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The Call to Explore:
It’s a new week and a new day. Monday to be exact, which means that it’s time for NWI Explored! Welcome back and glad to See you, explorers! Due to some weather-related issues(power outages), we were a little short on time to compile everything which is the reason for the delay in delivery. If there’s anything missing or out of place, we’ll rectify that issue once everything else is in its right place!
One note I would like to put front of mind for our readers: I’ve asked the Explorers in a few different issues now about making our events section a little bit cleaner - either through integrating a calendar of sorts or by limiting the actual number of events highlighted like we did at the very start of NWIE. After a fair amount of feedback from the Explorers (and consideration amongst ourselves), we’re going to work on a calendar that will serve as a one-stop shop for all the events we highlight. It will most likely take some time to integrate and we aren’t sure what it will look like, but rest assured that we hear your feedback.
From here, let’s get into the meat of the newsletter!
🧭 On Today’s issue of NWI Explored🧭
March’s Events and Can’t Miss Destinations
What’s Happening Today in NWI
The Lowdown on Recent NWI News
Your Midweek NWI Forecast
How ‘bout that weather, huh? At the time I’m writing this, which will be shortly before it’s going out to you all, we’re oscillating between mild winter and full-on blizzard conditions every 30 minutes. After last night’s thunderstorms and high winds all weekend, I’m left with a real sense of whiplash at how unpredictable and strange our weather has shook out here in the latest part of NWI winter. Oh well, at least we have some sunshine to look forward to! Here’s your midweek NWI weather forecast for 3/16/26.
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 and Indiana writ large.
More than 98% of BP Whiting Refinery worker have voted to reject the final offer from the company, effectively enacting a strike over the tumultuous contract negotiations.
The group that voted to reject the offer comprised of 94% of the ~900 workers that USW 7-1 represents at the BP Whiting Refinery, which is unprecedented. USW 7-1 president Eric Schultz has said numerous times that the proposal from BP would change basic tenets of the union contract, stripping away bargaining rights and limiting the rights of the laborers - not to mention eliminate union jobs and introduce policies that would utilize AI and non-union contractors to further denigrate the union’s position.
Retired steelworker and union official Doug Nelson, who worked for many years at Republic Steel on the Southeast Side of Chicago, has written a book - “When Steelworkers Defined Chicago: How Chicago-Gary Area Steelworkers Led the U.S. Industrial Union Movement” -about the Gary Steelworkers union and their influence on the U.S. Industrial Labor Movement.
Nelson started working in the steel industry in the 70s, eventually being elected as a union officer for USW Local 1033 and running the grievance committee for some years. Now retired, but working part-time as a workforce trainer for the Calumet Area Industrial Commission, Nelson spent years researching the steel industry and how it once employed 170,000 people in the Chicagoland and NWI areas before its sharp decline. His book details the history of the steelworkers in the Chicago region, including Gary and NWI. Nelson will be holding a signing of his new book at Miles Books in Highland (2819 Jewett Ave.) on Saturday, March 21st from 11:30am to 3pm.
In a filing with the state recently, NIPSCO disclosed that thousands of natural gas customers were incorrectly billed due to faulty meters.
They are currently being investigated by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission due to these discrepancies in its natural gas billing, which was discovered while NIPSCO was installing new automated natural gas meters across NWI. It was discovered that 4,027 meters across the Region were delivering incorrect readings, with 3,972 having been fixed since the discrepancies were found. Affected customers, who could have been billed as much as double for their natural gas use, have been notified.
The Indiana Department of Transportation is hosting a hearing about design plans for a project along U.S. 41, going south from U.S. 231. The hearing will be held on March 23rd at Hanover Central High School at 5:30pm.
The proposed project is centered around construction of a two-way left-turn lane along 41, with widening of the highway in both directions throughout the length of the proposed construction area.
John Deere, the Moline, Illinois-based tractor and agricultural equipment manufacturer, is expected to employ hundreds in the building of a 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse off Interstate 65, near Lowell.
The new facility will be designed to distribute John Deere parts around the country for a multitude of industries, investing in customer expectation and parts availability. Preliminary work on the site has begun, with an expected 500 construction jobs opened up by the project - a similar number to the Merrillville Amazon warehouse job.
➡️What’s In, What’s Out? ➡️
A rundown of local businesses just beginning their story and those whose stories are coming to an end.
Phat Stax is a new restaurant opening in Dyer, at 425 Joliet St., serving up sandwiches in all sorts of exciting ways. Boasting a slew of whole-roasted, hand-carved meats and premium sides like duck fat fries, Phat Stax is aiming to do something new and inventive with the deli shop concept. Owners Jeremy and Angela Puglisi have said their goal is as much, so I can’t wait to try out their new spins on classics like their Turkey Pesto Panino or the Brisket Burnt-Endwich.
Back in Time Donuts and Creamery, located in downtown Crown Point, is hoping to open their doors to the public within the next month. Owner Tom Waddell had hoped to open last year, but construction delays have postponed it until now. Waddell is also the owner of Crown Point Records and Crown Point Toys and Collectibles, and he’ll be bringing that love for vintage and throwback iconography to Back in Time Donuts and Creamery as well.
7 Brew Coffee will be opening a new location in Portage, which follows locations also approved to be opened in Dyer, Crown Point, Merrillville.
Speaking of Portage, a Jersey Mike’s Subs has just opened in town as well. The sub shop is open now at 5876 US-6 in Portage.
Local farmers market mainstay House of Rufus will no longer be a part of the Coffee Creek Farmers Market, as detailed in a post to their social media last week. They were told after 6 seasons of being a part of the market, their application for this year was declined. You can read the full story from their post linked above, but we just wanted to give House of Rufus a special shout out because both of us here at NWIE love their bread. Seek out whatever market they’re at or order for pickup from them: however you can show some support because their stuff is just the best.
Alpen Haus, a beer hall/ indoor golf lounge hybrid will be opening its doors soon in downtown Valpo. Owners Alec and Tatjana have said that the signs are up and they’re entering the final stages, but a few more months of build-out, training and prep are ahead of them before opening. Region locals can expect their doors to be open sometime in the Summer.
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.
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.
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.
Tiny’s Coffee Bar in Miller Beach has recurrent events every single week. Check out their page to find the full slate of events.
Local Theatre
A Rundown of all the local theatre companies and their upcoming productions.
Chicago Street Theatre, Valparaiso - info here
Jellofish; running from March 27th to April 12th
Memorial Opera House, Valparaiso - info here
La Porte Little Theatre, LaPorte - Info Here
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
BoC Improv Show; Friday, March 20th
The Nerd; running April 10th to 19th
Footlight Players, Inc, Michigan City - Info Here
The Legend of Georgia McBride; running from April 9th to 19th
Indiana Ballet Theatre Company - Info Here
Marian Theatre Guild, Whiting - Info Here
Show runs from April 18th to 26th
Towle Theater, Hammond - Info Here
Doublewide Texas; running from May 1st to 17th
Valpo University Theatre- Info Here
Ticket information and the full schedule can be found right here.
March’s Event Schedule
*St. Patricks Day-centered Events will be highlighted in Green
March 17th will see Crown Point host it's Nighttime St. Patrick’s Day Parade at 7pm. Local food and retail vendors will set up on Joliet Street starting at 3pm, so go and enjoy the festivities: with Pipes and Drums players, Shamrock Lane, and a ton of great local food. Information can be found right here.
Horseshoe Casino will be hosting Los Tigres Del Norte on March 20th and 21st. Find tickets for either show at the link right here.
On March 20th and 21st, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, Lake County Vintage and Antique Market will be taking place. Shop vendors from all over with goods of all kinds, all inside the historic Industrial building. The show runs from 4-9pm on Friday, and 9am-4pm on Saturday. Find more information at the link right here.
Hoosier Theater in Whiting will be hosting a Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks tribute show on March 21st at 7pm. Find tickets and information at the link right here.
Humane Indiana’s Annual Gala will be taking place on March 21st at the Hard Rock Casino in Gary, starting at 5pm. The event is a high-energy celebration of everything that the Humane organization does: with complimentary dinner and drinks, adoptable pets on site, silent auctions, and a program of presentations celebrating the hope and life-saving work the organization does. Find info at the link right here.
On March 21st and 22nd, Shipshewana on the Road will be taking over the Porter County Expo Center. Tickets are $5, and gets you in to browse the wide variety of gifts, crafts, food and fun on site. Find all the information at the link right here.
Byway Brewing in Hammond will be hosting another entry in their Byway Comedy Series on March 26th - with headliner Sonal Aggarwal, plus Matt Torres, Lyssa Laird, Alan Ford and Sharup Karim. Tickets are $10 and can be found at the link here.
Journeyman Distillery in Valpo’s Comedy on the Rocks series is continuing on March 27th, with headliner Katie Meiner, opener Stone Norment, and host Jeff Webb. Doors are at 7pm and tickets are $22, which can be bought at the link right here.
Hobart Art Theater will be hosting JUMP - the Ultimate Van Halen Experience on March 27th. Tickets and more info can be found right here.'
Four Corners Winery in Valpo welcomes all to their Adult Easter Egg Hunt on March 28th. Grab some friends and sip some wine while hunting for eggs, backdropped by live music and all the fun. Prizes are to be won as well. More info can be found right here.
Theatre at the Center in Munster will be hosting two shows of a Ben-Hur Live Radio Play on March 28th. Tickets for both the early and late show, as well as all the info you need, can be found on their site right here.
Comedy legend Chris Tucker will be taking the stage at the Hard Rock Casino in Gary on March 28th. Tickets and more information can be found at the link right here.
The Hoosier Home and Hobby Show will be coming to Villa Cesare in Schererville on March 28th, starting at 9am. This is an event for hobbyists and homeowners, featuring local businesses, memorabilia collectors and athlete guest signers. Food trucks will be on site as well. Find more info at the link right here.
On March 29th, Head by the Theatre at the Center to take in NWI Symphony’s Presentation of Requiem for the Living, with the Symphony Chorus. The Symphony Chorus will be performing composer Dan Forrest’s modern Requiem mass, with the performance beginning at 2:30pm. Find tickets and further information at the link right here.
Veteran Stand-up comedian Susan Rice is performing two shows at Hobart Art Theater on March 29th. Susan is known for her observational humor, especially about aging. Tickets for the early and late show can be found right here.
Fans of trading card games and collectors abound will have a field day on March 29th when The Porter County Card Show comes to the Porter County Fairgrounds once again. The show will have hundreds of tables of sports, Pokemon, Memorabilia, Collectibles and more! Free to attend, the show starts at 9am and runs to 3pm. Find more information right here.
Known for their over-the-top antics and comedic sensibilities, Steel Panther is taking to the Hobart Art Theater stage on March 30th. The show starts at 7pm and tickets can be found here.
More Events to Come…
That’ll do it for this Monday Edition of NWI Explored.
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.”
