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🧭 On Today’s issue of NWI Explored🧭
Everything Happening in NWI in April
A Recap of Local and State News
Today’s Headlines
Weather Forecast for NWI
The Call to Explore:
Welcome back, Explorers, for your Monday edition of NWI Explored, for 4/20/2026. We’re almost all the way through yet another month of 2026 and almost 1/3 of the way through the year already. Time is moving at an accelerated pace it seems, but there’s so much going on that we can get excited about. The weather seems to be breaking somewhat, everyone is returning to the outdoors, and the summer is just around the corner. So, with that in mind, let’s talk about what’s been going on in NWI since last Thursday and get you set with every way to explore NWI this week.
We Want to Hear From You!
Every week, we will be cycling in a new poll for the Explorers to answer about NWI. Favorite spots, underrated meals, hidden gems and a whole bunch else will be covered. These polls will help us to build the definitive NWI Explored guide to the Northwest Indiana, completely based on input from all of you! So, make your voices heard and answer our weekly poll!
Polls will switch out on each week’s Thursday edition, so you’ve got a full week to respond!
What is your favorite Breakfast spot in NWI?
📆📆This Week in NWI 📆📆
A brief rundown of some local government happenings we think you should know about
Below, you can find information about all of the local council meetings, community meetings, and town halls that are taking place this week across NWI.
LaPorte Data Center Community Meeting
Tuesday, April 21st from 4-7:30 pm
After the LaPorte City Council annexed 1,000 acres of farmland last week in order to expand their data center project with Microsoft, the city invited residents for a community public forum regarding the project.
East Chicago Common Council
Wednesday, April 22 at 6 pm.
ECCC will be meeting to consider a resolution around the foundation of a Supervised Residential Emergency Shelter over on Fir Street. There are other things on the council’s Agenda, which can be found here
Munster Town Council
Monday, April 20th at 6:30pm
Council Agenda can be found here
Gary Common Council
Tuesday, April 21st at 6pm
Council agenda can be found here
Michigan City City Council
Tuesday, April 21st at 6:30pm
Council agenda can be found here
Griffith Town Council
Tuesday, April 21st at 7pm
Council agenda can be found here
St. John Town Council
Wednesday, April 22nd at 6pm
Council agenda can be found here
Your Midweek Forecast for 4/20/26
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🏘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.
Chicago Bears leadership and local and state officials met near the site of the potential Wolf Lake home of the Chicago Bears on Friday, with no comment given to what was discussed during the meeting
Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren was seen walking with Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. at Lost March Golf Club, obviously having met at the potential site of the Chicago Bears stadium at Wolf Lake. Team owner George McCaskey was also included in these meetings, with McDermott claiming that it was another great meeting with everybody present at the table. No indication has been made about when the team intends to decide whether or not to accept Hammond’s offer for the Wolf Lake site or if they still intend to await for the Illinois General Assembly’s decision re: a comparable deal. There’s a lot to still be ironed out, but those who wish for the Bears to move to Northwest Indiana might have some renewed hope that talks are still ongoing.
NIPSCO has signed a deal to power the $832 million data center Google will be constructing in the former Federal Mogul windshield wiper factory in Michigan City, claiming that the deal will save customers an estimated $1.25 billion.
The utility company has said that this deal with tech-giant Google will aid them in reducing customer bills by as much as $115 a year - a confusing sentiment considering the amount of power that it will require to run the data center and how those costs have been passed onto the customer in the past. This is a ongoing story that we’ve covered in part before, so stay tuned for continued developments here.
Controversy broke out on social media after Indiana Lt. Gov Micah Beckwith appeared at a job fair at Valparaiso High School this past Friday
Superintendent of Valparaiso Community Schools Jim McCall sent out a letter to parents on Saturday, apologizing for Beckwith’s appearance and for not announcing his presence at the event prior to the career fair. Beckwith made comments that students found odd or inappropriate, alluding to “fighting the woke agenda” among other statements and utilizing the school as a platform to further his own political agenda. There was an outcrying of public dissatisfaction with Beckwith’s appearance and statements, of which Beckwith responded by lashing out against McCall’s apology. To read McCall’s statement to parents, you can click here, and to read Beckwith’s response, you can click here.
Indiana Supreme Court has moved to weigh a legal challenge to the state’s abortion ban
Loretta H. Rush, the Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, announced on Friday that the Court will be considering a challenge to the state’s abortion laws on the basis of religious freedom. Oral arguments will be heard before the Indiana Supreme Court on Sept. 10.
NIPSCO workers currently locked out of their jobs will vote on a new contract proposal this week after an agreement was reached with the utility company this past Thursday.
1,700 workers have been locked out with no pay for the last two weeks, as conversations between NIPSCO and their union workers just restarted this past week. Preliminary agreements have been made between USW Local 12775 and 1379 and NIPSCO, but a full vote will take place some time this week. NIPSCO will continue to lock out workers until a full agreement can be made. Details of what has made these conversations seemingly more successful or what this new proposal looks like are not available at this time. We will keep you all updated as we find out more about what the NIPSCO workers lockout will look like in the coming days.
Purdue Northwest professor of criminal justice Nicky Jackson will be launching a tour across the Midwest, featuring the subjects of some of the most high-profile criminal cases in popular history.
The Crime Unfiltered tour will be hosted by Jackson and feature contributions and the stories of such true-crime fascinations as John Ramsey (father of JonBenet Ramsey), Nichole Schmidt (mother of Gabby Petito), and Shawn Licari and Melissa Perry (subjects of documentary “Unknown Number: The High School Catfish). There will be four stops across the Midwest this summer, with Jackson conducting interviews with the subjects followed by a group Q&A session. Find the tour dates right below
June 6, The Vic Theatre, Chicago
June 7, The Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
June 18, The Egyptian Room @ Old National Centre, Indianapolis
June 19, Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oaks
➡️What’s In, What’s Out? ➡️
A quick summary of the businesses around NWI that have come and those that have gone
Edwardo’s Natural Pizza, a longtime staple in Munster, has shuttered its doors. They were known for their Chicago-style pizzas - of which they had a variety of specialty options like a Tex-Mex or BBQ Chicken, as well as a stuffed pizza offering. Multiple locations of the chain have closed recently, with the only remaining location being in the city of Chicago.
The Great American Bagel Company has opened its doors in Munster, only the second of its kind in the state of Indiana. The chain opened this new spot in the Maple Leaf Crossing development, located at 10221 Calumet Ave. They offer somewhere in the ballpark of 30 different bagel varieties, a whole host of cream cheese flavors, paninis, wraps and even smoothies.
William B’s Steakhouse in Blue Chip Casino will be closed for an undisclosed amount of time to go through significant renovations.
Tony’s Deli in Dyer, as of May 1st, is adding a full liquor bar and some 50 seats to their shop. This 1,500 sq. ft. expansion will allow the deli to serve Italian wines and spirits, craft cocktails, beer and much more.
Tossed & Found, an antique shop inhabited an old one-room schoolhouse in northern LaPorte County, has opened its doors. The shop specializes in farmhouse and primitive items and will be open in the warmer months - April to October every year. Stay tuned to their Facebook as their hours will vary week to week, mostly open on weekends.
MizFitz Pizza, a classic Chicago tavern-style pizza shop, has opened its doors in downtown Medaryville. Opened by the Bachan family, they started making pizzas out of a wood-fired oven in a trailer a few years back, but have opened this brick and mortar store finally. They only have a few tables in their small location, but offer carry-out and hope to expand to offering delivery soon.
Blockhead Beerworks, a staple in downtown Valpo that offers Asian fusion cuisine alongside craft beer and spirits, will be opening their second location in LaPorte soon. This new location plans to offer largely the same menu, but will focus kushiyaki skewers as their specialty.
Athens Pita has closed its doors in Munster, after around 6 years of operation. The 437 Ridge Rd. location served Greek fast-casual classics like gyros and falafel, with Chicago iconography adorning its walls.
Daily Grind Coffee and Ice Cream Shop has opened its doors in Dyer, offering a wide, ever-changing variety of ice cream flavors and staple coffee drinks. They are located at 10221 Calumet Ave, open from 12-8pm.
House of Garlic, the Mediterranean food truck that has long been servicing across all of NWI, has announced they have finalized a brick and mortar location in Merrillville. Their plan currently is to open sometime in May and they will be offering the same classic menu locals have come to know them for: shawarma, kebab, falafel and more.
☑️Recurring Reminders for NWI Locals☑️
EARLY VOTING IS OPEN TO ALL INDIANA RESIDENTS AS OF TUESDAY, APRIL 7TH.
BELOW, YOU CAN FIND A LIST OF ALL THE EARLY VOTING SITES.
For the near future, I will be leaving this information about early voting sites in the newsletter each edition so that all Explorers know where they are able to vote early for Indiana’s primary coming up.
Lake County Early Voting Sites
All sites, other than Crown Point, will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays through May 1; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 25 and May 2; and 9 a.m. to noon May 4.
Lake County Government Center Admin Building, 2293 N. Main St, Crown Point
Open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays through May 1; 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 25 and May 2; and 8:30 a.m. to noon May 4.
Carrie Gosch Early Learning Center, 4001 Indianapolis Blvd, East Chicago
Gary Public Library, 220 W. 5th Avenue
Hammond County Courthouse, 232 Russell St.
Wicker Park Breezeway, 8554 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland
Police Communications Center, 705 E. 4th St., Hobart
Lowell Town Hall, 501 E. Main St
Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Road
Schererville Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet St.
St. John Township Assessor, 9157 Wicker Ave.
Winfield Government Complex, 10645 Randolph St.
Porter County Early Voting Sites
All Porter County sites will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through May 1; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on April 25 and May 2; and 8:30 a.m. to noon May 4.
Chesterton Town Hall, 790 Broadway
Hebron Community Center, 611 N. Main St.
Portage
NIRPC Building, 6100 Southport Rd.
North County Complex, 3560 Willowcreek Rd.
Valpo
Porter County Admin Building, 155 Indiana Ave.
Union Township Fire Station #2, 267 N. 600 W
Valparaiso Fire Training Center, 355 Evans Ave
LaPorte County Early Voting Sites
Michigan City - 8th and Wabash, 302 W. 8th St.
April 7th to May 4th
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8am -4pm
Wednesday: 10am - 6pm
LaPorte County Fairgrounds, 2581 W. State Rd 2
April 13th - May 4th
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8am - 4pm
Wednesday: 10am - 6pm
Rolling Prairie - Wills Township Community Center, 6981 E. 350 N
April 21st - May 4th
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8am - 4pm
Wednesday: 10am - 6pm
Wanatah Town Hall
April 21 - May 4th
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8am - 4pm
Wednesday: 10am - 6pm
Starke County Early Voting Sites
Starke County Courthouse, 2nd Floor
April 7th -30th
Weekdays from 8am to 4pm
Saturday, April 25th from 8am to 3pm
Saturday, May 2nd from 8am to 3pm
Monday, May 4th from 8am to noon
North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department
April 23rd and 24th from 11am to 5pm
April 25th from 9am to 2pm
Koontz Lake Sewer District Building
April 30th and May 1st from 11am to 5pm
May 2nd from 9am to 2pm
Jasper County Early Voting Sites
Jasper County Courthouse
April 7th to May 1st - 8am to 4pm
April 25th and May 2nd (Saturdays)
8am to 4pm
American Reformed Church
April 7th to April 30th
9am to 6pm
April 25th and May 2nd (Saturdays)
9am to 4pm
Free tax sessions, focused on property taxes and how they are calculated, are available to NWI residents at the following locations, on the following dates
5:30-6:30 p.m., April 20, Portage Library
6-7 p.m., April 21, Chesterton Library
6-7 p.m., April 28, Valparaiso Library
🌽Farmer’s Market Rundown🌽
A look at the local farmer’s markets and the like that will be running imminently
Crown Point Farmer’s Market
183 S. West St. (Bulldog Park)
Every Saturday from 8am to 1pm, starting May 23rd
Cedar Lake Farmer’s Market
7408 Constitution Ave
Every Wednesday from 3-8pm starting May 13th, some Saturdays starting May 23rd
Miller Beach Farmers Market
667 S. Lake St
Every Sunday from 11am to 1pm, starting June 4th
The Sunday Vibe Market
4405 N Calumet Ave, Valpo
Every Sunday from 10am to 4pm, starting May 17th
Coffee Creek Farmers Market
2300 Village Point, Chesterton
Every Wednesday from 3-7pm, started on April 8th
Farmed and Forged Market
435 Sibley St., Hammond
Every Thursday, from 3:30 - 7pm, starting May 28th
800 Washington St, Michigan City
Every Saturday, from 8am to 12pm, starting May 23rd
Corner of Monroe and Lincolnway, LaPorte
Every Sunday from 10am to 1pm, starting May 24th
Chesterton European Market
Downtown Chesterton
Every Saturday, from 8am to 2pm, starting May 2nd
🎟️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.
Tiny’s Coffee Bar in Miller Beach has recurrent events every single week. Check out their page to find the full slate of events.
Sip Coffee House in Highland has a Wednesday Game Night every single week from 6-9pm. In partnership with the Northwest Indiana Board Game Association.
Valparaiso Pathways Committee holds Free community rides once a month during the warmer months. Click here to look at their schedule of group rides across the city.
Conway Observatory in Lowell hosts open houses once a month for all ages to come in and take a look into the deep stretches of space. Totally free and with different focuses at each open house, you can learn about a host of cool space topics across the year. Find their schedule at the link right here.
Getting into photography or a seasoned vet looking to get out there and shoot more? Lake County Parks Photo Club has regular meetings every 2nd Wednesday at Turkey Creek Golf Course, with regular field trips out in the NWI expanse. Find more info and the full schedule at the link right here.
Gibson Woods Nature Preserve in Hammond holds a weekly Hike through nature every Wednesday. Find their full schedule right here. Pre-registration is required.
Miller Beach Arts and Creative District holds a free community yoga session every Sunday, beginning at 10am at the District building. Find info and other event listings here.
For all the fellow writers out there, Tiny’s Coffee Bar in Miller Beach holds a weekly writing group each and every Saturday, starting at 10:15am. Sometimes all it takes to spark inspiration is being around fellow creatives. Find more info about the group right here
Coffee Creek Farmers Market will be running every single Wednesday from April 8th to October 28th, 3-7pm at the Coffee Creek Pavilion Parking Lot. Find full info about the market right here.
The Dig the Dunes Beer Run & Wine Walk will be starting up on April 23rd, running once a month through the summer and early fall. A new spot in the Dunes area will be selected each month, with a 2-3 mile walk/run taking place before the group kicks back to enjoy a drink along the lakeshore. Find full information at the link right here and find the schedule right below.
Starting on April 25th, and running every Saturday through August, Indiana Dunes National Park’s 1966 Hiking Challenge begins! 19 hikes that cover 66 miles of the Dunes Park trails, celebrating the foundation of the park in 1966. Every Saturday at 8:00 am, hokes will take place in different areas of the park ranging from 1-7 miles. Complete them all and you earn a free 1966 Hiking Challenge sticker to show off to the world. For more details and specifics, click here.
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.
Local Theatre
A Rundown of all the local theatre companies and their upcoming productions.
Chicago Street Theatre, Valparaiso - info here
Well-Suited Theatre - April 17th
Teenfest 2026 - May 22nd-24th
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
Hamlet; running from June 5th to 21st
Beatniks on Conkey, Hammond - Info Here
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
Swan Lake - April 18th (two performances - 1pm and 7pm)
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.
What to Expect in April
Running Vines Winery in Chesterton has a slate of events, specials and programming for the whole month of April - including singo events, trivia nights, live music and brunch specials. Find their full schedule below.
Tulip Tyme at Harvest Tyme Farm is now open to the public. Wander through the fields of over 300,000 tulips and take in the beauty and serenity of NWI spring. Concessions will be available, but the amusement rides will not be in operation. Learn more at Harvest Tyme’s website right here.
Head out to the J. Timothy Ritchie Trail in Chesterton on April 22nd for an Earth Day Forest Therapy Hike. In partnership with Dig the Dunes and led by Lorraine Fitzgerald, this mid-week forest hike is meant to celebrate the abundance of the natural world and appreciate all of the beauty that we have before us here in NWI. Find tickets and more info right here.
Shoreline Brewery in Michigan City will have a Jazz Night on April 20th, from 7-10pm. Featuring performances from Bill Romer & Friends, this is sure to be a lovely time. Find more information right here.
A free screening and afterward discussion of Ken Burns’ The American Revolution (courtesy of Lakeshore Public Media) will be taking place at Valparaiso University’s Harre Union on April 22nd, at 3pm. The program will feature clips from the 12-part series and discussion with historians. Find more info right here.
Gabis Arboretum in Valpo is hosting a Woodland Miniature Workshop on April 23rd, starting at 3pm. Unleash your creative spirit and learn all about the construction of woodland miniature houses while spending the day out in nature on the Heron Trail. Find more info here. On April 24th, they will also be holding an Arbor Day Celebration starting at 6pm, featuring tree planting and a guided evening hike. Info for that event can be found right here as well
On April 23rd, 7pm, Go down to The Hangar Grill Pub in La Crosse for a bout of Chicago Trivia! Paired with the night of trivia are some Windy City classics - Italian beefs, Chicago dogs, Maxwell Street Polish, and (of course) some Chicago Handshakes to wash it all down.
Avenue 912 will be hosting a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on April 24th. Obviously, if you know you know. This is an all-ages event, but there will be a full bar available for the 21+ folks.
Coming to the Hammond Civic Center on April 25th, an unforgettable night of action will ensue when Armored Medieval Martial Arts comes crashing through town. Top fighters from all over the world will be duking it out in full armor, bashing each other with swords, maces and shields across 10 epic bouts. Find tickets and full details right here.
Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City will be hosting a Commune + Market event from April 25th to the 26th. Tens of artists and local creatives will be in attendance, offering an enticing mix of fine arts and crafts.
Cedar Lake Farmers Market at Harvest Tyme will be taking place on April 25th + 26th, from 10am to 6pm. Shop incredible local vendors and stroll through the hundreds of tulip blooms on the Harvest Tyme farm. Support local and find unique handmade goods, all in the beautiful Springtime of NWI. Full info can be found right here.
Water Fest will be taking place on April 25th, courtesy of the City of Hobart. Take in a day at Robinson Lake, meeting with the community and learning more about the natural resources that make our surroundings so unique. Family-friendly event with so much to do. All the info can be found right here.
Purdue Northwest’s Food and Beverage Festival will be taking place on April 29th, starting at 5pm until 7pm. Sample a variety of culinary offerings and beverage options, all prepared by the HTM students. Tickets and full info can be found here.
Live Music For the Month of April
Hobart Art Theater
The Steepwater Band and Parker Barrow @ Memorial Opera House (April 24th)
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band @ Hard Rock Casino (April 24th)
Wayne Baker Brooks @ Hard Rock Cafe (April 25th)
Abacab - The Music of Genesis @ Theatre at the Center (April 25th)
The Indigos @ Hard Rock Cafe (April 25th)
May Events will starting popping up in the newsletter on Thursday’s edition of NWI Explored. Stay tuned!
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.”
