It is Monday, April 6th, 2026 and this is your Monday edition of NWI Explored. Welcome back, everyone. To be entirely candid, something shifted in the universe as soon as it became April. Finding a diverse slate of events and local news suddenly got a little bit harder than its been in the months previous. I’ve tried my best to put what I can find and what I think would be interesting to you all in today’s newsletter, but it certainly is a light edition of NWIE. Please, if the Explorers feel strongly, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know what we’ve missed. We want to make sure everyone is able to find something that they’re looking for in each issue, but April is proving to be a bit of a quiet time. Perhaps we’re all just happy to theoretically be spending more time outside that the formal events surrounding an outing don’t really matter. After the winter that we had, I’d take just simply sitting on the grass in a park over anything at this point.

Anyway, give us some input so that we can adapt to what is going to be a bit of quieter month and we will do our best to incorporate your feedback! Thanks all and, onto the newsletter.

Everything Happening in NWI in April

A Recap of Local and State News

Today’s Headlines

Weather Forecast for NWI

Every issue of NWI Explored comes with The Lowdown: a roundup of the most important news and happenings around the Region and Indiana writ large.

EARLY VOTING BEGINS ON TUESDAY, APRIL 7TH. BELOW, YOU CAN FIND A LIST OF ALL THE EARLY VOTING SITES.

For the near future, I will be leaving this information about early voting sites in the newsletter each edition so that all Explorers know where they are able to vote early for Indiana’s primary coming up.

Similar to our events section this week, I found the news to be a bit lacking in diverse and interesting stories. We don’t want to highlight anything bleak or unfortunate that may be happening in the area or world writ large. We all see enough of that in our regular lives. NWI Explored is meant to be a community engagement tool - showing the beauty and diversity of this area that we all call home. Try as I may, there isn’t always a convenient way to list every single event at every single place for each day of the week. And sometimes, like at the time of writing, even the convenient ways of finding events are turning up much of interest. Then, when looking for news stories, a similar thing happens as well. So, apologies for a little lighter of a newsletter this Monday. Thursday will, hopefully, include a lot more of the things I undoubtedly missed or glossed over. Please, if you have any suggestions of news or events to cover, send us an email at [email protected].

Flat Rock Grill, a Michiana staple, is now coming to the former Craft House spot in Chesterton (off of Indian Boundary Rd.). Their original location is in Edwardsburg and is a local favorite out there. Flat Rock Grill offers a wide variety of New American style food - with their blackened ahi tuna and smashburgers being crowd favorites. The Chesterton location hopes to open sometime in the late spring or early summer.

El Pollo Cris Cris has opened its dorrs in Hammond’s Robertsdale neighborhood to lines around the block. The new spot at 1522 Indianapolis Blvd. is the first Region location of the Chicago chain, specializing in charcoal-grilled chicken. The Hammond spot will be offering carryout only for the time being, eventually opening up to delivery and phone orders.

Faustino’s Pizza has closed its door in Lowell, at 399 Clark St. The pizza spot served the town for the past 17 years, but the owner has decided to hang up the apron and retire. There used to be second location in downtown Crown Point once upon a time, but that location has also shuttered its doors.

Polish Eats has opened for business inside of The Lincoln Kitchen in Valpo, at 704 Silhavy Rd. The polish deli will be offering old-world imported Polish cuisine, with plans to oeen a full-service brick and mortar restaurant in Porter County sometime in the future. They will also have a booth in the Chesterton European Market this summer. Polish Eats currently offers classics like kolaczki, chrusciki, Kabanosy and more.

Depot Hot Dogs in Portage will be reopening for the season on April 16th. The hot dog spot in a red caboose has been running since 1989 and offers Chicago-style classics like Maxwell Street Polishes and all Vienna products. Check out their spot when they open at 5016 Melton Road. They’re only open from April to October.

Valpo Velvet Shoppe has reopened for the season in downtown Valpo. The ice cream parlor has been running since 1947, offering their delicious treats from their parlor location and in local grocery stores for almost 80 years. As a Valpo native, I await the reopening of Valpo Velvet every single year. You just cannot beat their Oreo Fudge Espresso ice cream.

Every issue of NWI Explored, we give you the best events and spots to check out during the current month.

Tuesday is Trivia day at White Rhino in Dyer. Find out more about this weekly event at the link here. Wednesday at White Rhino is Bingo night, starting at 6:30pm.

18th Street Brewery has its weekly Music Trivia and Karaoke night every Wednesday. Doors open at 4pm, with trivia starting at 6pm. Find out more here. On Thursday nights, they also host a weekly Line Dancing night with host Mizz Coco. Find out more here.

Shady Creek Winery hosts a weekly live music event each and every Sunday. Find a schedule of upcoming artists at the link here.

Anderson’s Winery in Valpo hosts weekly live music each and every weekend. Find a schedule of upcoming performances at the link right here.

Find out info about the classes and everything the Chesterton Art Center has going on here. The Center constantly has events for beginners, young artists, and apprentices alike, so anyone looking to build their skills and learn new ones should keep tabs on what the Chesterton Art Center has going on.

Off Square Brewing in Crown Point hosts a weekly Bingo Night on Thursdays, running from 7-9 pm each and every week. One lucky number can make you the big winner of the night! Find further info here. They also host a weekly Trivia Night on Wednesdays from 7pm.

Up Your Alley in Schererville has regular specials all week, perfect for families and groups of friends. Monday is a bowling special, Tuesday is Laser Tag, Wednesday is Dark Rides, and Thursday is the Arcade. Find more info and the specific deals available each week right here.

Every Monday, from 7-9 pm, Journeyman Distillery in Valpo hosts a Trivia Night. Three rounds of trivia keep the night alive, with teams of up to six people fight to win the grand prize every week. Find more info right here.

Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake has a weekly wine special running through dinner service. Happy hour specials and heavily discounted bottles every single Wednesday!

Every second Saturday each month, Beale Pottery in Westville hosts a “Make Cool Stuff Club”. This is a group that meets to, well, make cool stuff in the form of pottery! Find more info about the spot and their events right here.

On the last Tuesday of every month, Downtown Highland hosts a restaurant crawl. This community event always features a bunch of the local spots offering specials and deals, so its a great way to spend an evening hopping from meal to meal. Find more info right here.

Tiny’s Coffee Bar in Miller Beach has recurrent events every single week. Check out their page to find the full slate of events.

Sip Coffee House in Highland has a Wednesday Game Night every single week from 6-9pm. In partnership with the Northwest Indiana Board Game Association.

Valparaiso Pathways Committee holds Free community rides once a month during the warmer months. Click here to look at their schedule of group rides across the city.

Conway Observatory in Lowell hosts open houses once a month for all ages to come in and take a look into the deep stretches of space. Totally free and with different focuses at each open house, you can learn about a host of cool space topics across the year. Find their schedule at the link right here.

Getting into photography or a seasoned vet looking to get out there and shoot more? Lake County Parks Photo Club has regular meetings every 2nd Wednesday at Turkey Creek Golf Course, with regular field trips out in the NWI expanse. Find more info and the full schedule at the link right here.

Gibson Woods Nature Preserve in Hammond holds a weekly Hike through nature every Wednesday. Find their full schedule right here. Pre-registration is required.

In partnership with the NWI Ultimate League, we want to issue a special announcement about their spring leagues!

NWI Ultimate, with partnership of the Portage Parks Department, is the preeminent local ultimate frisbee league for NWI. Featuring COED divisions for all ages, these leagues are open to new players and seasoned experts. Find all the information at the link right here or in the infographic below.

Chicago Street Theatre, Valparaiso - info here

Memorial Opera House, Valparaiso - info here

La Porte Little Theatre, LaPorte - Info Here

4th Street Theater, Chesterton - Info Here

Beatniks on Conkey, Hammond - Info Here

Footlight Players, Inc, Michigan City - Info Here

Indiana Ballet Theatre Company - Info Here

Marian Theatre Guild, Whiting - Info Here

Towle Theater, Hammond - Info Here

Valpo University Theatre- Info Here

Ticket information and the full schedule can be found right here.

Fuzzyline Brewing in Highland will be holding a Cake Decorating Class on April 8th, starting at 6pm. This class is open to anyone 16 years of age and above, will last around 1.5 hours, and will include all supplies to build and decorate a 6-in, 2 layer cake in the price of admission. Find all the info you need right here.

The Brewery Lodge and Supper Club in Michigan City will be holding a Home Sweet Home Mosaic Workshop on April 8th. For price of admission, you’ll get all the supplies to build two mosaic house pieces - perfect for home decor or as a handmade gift. The workshop is beginner friendly and perfect for a creative night out. Find more details right here.

The Crossroads YMCA will be holding their 45th Annual Hub Run on April 11th, starting at 9am. The race will start at Bulldog Park in Crown Point and is either a 5k or a 2k run. All the details, including where to register, are at the link right here.

Calling all families: The Chesterton Art Center will be holding a free Family Art Day on April 11th. Families are invited to the Center from 10am to 2pm to partake in a variety of crafts and art projects. This Event is FREE and open to ALL AGES. Find more information at the link right here.

Running Vines Winery in Chesterton has a slate of events, specials and programming for the whole month of April - including singo events, trivia nights, live music and brunch specials. Find their full schedule below.

From Lake County Parks and Buckley Homestead, April 11th will be a special event for all ages. Find Flopsy is a springtime tradition where participants will scour the farm, solve puzzles and keep an eye out for the Buckley kids’ sneaky rabbit Flopsy. It will be a heck of a time for the whole family, so learn more at the link right here.

Valpo Parks Department will be hosting a Spring Kids Closet Sale on April 18th at Butterfield Family Pavilion (Old Fairgrounds). 20 booths will be open full of gently used kids’ clothing, toys, furniture and more. Vendor spots are open for all and admission to the sale is only $3.

Seasons Lakehouse Restaurant in Crown Point is hosting a Back to the 80s Brunch on April 12th, starting at 10am. Bottomless buffet, specialty cocktails and a DJ spinning only the best throwback jams: this morning excursion is sure to take you back to the good ol’ days.

Byway Brewing in Hammond is hosting a cannabis themed trivia night on April 14th, starting at 6pm. 21+ event, obviously.

Fuzzyline Brewing in Highland will have a Comedy Hour night on April 14th, featuring comedians Tyler Galban, Jezzi Realz, and Ari Sanchez. Doors open at 6, show starts at 7pm. The next day, April 15th, they will also have a Paint + Drink event where participants can paint a Blushing Bunny painting.

More Events to Come. We will have the slate of April events expand out to cover the full month over the course of the next couple editions. Trying to not overload these emails for the sake of the readers!

More Events to Come…