Livenwi

We're a group of passionate Midwesterners with a mission to highlight all that is beautiful about America's Heart.

The best Midwest eats, events, cocktails, shopping and more.

09/03/2026

POV: our calendar is fully booked with meetings we ACTUALLY want to attend at Fíka Spa & Wellness Retreat in Indiana…

Massage. Dermaplane. Face masks. Glowing skin. Very important business only.

Tag your spa date!

📍 Fíka Spa & Wellness Retreat
908 Roosevelt Rd
Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 318-8917
https://www.fikadayspa.com/

09/02/2026

11 things to do this weekend in

Here’s what caught our eye:

🎸 Thursday in Griffith, IN: Rock 'N Rail Music and Street Festival

🩸 Thursday in Merrillville, IN: Community Blood Drive at Southlake Mall

🍺 Friday in Valpo, IN: Biergarten at Sunset Hill Farm County Park

🎉 Friday in Michigan City, IN: Michigan City Oktoberfest

🪄 Saturday in Crown Point, IN:Harry Potter Trivia Night

🍉 Saturday & Sunday in Hobart, IN: Johnson's Watermelon Festival

Make sure to follow to keep up with everything happening in the 219!

✨ Grab the full list at https://www.livenwi.com/best/things-to-do-in-northwest-indiana ✨

09/01/2026

Second half squad, we didn’t forget about you- give your brain a rest and let the stars handle the dinner plans tonight…

Which one resonates with you the most?

📍 Theo’s Theo's Steaks & Seafood - 9144 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN

📍 Nisi Greek Taverna - 1204 W Lincoln Hwy, Schererville, IN

📍 Lincoln & Wicker - 813 W Lincoln Hwy Ste b, Schererville, IN

📍 One13North Kitchen & Bar - 113 N Main St, Crown Point, IN

📍 Tomato Bar Pizza Bakery - 79 US-41, Schererville, IN

📍 Square Roots - 108 N Main St, Crown Point, IN

We challenge you to tag a friend for each month!

#219

08/31/2026

Gary, Indiana gets slept on. There’s more here than meets the eye…

Here’s how to do a full afternoon in the 219’s most underrated city:

☕️ Kick things off at Tiny's Coffee Bar in Miller Beach - a cozy vintage lounge serving up comfort food & lattes all in one spot. The vibe alone is worth the trip!

🍳 Or, pull up to J's Breakfast Club for a classic homestyle breakfast that sets the tone for a great day- fluffy pancakes, hearty omelets, the works. Fair warning: weekends fill up fast!

⚾️ Head over to the US Steel Yard and catch a Rail Cats game, minor league baseball with MAJOR energy.

🏝️ Spend some time walking around Miller Beach, a hidden gem neighborhood right on Lake Michigan with local shops, art galleries, cafes & easy access to the dunes.

🎰 End the day at the Hard Rock because why not? Hard Rock Casino offers elevated dining, live entertainment, and a little glam. The perfect cap to a day well spent in Gary!

What did we miss?

08/29/2026

Look who we ran into on our stop at Spirit Halloween while traveling…

But not to worry, there’s plenty of Halloween Spirit in The Region, too.

📍 Locations open in Highland, Valpo & Michigan City
📍 Opening soon in Hobart

Tag a spooky friend you’re bringing with you!

08/28/2026

No need to spend time googling your dinner plans in - just let the stars guide you… 💫

Comment what place you’ll be trying & share with someone who needs to experience new eats!

Stay tuned for part 2…

📍 Windy City Social - 9605 N Centennial Dr, Munster, IN 46321
📍 Rosebud Steakhouse - 9601 Calumet Ave, Munster, IN 46321
📍 41 North Tavern - 8101 Wicker Ave, St John, IN 46373
📍 Asparagus - 7876 Broadway, Merrillville, IN 46410
📍 Cooper’s Hawk Winery- 635 Main St, Schererville, IN 46375 & 2120 Southlake Mall, Merrillville, IN 46410
📍 El Salto - Locations in Munster, Valpo, Merrillville, Cedar Lake & Schererville

#219

08/27/2026

11 fun things to get you moving this weekend in

You’re going to want to clear your schedule for these:

🎼 Thursday in Fair Oaks, IN: Music on the Porch at Fair Oaks
🎨 Friday in Valpo, IN: Board + Brush Night at Four Corners
🤘🏼 Friday in Hobart, IN: Smells Like Nirvana | MTV Unplugged Tribute Show
🍺 Saturday in Highland, IN: Pints in the Park
🍷 Saturday in Chesterton, IN: Vino al Fresco
🏃🏻‍♀️ Sunday in Valpo, IN: 5K Wine Run at Four Corners

Make sure to follow to keep up with everything happening in the 219!

✨ Grab the full list at https://www.livenwi.com/best/things-to-do-in-northwest-indiana ✨

08/25/2026

Valparaiso, Indiana might just have the most underrated Summer spot in the region…

Camp Butternut Springs is an ACA-accredited camp tucked off I-80/94, an easy detour for Chicagoland families heading into NWI for the weekend.

What's included when you book a Swim & Stay:
🏊 Private pool time
🏹 Pick your activity: archery, canoeing, or letterboxing
🔥 S'mores kit provided, every single stay
🍽️ Cook your own meals or dine in for $10/person
🛏️ Full 24-hour cabin rental, from check-in to checkout the next morning

The best part? Whether you're a Girl Scout troop, a family, or an outside group, you can book your own camp adventure. (Outside groups must provide a certificate of insurance.)

Consider this your sign to plan the weekend getaway.

Tag your camp squad!

📍 Camp Butternut Springs
650 N 175 W
Valparaiso, IN 46385

https://www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/en/members/for-girl-scouts/camp-and-outdoors/camp-and-properties.html

08/24/2026

Name a better way to start the day. We’ll wait. It’s time to celebrate right here in

Here’s some spots you MUST try:

🧇 Maple & Yolk - 7 E Old Ridge Rd, Hobart, IN 46342
🧇 Toast & Jam - 7311 Mallard Ln, Schererville, IN 46375
🧇 Indiana Sweets - 1468 Joliet St, Dyer, IN
🧇 J’s Breakfast Club - 2601 Broadway, Gary, IN 46407
🧇 Market & Maple - 1103 Joliet St, Dyer, IN
🧇 Le Peep - 3712 Calumet Ave, Valpo, IN
🧇 Maple + Bacon - 210 Aberdeen Dr. Suite A, Valpo, IN
🧇 Sunrise Breakfast & Lunch - 475 Sand Creek Dr, Chesterton, IN
🧇 Leeds Public House - 401 Franklin St, Michigan City, IN

Did we miss any?

08/22/2026

St. John, Indiana has that perfect suburb-meets-small-town energy…

Wicker Ave keeps you fed and caffeinated, the parks keep you moving, and there's a laid-back, family-first vibe running through the whole town.

Here's how to spend the perfect afternoon in the 219's most underrated stop:

☕ Coffee at AVGO or Honey Bee Pancake House - Start slow. AVGO brings the full breakfast-and-brunch experience with a coffee bar to match, or swing into Honey Bee for classic pancake house comfort. Either way, you're fueled up right.

🎮 Game on at Zig-E's Funland or a move your body at Lake Hills Park - Feeling competitive? Zig-E's Funland has go-karts, mini golf, arcade games, and laser tag all in one spot. Prefer to keep it low-key? Lake Hills Park's trails are made for a slower pace: walk, bike, soak it all in.

🥪 Lunch at 41N Tavern - Pull up a seat on the patio at 41 North Tavern and enjoy craft cocktails, cold tap beers and hearty, scratch-made tavern fare. Perfect midday refuel.

🌿 Wander Alsip Home & Nursery - Get lost in the best way at Alsip Nursery! Take in acres of trees and shrubs, greenhouses bursting with self-grown annuals, and a home center full of decor, gifts, and patio finds that'll have you leaving with way more than you planned. It's the ultimate browse-for-hours kind of stop.

🧘 Pamper yourself at Now Yoga Club or Veiled Medical Artistry - End the day grounded. Roll out your mat at Now Yoga Club, or head to Veiled Medical Artistry for a little skin rejuvenation & self-care. Either way, you’re leaving St. John more relaxed (and radiant) than you walked in.

Save for your next day trip!

#219

Address

Merrillville, IN
46410

Website

http://livenwi.com/

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