In partnership with
Trusted by Thousands of NWI Natives
The Call to Explore:
Happy Daylight Savings Explorers: this is your Monday edition of NWI Explored, the local NWI newsletter trusted by thousands of NWI Locals. We are so glad to have you back here each and every Monday and Thursday. As the weather starts to shift and we move outside into the world more often, we hope you’ll continue to find us to be a valuable resource for finding all the ways to Explore NWI.
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
Today in NWI
A rundown of headlines, events happening today, and information we want front of mind for Explorers.
Center Township Trustee Jesse Harper has announced plans to run for mayor of Valparaiso in next years election.
A high school senior, Araceli Cuevas, at Gary Lighthouse College Preparatory Campus is doing the impossible: being accepted to 126 colleges and universities and receiving over $9 million in scholarships. Cuevas is deciding between two different Indiana universities, with plans to study psychology.
10 new liquor sales permits have been issued to the Gary downtown redevelopment district in order to revitalize the economic activity of the area. Each permit will cost $40,000 and the city can impose conditions on the permit beyond what is set by the state if they see fit.
FOR ALL HOOSIERS OF VOTING AGE: PAY ATTENTION! If you are planning to vote in this years primary election, which takes place on MAY 5th, you must register to vote by April 6th.
You can register to vote online at Indianavoters.com. Do your part and make your voice heard.
Here is a recap of what local councils voted on this past week
Crown Point Town Council approved rezoning that would permit a medium-density, single unit development near the city’s South side - in the Preserve Point subdivision. This development is expected to include 473 lots, with homes developed specifically for residents over the age of 55.
La Porte Redevelopment Commission and School Board approved a modification to the prior agreement they had with Microsoft, which will increase the amount of property tax revenue the city will earn from the data center being built in town.
St. John Plan Commission provided updates on two housing projects that will be coming to town soon.
Here are all of the town council meetings on schedule across the Region this week, including some of the agendas they will be discussing.
Hammond Common Council
Meeting Today, March 9th at 6pm in City Hall
The core of this meeting will be considering a second amendment to extending the deadline in its agreement to build a $7 billion data center in town. The deal is currently contingent on brokering a deal with NIPSCO.
Gary Community Forum
Meeting Thursday, March 12th at 5:30pm, in Gary Public Safety Community Room
The meeting will be hosting Sam Carpenter, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, to discuss the environmental pros and cons of data centers.
Last, but certainly not least, here is your weather forecast for the midweek of March 9th, 2026. We have no consistency in how our weather will be on any given day, but that’s part of the charm, I guess.
What kind of content do you want to see from NWI Explored?
What do these names have in common?
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Codie Sanchez
Scott Galloway
Colin & Samir
Shaan Puri
Jay Shetty
They all run their businesses on beehiiv. Newsletters, websites, digital products, and more. beehiiv is the only platform you need to take your content business to the next level.
🚨Limited time offer: Get 30% off your first 3 months on beehiiv. Just use code PLATFORM30 at checkout.
🏘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.
Here are some updates about what the Indiana General Assembly has voted on in the last week.
Indiana General Assembly has agreed to criminalize homelessness under specific circumstances, with a punishment of up to 60 days in county jail and/or a fine up to $500.
Senate Enrolled Act 285 states that police officers who encounter “street campers” on government-owned property can issue warnings to individuals to vacate the public space, giving them information about available aid and resources. They also must determine if the person should be detained for emergency mental health intervention before issuing a warning. If after 48 hours the individual has not vacated the property, they are subject to arrest and prosecution (unless there are no open beds at nearby shelters or treatment facilities).
House Bill 1065 - which would have prohibited elected officials and government employees from soliciting gratuities for official acts - has been gutted and will not become law this year.
Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville was unable to revive the anti-gratuity language prior to the adjournment of the General Assembly on Friday, so the bill has fallen to the way side.
A Bill centered around the prohibition of hemp-derived products containing a THC concentration greater than 0.3% has fallen short in the Indiana General Assembly
Senate Bill 250 would have established a strict regulatory system for the hemp products that fell below that threshold, additionally preventing Indiana from reclassifying marijuana as a useful schedule 3 drug in accordance with the federal government’s planned rescheduling of marijuana.
Lastly, a plan to cut the state’s in-person early voting period down from 28 days to 15 has been scuttled.
This deliberate act of voter suppression wasn’t called down for final action by the Senate, likely because of insufficient support for the bill. For now, early in-person voting will remain as it stands: 28 days long.
A Valparaiso father and his son are suing the Valparaiso School district, high school and city after the teenager was injured during football practice earlier this year.
Malakai Solomon and his father, Jason, allege that the Valparaiso entities have breached their duty of care to Malakai - facilitating an environment where the 15 year old got injured during a supposedly “contactless” football practice. Malakai was tackled during this practice, breaking his wrist and suffering a severe concussion. The coaching staff, as alleged by the father and son, did not provide the teen with necessary medical care and ushered him along. Malakai’s injuries proved to be more serious after a trip to the emergency room, showing a failure in the safeguards and social contract between a coach and player. The Solomon family has also claimed they’ve received threats for speaking out about what happened to their son, with Malakai out of school during his recovery and continuing to experience difficulty from his injuries.
Lastly, check out local author Linda Floyd Jones’ new book about Annie Turnbo Malone, a Black entrepreneur from the early 20th century that redefined hair care and made waves within her community.
The book, “Pride From Within: The Forgotten History of Annie Turnbo Malone and Poro College” is available on Amazon. Jones is the president and CEO of Gary Historical and Cultural Society, which aims to educate locals on the rich history of Gary in order to create a difference in the community.
➡️What’s In, What’s Out? ➡️
A Look at the Local Business News in NWI, showing what’s new and what’s gone.
H. Dog, the Chicago dog joint in Schererville right off of US41, has been evicted from its space by its landlord after nonpayment of rent. H. Dog was one of the few remaining independent locations in an area taken over by chains, so this one is a bit of a bummer.
Asian build-your-own bowl restaurant Yummy Bowl will be taking over the Tilted Kilt space at the Southlake Mall in Merrillville. The spot offers stir-fry favorites, ramen, sushi, Korean fried chicken and more: boasting a diverse menu for any preference. Yummy Bowl’s grand opening is scheduled for April.
Rosati’s in Dyer will be moving into the old Sanfratello’s spot soon, going from a carryout only location to a spot with a full bar and dine in space. This new 3000 sq. ft. space will be more visible for the pizza place, hoping to grow in their customer base with a more present location.
Dutch Brothers has opened it’s Crown Point location, with the Munster and Valparaiso locations not far behind it.
Arrenello’s Pizza will be relocating its Glenwood location to St. John by the end of June. The local chain is all about Chicagoland styles of pizza, with locations currently existing in Highland and Tinley Park. This new location in St. John will be located at the intersection of U.S 231 and Park Place.
El Norteno, popular taco spot in Gary off 5th Ave, has closed temporarily in order to fix some electrical issues. Regulars need not worry.
Redamak’s, the New Buffalo staple and favorite of Region locals, has reopened for the season. This will be the burger spots 51st season in operation.
Carlson’s Drive-In, Michigan City staple and old-school favorite, has reopened for the 79th season. Known for classic drive-in fare and house recipes like their pork BBQ sandwich, Carlson’s is a throwback with taking part in.
In a Facebook post yesterday, the owner of Pat’s Ice Cream Parlor in Valpo announced that she is looking for someone to take over the business that she’s operated for 45 years, or at least someone to lease the property for something else. As of right now, owner Pat has said she isn’t sure if she’ll be open for one last season as she hasn’t renewed her certificate with the Board of Health for 2026. We will keep you posted on how this transition shakes out.
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
Something Rotten! - running from February 27th to March 14th
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
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
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.
March’s Event Schedule
*St. Patricks Day-centered Events will be highlighted in Green
Byway Brewing in Hammond will be holding an Adam Sandler-themed trivia night on March 10th, starting at 6pm.
Up Your Alley in Schererville is hosting a Lucky Gnome Paint + Sip Event on March 10th, starting at 6pm
Downtown Michigan City will be hopping with the spirit of the season on March 11th when the Paddywagon Bus Tour takes a trip around the town in celebration of St. Patricks Day. This event runs from 2-9pm with stops at a host of bars across the city. Find all the info in the below infographic.
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.
Schererville Parks will be bringing back their Lucky Leprechaun Glow Hunt on March 13th, at 7pm in the Schererville Community Center. This family event features pizza, dessert, drinks, St. Pat’s crafts, and prizes ahead of the actual hunt. Register for the event at schererville.org.
Hard Rock Casino has a whole weekend slate of St. Patrick’s Day events and festivities, kicking off of March 13th with a free show from The Tossers - one of the most enduring bands of the Celtic Punk underground. All weekend long, there will be a St. Pat’s themed special menu item - an Irish Smash Burger - , exclusive cocktails and specialty drinks, and special events, games and prizes available for all patrons of the floor. Find out more about their special St. Patrick’s Day events and plans at the link 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.
R&B Star Leela James will be taking the Horseshoe Casino stage on March 14th at 8pm. James is known for her dreamy sound and powerhouse voice, so this is sure to be show worth coming out for. Tickets and all the info can be found at the link right here.
Hobart Art Theater will be hosting MOCK STAR (with special guest Skyline Station) on March 14th, at 8pm. Tickets and more info can be found here.
Off Square Brewing in Crown Point will be hosting a St Paddy’s Day Celebration on March 14th, featuring a performance by Working Class Zero. Find more info right here.
Byway Brewing in Hammond will be holding a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with food and drink specials. Find more info at this link.
Indiana Dunes State Park is hosting a Runnin with the Irish 5k Race for the holiday on March 14th. This is the 26th Annual running of the event through the scenic State Park. Find more information at the link right here.
Michigan City will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 14th, starting at 1pm, north on Franklin St. Information can be found here.
Hessville’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on March 14th, starting at 1pm. Find more information here.
Griffith High School is holding a Breakfast with the Easter Bunny on March 14th from 10am to Noon. Enjoy a family visit with the Easter Bunny at the link right here.
The 10th Annual Corkscrew and Brew will be taking place in Thomas Centennial Park on March 14th in Chesterton. This tasting event will feature wineries, breweries, live music, food, games and (most importantly) unlimited samples. Celebrate craft beverages and the reason for the season with the link right here.
Country Star Josh Turner will be headlining a show at La Porte Civic Auditorium on March 14th, at 6pm. Expect a run of timeless hits and all the charisma that made Turner a Nashville favorite. Find tickets and more information at the link right here.
Villa Cesare is hosting a St. Patrick's Day Party on March 14th, starting at 6:30pm. Tickets grant you an open bar, DJ, raffles and a full menu of St. Patrick’s Day favorites. Further info can be found at the link right here.
Calling all Bar Crawlers: the Crown Point Square Bar Crawl for St. Patrick’s Day is returning once again. Sunday, March 15th, starting at noon, with Ramen District, One13North, Tavern on Main, Zombie Club, and Public Bar & Rec participating. Full info can be found on Tavern on Main’s Instagram page.
White Rhino in Dyer is hosting a St. Patty’s Pub Crawl on March 15th, starting at 2pm. Transportation is provided to all of the local participating pubs, with drink specials at each stop. More info can be found right here.
Hobart Art Theater will be hosting the Ultimate Doors: A Tribute to the Music of the Doors on March 15th, at 6:30pm. Tickets and more info can be found here. They will also be hosting Down Rodeo - A Tribute to Rage Against the Machine on March 20th, at 7pm. Tickets for that can be found at this link. And, In The Flesh - Echoes of Pink Floyd will be taking place on March 21st at 7pm. Tickets for that show can be found here.
The Museum at Lassen’s Resort on Cedar Lake is hosting a Speaker Series with author Joey Lax-Salinas all about his forthcoming book, Fading Ads of Indiana. The event will be on March 15th at 2pm, and feature a chronicle of his year’s of documenting Indiana's disappearing "Ghost signs" and all the forgotten areas of the state we all call home. Find more information about Joey’s book, the event, and how to participate at the link right here.
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.”
