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It’s February! It’s Monday! That means it’s the first NWI Explored issue of February!
Welcome back everyone to your regularly scheduled dose of NWI news, events, and brief asides. One question I have for everyone: do you want more visuals in the newsletter? The balance between providing as much information as possible and making the email that goes out untenably long is always a tough one, so we want to gauge interest in how the newsletter is presented! Let us know via [email protected] or shoot us a DM on Instagram. We’re still winding back up from a brutal January, but rest assured 2026 will be a big year for NWI Explored and, of course, for all you - The Explorers. On with the newsletter!
🧭 On Today’s issue of NWI Explored🧭
A Frontline View of February’s Events in NWI
The Lowdown on NWI and Indiana News from This Past Weekend
The Weather Forecast for the Week of February 2nd
Today in NWI
Today in NWI
We’re gonna do something we haven’t done in quite some time for one of these newsletters: we’re gonna take a look back at the headlines of our local papers from decades past. It’s always so interesting to see what we were all talking about when the Region looked a whole heck of a lot different (and before some of us were even born!)
First up, the front page of the Crown Point Register - from February 2nd, 1865!
The Crown Point Register ran from 1857 to 1966 and still serving as a vital resource for the local history of the area. My favorite part of this issue is the “Short Sermon on Dancing”, as it reads straight out of something from the movie Footloose. Our history can be equal parts fascinating and bizarre!
The front page of the Hammond Times, from February 1st, 1945
Deep in the throws of World War II, the majority of this issue of the Hammond Times is preoccupied with giving locals updates about the state of the war as it was approaching its final few months of fighting. I particularly found the articles about solutions to Youth issues at the time to be interesting.
The front page of the Valparaiso Vidette-Messenger, from February 1st, 1966
Now, we have a front page that -in my opinion - looks somewhat more familiar to the mix of news we might see in the current day. Snow piling up is certainly evergreen, but brief asides about local hires, local crime, personal interest stories, and something about a dog who alerted its owners to the fact that their home was on fire. That’s a mix of news that feels all too familiar.
Anyway, thanks for taking a brief dive into NWI History with us. Now, before we get into the news, here’s your weather forecast for the midweek of February 2nd.
What kind of content do you want to see from NWI Explored?
🏘The Lowdown 🏘
Every issue of NWI Explored comes with The Lowdown: a roundup of the most important news and happenings around the Region.
United Steelworkers Union and the local oil companies have tentatively reached an agreement as of Saturday to continue their negotiations past the expiration of the current labor contract.
The current labor contract between USW and Marathon expired at midnight on Saturday, but negotiations continue for those who work at the BP Whiting Refinery - over 900 workers to roughly estimate. The agreement the two parties reach can serve as a pattern for other contracts that would affect over 30,000 oil workers nationally, so this is a big one to pay attention to, as it covers wages, health care, workplace safety and future proofing the industry.
The Mayor of Michigan City, Angie Nelson Deuitch, penned an opinion piece about how she believes a hidden flaw in local tax reform could spell disaster for city governments across that state.
The flaw has to do with last year’s Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1), which was initially framed as a property tax relief but restructured local income taxes in ways that could unintentionally disrupt municipal budgets across the whole state. To read, Deuitch’s full thoughts and gain greater understanding of this odd situation, I’d recommend reading the piece she wrote right here.
219 Taproom in Chesterton faced backlash this past week for hosting fundraiser nights to raise money for nursing scholarships in honor of Alex Pretty, the ICU Nurse who was shot and killed by ICE Agents in Minneapolis.
The establishment received a lot of hate on Facebook and Google Reviews after their act of good will was caught in the culture war. Owner Joe Juarez was hoping to reflect a moral upstanding, not a political one, with his efforts to raise money. And, even amidst all the cacophony and review bombing, Juarez and his team were able to raise over $9000 for charity. Their motto of “Drink good beer, Do good deeds,” seems to have prevailed on this one. The community showed up when it counted and we just wanted to highlight that, especially considering how noxious open discussion can be sometimes online. Love what can happen when people come together around a good cause! Huge shout out to 219 Taproom!
The Indiana State Senate came to no solution for Region residents whose utility bills are skyrocketing, as the Republican-controlled house repeatedly rejected Democratic-sponsored proposals that would outright reduce Hoosiers current electricity and natural gas bills.
Despite drafting the initial legislation that sparked these conversations, the Republican contingent of the House dug their heels in, opting only for a performance-based rate setting for Indiana utility providers. The full scope of these conversations are too much to summarize here, but you can find a more thorough breakdown of the proceedings right here.
Quick shout-out and congratulations to Calumet Bakery in Lansing for celebrating 90 years of operation! They’ve been servicing the Chicagoland and NWI areas for almost an entire century and remained entirely family owned the whole while. Love to see it!
Indivisible NWI hosted their 47th consecutive weekend protest this past weekend, standing out the corner of the intersection of Indianapolis Boulevard and Ridge Road making their voices heard. All the love in the world to you guys!
Indiana State Senate may be targeting hemp-derived products for elimination from sale soon.
This week they approved legislation that would prohibit the sale of any hemp product containing a THC concentration greater than 0.3%, alongside a stricter regulation system for the production and distribution of these products that meet the new standard. Senate Bill 250 doesn’t outright bar access to CBD products, but it would prevent Indiana from reclassifying marijuana as a useful Schedule 3 drug (instead of the current status it holds as a Schedule 1 drug with no accepted medical use). State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., said that if the proposal becomes a law, up to 99% of the current hemp-based THC products would become illegal.
What’s In, What’s Out?
Downtown Hobart just saw The Dugout on 4th open up for business. The baseball-centric restaurant sits at 438 E. 4th St., serving up classic Chicagoland fare like gyros, Polish sausage, Italian beef, pizza, and chicken sandwiches. Dugout took over the former Caribbean on the Lake spot, and hopes to give a vintage feel similar to the Speakeasy at Wrigley Field.
On that same topic, owner of Dugout on 4th Eric McCoy plans to open an ice cream shop in downtown Hobart in the spring. Sweet Shop on Main is the proposed name, opening planned for March or April. On top of ice cream, the spot will also offer loukoumades - Greek doughnut holes dipped in honey - and pizza cones - an ice cream cone-like pizza crust filled with pizza toppings.
Verona’s Pizza has closed the Hammond location. No word on what the location will become at a later date. There is still one Verona location in NWI, Verona Pizza and Wings in Valpo off of US30.
State Line Pizza, Region mainstay of tavern-style pizza, has closed two locations: one in Highland, and it’s flagship spot in downtown Hammond, which had been open for 69 years. Their Schererville and Dyer locations remain open.
Portside Pub in Hammond has recently reopened under new management, after the original owners decided to retire in May.
Baba’s Steak and Lemonade, the South Suburbs fast-food chain, has opened a location in Gary @ 4191 Cleveland St. The spot specializes in Philly cheesesteaks of all varieties, but also offers Italian beefs, corned beef, gyros, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and a whole host of other goodies.
Asian Kitchen, Vietnamese and Chinese restuarant located in Hammond, is planning to expand. The location will be shut down between Feb. 11 and March 17th for construction. They are aiming to expand the dining room for a better experience for customers, with a slight price increase to come for the increased convenience to customers.
What’s Going On in NWI?
Every issue of NWI Explored, we give you the best events and spots to check out during the current month.
Recurrent Events:
Here we will try to aggregate all of the weekly specials available to Explorers around the Region. If you own a local business and want people to be aware of your weekly specials or events, let us know by sending an email to [email protected]!
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.
On select Sundays, including February 1st, the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster will be hosting a Sunday Brunch. Open to all, guests can partake in a two-meat carving station, signature entrees, complimentary beverage service, and a full breakfast menu. Prices vary between ages, info of which you learn more about here.
South Shore Roller Derby is looking for recruits! Swing by NEO New Vistas High School Sportsplex in Portage on February 3rd and 10th to find out what SSRD is all about. These are free informational nights, with an opportunity to watch a practice up close, ask league members about the culture of the sport, and find out how you can fit into the crew. Find out all the info right here.
Celebrate Galentine’s Day with a Downtown Valpo Shop Around Event themed around the special day! Over 20 local retailers will be participating, with special promotions, treats, and activities all over downtown. Find further information right here.
Valparaiso University will be putting on a dance performance the whole weekend of February 6th. The dance ensemble takes the stage to put on a performance of Finding Free, directed by Salena Elish. Find tickets, more info, and everything else you need right here.
Hobart Art Theater will be hosting a tribute concert to Buddy Holly, titled The Day the Music Died, on February 6th. Celebrate the life and work of the one of the godfathers of modern rock and roll with this night of powerfully performed renditions of classic songs. Find more info right here.
February 7th will see the classic John Mellencamp tribute band, Small Town, take the Memorial Opera House stage. All the favorite tracks, played with high-level musicianship and energy. Also, check out Ashlyn - a 14 year old NWI based rising country artist, who will be opening for Small Town. Find out more info right here.
Leeds Public House in Michigan City will be hosting a Galentine’s Brunch on February 7th. It will run from 10am to 4pm and feature special vendors with pop-up shops, so you can support local, woman-owned businesses. Brunch, cocktails, shopping, and all the vibes you can handle: what’s better than that? Find all the info right here.
Memorial Opera House in Valpo will be hosting Red Revolution: The Taylor Swift Experience for the second year in a row. This is the ultimate Swiftie celebration, with powerhouse vocalist Tiffany Lidster taking the stage to belt out all the Taylor favorites. High energy doesn’t even begin to describe what this night has in store, so click here to find out more.
February 7th will see Bombers BBQ in Crown Point host an Office- themed trivia night. How much do you know about Dunder Mifflin? Prove your wits and win some prizes, alongside some great food and brews. Find out more info right here.
Hobart Art Theater will be hosting a Chicagoland Stand Up Comedy Show on February 7th. Join them for a night of endless laughs with some of the hottest local comedians, hosted by comedian Susana Rodriguez and headlined by Nick Cobb. Find out more information about the night and the full lineup right here.
Multi-platinum recording artist Keith Sweat will be taking the Horseshoe Casino stage on February 7th. Who does it better than him? Nobody! Find out more right here.
On the weekend of February 7th, Journeyman Distillery will be hosting a Winter Artisan Market at their Valpo location. More than 130 talented makers and craftspeople will be selling their wares and presenting their art, with everything from jewelry to home decor to self-care items to food. Drinks and food will be available on-site from Journeyman as well. Find out more information right here.
Off-Square Brewing in Crown Point will be hosting a Galentine’s Day Brunch - DJ’d by DJ Nasty Boy Noel. Guests will be greeted with a welcome glass of champagne and rose, and that’s where the event only begins. A special menu and drink specials round out what is sure to be a great time! Find out more info right here.
NWI Comic-Con is February 7th! A full-day of family friendly, affordable geek culture and comic book fun is right around the corner and you won’t want to miss it! Visit the Lake County Fairgrounds to take part in vendor booths, VIP guests, Artist Alley, Cosplay Contests, and even more. Find out more info right here.
Byway Brewing in Hammond will be hosting a Trivia Night on February 10th, themed around the various television shows hailing from the CW channel. Free to play and free to prove you’re the biggest CW superfan. Find all the info at this link right here.
David Pendleton, ventriloquist extraordinaire, will be hosting two shows on Valentines Day at the Hobart Art Theater. 7pm and 9pm will the start times for the two shows, so you can’t miss your shot for some lovey-dovey laughs this Valentines Day. Find out all the info you need here.
Valentine’s Dinners and events will be hosted at the following NWI restaurants and spots:
The Theatre at the Center will be putting on the Midwest premiere of Kristyn Estes’ new comedy “The Swingset” on February 14th. This play follows retired couple Jake and Abby as they face the new challenges and surprises that come from the final stage of life. Find tickets and further info right here.
Over at the Valpo University Center for the Arts, take a Valentines Day trip through the Kaliedoscope - a modern-contemporary dance concert put on by IBT Artistic Director Amanda Tuohy. This is their annual dance concert and is always a compelling collection of movements and styles, applying the creativity and revelatory power of dance to this inspiring experience. Find out all the info you wanna know right here.
Hard Rock Casino will be hosting a Night with Musiq Soulchild on February 15th, with special guest Ro James. 13 time Grammy nominee and multi-platinum recording artist Musiq Soulchild will be taking the stage at Hard Rock in Gary to bring his particular brand of R&B excellence to NWI. Find tickets and all the info right here.
Maestro Kirk Muspratt will be returning to NWI for his 25th Anniversary Season, sharing a lifetime of stories at the Theatre at the Center on February 15th. There will also be a meet and greet with the Maestro following the concert. Find out more right here.
February 16th is Jazz Night at Shoreline Brewery. Enjoy live jazz music, endless pours of beer, and great food - with performances by Bill Romer and Friends. Find out more right here.
Horseshoe Casino in Hammond will be welcoming Brit Floyd - the preeminent Pink Floyd tribute experience group - to their stage, as they embark on a world tour. The Moon, The Wall and Beyond is the new production from the group and serves as a wide-spanning tribute to not only the music, but the visuals and scale of Pink Floyd. Find out more right here.
Hard Rock Casino is hosting a Elite Fight Night 29: Havoc at Hard Rock on February 20th. This MMA event is part of the EAFL, a nationally competitive team vs team, state vs state MMA organization. This is one of the preeminent amateur MMA productions and is sure to be a way to watch some of the best amateur talent in the country. Find more info right here.
Also on February 20th, Hobart Art Theater will have Anthem’s Grand Illusion: A Styx Tribute in the house. ANTHEM is a live musical experience covering a lot of the classic rock sphere - from Styx to Bon Jovi to Alice in Chains. This night is sure to be a great one, so grab your tickets asap at the link right here.
From February 20th to 22nd, the Jean Shepherd Center in Hammond will be hosting PICKLEMANIA: the Horseshoe Hammond February Challenge. 12 professionally surfaced pickleball courts will be in use as a round robin tournament takes place over all three days, with a full bar and lounge right inside the facility. This is sure to be one you athletes don’t want to miss. Find out more right here.
Join Mayor of Hammond Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. and the 219 Day Committee for the 10th annual 219 Day Celebration! This years celebration will return to the Hammond Civic Center, taking place on February 21st, from 6-11pm and admission is free. Find out more at the link right here.
February 21st will see international AC/DC tribute band BONFIRE return to the Hobart Art Theater for the 7th consecutive year. This will be the band’s 26th anniversary, so the show is sure to be an absolute barn burner. Find tickets and more information at the link right here.
Courtesy of Michigan City’s Uptown Arts District, Shelf Ice Brewfest, on February 22nd, is hoping to bring some light to the doldrums of February. Tents full of Indiana’s best craft breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries, live music, market tents, and fire pits will make this a day sure to excite. Food trucks will line the street, with winter activities, ice sculptures and all the fun you can stomach. Find tickets and more info at the link right here.
Exhorder, New Orleans-based heavy metal band, will be taking the Hobart Art Theater stage on February 22nd. Since reforming in 2017, they’ve taken their groove-laden thrash sound even further and refined into a well-oiled machine of thrash. Find tickets and even more information right here.
Grunge-Fest will be coming to the Hobart Art Theater on February 27th. Two huge tributes to classic bands of the Grunge movement - Hollow (Alice in Chains Tribute) and Creep (Stone Temple Pilots Tribute). Find tickets and all the info right here on their website.
February 27th will see Wu-Tang Clan legends Method Man and Redman take to the Hard Rock Casino stage in Gary. These are two of the most celebrated and worthy rappers of their generation, so its sure to be a night worth the price of admission. Find tickets and further info right here.
Hard Rock Live will be hosting a Jumpin Back to the 90s show from Chicago House icon Julian Jumpin’ Perez. Live performances from a smattering of 90s House and Electronic artists will be just one part of the night you won’t want to miss. La Bouche, Quad City DJs, CharVoni (Black Box), 2 In A Room, Betty Dee (Sweet Sensation), The Cover Girls, and the Outhere Bros — all scheduled to perform! Find tickets and more info at the link right here.
The Hobart Art Theater will be hosting the Red Not Chili Peppers on February 28th for a huge Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute show. Find tickets and more info at the link right here.
That is all for your Monday dose of NWI Explored! Let us know what we can do better and, as always, we will see you on Thursday! Be good to one another and…
Happy Exploring,
Eric & Luke, The NWI Explored Team
“My hometown... was always there, at all times, unchanging. What I think... is not that we go back to our hometowns, but that someday our hometowns come back into each of our hearts.”
