of things to do, from Thursday evening through Sunday. Here is exactly how it is made.

Who writes it

Each Loop is signed "Lou P. and the [City] Loop editors." Lou P. is our mascot, a cartoon drawn in one line. He isn't a person, and nobody at Loop claims to have been at the events we list.

Where the events come from

We read the public event calendars that venues, libraries, museums, universities and city halls publish, plus Ticketmaster's listings. We only use calendars that publish their events in a standard format. We do not copy events from other guides or newsletters.

Which events count as local

Each Loop covers a fixed list of ZIP codes. An event is included only when its venue's ZIP code is on that list. Most calendars give the venue's address. When one doesn't, we look the venue up in the US Census Bureau's address data, the federal directory of public libraries, the event's own page, and as a last resort OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). If we still can't tell where an event is, we leave it out.

How the picks are made

Sorting. We set aside listings that aren't public outings, like board meetings, closures and staff events.

Choosing. Every remaining event for the weekend is considered, and the picks, the headings they go under, and backups are chosen only from events in the calendars.

Checking. Before we publish, each pick is compared with its own event page. If the page shows another date, time or place, or says the event is cancelled, postponed or sold out, the pick is replaced by a backup. Ticketmaster events are checked against Ticketmaster's own record.

Writing. The short write-ups come from the event's own page. Any write-up with a number that isn't on that page is dropped.

The dates, times, places and links for every pick come from the organizer's own listing.

Before you go

Plans change. Each pick links to its own page, so check there for the latest times and tickets.

Corrections

If something is wrong, email hello@loopcities.com and a person will read it.