The Pajama Game at Theatre at the Center

Work life gets a little tense when the workers at Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory demand a raise of 7 ½ cents in this musical set in 1954! Especially when things between the new superintendent and the head of the union grievance committee get steamy. The award winning musical had everything from love interests, real life work situations, comedy, and lots of “symbolism” as the comedic character and narrator, Hines, says throughout. From the enthusiastic dance moves during the “Once-A-Year Day” number, to the deep and sultry sounds of Curtis Bannisters voice in “Hey There,” this musical truly had me on the edge of my seat…

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A Visit To Chesterton's European Market

Who doesn’t love strolling around a quaint little market on Saturday morning? Picking up the freshest ingredients for tomorrow’s dinner and moseying through tents filled with artisan foods, flowers, crafts, furniture, you name it. You could easily spend the better part of your morning making your rounds of the many tents and trucks at the Chesterton European Market held in downtown Chesterton…

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Kayaking On Cedar Lake

It has been 15 years since I have been on Cedar Lake. My triumphant return to this body of water is in part due to my dad’s love of kayaking. He is always looking for people to share this passion of his with and so, having a free Thursday morning, I agreed to go kayaking on Cedar Lake…

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Gabis Arboretum: Twilight in the Garden

Looking to spend the remainder of your good summer days outside? I was lucky enough to stumble upon one of the best hidden-gems in Northwest Indiana, the Gabis Arboretum. Tucked away in southern Valparaiso, driving around the area you wouldn’t expect to find six miles of gorgeous hiking trails anywhere near you. Spending most of my hiking time at the Indiana Dunes National Park, it didn’t occur to me that there was a secret oasis right in my backyard. …

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Art Matters at the Art Barn School of Art

Driving down the winding rural roads of northern Valparaiso, the pastoral landscape fell away as tall shady trees took its place guiding me to the charming venue that is the Art Barn School of Art. As my car pulled up the gravel driveway, the trees parted to reveal a beautifully picturesque old English barn, decorated with glowing string lights and blooming flowers that engulfed the surrounding landscape. It was like walking into a dream…

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Nature Notes: Green Time - No Batteries Required at Kankakee Sands

Photo: Butterfly Day at Kankakee Sands by Leigh Littiken We all know that getting out in nature is great for our health, but sometimes our busy schedules make it difficult to find the time to get our “green time”. Fear not, it’s really much easier that you might think – because green time is all around you! Getting you green time is truly as simple as standing outside and noticing the nature around you. No batteries, tools or fancy footwear required…

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