GO! Jan. 9, 2014 by The Times of NWI

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01.09.2014-01.15.2014

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Heat up the season

OVER THE TOP ELVIS FEST N W I .CO M /G O

WARSAW INN COMFORT FOOD

ROSS THEATER DOES SPAMALOT 0 1 .9. 2 0 1 4 / T H E T I M E S M E D I A C O . / G O !

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HERE’S WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT WEEK

OUR TEAM

ELOISE VALADEZ / go! editor

“Seeing the Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular at Star Plaza.”

219.933.3365 / eloise.valadez@nwi.com

MATT SHARP / music-clubs events-calendar 219.852.4308 / matt.sharp@nwi.com

TARA MCELMURRY / social media-content producer

“Going sledding.”

219.933.4333 / tara.mcelmurry@nwi.com

PHIL POTEMPA / critic-at-large 219.852.4327 / phillip.potempa@nwi.com

KATHLEEN DORSEY / niche managing editor

“Going to see ‘Phantom of the Opera.’”

219.933.3264 / kathleen.dorsey@nwi.com

PAT COLANDER / niche editor 219.933.3225 / pat.colander@nwi.com “Attending the opening of ‘Ghost: The Musical.’”

BILL NANGLE / executive editor 219.933.3329 / william.nangle@nwi.com

CHRIS WHITE / publisher go@nwi.com

WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Eloise Valadez / food and restaurants Tom Lounges / music and theater Tim Shellberg / picks and tickets John Brokopp / casinos Phil Potempa / events and entertainment Matt Sharp / listings and clubs

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“Taking some family to Three Floyds for the first time.”

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Checking out the new 18th St. Brewery on Lake St. in Miller.”

Copyright 2014 Go! is published Thursdays by The Times Media Co. and Lee Enterprises. No part of Go! may be reproduced without prior written consent. For permissions requests, reprints, back issues and more information, call 219-933-3200 or visit nwi.com/pages/contact-us

CARE TO COMMENT? With all this snow coming down in our Region how are you making the best of it with friends and family? On making the best of the snow: DAVID BARRETT VIA FACEBOOK: “I like to run around outside in this weather in my cowboy boots and hat.” PAM KUTCH DOLSON VIA FACEBOOK: “Staying in, cleaning the house and doing laundry—probably have to go out and shovel again.” AMANDA HOJNACKI WYATT VIA FACEBOOK: “I am finally sitting down and putting pictures in the five collage frames I’ve had sitting around for months. One child is in his room playing Legos and the other is napping. Daddy is relaxing.” JILL POTTER BROWN VIA FACEBOOK: “Law and Order Special Victims Unit marathon!” GUADALUPE FLOREZ VIA FACEBOOK: “Sitting under an electric blanket with a cup of coffee and a good book.” Follow us on social media to join the conversation. For next week, What is your perfect staying-in activity? Best movie to watch? Food to order in? LET US KNOW! facebook.com/gonwitimes

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FUN+GAMES 10 / CASINO SCENE Gamblers can control their destiny with craps

24/7 11 / CALENDAR Your guide to the latest events and happenings in Northwest Indiana and surrounding regions.

THE BIG SCREEN 14 / CAPSULES The lowdown on all the latest films at a multiplex near you.

COVER STORY 8 / BLIZZARD BUSTERS Outdoor activities beat the winter cabin fever

FOOD 16 / FUEL Warsaw Inn offers a taste of the old country. 18 / TASTES Your guide to the hottest spots in the foodie scene of NWI.

MUSIC+CLUBS 4 / LOCAL SCENE Tom Lounges’ column gives an inside scoop on the Elvis Extravaganza at Star Plaza.

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SEE+DO 6 / PHIL POTEMPA Phil Potempa’s entertainment column goes behind the scenes at M & M Productions’ “Spamalot”.

Shawn Klush as Elvis

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01.09.2014-01.15.2014

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Heat up the season

THEATER 7 / ON STAGE The latest local theater productions and shows.

A JOB CLOSER TO YOUR KIDS

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OVER THE TOP ELVIS FEST n w i .co m /g o

WARSAW INN COMFORT FOOD

this on your mobile device. Monster. Find Better.™ ROSS THEATER DOES SPAMALOT 0 1 .9. 2 0 1 4 / T h e T i m e s m e d i a C o . / G o !

ON THE COVER: Jessica Trail and her daughter Kristen Trail, 12, sled on a hill made by a snow plough in a parking lot in downtown Hobart. PHOTO BY

JONATHAN MIANO

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DOUBLE DOOR Doubledoor.com

Top songs on iTunes • Tuesday ➙ 1. Timber by Pitbull • 2. Counting Stars by OneRepublic • 3. Dark Horse by Katy Perry • 4. Say Something by A Great Big World • 5. Story of My Life by One Direction • 6. Let Her Go by Passenger • 7. Royals by Lorde • 8. Roar by Katy Perry • 9. Wake Me Up by Avicii • 10. Demons by Imagine Dragons

Birthday tour honors Elvis’ music, memory and legacy ‌Tom Lounges / Times Correspondent‌

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he King of Rock ‘N’ Roll’s music, memory and legacy will be remembered for the 27 consecutive year by those who knew him, those inspired by him and those who will never forget him or the impact Elvis Presley made on pop culture. Northwest Indiana concert promoter Omar Farag has once again teamed up an amazing collective of performers to cover all the eras of Presley’s career – from Elvis’ early Hillbilly Cat-era, to the chart-topping ‘50s and early ‘60s period (including the movie years), to his black leather return to glory in 1968, and the triumphant Las Vegas years of the early 1970s. “We close the birthday show with Elvis of the early 1970s, when he was in good health and at his best as a performer,” said Shawn Klush, who wraps up the multi-artist concert while sporting Presley’s trademark white jumpsuit and tossing out some well-time karate moves during tunes like “Polk Salad Annie,” “Burnin’ Love,” “American Trilogy” and “If I Can Dream.” (shawnklush.net) Klush has been a professional Elvis tribute for about 15 years and his career got kicked into overdrive nine years ago when he was voted as “The World’s Greatest Elvis” by the BBC in England and that same year, named the first ever “Elvis Ultimate Tribute Artist” by Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis. “Since I was 3-years-old I’ve been in love with this music, this whole era,”

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Donny Edwards portrays young Elvis Presley. Edwards is featured as part of the Star Plaza’s Elvis Extravaganza performance. P R O V IDED P HO T o

Sonics, 8:30pm Feb 27. $25 (21 and older) Swizzle Tree, 8pm Feb 7. $10-$12 (21 and older) All concerts listed below are all ages unless otherwise noted. Some of the ticket prices below do not include taxes and fees.

HOUSE OF BLUES Hob.com Him, 7pm March 12. $50.10

Head for the Hills, Chatsworth and Dupree, 8pm Jan 31. $15

Christina Perri, 7pm April 9. $47.60

Thao and the Get Down, Stay Down, 8 pm Feb 1. $18-$22 REGGIES ROCK CLUB Reggieslive.com Slaughterhouse, 9pm March 28. $25 (17 and older) The Coup, 8:30pm Feb 7. $15-$17 (17 and older) ROSEMONT THEATRE Rosemonttheatre.com

RIVIERA THEATRE Jamusa.com St. Vincent, 7 pm April 5. $29 (18 and older) CITY WINERY Citywinery.com Bob Mould, 8pm March 2. $30-$38 (21 and older) Jeff Daniels, 8pm Jan 30. $25-$45 (21 and older)

Edwards. “To be on stage with him is a real honor. He’s a living legend.” (donnyedwardslive.com) “I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania (Pittston) where music of all kinds soaked into me like a sponge because my dad was a DJ for radio station WPTS which no longer exists. I was unknowingly being shaped by the music he’d always be playing, which included lots of Elvis,” recalled Klush. “When I was growing up, kids my age were mostly listening to KISS, Journey and those kinds of bands. They were alright, but they didn’t connect with me the way Elvis’ music has always done.”

Hood Smoke, 8pm Jan 30. $10 (21 and older)

CITY WINERY Citywinery.com

Kari Jobe, 7pm Feb 28. $35.40-$45.65

said Klush, adding how performing and becoming friends with the likes of DJ Fontana, Mark Blackwood, The Sweet Inspirations and others from Presley’s inner circle has been remarkable. “DJ was with him from the beginning and The Sweets worked with Elvis from 1969 until June 26, 1977 in Indianapolis for his final concert. Having them perform with us on these shows just as they did with Elvis is phenomenal.” “My set focuses mostly on the early RCA hits and because DJ played on all those records with Elvis, he plays drums on some of them,” said Donny

Latryx, 9pm Jan 25. $12-$15 (21 and older)

Ben Sollee, 8pm Jan 17. $16-$20 (21 and older) Eric Bibb and Ruthie Foster, 8pm Feb 20. $32-$38 (21 and older) Charlie Mars, Toby Lightman, 8pm Jan 22. $22-$28 (21 and older) VIC THEATRE Jamusa.com Jeff Tweedy, 8pm Feb 14-15. $75-$150 (18 and older)

Carcass, The Black Delilah Murder, 7pm April 5. $41.55 PARK WEST Jamusa.com Mike Gordon, 8pm March 8. $25 (18 and older) LINCOLN HALL Lincolnhallchicago. com Cloud Cult, 9pm Feb 28. $20 (21 and older) Nick Waterhouse, 10pm Feb 21. $15 (21 and older) Lake Street Dive, 9pm March 7. $20 (21 and older) The Augustines, 9pm March 15. $20 (21 and older) OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC Oldtownschool.org Bob Mould, 8pm March 1. $34 Iron & Wine, 8pm Feb 1. $100 METRO Metrochicago.com Warpaint, 9pm March 28. $20 (18 and older) SCHUBAS Schubas.com Jake Clemons, 9pm March 28. $12 (21 and older) Yellow Ostrich, 8pm March 31. $14 (21 and older) Gardens & Villa, 10pm March 1. $12 (18 and older)

Send information on upcoming concerts to nwitickets@gmail.com.

A native of Las Vegas, Edwards turned professional Elvis entertainer in 2002 and landed on the public radar in a big way as “Blue Suede Elvis” on ABCTV’s “The Next Big Thing,” likewise had “connected” with Presley’s music at a very early age. The same is true for the youngest of the side-burned bunch, 22-year-old Cody Ray Slaughter of Arkansas. (codyrayslaughter.com) “The first time I went on stage as Elvis was in second grade,” recalled Slaughter. “I had a homemade jumpsuit, a bad wig and lip-synced for a school talent show.” Slaughter turned professional at age 13 when recruited for “Tony Roi’s Elvis Experience” in Branson, Missouri before joining up with the “Legends In Concert” production in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. “We’re very happy to have Ryan Pelton back with us,” said Farag, whose last performance on the O.M.A.R. Presents…” tour was in 2009, the same year Cleveland-born Pelton made his film debut in the indie film “Hounddog,” starring Dakota Fanning, Robin Wright Penn and Piper Laurie. (ryanpelton.com) Klush believes Presley’s continued popularity with two generations of fans not even born when Elvis was performing is because people continue to feel that same “connection” to Elvis that he felt from the music. “Kids today listen to a song that Elvis, DJ (Fontana), Scotty (Moore) and Bill (Black) recorded over 50 years ago and it still rocks today like it rocked then. Elvis was cool. Elvis is still cool.” Rock And Roll Hall of Famer Fontana — who provided the back beat on Elvis records and tours for 14 years , appeared in many of Presley’s 28 films, and who is part of Saturday’s line-up at Star

Plaza – agrees with Klush. “Elvis always had a strong presence that can still be felt when you hear those old songs,” said drummer nicknamed The Tennessee Thunder. “When Elvis walked in a room you could just feel the energy and when he unleashed that energy on stage, whoa boy, watch out!” “He left us way too early and we do this (tribute) because somebody needs to carry on and keep the magic and the music of Elvis alive,” said Klush. Dan Lentino, Music Director and guitarist of the 14-piece Fabulous Ambassadors Show Band providing back up for all performers on the tour agrees with Klush. “This (show) gives Elvis fans that grew up with him a chance to relive their memories. It gives fans born after his death, a chance to experience what Elvis was like in concert in his prime,” said Lentino. “It’s an experience where time stands still. This is a show where everyone on the stage shares the same kind of love and respect for Elvis as the fans, because everyone on stage IS a fan.” (www.ambassadorshows.com) “Elvis’ music is timeless,” added show producer Farag. “We strive to present the highest quality Elvis show possible with the ultimate respect for his memory, his music and his fans.” As to where Presley’s career might have gone had he not died at age 42 on August 16, 1977 can only be speculated. Fontana is confident Elvis would have continued performing and might have made more films. Klush believes Elvis would have gravitated more into country and gospel music had he lived. “I know that Elvis would still be singing today if he were still with us,” agreed Estelle Brown, who lent her voice to Elvis on record and on tour for

eight years as a member of The Sweet Inspirations. “He loved singing gospel music more than anything. Elvis would warm up before shows with all of us gathered around him singing gospel songs he sang as a child in church. I think he would have recorded more gospel records and focused more on gospel music as he got older. Elvis was one of the most spiritual people I’ve ever met and I feel him there with us every night when we perform.” (thesweetinspirations.org) The gospel side of Elvis will be spotlighted on stage during the birthday celebration concert by Mark Blackwood and The Blackwood Gospel Quartet. Along with singing few of Elvis’ favorite sacred songs, Mark Blackwood will share the story of how Presley once auditioned for his father, a co-founder of The Blackwood Brothers and how different history might have been. Fontana also takes a few minutes respite from beating the drums to join Lentino for a short Q&A session about what life was like with young Elvis at a time when, as Fontana charming puts it “had a tiger by the tail.” With all that takes place during the two-plus hour concert (with a 15 minute intermission), Farag’s claim that “The Elvis Tribute Artist Birthday Spectacular” is “the total Elvis experience” seems to be right on the money. The King is dead. Long live the King! FYI: The Elvis Tribute Artist 79th Birthday Spectacular Concert will be presented at 8 p.m. Jan. 11 at Star Plaza Theatre, Interstate 65 and U.S. 30, Merrillville. The show stars Shawn Klush, Cody Ray Slaughter, Donny Edwards, Ryan Pelton, DJ Fontana, The Sweet Inspirations, The Blackwood Quartet and The Fabulous Ambassadors Band with Dan Lentino. Tickets are $19.50, $39.50 & $49.50. Call (800) 745-3000 or visit starplazatheatre.com

Go! OUT

Live Music VENUES Buddy and Pal’s Place Crown Point 1206 E. Summit St., Crown Point, IN 46307; 219.662.0088 Buddy and Pal’s Place Schererville 340 U.S. 30, Schererville, IN 46375; 219.865.8377; buddyandpals.com J.J. Kelleys 2455 Bernice, Lansing, IL 60438; 708.474.9977; jjkelleyslansing.com Meyers Castle Lounge 1370 Joliet Street, Dyer, IN 46311; 219.865.8452; meyerscastlelounge.com Longshots Sports Bar 2251 US HWY 41, Schererville, IN 46375; 219.322.0080 White Rhino 101 Joliet Street, Dyer, IN 46311; 219.864.9200; whiterhinoonline.com Stadium 1480 Joliet Street, Dyer, IN 46311 Zodiac 113 N. Main St., Crown Point, IN 46307; 219.663.0303; zodiaccafelounge.com Woodhollow After Dark 200 U.S. Hwy 41, Schererville, IN 46375; 219.864.8862 Bullpen Bar & Grill 1013 W. U.S Hwy 30, Schererville, IN 46375; 219.322.7788; gotobullpenbar.com Goodfellas 11200 W. 129th Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 46303; 219.374.6700; Goodfellascedarlake.com Social 219 2350 Cline Ave., Schererville, IN 46375: 219.322.3060: socialtwoonenine.com Danny Z’s 1860 45th St., Munster, IN 46321; 219.924.3500: dzpubngrub.com Beer Geeks 3030 45th St., Highland, IN 46322: 219.513.9795: Beergeekspub.com

Diva for a Day

ghter Cody Ray Slau

Shawn Klush JUST ADDED Special Guest

January 11, 2014

tions

Star Plaza Theatre • Merrillville, IN THEATRE BOX OFFICE: Sun - Thur, noon-3 pm • Fri & Sat, noon-6 pm PHONE: 800-745-3000 ONLINE: www.ticketmaster.com

www.etaspectacular.com

n w i .co m /g o

Donny Edwards

Sweet Inspira

Ryan Pelto n The Blackwoo

d Quartet

D.J. Fo nta

Mother/Daughter Luncheon and Afternoon of Fun Sunday, January 19, 2014

The Halls of St. George • 905 E. Joliet Street • Schererville, IN

Join us for lunch, entertainment, shopping, raffles, bake sale and 3 fun breakout sessions that include manicures, chair massages, skin care, make up applications, self defense, music, kids games, gymnastics, story time with Princess Belle and more!

Purchase tickets by 1/13/14 to be entered to win 2014 American Girl Doll of the year!

• Tickets can be purchased at www.evenbrite.com (search Diva for a Day in Schererville, IN) • Proceeds from this event will benefit the Divas organization. www.divas-inc.org For more info, contact Suzie, B&B Custom Events 219-689-2162 www.BandBCustomEvents.com 0 1 .9. 2 0 1 4 / T h e T i m e s M e d i a C o . / G o !

Celebrity birthdays Jan. 9: Singer Joan Baez is 73. Guitarist Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin is 70. Singer Buster Poindexter is 64. Singer Crystal Gayle is 63. Actor J.K. Simmons (“Juno,” ‘’Spider-Man” movies) is 59. Actress Imelda Staunton (“Harry Potter” movies, “Vera Drake”) is 58. Guitarist Eric Erlandson (Hole) is 51. Actress Joely Richardson is 49. Guitarist Carl Bell of Fuel is 47. Singer Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth is 47. Singer Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band is 47. Actress Joey Lauren Adams (“Chasing Amy,” ‘’Big Daddy”) is 46. Singer A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys is 36. Guitarist Drew Brown of OneRepublic is 30. Actress Nina Dobrev (“The Vampire Diaries”) is 25.

The royal treatment M&M Productions and Ross Music Theatre ready for grand staging of Monty Python’s ‘Spamalot’ ‌Philip Potempa / philip.potempa@nwi.com‌

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hile Mike Reinhart is busy helping finish final touches for the sets of his Northwest Indiana theater group’s latest stage production, his wife is busy sewing a school of fish, the scaly, silly props needed for the splashy big opening number of their new musical. “Because of the weather, we’ve been busy catching up,” said Reinhart, leading the charge for the funny and over-thetop medieval spoof “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” “But it’s a fun show to do and we have a talented cast with lots of energy keeping us on schedule.” M & M Productions and Ross Music Theatre unveils their new run of “Spamalot” this weekend, with performances continuing the following weekend through Jan. 19. “Lovingly ripped-off” as an adapted stage musical from the classic 1975 British humor film comedy “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” with book and lyrics by Eric Idle and a score created by Idle and John Du Prez, it retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and features a bevy of beautiful show girls, with cows, killer rabbits and sarcastic French people tossed in for added silly seasoning. The 2005 Broadway production won three Tony Awards, including “Best Musical,” and received 14 Tony Award

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nominations. “This talented cast has actors and actresses that come from all over Northwest Indiana from Merrillville to Kouts to Elkhart, and Michigan City,” Reinhart said. “We did the auditions last September and had intended for this to be an October run, but then decided to push it back as the first production to welcome the new year.” Among the large cast are Doug DeLaughter of Crown Point as King Arthur, Tim Slatton of Michigan City as Sir Robin, Will Akins of Merrillville as Sir Lancelot, Steve Elser of Merrillville as Patsy, Russel Cole of Merrillville as Sir Galahad, Pat Pohrte of Schererville as The Black Knight, Jacob Reinhart of Merrillville as Sir Bedevere, Justin Williams of Elkhart as Prince Herbert and Sheree Guderman of Kouts as The Lady of the Lake. “The show promises to be stunning both the eyes and ears with 40 moving lights hazers, fog machines, 25 cordless mics and a 20 plus piece orchestra,” Reinhart said. “Add to that some hilarious Monty Python animation and this will be a great night of entertainment.” He said had the production played the original fall run, it would have ranked as the first regional product of this musical. However, in November, Marian Theatre Guild in Whiting launched a successful run that also attracted eager audiences.

M & M P r o d u ct i o n s P h o t o

Pat Pohrte, who plays The Black Knight and Sheree Guderman in her costume as The Lady of the Lake, take a break during this week’s rehearsals as they prepare for Friday’s opening night of M&M Productions and Ross Musical’s production of “Monty Python’s Spamalot.”

The first professional regional production of this salute of silly songs and parody skits that comprise the Monty Python trademark humor was in December 2010 at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook. Prior the New York of the original production, Broadway producers first tested it with a Windy City run that took Chicago by storm when it was ran in 2004 before heading to Broadway. Even the producers for the Drury Lane run were nervous about tackling such a large-scale production, until they struck a deal to lease all of the original costumes for the London production of “Spamalot.” The Broadway musical production has about 2,000 costumes and needed accessories, when considering everything from the shields and chainmail to the armor. Reinhart said no costumes nor props or scenery have been rented for his production this month. “We’ve created everything right here,

with the casting helping out with much of the costuming,” he said. The original production that played Broadway boasted more than 1,500 hysterical performances, sharing a silly version of the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and their quest for the Holy Grail as they encounter everything from a chorus line of beautiful dancing divas to a legless knight and even disco balls. “We really haven’t changed much,” Reinhart said. “But we do emphasize it is rated PG-13 so that families and parents use their own discretion for the silly humor.” WHAT: “Monty Python’s Spamalot” by M&M Productions and Ross Musicals • WHERE: Reinhart Auditorium at Merrillville High School, 276 E 68th Pl, in Merrillville • WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 and 18 and 3 p.m. Jan. 19 • HOW MUCH: Tickets in advance are $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens and students. At the door, tickets are $12 and $10 • FYI: m-mproductions.com or (219) 947-4922 or from any cast member

THEATER NOW SHOWING JAN 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 SPAMALOT 7:30-10pm, Reinhart Auditorium, 276 E 68th Pl, Merrillville. m-mproductions.com. Admission: $12. Monty Python’s hilarious musical romp, based on the movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” is coming to Merrillville’s Reinhart Auditorium.

JAN 10-12 TOWLE COMMUNITY THEATER 2014 SEASON PREVIEW Friday-Saturday Reception at 7pm, Show at 8pm, Sunday Reception at 1pm, Show at 2pm. Towle Community Theatre, 5205 Hohman Avenue, Hammond. 219.937.8780. towletheater.org. Season Ticket Holders $5, Non-Season Ticket Holders $10. Enjoy a preview of the upcoming shows at the Towle Community Theatre, including Adrift in Macao and Romeo and Juliet.

JAN 11, 13-18 HANSEL AND GRETEL 11am, 2pm Sats, 9:45am, 11:30am Mon-Fri, South Suburban College, 15800 State St, South Holland. 708.210.5741. ssc.edu. Suitable for young and old alike, this exciting, delightfully amusing variation of a classic Grimm tale tells the story of Hansel and Gretel who are lured by a witch to her gingerbread house

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Radisson Hotel, the Star Plaza offers a total entertainment package to area theatergoers.

where she plans to eat them.

VENUES Indiana CHICAGO STREET THEATER 154 W Chicago St, Valparaiso. 219.464.1636. chicagostreet.org. Now in its 58th season of bringing live theatrical entertainment to the greater Northwest Indiana region, the CST presents a variety of plays and musicals each season, in addition to regularly scheduled theater classes for both adults and children. Jan 31-Feb 15: The Beauty Queen of Lenane. FOOTLIGHT PLAYERS 1705 Franklin St, Michigan City. 219.874.4035. footlightplayers.org. This community theater group has been entertaining audiences in Michigan City for more than 50 years with its productions of dramas, comedies and musicals. Feb 7-23: The Dream Continues. MARIAN THEATRE AUDITORIUM 119th and Lincoln Avenue, Whiting. 219.659.3776. The Marian Theatre Guild, founded in 1928, is the oldest continuous community theatre group in Indiana. The guild is committed to providing audiences with riveting dramas, lighthearted comedies and wonderful musicals with local Northwest Indiana premieres. Productions are shows in April and November with dinner shows on

T O N Y V. M A R T I N

Towle Theatre in Hammond Saturdays. Season ticket plans are available. April 26-27, May 3-4: The Guys. Nov 1-2, 8-9, 15-16: Shrek the Musical. THE MEMORIAL OPERA HOUSE 104 E Indiana Ave, Valparaiso. 219.548.9137. mohlive. com. This renovated, 364-seat building—with red, white and blue stained-glass windows—was built as a living memorial to the Civil War veterans of Porter County. Built in 1893, the theater has a rich history as a venue for musical and dramatic performances. Feb 21-March 9: Anything Goes. ROSS MUSIC THEATER 227 Center Street, Hobart. m-mproductions.com. Ross Music Theatre is a community theater group whose goal is to

involve everyone who wants to in the magic known as theater. Ross Music Theatre in association with M & M Productions puts on a two musical show season every year with an occasional third musical.

STAR PLAZA THEATRE I-65 & US 30, Merrillville. 219.769.6600. starplazatheatre.com. With 3,400 seats arranged in two intimate seating levels, the

theater consistently hosts premier performers year-round. With its convenient location in the heart of Northwest Indiana’s shopping and dining district and its proximity to the adjoining

THE THEATRE AT THE CENTER Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.3255. theatreatthecenter. com. This theater, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago, has the distinction of being the only professional equity theater in Northwest Indiana, and showcases the artistry of professional actors, musicians and designers from throughout the Midwest. Feb 20-March 30: Cash—Ring of Fire TOWLE COMMUNITY THEATER 5205 Hohman Ave, Hammond. 219.937.8780. towletheater.org. To honor its mission of nurturing and celebrating local talent in the arts, the Towle Community Theater presents exhibitions, theatrical productions and musical performances in the heart of downtown Hammond.

Illinois

PROVIDED

“Spamalot”

AUDITORIUM THEATRE OF ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY 50 E Parkway, Chicago. 312.902.1500. auditoriumtheatre.org. A National Historic Landmark and a mainstay of Chicago architecture and theatre since 1889, the Auditorium continues to provide unparalleled

ballet performances and a variety of artistic productions. BROADWAY IN CHICAGO various venues, Chicago. 800.775.2000. broadwayinchicago. com. A joint venture between the two largest commercial theater producers and owner/ operators in the U.S., Broadway in Chicago offers the finest of professional stage productions in multiple theaters, all residing in Chicago’s lively Loop. Bank of America Theatre, 18 W Monroe St. Broadway Playhouse, 175 E Chestnut. Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W Randolph St. Oriental Theatre, 24 W Randolph St. CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER Navy Pier, 800 E Grand Ave, Chicago. 312.595.5600. chicagoshakes.com. Prominently located on Navy Pier in Chicago, this venue mounts renowned productions of the plays of William Shakespeare, as well as works from distinguished American and international playwrights and directors. The theater’s mission to reach out to younger audiences is well accomplished with its offerings of children’s productions and student matinees. The architecturally dynamic structure houses both an engaging, 500-seat courtyard theater and a 200-seat black box theater.

0 1 .9. 2 0 1 4 / T H E T I M E S M E D I A C O . / G O !

Tips to beat the winter blues ➙ 1‌ Get outside. • 2 Get plenty of sunlight. • 3 Exercise indoors. • 4 Grow indoor plants. • 5 Have a party. • 6 Make your environment brighter. • 7 Eat “good mood foods” such as bananas and sunflower seeds. • 8 Achieve some easy goals. • 9 Keep yourself healthy. • 10 Surround yourself with family and friends. ‌

WINTERTIME FUN

BLIZZARD BUSTING Playing outdoors heats up the cool season! ‌Julie Dean Kessler‌

‌S

now crunches underfoot and every breath is a bite from the cold, crisp apple of air. With so many ways to enjoy winter, this is no time to hibernate. Think snowy hills sparkling in the sun, moonlit cross country ski trails, the swish of thin blades on ice, tracing your own freestyle joy. Winter’s on the cusp, a good time to investigate possibilities for snowy adventures in northwest Indiana, then find your favorite gloves and dashing scarves.

Ice skating and sledding At Washington Park in Michigan City, the rink is lighted for night skating and there’s a warming fire. Lake County’s Deep River Water Park offers a bigger venue – the Ice

P ROVIDED

Two boys enjoy a day sledding at Oak Ridge Prairie.

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Plaza is 14,000 square feet, including food stands, warming areas, and (cough delicately here), heated bathrooms. It’s also the only ice rink in the area where you can rent skates. “Ice skating here is very, very popular,” says Sandy Basala, superintendent of Visitor Services at Lake County Parks & Recreation department. Special coils under the concrete freeze water for the ice rink and skating opens the Friday after Thanksgiving. “We have a lot of families, Friday night is date night, and skating brings back a lot of memories for older people,” said Basala. If you’d rather stay closer to the ground, sled the hill at Oak Ridge Prairie. For bigger thrills, take on Mt. Tom, the tallest dune in the state park in Porter County. There you’ll find shriek-worthy slopes for tobogganing and tubing. There are also two sledding hills right in the city of Portage. Want the rush without the work? Join the picturesque scene at Buckley Homestead, where bobsled rides Saturday and Sunday afternoons between 1 and 3 p.m. in January and February are oh-so-nostalgic. Just $2 per person! Call ahead, though: The horses can’t pull in icy conditions and there must be a snow base. If scenic views soothe your soul, seek out the indoor pavilion in Portage, where you can hustle over to the concession stand for hot soup and a fantastic view of the lake, says Jenny Orsburn, superintendent of

Provided

Families enjoy ice skating at Deep River waterpark on US 30.

the Portage Parks Department and manager of the Portage lakefront. “Wintertime is really one of the most spectacular times to see Lake Michigan, because it’s a completely different world out there.”

Cross country skiing If you’re all about getting the family moving and in shape, cross country skiing will do it. “It’s very good aerobic exercise, a good activity for beginners and families,” says Basala. “You can scoot along at your own pace” on several miles of wooded and open trails designed for the experienced and for beginners, so if you’re a newbie, not to worry. “You can be out on a brisk, beautiful,

snow-covered day and not travel far.” After that, who can resist? Check the Lake Count Parks web site for descriptions of each park, then click on the Pathfinder, a handy listing of activities in the parks from now to February. Tim Morgan, superintendent of La Porte County Parks, describes cross country skiing in La Porte County’s Red Mill, Bluhm, Luhr, and Creek Ridge parks: “The La Porte County trails aren’t groomed, but there’s an abundance of forest, so you have a true winter wonderland. After a new-fallen snow, all the trees are glistening; it’s very picturesque, with a white blanket of snow over everything. It’s just

PROVIDED

Lake County and LaPorte County parks offer several trails perfect for cross-country skiing once the snow falls. JOHN SMIERCIAK

David Dabertin and Tim Mills-Groniger react after making their way into the lake during a Polar Bear Plunge in Lake Michigan off of Whihala Beach in Whiting, Ind.

beautiful. There might be a rabbit scrunching in the snow, or birds rustling about, but it’s real quiet and calm.” Porter County’s Calumet Trail, with entrances along U.S. 12 at Mineral Springs Road and the Porter/ LaPorte County Line, offers a 9.1-mile venue for cross country skiing or snowshoeing. Cross-country skiing is best along the interconnecting loops of the National Lakeshore Ly-coki-we Trail in Indiana Dunes State Park. Wherever you go, there has to be at least a four-inch snow base. That’s not just one four-inch snowfall, explains Basala “Even with a heavy snowfall, if there’s just one, there’s no opportunity for the snow to build up, so skis will just go down to the ground.” She advises always calling ahead to check on the conditions of trails and slopes.

SNOWSHOEING Since downhill skiing is more like downslope skiing in northern Indiana, consider snowshoeing. It isn’t just for the cabin-living guy who sets out to snare his dinner. In Porter County, the Indiana Dunes are a fave spot for hiking, along with Calumet Trail and the wooded trails in La Porte County.

N W I .CO M /G O

Families on a budget, this is for you: Snowshoeing can be a less expensive way to go for fun. The shoes are in universal sizes, so they can be shared, and you’re done with rentals.

ICE FISHING If you’re a patient sort, ice fishing may be for you. Head for Three Rivers County Park in Lake Station, Ind., and, lest your plans fall through (yes, pun intended), call 219-962-7810 to verify ice fishing conditions. La Porte’s Pine Lake is dotted with huddled hopefuls once the ice is thick enough. Call (219) 325-8315 for conditions. Want to enjoy nature without the wind chill? A favorite stopping place for Florida-bound Greater Sandhill Cranes is just 40 miles south of Michigan City on U.S. 421 in Medaryville, Ind. The peak of migration is early to mid-November, when as many as 30,000 cranes will rest at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. During daylight hours, you can see the cranes right from your car as they forage within a 10-mile radius along US 421 and Highway 143 at the approach to Jasper-Pulaski. On the eastern edge of one of the large fields Jasper-Pulaski maintains a large handicap-accessible viewing deck.

JOHN LUKE

Kloe Baker, 5, of Hebron makes snow angels during Hebron’s annual Winter festival at the town community center.

Here, if conditions are right, groups of birds will take flight directly overhead, their long necks producing a trumpetlike sound. Just after sunrise, the birds’ trilling calls rise from the group as they begin their dance of bowing and jumping straight into the air. Experts call this

autumn dance a bonding ceremony between lifelong mates. For more information visit • in.gov/dnr/fishwild /3091. htm or call 219. 843.4841. • lakecountyparks.com • laportecountyparks.org • porterco.org

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Top 10 family activities to do in the snow! ➙ 1‌ . Sledding • 2 Build a snowman • 3 Have a snowball fight • 4 Build a snow fort• 5 Shovel a snow maze • 6 Stomp around in a pattern • 7 Search for animal prints • 8 Paint the snow • 9 Make snow angels • 10 Build up big piles to jump in. • For more fun family activities to do in the snow visit: handsonaswegrow.com/ 10-outdoor-snow-activities-giveaway/

Go! PLAY

casino scene

Take charge of the craps table you’ll find in a casino.

J‌ ohn G. Brokopp / jbrokopp@ comcast.net‌

‌H

ave you ever thought of a casino in terms of a stock exchange or commodities market? Sure, it’s a stretch, but similarities are there. Buying and selling stocks, or trading in commodities, are investment activities to be sure, but who would argue they are also forms of gambling? You invest to win but there’s always a very good chance that you could lose. It just so happens that the fellow with a copy of the Wall Street Journal tucked under his arm receives an air of respect as an investor, yet the guy reading a copy of the Daily Racing Form is written off as just a gambler. When you bet your money you take your chances, be that on the Dow Jones, on a bushel of soy beans, or at the craps table. You may ask, “Why the craps table among all the games available in a casino?” It just so happens that when you play craps it’s the closest an average person can come to owning a seat on the stock exchange or being a trader on the floor of a commodities market. When you step up to secure your position at the craps table and buy into the game, you are in charge, which is unlike any other game you can play in a casino. You bet only when you choose to bet. Craps was the first community gaming experience and has always afforded astute players “time on device” whereas slot machine manufacturers have

Times file

Gamblers try their luck at a craps table at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond.

only recently begun to emphasize those trends in new product development. The game itself is the ultimate interactive gambling opportunity. The players themselves have the power to create the synergy that comes with a hot roll, often times making a craps table the sensory focal point on the casino floor. The dealers may very well run a craps game, but it is the players who are in control. Each wagering decision rests literally in the palm of the shooter’s hand. In fact, it’s only the fleeting seconds between the time the dice are sent flying to when they come to rest on the layout that the players aren’t in charge. Craps cannot be compared to blackjack on a skill level as it applies to playing decisions, however the game more than makes up for its deficiencies in that department with its myriad

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of wagering options and the knowledge required to take best advantage of the freedom and flexibility of play. One of the biggest advantages of the game is the fact you can play at your own pace. You can feel comfortable not having your money at risk on every roll, unlike blackjack where if you sit out a hand you always draw attention from other players. The rules of the game permit you to increase or decrease your wagers at any time, even take them down entirely if you so desire. There’s even the option of calling your bets off for a roll or two. It’s strictly up to the player. Deriving the best value from your craps playing experience is simply a matter of avoiding the game’s bad bets, such as many of the gimmicky one-roll propositions, and concentrating instead on what are the very best bets

BONUS ROUND-UP: BLUE CHIP: The 2014 edition of Bride Blu, the ultimate wedding planning experience, will be held on Sunday, February 23 from Noon until 3:00 p.m. in the Stardust Event Center. Sponsored in partnership by Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa and Wedding Day magazine, this event features exhibits by floral designers, planners, DJ’s, bridal boutiques and more. There will also be a fashion show and a Las Vegas trip giveaway. Register at brideblu.com. FOUR WINDS: W Club members earn entries January 11 through February 14 for the chance to win one of 10 vacation packages on Valentine’s Day, Friday, Feb. 14. Every hour from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., one lucky guest will be selected to win a $5,000 vacation getaway. Club members receive one free entry daily by visiting the player’s club. Earn additional entries by playing your favorite slot or table games with your W Card. HOLLYWOOD JOLIET: The “We’ll Pay Your Bills for a Year” promotion is set for Saturday, January 25. Five cash winners will be selected every half hour in drawings scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. At 9:00 p.m., eight winners will have their bills paid for a year. Earn entries now through the day of the promotion. There is a 50-times entry multiplier on Tuesdays. Receive an extra entry for every 25 points earned. Swipe in on January 25 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to activate your entries.

CASINOS

Ameristar Casino 777 Ameristar Blvd.; East Chicago, IN 46312; 219.378.3000; Ameristar.com/ east_chicago.aspx Blue Chip Casino 777 Blue Chip Dr.; Michigan City, IN 46360; 219.879.7711; bluechipcasino.com Four Winds Casino New Buffalo 11111 Wilson Rd.; New Buffalo, MI 49117; 866.494.6371; Fourwindscasino.com Harrah’s Casino Joliet 151 N. Joliet St.; Joliet, IL 60432; 815.740.7800; Harrahsjoliet.com Hollywood Casino 777 Hollywood Blvd.; Joliet, IL 60436; 888.436.7737; hollywoodcasinojoliet. com Horseshoe Casino Hammond 777 Casino Center Dr.; Hammond, IN 46320; 866.711.7463; horseshoehammond. com Majestic Star Casino 1 Buffington Harbor Dr.; Gary, IN 46401; 219.977.7777; majesticstarcasino.com Rivers Casino 3000 S River Rd.; Des Plaines, IL 60018; 888.307.0777; Riverscasino.com

Happenings Indiana JAN 9 ‌

‌THROUGH JAN 12

Recycle Your Living Christmas Tree Taltree Arboretum and Gardens, 450 W 100 North, Valparaiso. 219.462.0025. Families who wish to recycle their live Christmas trees after the holiday season can drop them off at Taltree Arboretum for use as a renewable path material. Donated trees must be free of all decorative materials, including ornaments, hooks, tinsel, nails, lights and stands. For the safety of the wildlife, removal of these non-organic items, especially tinsel, is extremely important. THROUGH MAY 10

Indoor Street Market 8am-1pm, 2nd Sat of each month, Lincoln Community Center Banquet Hall, 2450 Lincoln St, Highland. 219.838.0114. highland.in.gov. This street market moves indoors for the winter. Shoppers can browse breads, honey, spices, dog treats and more.

Bad Art Night‌ 5-7pm, Lansing Public Library, 2750 Indiana Ave, Lansing. lansingpl.org.‌ Here’s your chance to create the worst piece of art imaginable. Use collage, Photoshop, or draw the most ridiculous masterpiece you can. Create your work of bad art before the show or use our materials that night to show your awful creative side. Finished pieces will be displayed.

JAN 10 ‌ Trivia Night Fundraiser‌ 6pm. lcgridironclub. com.‌ The Lake Central Gridiron Club will host a trivia night fundraiser to raise funds for pasta dinners for the football team. Each team is eight people at $25 per person. Arrange a table with family and friends or purchase one or two tickets and you’ll be placed with others. Entry fee includes beer, wine, food, raffles, silent auctions and lot of fun. For more information, contact Linda Scott at (219) 682-6548. Fundraiser will be held in Griffith, location will be given upon personal request. Tickets are sold in advance, door sales will be determined by advance ticket sales.

JAN 11

Ultimate Armwrestling League 10am, The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond, 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond. 866.711.7463. horseshoehammond.com. The Ultimate Armwrestling League brings its gritty competitors and electrifying brand of competition to Hammond for one night. The main event pits all 300 lbs of Jerry “Big Daddy” Cadorette against Marcio “The Brazilian Phenom” Barboza. An open competition for thousands of dollars in prize money starts the day off.

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JAN 11 ‌

219.395.9555.‌ Don’t miss the Dunes Learning Center’s second annual winter open house featuring music, crafts, demonstrations, guided hikes, outdoor activities and a popcorn bar! Last year, more than 125 people enjoyed a day of fun in nature.

Jamrose 6pm, Blue Chip Casino,‌ 777 Blue Chip Dr, Michigan City. 219.879.7711. bluechipcasino.com.‌ Led by 2006 Nashville Star‌finalist Nicole Jamrose, Jamrose plays hits from the 70s, 80s, 90s and today at Blue Chip Casino’s Rocks Lounge.

JAN 11-18 ‌ Winter…Wine… Wonderland 2014 Serenity Springs, 5888 US 35, LaPorte. 219.861.000. serenity-springs.com.‌ This magical evening of wine, dining and fun features tastings of a variety of wines in front of a roaring fire, Southern Italian cuisine and live entertainment.

JAN 11 ‌ ZODIAC, 9:30pm-1:30am, Boomer’s Pub and Grub, 2522 Portage Mall, Portage. 219.763.7300. zodiac69.com.‌ Local favorites Zodiac play a variety of party rock tunes from current to retro.

JAN 12 ‌

JAN 11 ‌ MANuary, 11am-4pm, downtown Whiting. visitwhiting. com.‌ Men and women are invited to a day of shopping focuses on things men love, with sales on sports items at Sun Catchers, pint and shot glasses at Treasures R Us, sport team t-shirts and tin signs, Steak or Bon Mi Bacon sandwiches at Winey Beach Café and more. E&R Crooks offers free haircuts and beard trims.

JAN 11 ‌ Master Ballet Class with Russian Master Teacher‌ 9:30am-12:30pm, Indiana Ballet Theatre, 8888 Louisiana St,

P R O V IDED

‌JAN 11 Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular 8pm, Star Plaza Theater, 8001 Delaware Place, Merrillville. 800.745.3000. Admission $19. The Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular is the best tribute show in the

✔ country, taking audience members through each era of Elvis’ career. The concert features Shawn Klush, Cody Ray Slaughter, Donny Edwards, with special guest Rock and Roll Hall of Famer DJ Fontana, the award winning vocal group The Sweet Inspirations and the gospel group The Blackwood Quartet, all backed by the Fabulous Ambassadors Band.

Merrillville. ibtnw.org.‌ Indiana Ballet Theatre will be hosting two master ballet classes for advanced students only with Russian

J o h n J . W a tk i n s

Master Ballet Class

ballet teacher Valery Lantratov. Space is limited.

JAN 11 ‌ Planetarium Showings‌ Challenger Learning Center, Purdue University Calumet, Hammond. 219.989.3250. Admission: Adults $5, Children $3.‌ The Challenger Center Planetarium presents fun and educational showings of “Watch the Winter Sky Show” and “The Little Star that Could.” The evening will wrap up with the Perseus & Andromeda Story Laser

Show. Schedule as follows: 2pm—Family Science, 3pm—South Shore Skies, followed by The Little Star that Could, 3:45pm—Perseus and Andromeda, 4:20pm—South Shore Skies, followed by The Little Star that Could, 5:10pm—Perseus and Andromeda.

JAN 11 ‌ Dunes Learning Center Winter Open House‌ 11am-3pm, Dunes Learning Center, 700 Howe Rd, Chesterton.

✔

These events are Editor’s Picks

Northwest Indiana Bridal Expo, noon-4pm, Porter County Expo Center, 215 E Division Rd, Valparaiso. nwibridalexpo.com.‌ This premier bridal event in Northwest Indiana returns to the Porter County Expo Center for its fifth consecutive year for an afternoon of Northwest Indiana’s top wedding professionals, fashions, samples, demonstrations, door prizes and much more.

JAN 13 ‌ Fiction Writer’s Group‌ 7-8pm, Calumet City Library, 660 Manistee Ave, Calumet City. eventbrite.com/e/ writers-circlefiction-workshopsession-twotickets-9680224813.‌ National bestselling author Naleighna Kai (Every Woman Needs a Wife; The Pleasure’s All Mine; Open Door Marriage) leads aspiring authors in a winter workshop that gives the ins and outs of the fiction writing and publishing industries. Writers can complete assignments designed to enhance their writing and also share their own works and writing experiences with fellow authors.

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memorable pictures. Ages 10 and up are welcome.

ILLINOIS‌ JAN 18 ‌ JAN 15 ‌ South Lake County Relay for Life Kickoff Meeting‌ 6:30-7:30pm, Crown Point Junior Bulldog Fieldhouse at CP Sportsplex, 1401 E North St, Crown Point.‌ The South Lake County Relay for Life meeting is for all team captains and those interested in learning more about the event. The South Lake County Relay for Life will be held June 13 at the Lake County Fairgrounds with opening ceremonies at 6 p.m.

Benefit to Fight Domestic Violence‌ 6pm-12am, Lansing Knights of Columbus, 17800 Lorenz Ave, Lansing.‌ Tickets are on sale now for the second annual benefit in memory of Gena Chiodo, of Calumet City. Ticket price includes food, draft beer, pop, music by The Relics and prizes. Cash bar available. Raffles, 50/50s and more. Tickets available at the Lansing Knights of Columbus. All proceeds will be donated to local organizations dealing with domestic violence.

JAN 15 ‌

ACTIVITIES Indiana‌

Cell Phone Photography‌ 7-8pm, Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library, 19901 Stony Island Ave, Lynwood. glpld.org.‌ Bring your cell phone and learn techniques for

Ice Plaza at Deep River Waterpark‌ Thursdays 2-9pm, Fridays 2-10pm, Saturdays 12-10pm and Sundays 12-9pm, Deep River Waterpark, 9001 E US 30, Crown

THROUGH FEB 23 ‌ Daniel Pels

Point. 219.947.7850.‌ Deep River Waterpark will be open for Ice Skating on the Friday

after Thanksgiving day through the last Sunday in February.

EXHIBITIONS Indiana‌ JAN 10-12 ‌ Perspectives from Extraordinary Students, 5-8pm, Southern Shore Art Gallery, 724 Franklin St, Michigan City. 219.879.4980. southernshoreartassociation.com.‌ This exceptional exhibit showcases the unique talents of extraordinary young adult art students with special needs. An eight-week art program, made possible by a generous grant from Horizon Bank and contributions from local groups and individuals, allowed these budding artists to create landscapes, drawing, abstract art, papermaking, clay modeling, collage and more under the instruction of artist members of the SSAA. Sandi Kozlowski

Fenders & Figures—Works by Sandi Kozlowski

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‌JAN 11-12 30th Annual Hammond Outdoor Sports Show 9am-5pm Sat, 9am-4pm Sun, Jean Shepherd Center, 3031 J.F. Mahoney Dr, Hammond. 219.554.0155. gohammond.com. For the outdoor enthusiast, Hammond’s annual Outdoor Sports Show

✔ features hunting and fishing retailers, charter services, a trout pond,

tackle reps, boats resorts, a taxidermist, seminars, food, refreshments and more.

JAN 10-MAR 2 ‌

THROUGH FEB 2 ‌

Fenders & Figures—Works by Sandi Kozlowski, The Center for Visual and Performing Arts Atrium Gallery, 1040 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.1839. southshoreartsonline.org.‌ Combining her passions for both art making and motorcycle riding, local artist Sandi Kozlowski pushes the boundaries of her multimedia pieces with the addition of a third dimension, plastic motorcycle parts incorporated on flat acrylic paintings.

Mid-Century Modern—Style in the Age of Mad Men‌ South Shore Arts Gallery, Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.1839. southshoreartsonline.

✔

These events are Editor’s Picks

org.‌ This swanky exhibit travels back in time to a more glamorous age, the time of the 1950s ad men made popular in recent years by AMC’s Mad Men. A tribute to the Mid-Century Modern movement in

architecture and design, the exhibit features furniture, objects, art and advertising as seen on the popular TV series from this memorable era.

THROUGH APR 6‌ Trucks—Recent Works by John Himmelfarb, Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso University Center for the Arts, 1709 Chapel Dr, Valparaiso. 219.464.5365. valpo. edu/artmuseum.‌ Chicago-based artist John Himmelfarb showcase his whimsical

Mid-Century Modern: Style in the Age of Mad Men, sponsored by South Shore Arts at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster. C o u rt e s y o f S o u t h S h o r e Art s

NOLA Resilience by Stephan Wanger.

‌JAN 9 Twelfth Night Celebration 7-10pm, Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts, 540 South Lake St, Gary. Methodist Hospitals Foundation’s Twelfth

✔ Night Celebration starts the countdown to Mardi Gras and launches Bead Town Northwest Indiana, a local exhibit. Opening night, hosted by the Methodist Hospitals Foundation and the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District, is open to the public. Admission is $25 and includes beer, wine, champagne, hors d’oeuvres and a buffet dinner.

outdoor sculpture made out of an actual truck accompanies the exhibit.

THROUGH FEB 8 ‌ We are Porter County, Porter County Museum of History, 153 Franklin St, Valparaiso. 219.465.3595‌ This interactive and engaging exhibit highlights the formation of the county from its founding in 1836 to present day and visitors can learn about the transformation of the county from frontier to modern landscape.

p h o t o s C R EDI T HE R E

THROUGH FEB 9 ‌

‌JAN 15-FEB 8 “Earth and Sky” 6-9pm, Union Street Gallery, 1527 Otto Blvd, Chicago Heights. 708.754.2601. unionstreetgallery.org. Six artists interpret nature’s beauty, mystery and majesty through

✔ drawings, paintings and photographs at this exhibit. Also, JAN 17: n w i .co m /g o

representations of trucks at this exhibit. His works are executed in a wide variety of media—including sculpture, painting and printmaking—and an

Citizen Soldier Citizen, Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W Second St, Michigan City. 219.874.4900.

✔

These events are Editor’s Picks

lubeznikcenter.org.‌ Contemporary works by military combat veterans will be on display at this exhibition honors those who have fought for freedom and those fighting to reintegrate into society after their war experiences. AlsoThrough Feb 24: Theater of Conflict‌

Illinois‌

in visual culture. Also, through Jan 12: Japanese Art of the 1960s—The Challenge of Tradition‌; Through Jan 12: Amar Kanwar—The Lightning Testimonies; Through Jan 9: Violence and Virtue—Artemisia Gentileschi’s Judith Slaying Holofernes‌; Through Feb 16: Dreams and Echoes—Drawings and Sculpture in the David and Celia Hilliard Collection‌; Through Jan 26: focus—Monika Baer‌; Through Jul 27: When the Greeks Ruled—Egypt after Alexander Great‌; Through Apr 14: Ugo Rondinone—we run through the desert on burning feet, all of us are glowing our faces look twisted‌; Through Jan 27: Art and Appetite— American Painting, Culture and Cuisine‌

Through Feb 2 ‌ 80 at 80‌ Museum of Science and Industry, 57th St and Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. 773.684.1414. msichicago.org‌ . Commemorating the museum’s 80th anniversary, this exhibit features 80 rarely displayed artifacts from the museum’s extensive collection. Many of these items will ignite visitors’ memories from past exhibits—such as a gigantic Paul Bunyan statue and TAM, the Transparent Anatomical Manikin—while some are cutting-edge innovations. Ongoing: The Art of the Bicycle.‌

Through JAN 12 ‌

Through Jun 15 ‌

Isaac Julien—The Long Road to Mazatlán‌ The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. 312.629.6635. artic. edu/aic.‌ One of England’s most important artists and independent filmmakers, and a founder of the pioneering Sankofa Film and Video Collective (1983–92), Isaac Julien creates highly seductive films and video installations that explore the representation of race and masculinity

MCA DNA—Warhol and Marisol,‌ Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago. 312.280.2660. mcachicago.org.‌ Inspired by the multifaceted relationship of Andy Warhol and Marisol, this exhibit compares and contrasts Warhol’s silk screen printings and Marisol’s wood sculptures sideby-side. Also, through Jan 5: Paul Sietsema‌; Through Mar 9: The Way of the Shovel—Art as Archaeology.

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Fandango’s top ten ticket presales 1. Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones 2. Frozen 3D 3. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 4. American Hustle 5. The Wolf of Wall Street 6. Saving Mr. Banks 7. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 8. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues 9. 47 Ronin 3D 10. Grudge Match

IN THEATERS THIS WEEKEND

Joaquin Phoenix plays Theodore in “Her”, a film about a man in love with his operating system.

HER

1 hr 59 min | R | Released Jan. 10

Director: Spike Jonze Her, written, directed, and produced by Spike Jonze, explores the story of a sensitive and soulful man earns a living by writing personal letters for other people. Left heartbroken after a long love affair ends, Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) becomes fascinated with a new operating system which reportedly develops into an intuitive and unique entity in its own right. He starts the program and meets “Samantha” (Scarlett Johansson), whose bright voice reveals a sensitive, playful personality. Though “friends” initially, the relationship soon deepens into love. Theodore is taken aback when Samantha briefly goes offline, claiming to have joined other OSes for an upgrade. Theodore asks her if she interacts with other people, and is dismayed when she confirms that she is the OS for 8316 people, and is in love with 641 of them, though she claims that does not change her love for Theodore.

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LONE SURVIVOR

THE LEGEND OF HERCULES

Director: Peter Berg

Director: Renny Harlin

1 hr 38 min | PG | Released Jan. 10

LONE SURVIVOR, starring Mark Wahlberg, tells the story of four Navy SEALs on an ill-fated covert mission to neutralize a high-level Taliban operative who are ambushed by enemy forces in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan. Based on The New York Times bestseller, this story of heroism, courage and survival directed by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) also stars Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster and Eric Bana.

Kellan Lutz stars as the mythical Greek hero – the son of Zeus, a half-god, half-man blessed with extraordinary strength. Betrayed by his stepfather, the King, and exiled and sold into slavery because of a forbidden love, Hercules must use his formidable powers to fight his way back to his rightful kingdom. Through harrowing battles and gladiator-arena death matches, Hercules embarks on a legendary odyssey to overthrow the King and restore peace to the land.

Seventeen-year-old Mariah Mundi’s life is turned upside down when his parents vanish and his brother is kidnapped. Following a trail of clues, Mariah discovers a hidden realm of child-stealing monsters, deadly secrets and a long-lost artifact that grants limitless wealth – but also devastating supernatural power. With the fate of his family at stake, Mariah will risk everything to unravel the Curse of the Midas Box!

2 hr 1 min | R | Released Jan. 10

PG-13 | Released Jan. 10

THE ADVENTURER: THE CURSE OF THE MIDAS BOX Director: Jonathan Newman

Go! TO THE MOVIES ‌ MC Showplace 16 A 875 Deer Creek Drive Schererville, IN 219.322.9762 amctheatres.com

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones 1 hr 24 min | R | Released Jan. 3

Director: Gregory Plotkin In the fifth entry in the series, family and friends try to save a young man who seems to be a magnet for malevolent supernatural forces.

47 Ronin

PG-13 | Opens Dec. 25

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Director: Carl Rinsch

1 hr 54 min | PG | Released Dec. 25

Carl Rinsch makes his directorial debut with this spectacular adventure about a warrior (Keanu Reeves) who helps a group of 47 samurai avenge the murder of their leader. The film is based on an actual historical event during the Edo Period known as “Chushingura.”

Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller), pends day after monotonous day developing photos Life magazine. To escape the tedium, Walter inhabits a world of exciting daydreams in which he is the undeniable hero. But in the 2013 update of this classic story, Mitty gets a real- life chance for adventure.

Director: Ben Stiller

AMC Showplace 12 1400 Eagleridge Schererville, IN 219.322.9264 amctheatres.com AMC Showplace Hobart 12 2590 Southlake Mall Merrillville, IN 219.755.0377 amctheatres.com

Kennedy Theatre 6735 Kennedy Ave. Hammond, IN 219.845.5336 Crown Theatre 19 N Court St. Crown Point, IN 219.663.1616 Hoosier Theatre 1335 119th St Whiting, IN 219.659.0567 Cinemark Theater 700 Porter’s Vale Blvd Valparaiso, IN 800.326.3264 Lansing Cinema 8 16621 Torrence Ave Lansing, IL 708.418.0300

Portage 16 & IMAX 6550 U.S. Highway 6 Portage, IN 46368 219.764.7469 imax. com/theatres/t/ portage-16-imax/ Art Theater 230 Main St. Hobart, IN 219.942.1670 hobartarttheater.com

August: Osage County

Grudge Match

Labor Day

Director: John Wells

Director: Peter Segal

Director: Jason Reitman

The dark, hilarious and deeply touching story of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose lives have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Midwest house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name made its Broadway debut in December 2007.

Pittsburgh boxers Billy “The Kid” McDonnen (Robert De Niro) and Henry “Razor” Sharp (Sylvester Stallone) shared a fierce rivalry back in the 1980s. On the eve of their decisive third bout, Henry announces his retirement, effectively ending both boxers’ careers. Thirty years later, they return to the ring to settle the score once and for all.

Thirteen-year-old Henry Wheeler, who struggles to be the man of his house and care for his reclusive mother Adele while confronting all the pangs of adolescence. The events of this long Labor Day weekend will shape them for the rest of their lives.

The Wolf of Wall Street

‌American Hustle

Inside Llewellyn Davis

Director: Martin Scorsese

Director: David O. Russell

Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), who founded brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont while still in his early 20s, develops habits of wretched excess and corruption.

American Hustle tells the story of brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) who is forced to work for a wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that’s as dangerous as it is enchanting.

INSIDE LLEWELLYN DAVIS follows a week in the life of a young folk singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Guitar in tow, huddled against the unforgiving New York winter, he is struggling to make it as a musician against seemingly insurmountable obstacles—some of them of his own making.

1 hr 59 min | R | Released Dec. 25

2 hr 45 min | R | Released Dec. 25

1 hr 54 min | PG-13 | Released Dec. 25

2 hr 9 min | R | Released Dec. 20

1 hr 51 min | PG-13 | Released Dec. 25

1 hr 44 min | R | Released Dec. 20

LONE SURVIVOR [R] [DIGITAL] 800 1210AM fROzEN [PG] [DIGITAL] 1120AM 200 440 720 1000 AMERICAN HUSTLE [R] [DIGITAL] 110 420 730 1040 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION Of SMAUG [PG-13] [REALD3D] 250 625 [DIGITAL] 1115AM 1005 THE WOLf Of WALL STREET [R] [DIGITAL] 1250 150 540 735 HER [R] [DIGITAL] 1000 1215AM THE LEGEND Of HERCULES [PG-13] [REALD3D] 1000 [DIGITAL]1000 1205AM PERANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE MARKED ONCE [R] [DIGITAL]1225 240 455 710 925

47 RONIN [PG-13] [REALD3D] 125 [DIGITAL] 420 GRUDGE MATCH [PG-13] [DIGITAL] 125 415 705 THE SECRET LIfE Of WALTER MITTY [PG] [DIGITAL] 120 410 700 SAVING MR. BANKS [PG-13] [DIGITAL] 115 410 705 1005 WALKING WITH DINOSAURS [PG] [REALD3D] 250 [DIGITAL] 1230 510 ANCHROMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES [PG13] [DIGITAL]130 420 440 710 1000 THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING fIRE [PG-13] [DIGITAL] 730

Doors open at 9:30am Assistive Listening and Captioning System Avail

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‌ From nwi.com/go ➼Freddy’s Steakhouse, 6442 Kennedy Ave., Hammond, will present “An Evening with Jillian Flathers” from 6 to 10 p.m. Jan. 23. Flathers is the restaurant’s new chef, who was featured on Season 8 of Gordon Ramsay’s “Hell’s Kitchen.”Tickets for the event are $49.95. Visitfreddyssteakhousehammond.com or call (219) 844-1500. ➼Restaurant Closes The Charley Horse restaurant in Munster closed Sunday. The restaurant was established four years ago on Calumet Avenue. ➼Game Day Specials The Game sports bar at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City features Sunday Game Day Specials. Among specials are $2 22-ounce Miller Lite Drafts; $2 hot dogs; $3 Chicago dogs; $3 chips and salsa; $3 Buffalo wings and $5 loaded nachos with shredded pork. Visit bluechipcasino.com. ➼Culinary Panel Discussion A culinary panel discussion will take place at 6 p.m. Jan. 15 at Harold Washington Library’s Pritzker Auditorium in Chicago. WBEZ’s Peter Sagal will moderate. Featured guests will be Paula Haney of The Hoosier Mama Pie Company; Doug Sohn of Hot Doug’s and a representative from The Chicago Diner.

Warsaw Inn: Hearty taste of Poland European spin on comfort food ‌ELOISE VALADEZ / ELOISE.VALADEZ@NWI.COM‌

‌W

alking into Warsaw Inn in Lynwood is like visiting a family home in the Old Country. The atmosphere is warm, the decor is folksy and pleasant and the menu stars hearty, Polish comfort food. Warsaw Inn, established in 1980 by Angie Golum, is a quaint eatery featuring buffet dining. Starring on the menu at the restaurant are homemade ethnic favorites featuring Golum’s family recipes for everything from soups to hot entrees and pastries. “Everything is homemade and it’s Old World food,” Golum said in a previous interview. “People don’t make food like this too much anymore.” Golum’s parents operated a Polish-style buffet during the 1970s in Calumet Park, Ill. and she’s patterned her restaurant after the family’s former eatery. Patrons of the eatery visit from Chicago, the south suburbs and Northwest Indiana with many repeat customers flocking to Warsaw for their fill of the popular ethnic cuisine. During a recent Saturday visit to the

E L O I S E VA L A D E Z

An assortment of salads are pictured including broccoli, creamed peas, carrots and herring.

restaurant, servers warmly greeted quite a few people who had been to the restaurant before. Our Saturday night visit to Warsaw proved satisfying and our hostess and Pictured is the buffet at Warsaw Inn in Lynwood. The buffet features an assortment of salads, hot entrees and pastries.

1/16/2014

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server were attentive and cordial. We got to the restaurant in time for the early bird special (patrons receive $1 off from 4 to 5 p.m.) and were conveniently seated close to the buffet line, a perfect location from which to make repeat visits to the buffet table. Golum’s menu of more than 60 items features not only Polish favorites but standard American fare such as ham, roast beef, fried chicken and other staples. On various days, chef’s specials and daily specials are highlighted. On Saturdays, guests will find popular specials such as BBQ ribs, sauteed liver and onions, chopped steak and fried perch. Guests visiting on Tuesdays will find foods such as roast duck, dressing, fried perch and potato dumplings while Friday specials include baked fish filet, fried shrimp, catfish, perch and lasagna. Among other items on the menu which we enjoyed that night were beef dumpling soup, Polish sausage, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, potato pancakes, chicken Marsala, cheese and potato pierogi, stuffed cabbage, creamed pea salad, sweet carrots, green beans and navy bean soup. The ribs were tender and were bathed in a sweet sauce while the chopped steak featured a delicately spiced flavor and the stuffed cabbage was also a flavorful hit at our table. Dessert choices included kolacky, ice cream, Jell-O, various pastries

Thursdays & Sundays %

30 OFF

Your entire bill on lunch or dinner • Full Salad Bar • Smoke Free Dining Room • Smoking in Bar Only

SPIkeS lakeSIde 2

21 E Joliet St | Schererville, IN

219.322.4444 Not valid with AYCE or any other offer or coupons. Expires 2/9/14.

and potato chip cookies, which were a favorite at our table. Warsaw Inn even sells the potato chip cookies in containers to go. We took our time eating and made three visits up to the buffet throughout our meal. The Polish-themed supper was the perfect choice for such a bitter winter day. In addition to the buffet, guests may purchase carry-out items and catering is available through Warsaw Inn as well.

GREAT SPECIALS AT

FYI: Warsaw Inn is located at 2180 Glenwood Dyer Road, Lynwood. Call (708) 474-1000 or visit angieswarsawinn.com. Hours: 4 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays; 4 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays. Closed Mondays. Call or visit the website for prices.

MONDAYS: Buckets: Domestics 5 for $8/ Imports 5 for $13 “75¢ Wings” TUESDAYS: $2.50 Corona, Modelo, Dos XX Bottles/ $4 Patron “$1.00 Tacos” WEDNESDAYS: 16 oz. Drafts: $2 Domestic /$3 Import/ $3 U Call Its “$5 All American Burger” THURSDAYS: $2 Domestic /$3 Import Bottles/ $5 Don Julio “50¢ Wings” Dine in Only FRIDAYS: $3 Heineken- Heineken Light Bottles/$6 Margaritas/ $6 Long Islands

E l o i s e Va l a d e z

Among hot entrees starring at Warsaw Inn are stuffed cabbage, ribs, pierogi, green beans and potato pancakes. At top, the dining room.

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9 A.Y.C.E. Fish Fry (Dine in Only) $ 75 1 OLDSTYLE EVERYDAY PapiChulo’s Bar & Grill 13601 S. Calhoun Ave. Chicago, IL 60633

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full service Bar & restaurant no One under 21 admitted

smoking allowed

6110 KENNEDY AVE. • HAMMOND, IN • 219-844-9812 • OpEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Bring in This Coupon on Fridays fridays only - All you can eat

BBoneLess oCeAn PerCh - $10.00 $3.00off a ticket of 8 or more $ 00

no coupons or any discounts will apply. dine in only. All food consumed on premise only!

Tax & Tip Not Included. Limited to one coupon per table, per visit. No carry outs. Dine-in only.

• We have a wide variety of Seafood on Fridays •

monDay special saturDay & sunDay specials

1.75

2.00

Domestic Bottles

23 oz. Footballs

Daily lunch specials

Mon thru thurs. 10 AM to 6 PM for $5.75 Fish specials every fridAy, 10AM to 9 PM

AppETIzERS ARE HALF pRICE, MON - THURS. FROM 3 pM TO 6 pM Come watch all your favorite BIG 10 NETWORK teams on our 9 TVs & two 55" HDTV Widescreens! DJ David zane every Fri. and Sat. night, from 9 pM to 2 AM

FISH FRY EVERY FRIDAY • ADULT DINING • FULL MENU CARRY OUT

WWW.CHUCKANDIRENES.COM

• Homemade Soups • Tacos • Daily Specials • Great Variety of Seafood

FULL MENU OF

Sandwiches, Steaks & Fried Chicken

Blackhawks Game Day special When the Blackhawks are playing, we will have Labatt Blue import draft on special Pints for $1.50 on Game day

RESTAURANT GUIDE BENEDICT’S 1103 Joliet St, Dyer, IN. 219.440.7948. Benedict’s focuses on fresh ingredients in every dish, from their traditional breakfast offerings to the chef’s inventive specials. The warm family atmosphere is perfect for a weekend morning, and their juice bar ensures a fresh start to the day. BLACKSTONE WOODFIRE GRILL 7311 Mallard Lane, Schererville. 219.769.0000. blackstonewoodfiregrill.com. Tucked away on old Route 30 in Schererville’s Foxwood Estates, BlackStone Woodfire Grill is Northwest Indiana’s destination for mouthwatering steaks, tender ribs and bonein chops, tasty chicken, and perfectly-grilled seafood. The aroma of the oak, hickory and apple wood-fired grill will awaken diners’ taste buds; the made-from-scratch appetizers, salads and soups will tease the palate. The selection of wines and decadent desserts will tempt all gourmet’s senses. CHUCK & IRENE’S BAR, RESTAURANT AND HOTEL 6110 Kennedy Ave, Hammond. 219.844.9812. chuckandirenes.com. Chuck and Irene’s offers traditional family cuisine in a comfortable and homey atmosphere. Chuck and Irene’s offers a full-service bar, restaurant and hotel.

monday

Thin 95 Large Crust Pizza Unlimited Toppings

Gelsosomo’s sPeCIal

THIN CRUST PIZZA

Valid at Portage Gelsosomo’s only. CARRY OUT, DINE IN OR DELIVERY. Not good with any other offer. Offer expires 1-31-14.

tuesday

Thin $ 99 Medium Crust Pizza Unlimited Toppings

Valid at Portage Gelsosomo’s only. CARRY OUT OR DINE IN. Not good with any other offer. Offer expires 1-31-14.

763-1545 18

GELSOSOMO’S PIZZA 5023 US Highway 6, Portage, IN 46368. 219.763.1545. Other various locations. gelpizza.com. Tom Gelsosomo brought his Italian pizzeria vision to our region with only natural ingredients and high service standards. Gelsosomos has nine locations around the region offering delicious pizza and other tasty Italian fare.

$3.00 OFF larGe PIzza $2.00 OFF medIum PIzza $1.00 OFF small PIzza

Valid at Portage Gelsosomo’s only. CARRY OUT, DINE IN OR DELIVERY. Not good with any other offer. Offer expires 1-31-14.

monday - thursday

Any Purchase % OFF Up To $100

Valid at Portage Gelsosomo’s only. CARRY OUT, DINE IN OR DELIVERY. Not good with any other offer. Offer expires 1-31-14.

Route 6 & County Line Rd. Portage, IN

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Jerk 2 Go

GLENWOOD OAKS RIB AND CHOP HOUSE. 106 N Main St, Glenwood. 708.758.4400. glenwoodoaks.com. The Jarosky family has been serving a solid menu of steaks, chops, fresh seafood and vegetables for a generation, with specials that reflect newly popular items or vegetables in season. But the clientele returns again and again for the staples, which include Angus steaks and chops, sautéed fresh lake perch, oysters Rockefeller done à la Isabelle, and salads of crunchy iceberg lettuce with house dressing. JERK 2 GO 3825 Main Street, East Chicago. 219.391.1000. Jerk 2 Go serves Jerk, African, and Soul food in their convenient East Chicago location. Along with affordable and flavorful food, Jerk 2 Go hosts special event nights, such as comedy nights. NORTHWOODS HEARTY HOME COOKING AND SALOON 968 E Steger Road, Crete. 708.672.1167. northwoodssaloon.com Hearty meals like those on Grandma’s table make up the Northwoods menu, while the warm setting draws diners in. PAPI CHULO’S 13601 South Calhoun, Chicago. 773.646.9000. papi-chulos.net Papi Chulo’s is a friendly neighborhood bar that offers the perfect place to relax, eat and enjoy the game. Papi Chulo’s offers a varied menu from cheese sticks to burgers and other specials. They also offer domestic and imported beers, wines and mixed drinks including signature cocktails. Join Papi Chulo’s for live music and entertainment. PEPE’S MEXICAN Various locations, pepes.com. Established in 1967 by Mario Dovalina and Edwin Ptak, Pepe’s has grown from humble beginnings to become a famous Chicago original. Pepe’s menu offers a broad selection of authentic Mexican style food made with great care and attention to detail. Pepe’s Mexican Restaurants are full-service restaurants that offer casual family dining as well as carryout service.

101 Second St.

Chesterton

728-1647

New Year Specials-Start Your Year Right

New Clients Only-FREE Unlimited Classes for January Existing Clients- $99 Unlimited Classes for January

Yoga * Meditation * Tai Chi * Wellness Classes

www.ewstudios.com P R O V IDED

Every Friday! All You Care To Eat Yellow Lake Perch or Snow Crab Legs!

Villa Cesare THE QUEST 1204 W Lincoln Highway, Schererville. 219.322.4812. thequesteatery.com Enjoy hearty entrees and crowd-pleasing favorites in a fun and inviting atmosphere. Drink specials, music nights and more are sure to draw in the crowds. ROUND THE CLOCK Various Locations, roundtheclock.com. Open 24 hours, Round the Clock restaurants have been a Region staple for and a popular favorite for family dining. Breakfast is always robust and flavorful, while lunches, dinners and desserts are sure to please any crowd. SPIKE’S LAKESIDE INN 21 E Joliet St, Schererville. 219.322.4444. This classic destination combines old-style elegance with modern favorites. Their salad bar is loved by all, and the wide variety of sandwiches offers something for everyone. For dinner, Spike’s seafood is the star, with everything from lake perch to crab cakes made fresh. Spike’s Lakeside Inn also offers catering services. TAPAS CAFÉ 2486 W Lincoln Hwy, Merrillville. 219.769.7008. tapascafe.net. Tapas Café offers a fusion of always-fresh traditional artisan Spanish-Iberic meals. Tapas include a wide variety of appetizers of Spanish cuisine. They may be cold such as Salpicon de Mariscos or warm like the Calamari a la Plancha. Appetizers from the southwest such as the nachos or quesadillas are also available. Salads are guilt-less but flavorful. T-BONES PIER 11. 1111 Lakeside, LaPorte. 219.362.5077. pleastshore.com. This Italian steakhouse is carefully tucked into a cove of scenic Pine Lake. The spacious dining room is reminiscent of a traditional supper club, but a terrace overlooks the harbor and instead of being at a roadhouse, you are on the beach.

As expected, the seafood hits a high standard; a range of salads, pizzas and pasta selections round out the lighter supper fare. This is the place to indulge in a T-bone, New York strip, filet mignon or flat iron steak grilled over a wood fire. TEIBEL’S 1775 US Highway 41, Schererville. 219.865.2000. teibels.com. For 80 years and four generations, Teibel’s has been Northwest Indiana’s “Ideal Family Restaurant.” The tradition continues with the restaurant’s beautiful new fine dining room and many banquet options, along with beloved house specialties including fried chicken and yellow lake perch. T.J. MALONEY’S AUTHENTIC IRISH PUB 800 East 81st Avenue, Merrillville. 219.755.0569. starplaza.com/dining/ diningtj-maloneys. T.J. Maloney’s is one of the area’s top social destinations for meeting with friends, family and business clients. In addition to the genuine atmosphere, the pub features signature, authentic Irish menu items, blended and balanced with American favorites. Irish classics include Corned Beef and Cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie and T.J.’s Famous Fish and Chips, while burgers, hearty sandwiches and homemade soups round out the savory experience. VILLA CESARE 900 Eagle Ridge Dr, Schererville. 219.322.3011. villacesare.com. Villa Cesare is a well-established catering and event venue in Schererville. Villa Cesare offers quality food in abundance and first-class service at its banquet facility. The European decor makes guests feel welcome and conveys a sense of elegance for any event. Among the events held at the Villa over the years have been weddings, anniversary celebrations, holiday parties, proms, church events, school award functions, christenings, fundraisers and more.

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Kids Eat Free Wed Nights

Wine Down Wednesday

Up to 2 kids age 12 or younger can order from our kids 1/2 price any bottle of wine menu for every regularly priced adult entree purchased* (*Not applicable to sandwiches. Not valid with any other discounts, coupons or specials. Dine-in only.)

10 OFF

$50.00 food purchase Mon-Thu 4-9pm Fri-Sat 4-10pm Sunday 12-9pm Pub Open Daily

Dine-in only. Limit one per table on food only. Not applicable to Friday AYCE or Surf & Turf for two. Expires 01/26/14.

BlackStoneWoodfireGrill.com

7311 Mallard Lane • Schererville, IN 219.769.0000

TASTE+SIP+DINE Valentines Day Dinner Dance Friday, February 14th Featuring Live Entertainment by

BUY 1 Entree GET 1 Half Off with this ad. Mon thru Fri. Not valid weekends. One coupon per table. • SENIOR DISCOUNT 10% OFF. Includes FREE dessert.

B R E A K FA S T • L U N C H • B A K E R Y 1103 Joliet St. | Dyer, IN 219-440-7948 www.benedictindyer.com PRIVATE PARTIES / Book Yours Now !

20% Discount for Dinner (Dine-In Only)

now serving sunday breakfast starting at 7am - 2pm buy one breakfast receive the second free with this ad (breakfast only up to $7). Offer valid Sundays only until 1/26/14.

Tickets Include Family Style Dinner Open Bar, Entertainment and Dancing

$40 per person Cocktails 6-7pm • Dinner 7-8pm Dancing & Entertainment 8pm - Midnight

418 Roberts Rd | Chesteron, IN 219.921.1900 Behind St. Anthony’s ER Center Tasteofindiachesterton.com 761 E 81st Ave | Merrillville, IN 219.755.4634 Tasteofindiain.net

“The Relics”

1204 W. Lincoln Hwy. | Schererville, IN 219.322.4812 thequesteatery.com

900 Eagle Ridge Drive, Schererville, Indiana (219) 322-3011• www.villacesare.com

Call for Nominations or mail to Debbie Reilly, The Times, 601 W. 45th Ave., Munster, IN 46321 All nominations must include nominee name, business and a brief career summary.

CLASS OF 2014 Northwest Indiana BusINess & Industry Hall of Fame is an annual awards program to honor those individuals who have made a substantial contribution to business and industry across our region. Nominees have not only had exceptional business success but have shown a lifetime commitment to our region and our communities. They have also played keyroles in leading, developing and positioning us for the future.

Nominate a deserving individual today at nwi.com/halloffame 20

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In addition, please tell us how your nominee meets one or more of the following criteria: - Demonstrated leadership and/or success in their field of interest or occupation - Contributed to their field of interest, occupation or community through innovation - Shown a personal commitment to community service - Served as a mentor in business or community activities - Shared their personal or corporate wealth supporting philanthropic causes - Supported environmental stewardship - Supported educational programs and/or institutions - Demonstrated they are visionary in their outlook about Northwest Indiana

Nominations will be accepted until January 10. The Class of 2014 will be announced in The Times and on nwi.com in early March.