South Shore Blog

Though she has been offered a leaf blower, my dear friend chooses to rake her leaves the old-fashioned way --- because she wants to be sure to hear the melodious, rattling trumpet-like call of the sandhill cranes as they fly over! She doesn’t want to miss a single awe-inspiring moment of these majestic birds.

The snow is here! Will you be building a snowman, holiday shopping, or curling up on the couch to binge-watch Netflix? If you’re feeling adventurous take a look at these twelve, great spots to enjoy sledding, cross-country skiing and ice skating this season.

Thanksgiving week is full of activities between cooking, eating and starting your holiday shopping. But if you’re looking for more to do this week – either for grown up fun, entertaining visiting friends and family or just something to keep the kids busy during the long weekend – we got you covered!

Grab your flashlights and work up some courage because ghouls and goblins are in Northwest Indiana. We've put together Four Frights for Halloween and these are sure to scare you to your core. That noise you hear won't be the wind - it'll be sheer terror!

Imagine a spooky Halloween scenario, or a scary movie with a haunted mansion, and chances are it’ll include at least one flying bat. A bat flapping its wings on a dark night has become synonymous with creepy. Overcoming that stereotype is a steep hill to climb for bats. 

Skip the big name stores and check out some of these unique shopping stops throughout the region!

2 Old Goats Market in Cedar Lake has a wide assortment of repurposed antiques, artisan goods, jewelry, gourmet foods, and so much more! Whether you are looking for a gift, or something for yourself, it’s a great store to find something unique. Stop in for one of their many events they host such as workshops, celebration weekends, car and bike shows, and more.

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.

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.

You know it’s the holiday season when  "A Christmas Story” Comes Home is on display at Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond. If you have never been to this spectacular display, then you don’t yet know what you’re missing! This exhibit is completely free and is open from November 9 - December 31, 2019.

This exhibit is centered on the popular movie - I am sure you have seen once, twice, or more than 20 times - “A Christmas Story.” The Macy’s window displays showcase the fictional town of Hohman which is really low and behold, the author (and movie narrator) Jean Shepherd’s hometown, Hammond, Indiana!

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.