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.

09/12/2026

Northwest Indiana Fall bucket list for September & October… 🍂

From pumpkin patches to PSL runs and cozy markets, NWI offers plenty of fun activities to get in the mood.

Who’s checking these off with us?

Comment “FALL” for the full list sent to your DMs!

09/09/2026

13 things to do this weekend in

As if you needed another reason to love living in the Region.

Definitely keep your eye out for these:

🚶🏻‍♀️ Thursday in Michigan City, IN: Dig the Dunes Beer Run & Wine Walk Series

🍿 Saturday in Valpo, IN: 47th Annual Valparaiso Popcorn Festival

🍷 Saturday in Crown Point, IN: Crown Point Wine Fest

📸 Saturday in Merrillville, IN: Make a Cabin Picture Frame @ Southlake Mall (JCPenny)

🌻 Saturday & Sunday in Hobart, IN: Johnson’s Sunflower 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 ✨

09/08/2026

Local coffee shops worth trying in part 3…

You recommended, we listened.

Definitely put these on your list to check out:

☕️ Uptown Cafe - 1400 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN

☕️ OAX Haus Coffee House - 13 W Joliet St, Schererville, IN

☕️ Refuge Cafe - 1150 N Main St, Crown Point, IN

☕️ Steamwhistle Coffee Roasters - 924 S Court St, Crown Point, IN

☕️ KAFFA Cafe - 122 E 109th Ave, Crown Point, IN

☕️ Dagger Mountain Coffee - 3205 Cascade Dr Ste G, Valparaiso, IN

See your favorite on here? Tag your next coffee date!

09/05/2026

Tucked away in the heart of Northwest Indiana, Cedar Lake is a charming lakeside town that's been a summer destination since the 1920s. From waterfront dining and local sweet shops to community festivals and sandy beaches, Cedar Lake has everything you need for the perfect summer day right in your own backyard.

Here’s how to spend a perfect day here:

First stop: Sip Coffee House - Start your morning right at our fav local coffee spot! Sip is the perfect way to kick off the day. Grab one of their signature lattes & pair it with a house-made breakfast sandwich. Cozy vibes, scratch-made eats, and the perfect fuel for a full day of exploring.

Second stop: Cedar Lake Town Beach - Once you’re nice and caffeinated, head to the lake! Cedar Lake is the largest natural lake in all of at nearly 800 acres, and the Town Beach is the stop to soak it all in. Bring a blanket, wade in, and take in those Summer views.

Third stop: Morkes Chocolate - A Cedar Lake institution since 1920, Morkes is a must. We’re talking premium, hand-dipped chocolates that have been a local staple for over 100 years. Pick up a box- or just eat everything in the store. No judgment.

Fourth stop: The Museum at Lassen’s Resort - Did you know Cedar Lake has a museum? The Museum at Lassen’s Resort takes you back to the roaring 1920s when Cedar Lake was a popular vacation destination. Such a cool, underrated spot.

Last stop: Lighthouse Restaurant - End the day with dinner at the Lighthouse aka Cedar Lake’s iconic waterfront restaurant with unforgettable views. Dock your boat or pull up a chair on the water and watch the sunset. The perfect way to close out a Summer day.

Have you visited any of these places?

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

Address

Merrillville, IN
46410

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