Trusted by Thousands of NWI Natives
The Call to Explore:
It’s February! It’s Monday! That means it’s your Monday edition of NWI Explored!
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 9th
Today in NWI
Today in NWI
We’re gonna try something new in this section, alongside the regularly scheduled weather forecast. To shift around some of the content and make each section more tenable, I’m going to move some of the more static news stories to this area. Headlines, statistics, and brief subjects of interest will now fall under “Today in NWI”. I think it will look cleaner and give you more space to get through all of our content each issue. Let us know how you feel about any formatting or content decisions at [email protected] so we can incorporate feedback.
Homicides across Northwest Indiana fell in 2025, continuing the multiyear decline in fatal crimes across the Region. Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties combined to a total 70 homicides last year, which is a decrease from the 75 recorded in 2024. Even still, this decline was uneven as some areas reported more homicides and others, a reduction.
The Hammond Sports Hall of Fame inductees for 2026 have been announced. Recepients will be as follows: Dave Borbely, Charles E. Cook, Brenda Pennington, Dave Sutkowski, and Sancheon White. Alongside this class induction, the Hammond community is able to vote on ‘Hammond’s Greatest Sports Achievement’ to be honored at the ceremony at Hammond Civic Center on March 10th.
Amid some of the heaviest snowfall in years, Region residents are mourning the loss of the ski lodges of the past: establishments that used to dot the NWI area with some ease of access to all parts of the Region. Those businesses have all shuttered, mostly due to long-term declines in snowfall. This piece from the NWI Times was really interesting so, if you want to give it read, find the link right here.
LaPorte and Porter County sheriff’s offices have posted a notice to residents about multiple storage unit burglaries that have happened over the past few months. Anyone with information regarding pending investigations is encouraged to contact the authorities with said info.
U.S. Rep Frank J Mrvan has sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging her and federal officials to abandon their plans to open ICE detention facilities anywhere in Northwest Indiana, but especially in Merrillville as was planned. If you’d like to read Representative Mrvan’s letter, find the link right here.
The City of Valparaiso and it’s City Council included a resolution in their February meeting agenda that expressed grief and outrage over the murders of U.S citizens Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by ICE Agents in Minneapolis. Their drafted resolution includes calls for transparency, impartial investigations, and assuages any fears of the city’s commitment to due process and the individual civil liberties of its citizens. Read the full resolution at the link right here.
That is our recap of local happenings around NWI. Now, here is your weather forecast for the midweek of February 9th. Seems like we’re finally going to be getting some moderate winter weather for the first time in, seemingly, months. I for one will be enjoying the brisk winter air and sunshine.
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.
The town hall that was held on Saturday by State Representatives Mike Andrade, D-Munster, and Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, resulted in nearly 100 people coming out to Laborers Local 41 Union Hall in Munster - expressing their exasperation over growing utility costs and a lack of response from NIPSCO
Rising NIPSCO bills have been chief amongst Region residents concerns, with bills spiking at least 40% for the majority of customers. Multiple protests and call-in campaigns have taken place, urging local officials and state legislature to take action against what many consider open, errant greed on the part of NIPSCO. Speaking of, NIPSCO didn’t send a representative to the town hall, but did issue a brief statement that blamed rising costs on the extended cold spells this winter. The mission of this town hall was, in Andrade’s words, to offer clarity to constituents on what the State House is trying to accomplish and how members of the public can appropriately respond to this hardship. They offered extended explanation of House Bill 1002, which is designed to force electricity suppliers to apply a levelized billing plan to all residential customers. Multiple amendments have been offered to the bill in order to force more transparency from NIPSCO and other utility companies, but each one has been denied by the Republican majority in the State House. Community outreach is, as Andrade put it, the strengthening factor for this Bill.
Amidst many nationwide protests and walkouts, East Chicago High School student participated in a walkout on Friday, February 6th in protest of the actions of ICE agents across the country.
Around 300 students participated in the walkout on Friday afternoon, holding signs and chanting to voice their discontent with the enforcement tactics of ICE and DHS. Thanks to NWI Times, there are some images from the walkout. See below the next generation making their voices heard.
Richard Requena
Richard Requena
Richard Requena
LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office reported the arrest of a Region PTO treasurer after the elementary school principal of Kingsbury Elementary School reported a bounced check, revealing almost $40,000 in unauthorized purchases, withdrawals, and skewed deposits.
After a brief investigation, Kerry Surowiec (Kingsbury Elementary PRO treasurer) turned herself in on Feb. 6th and was charged for the alleged $40k in theft. 57 Atm withdrawals totaling over $13k, 17 false checks totaling $12,300, and various charges for personal goods, food, and Amazon were amongst the ways these funds were improperly used. Surowiec was booked on Friday and released later after a cash bond was posted.
The United Steelworkers union announced on Friday that it had reached a national pattern agreement with lead negotiator Marathon, a measure that would cover over 30,000 USW-represented oil workers across the country. The catch: the BP Whiting refinery is unlikely to be a part of this agreement.
A BP Whiting refinery spokesperson said on Friday, in response to the USW statement, that negotiations are continuing at a local level. More than 98% of union workers at the Whiting refinery have voted this past week to authorize a strike due to growing frustrations with how the negotiations have played out. Chief amongst their concerns is the loss of union jobs, collective bargaining rights and privacy, and a proposal from BP to monitor employees’ whereabouts with an AI-powered surveillance system. BP has no plans to honor the National Oil Bargaining Program, the first time this has happened, and the negotiations have carried on in good faith even with the worries mounting of lost jobs, reduced pay, and loss of collective bargaining. This is sure to be something to pay attention to for all Region locals, as solidarity with the BP Whiting workers will only help to make their case for fair pay, workers protections, and maintenance of job security.
What’s In ⬅️, What’s Out ➡️
On occasion, we want to keep you all up to date with the latest businesses coming to the Region, as well as what is closing down.
Amidst notice that Pizza Hut will be closing over 200 locations across the country, we finally have an answer on what will be filing the empty Pizza Hut location in Chesterton. Nascent Mexican chain from DeKalb, Tacoverse, will be opening a location in Chesterton at 754-1 Indian Boundary Road in the old Pizza Hut. Tacoverse’s specialty is clean, conscious cooking - offering tacos, burritos, bowls, quesadillas and salads, with plenty of meat and alternative options. Opening window has not been determined at this time.
The shuttered Pizza Hut locations in Merrillville and Winfield will be reopening under new management, on an undetermined timeline. The old Pizza Hut in Valparaiso will be transformed into a Dutch Bros. Coffee location.
Bangkok Thai and Sushi in Valpo will be relocating and rebranding. The longtime favorite of locals is closing it’s location at 2103 Calumet Ave. and taking over the former New Dragon spot at 1615 Calumet Ave, now to be known as New Bangkok. New Bangkok will be reopened as of Sunday, February 15th, and will be serving all of the classics locals have come to know and love from the restaurant. Curry bowls, yakisoba, garlic black pepper pork, Mongolian Beef, and roasted duck: all will be staples of New Bangkok’s menu.
Crown Point Records will be closing their location in Crown Point and reopening at a new, undisclosed location in Valparaiso. Owner Tom Waddell, who will soon be opening Back in Time Donuts and Creamery in downtown Crown Point, cited rent increases as the core reason for leaving their current location. He said on social media the plan is to reopen in time for Record Store Day on April 18th at their new location.
Taqueria El Viejon has opened in Gary at 2810 W. 5th Ave, serving classic Mexican fare and catering specifically to carryout.
Royalty Salon Suites in moving its Merrillville location to a larger storefront, with their current spot being up for sale. No new location has been disclosed at this time.
Taco Station in Lake Station is now under new management. The 3634 Central Ave. restaurant has updated their menu, with new items and house-made guacamole they say they’re making fresh every day. Taco Station serves up tacos of all varieties, with new additions being quesabirrias and a focus on street tacos.
Sally Beauty Supply is coming to St. John at 9939 Wicker Ave, Space E. The business plans to remodel the storefront immediately, with hopes of opening up this summer.
Liberty Tax is opening up a new office in Schererville, at 226 W. Lincoln Highway. This national firm provides tax preparation, bookkeeping and other financial services for individuals and small businesses.
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.
Every day (weather permitting), the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education holds a Snowshoeing in Miller Woods event. Snowshoe through the wonderful Miller Woods and experience NWI in a whole new way. Limited spots are available on any given day and there must be a minimum of 6-inch snow pack for safety. Find more info and contact info at the link right here.
Local Theatre
A Rundown of all the local theatre companies and their upcoming productions.
Chicago Street Theatre, Valparaiso - info here
The Half-Life of Marie Curie; running from February 13th to March 1st
One Night Jam with Dan Navarro; Sunday, Feb. 15th
Jellofish; running from March 27th to April 12th
La Porte Little Theatre, LaPorte - Info Here
Into The Woods; running from March 6th to 15th
Moon Over Buffalo; running from May 1st to 10th
4th Street Theater, Chesterton - Info Here
The Da Vinci Code; running from March 6th to 22nd
Hamlet; running from June 5th to 21st
Beatniks on Conkey, Hammond - Info Here
Farce of Habit; running from Feb. 13th to 22nd
BoC Improv Show; Friday, March 20th
The Nerd; auditions, Feb 15th & 16th, running April 10th to 19th
Footlight Players, Inc, Michigan City - Info Here
Wait Until Dark; running Feb. 5th to 15th
Open Mic & Karaoke Night; March 7th
The Legend of Georgia McBride; running from April 9th to 19th
Indiana Ballet Theatre Company - Info Here
Kaliedoscope: Feb. 14th & 15th at Valpo University
Marian Theatre Guild, Whiting - Info Here
The Dining Room; Auditions run Feb 22nd & 24th
Show runs from April 18th to 26th
Towle Theater, Hammond - Info Here
Marvelous Wonderettes; running from Feb 27th to March 15th
Doublewide Texas; running from May 1st to 17th
Valpo University Theatre- Info Here
Ticket information and the full schedule can be found right here.
Valentine’s Choral Concert; Feb 13th
Faculty Recital; Feb 20th
Small High School Band Festival; Feb 21st
Community Band Festival; Feb 21st
Bach Insitute presents Canticleer; Feb 26th
VU Symphony Orchestra Concert; March 5th
February Events:
On select Sundays, 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.
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:
February 13th and 14th will be the Hometown Happenings Valentine Market at the Lake County Fairgrounds. This Valentines-themed market will have local artisan vendors with unique, handcrafted goods, as well as food, drinks, live music and activities for the whole family. The Market runs from 5-9pm on Friday, and from 10am-4pm on Saturday. Find more information at the link right here.
February 14th and 28th will be distinct installments of Chesterton’s European Winter Market. Enjoy delicious treats and food, personal and home decor, winter gifts, and information about the Dunes - from more than 40 local vendors. The market runs from 10am to 3pm on each day its operating. Find out more at the link right here.
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.
The Challenger Learning Center on the PNW Campus (Hammond) is holding a Presidents’ Day Artemis Adventures event for grades 2nd to 8th on February 16th. There are two different programs on the day, all themed around the science of space exploration. Find out more info and register for the event at the link right here.
The award-winning author and journalist Joseph S. Pete will be holding a speaking engagement at the Crown Point Public Library on Monday, February 16th (at 6pm) , talking about his new book “Lost Treasures of Indiana”. The book covers bygone businesses and institutions of Indiana’s past - like Strongbow Inn, the Hoosier Slide, Sauzer’s Kiddieland etc,. Find more info at the link right here.
This Fat Tuesday, Byway Brewing in Hammond will be holding a full-day of Mardi Gras festivities. February 17th will see the brewery offering food specials, classic cocktails, and all the French Quarter vibes you can handle. Find out all the info 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.
The weekend of February 20th and 21st, Fair Oaks Farm will be hosting a special family-friendly event known as Once Upon a Weekend: a special collection of event and activities for the little princesses in your life. Hair and make up appointments, a ropes obstacle course, a special Princess Ball and Glow Party are just some of the fun you can get into at Fair Oaks this weekend. Find more info and all the details 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.
Deep River County Park will be hosting a Fireside Maple Mingle on February 27th from 6-8pm. Spend a winter evening under the stars at this fireside event, learning the tradition of maple syrup and sugar making, while sipping on cider and enjoying the late winter air. Learn more at the link 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.”
