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This is your Monday edition of NWI Explored, for February 23rd, 2026. I regret to inform everyone, as you may well know, but the snow has returned. In the back of all of our minds, the notion of us being clear of the winter weather was more wishful thinking than anything. It was a little tough to be so quickly confronted with lake effect snow, but it comes with the territory I guess. Regardless, there’s still so much to talk about all around NWI, so we’re glad that you’ve returned for another entry of NWIE. Thanks for being here.

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

A Preview of March’s Events Across Northwest Indiana

The Lowdown on NWI and Indiana News

The Weather Forecast for the midweek of February 23rd

Today in NWI

Today in NWI

  • As I’m sure many of you are aware, the Chicago Bears and Indiana State Legislature have reached some manner of agreement to continue pursuing the construction of a new Bears stadium somewhere in NWI. They’ve landed on Hammond, near Wolf Lake, as the most likely area of pursuit for the new Chicago Bears compound.

    • There is no timeline at the moment for whether or not construction is a go, or if the Bears will even ultimately decide to build in NWI after all. But, the machinations are in motion. Indiana State Senate passed a bill on Thursday making Wolf Lake in Hammond the site they will be pursuing for construction and early concepts of tax-payer funding for the site have been outlined as well.

    • For further information, NBC Chicago has a rundown of the full story.

  • The United States Olympic Hockey Team is on top of the hockey world for the first time in 46 years. After a stacked defensive-heavy game against Canada in the gold medal game, U.S player Jack Hughes scored quickly in overtime to grant the U.S their first Hockey gold medal since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980. Congrats to the U.S. National Hockey Team!

  • Al & Sally’s Motel, a Region motel that has been in operation since the 50’s, was the subject of a column in the NWI Times that I really enjoyed. For those who don’t have a subscription to the Times, I’ve included an excerpt of the piece below, as well as a short video the Times made in conjunction with the piece. If you do have a sub to the Times, it’s a great read!

    • “ Last weekend, I rediscovered one that I’ve driven past since my childhood — Al & Sally's Motel on U.S. 12 in the Town of Pines, in operation since the 1950s. My wife and I spent Valentine’s Day there, for just $67, and it felt like an unearthed time capsule with updated essentials, cute new touches and a big screen 4K smart TV that Al and Sally Nastoff could only dream of for their guests.

      “It's been so much fun meeting people from all over the world who want to come enjoy the dunes and a consummate American experience known as a motel,” said owner Rudy Conner, a Michigan City native who spent time in Pines as a child.

      She and her husband, Mike, who are in the real estate business, purchased the motel in 2021 after a client of theirs backed out of a $1 million deal to acquire and rehab the dilapidated property along Dunes Highway, just west of Michigan City. It’s located near Mount Baldy and the Indiana Dunes state and national parks, with easy access to Michigan to the east and Chicago to the west.

      “Since my childhood, I had driven past that motel probably a million times,” Conner said, echoing generations of Region residents. “My husband and I are committed to keeping its aesthetic as close to the roadside motor lodge of the 1950s and '60s while updating certain things to make our guests more comfortable.”

    • Link to the video right here.

  • These are the local school boards that will be meeting this week.

    • East Porter County School Corporation

      • Monday, Feb 23rd at 5:30pm; Admin Office in Kouts or YouTube

    • Portage Township Schools

      • Monday, Feb 23rd at 5pm; Admin Building in Portage or YouTube

    • School City of Whiting

      • Tuesday, Feb 24th at 6pm; School City of Whiting Building or YouTube

    • School City of East Chicago

      • Tuesday, Feb 24th at 6pm; Admin Building in EC or YouTube

    • Michigan City Area School Corporation

      • Tuesday, Feb 24th at 6pm; Admin Building in MC or YouTube

  • Michigan City City Council has asked for the State to rescind the last two years of NIPSCO rate hikes and suspend the rising delivery charges until these charges and price hikes can be verified

    • This vote comes in opposition to NIPSCO’s recent gas and electric rate hikes, calling on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to investigate these price hikes and monthly delivery charges.

  • Here is a summary of recent local and state legislature votes and legislation that could be of interest to you.

    • Indiana General Assembly gave final approval on Thursday to House Enrolled Act 1116: a ban on all virtual currency kiosks from operating within the state of Indiana. This legislation will be effective immediately upon Republican Governor Mike Braun signing it into law. These kiosks have been the source of crypto scams that plague many Hoosiers, high fees, and the kiosks use in money laundering and tax avoidance.

    • Lake County Judge Kristina Kantar ruled that Hobart officials acted properly when they designated land for economic revitalization in order to build a data center at the site of 61st Avenue and Colorado Street. Concerned citizens have attempted to use the site’s classification as an ERA to vacate the order to construct the data center, but Judge Kantar’s ruling puts an end to that hope.

    • Senate Bill 21, which would designate the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich as Indiana’s state sandwich, failed to advance out of committee last week. The bill will have to wait until next year to be heard again.

    • House Enrolled Act 1048 - to increase the annual allowances paid to Indiana’s volunteer firefighters for safety apparel and use of personal vehicles - passed unanimously in the House last Wednesday. It just has to be signed by Gov. Braun to be signed into law, boosting yearly allowance from $100 to $250.

    • Indiana General Assembly is sending House Enrolled Act 1029 to the governor’s desk. The bill would bolster efforts within the state to educate Hoosiers on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, highlighting warning signs, symptoms, diagnostic and treatment options, and more general information.

    • And chief among these updates, the Republican-controlled state Legislature has outright reject proposals to reduce the rates of electricity and natural gas bills for Hoosiers across the state. Although they recently passed legislation to slow the growth of future utility rates, implementing performance-based rate setting for utility companies, bills that would outright reduce the price of bills for citizens have been dead on arrival. Even simple provisions - like exempting residential utility bills from the state’s 7% sales tax - have fallen on deaf ears.

Here is your weather forecast for the midweek of February 23rd, 2026

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What’s In, What’s Out?

The latest on business comings and goings in the Region.

Wendy’s in Schererville (on Indianapolis Blvd.) has shut down as a part of the national chain’s winnowing of its footprint across the country. Up to 358 restaurants are set to close nationwide. The Indianapolis Blvd. location is only 2.6 miles away from another location, 4.7 from a different one, and 5.1 miles from yet another.

The Hen Neighborhood Market in Crown Point, a longtime institution on 524 N. Main St., has shuttered its doors after decades of operation. Initially known to locals as the White Hen Pantry, it existed as one of the few local bodegas in the area. It will be well-missed by Hub City locals.

East Chicago native Jerett Glasper has opened 219 Sports Lounge in Hammond. He is also the owner of S&B Bar and Grill in Gary. 219 Sports Lounge used to be Mister Joe’s, prior to that locations closing in October, and has been remodeled to add Chicago sports decor, as well as South Beach themes and state-of-the-art TV walls.

Dutch Brothers Coffee will open it’s first Region location in March, at 671 109th Place in Crown Point. Future locations will open at 2510 LaPorte Ave in Valpo, and on Calumet Ave in Munster.

Dunkin has opened another location on U.S. 30 in Dyer, at 648 Joliet St. This location is a part of a new strip mall development at the site and this Dunkin location is the second in Dyer.

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.

Marina Shores Yacht Club in Portage hosts a monthly Dance Class every 2nd Wednesday. Find out more info right here.

Local Theatre

A Rundown of all the local theatre companies and their upcoming productions.

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

  • The Dining Room; Auditions run Feb 22nd & 24th

    • Show runs from April 18th to 26th

Towle Theater, Hammond - Info Here

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

The Last Events of February

Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts in Gary will be hosting Aurora and Antheia, a multi-instrumentalist trio featuring violinist Cori Beth Somers, cellist Laurie Jarski, and percussionist Carolyn Koebel, on February 26th. Tickets and further information are available at the link 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.

Off-Square Brewing in Crown Point is hosting a Beer School with brewers Matt and Dillon and Beer Sherpa Dan for people to learn all there is to know about beer! The experience is on February 28th, and expected to be about 3 hours long - with snacks, a tour, and plenty of samples. Find more info 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.

This one is for the families. The Grand in downtown Crown Point is hosting a Bluey and Bingo event for all ages on February 28th at 11am. A delicious breakfast spread starts off a fun morning of character brunch, bingo, and fun for all the little ones. Find all the info at the link right here.

A Preview of March’s Event Schedule Across NWI

March 1st will bring the Miller Beach Winter Farmers Market back to the Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts in Gary. Local produce, baked goods, handmade treats and a whole bunch more is in store from 12pm to 2pm. Find more info right here.

Hobart Art Theater will be hosting Letdown (with special guests Blame My Youth, YOUTHYEAR, and Luchiano) on March 1st. Show is all ages and doors open at 6pm. Find tickets at the link right here.

The Indiana Dunes Nature Center is hosting a Winter Bird Wander event on March 1st, open to all ages and beginning at 10:30 AM. This program is also free and centered around an easy stroll with the Dunes State Park Naturalist, scoping out different birds and wildlife. Find more info at the link right here.

Presented by the NWI Symphony, Spellbound! is coming to the Living Hope Church in Merrillville on March 6th. The show will feature performances of Prokofiev’s Cinderella and Stravinsky’s Firebird, with narrator Phil Potempa. Find tickets and all the information at the link right here.

Friday, March 6th, the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City is holding the opening reception for a new exhibition, Cosmic Connections. From 5-8pm, enjoy food, a cash bar, chances to meet the artists and curator of the exhibit, and take in the new exhibition capturing the universe in an improvisational process. Find all the info right here.

March 6th sees the American English: Beatles Tribute grace the Theatre at the Center stage in Munster. This concert is in benefit of the Cancer Resource Center. Find tickets and more info at the link right here.

March 6th will also see Marlon Wayans, legendary comedian and actor of such hits as White Chicks and Scary Movie, grace the stage at the Hard Rock Casino in Gary. The show is 21+ and begins at 7pm. Find tickets at the link right here.

Hobart Art Theater will be hosting a dual tribute show to the works of U2 and R.E.M. on March 6th. Bands Without U2 and Driver 8 will be taking the stage to go through the hits from two of the most revered bands of the late 80s and early 90s. Find tickets at the link right here.

On March 7th, The Dig the Dunes Makers Trail begins! Six locations, six different projects, and a full day of crazy art-making fun. Spend the day exploring the Dunes, different local spots, and themed specials at local restaurants, all a part of the Makers Trail. Find more information at the link right here.

The legendary Boy George and Culture Club will be taking the stage at Hard Rock Casino in Gary on March 7th. Culture Club and Boy George have been responsible for some of the biggest hits of the 80s and are full-on icons of the new wave genre. Find tickets for the show at the link right here.

Bombers BBQ in Crown Point will be hosting a Friends themed trivia night on March 7th, from 6-8pm.

Courtesy of St. John Parks Department, March 7th will be the Luck of the Hunt in Prairie West Park: a day of family-friendly fun themed around St. Patricks Day. Hunt for gold in different age groups and celebrate the holiday with a bit of luck and a ton of fun. Find more information right here.

Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm are hosting the 49th Annual Maple Sugar Time Festival the weekend of March 7th and 8th. Enjoy a tour of the sugaring operation at the historic farm with tons of other activities for the whole family. This event is also sponsored by the Friends of Indiana Dunes. Find more information at the link right here.

Hard Rock Casino will be hosting Fey, one of the most influential figures in Spanish pop, on the stage on March 8th. Her 30 year career is one of the most successful in Latin American pop history, so this is sure to be a trip through some of the best the genre has to offer. Find tickets and further information at the link right here.

Four Corners Winery in Valpo will be hosting a Fused Glass Class on March 8th, starting at 1pm. Participants will be creating a fused glass poppy flower sun catcher. No prior experience is necessary. Find more info at the link right here.

Off-Square Brewing is hosting a Grown-Up Book Fair on March 8th from 1-4pm. This event is free to attend and will be chock full of books and bookish merch! Find more info right here.

Byway Brewing in Hammond will be holding an Adam Sandler-themed trivia night on March 10th, starting at 6pm.

Hobart Art Theater is hosting Classical Blast in Kilts on March 12th, featuring music from the best of Ireland and Scotland’s rock bands - plus, reinterpretations of traditional Celtic tunes, sea shanties, stories and more. Find tickets and more info at the link right here.

Asparagus in Merrillville is hosting a Spring Fling Martini Tasting on March 12th. Tickets to the event are available at the link right here. A ticket gets you three festive cocktails, accompanied by a paired appetizer of your choice.

Shady Creek Winery will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Irish Dinner on March 12th. Enjoy a 3-course dinner (with ticket) of traditional Irish grub, created and prepared by Executive Chef Brian Davis. Tickets and more info can be found right here.

Lake County Fairgrounds is hosting a Hometown Shamrock Indoor Market on March 13th and 14th. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and an early Spring with artisan vendors, handcrafted goods, food, live music, specialty drinks, kids activities and much more. Information about the event and tickets can be found right here.

The Dave Matthews Tribute Band will be performing at Hobart Art Theater on March 13th. Find tickets right here.

More Events in March will be coming on our Thursday edition of NWI Explored.

That’ll do it for this Monday edition of NWI Explored. We hope you’ve been enjoying our content through the first month and a half of 2026. All the best to all of the Explorers and we will see you on Monday for the next edition of NWIE. Stay tuned to our Instagram for more content as well.

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.”

Jiro Tanaguchi

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