Amidst all the hubbub over the businesses to patronize/avoid and all the usual complaints our little pocket of the world can muster up, I just wanted to say thanks for the blast of nostalgia I got from the old time businesses of The Region, posted by u/YouGet2Go2NewJersey.

I left a year and a half ago for the Seattle area and while I love it here, NWI will always be home. I’ve not been able to come back since I moved. Seeing old stomping grounds full of memories, places I had great meals, places my grandparents hung out and places my parents worked get mentioned helped the homesickness a bit and made me smile.

Have a Slider with everything next time you hit the Castle (say what you will; I miss them so much) and a slice of Key Pizza for me. Miss ya, Rats ✌🏼💋

,am not looking to start a revolutionary vanguard party, at least not at the current time. In light of recent events, I am wanting to meet people who hold at least some of the same political leanings and who are curious about what entails marxist thought, and who have always had a feeling they are being lied to about what it's all about. I have a very large collection of marxist thought and want to show people that it isn't the scary dangerous ideology that years of propaganda has convinced many of them. I just want to discuss and read some of the major works of philosophy and through discussing with others, help develop an understanding of what it entails. I am in the gary/miller area but I would be willing to travel in person or at least start a discord group. I know there are lots of people on here who are at least curious.

Please DM me for more info

Anywhere in the region where you can get your change put into rolls for free or a small fee?

Al's Diner

Venture

Zares

Stop n Shop

Park Avenue Drug

Y&W Drive In

Kiddie Land

Schererville Golf

Celebration Station

Casa Gallardo

Handy Andy

Hegewisch Music

Shakey's

I'd give anything to have taco pizza and apple fritters from Shakey's, do a little shopping at Venture and end the night with a double feature at Y&W.

(Bonus points if anyone can remember the buffet in Southlake Mall - late 80s/early 90s - we used to eat there a bunch but I cannot remember the name) - I think this has now been solved. I believe it was a York Steak House. This has been haunting me for years! Thanks for those who mentioned!

A couple of honorable mentions that were triggered by nostalgia...

The Delta - 53rd and Broadway. My grandparents lived over there and my papa would take me to the Delta for breakfast

Good Time Charlie's - Whitcomb and 30 - my parents used to DJ there in the 80s

I'm looking for another NWI subreddit where we can discuss topics pertinent to NWI... Is there some other one?

I have a long list of businesses that are great in the region that I support. Let's keep it positive and list businesses we support. Don't get negative and say which ones we don't support as that can be considered harassment.

Don Quijote and Dagger Mountain are the first two that comes to mind. Great food and great coffee in Valpo.

Hi there Hoosiers!

I just moved to the downtown Valparaiso area and I’m looking for pizza spots to try that are nearby. Doesn’t have to be in Valpo.

Please send over some recommendations!!

Thank you!

Hello, everyone!

I am in need of a patient coming in on this Wednesday afternoon from 1-4:30 for a dental cleaning! I am trying to get my patient requirements so I can graduate on time anything would help! Please and thank you!🦷🙏🏼.

Hello everyone, I'm potentially looking to move to NWI. Its been quite some time since I've been to the area. I grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago when the Dutch community was much larger. I've been told the area I was in is no longer a good place to raise a family. And that everyone has moved or passed away and that Indiana is now the area the Dutch community moved to. I'm somewhat familiar with NWI and have been told Saint John, Crown Point, and Cedar Lake are the main towns the Dutch community is now in. Any insight or recommendations would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

Any recommendations for a venue or place for a small baby shower? Looking to do Valpo/CP area. Thanks!

Was everyone bill estimated this month?

I’m seeing if anyone has any ideas for wedding reception venues/private dinner spots for 35-50 people? I tried searching this sub but found nothing useful. The ceremony will be elsewhere

The Cline Avenue Bridge (Indiana 912) is a privately owned toll bridge in East Chicago, Indiana, connecting I-90 and the steel mill areas. While it saves time, it comes with a toll. If you want to avoid it, here’s how:

1. Be Careful with Google Maps and Navigation Apps

Set your route to “Avoid Tolls,” but double-check the directions.

Google Maps may still reroute you through the toll bridge, especially if there’s traffic on alternative roads. Always preview your route before starting.

2. Use Free Alternatives

Instead of taking the Cline Avenue Bridge, use these toll-free options:

✅ Alternative Route from I-90 to Hammond/East Chicago

Take Exit 10 (Calumet Avenue, U.S. 41) instead of following signs for Cline Avenue.

Head north on Calumet Ave (U.S. 41) toward the industrial area.

Take Chicago Avenue (SR 312) east to connect with local roads toward your destination.

✅ Alternative Route to East Chicago/Whiting Without Using Cline

If coming from I-80/94, take Calumet Avenue north or use Indianapolis Blvd (U.S. 41) to avoid Cline Avenue altogether.

If coming from I-90 (Indiana Toll Road) and heading toward East Chicago/Whiting, exit before Cline and take Kennedy Avenue north instead.

3. Watch for Bridge Signage

The toll bridge has limited exit options. If you accidentally take it, you will have to pay.

Watch for signs directing traffic onto the toll route and use surface streets instead.

4. Use Local Roads

The Chicago Avenue (SR 312) corridor is a useful east-west alternative.

Kennedy Avenue or Calumet Avenue provide toll-free north-south routes.

We are considering moving to NWI from Western burbs of Chicago. I am looking for advice regarding these three communities. Pros/cons, community amenities. Thank you!

Please pray for me

Issued by: Me

Date: January 31, 2025

Preamble

i. Whereas the entities known collectively as Cline Avenue Bridge LLC and all other toll bridge companies have engaged in repeated acts of financial aggression, infrastructure tyranny, and unrepentant extortion against the common traveler; and

ii. Whereas the so-called "convenient passage" they provide is, in reality, a mechanism for legally sanctioned highway robbery, extracting hard-earned money from the innocent commuter under the false pretense of maintenance and improvement; and

iii. Whereas my personal patience, goodwill, and tolerance for these unjust practices have been utterly exhausted due to years of senseless tolling, delayed responses, and predatory collection tactics; and

iv. Whereas in an act of unparalleled insult and offense, Cline Avenue Bridge had the audacity to charge me a toll fee while I was not even in the country, proving beyond all doubt that their tyranny knows no bounds, transcending space and time in their relentless pursuit of undeserved wealth;

Statement of Hostilities

By the power vested in me as a weary traveler, a man of principle, and a sworn enemy of corporate highway oppression, I hereby declare a state of war against Cline Avenue Bridge LLC and all toll bridge companies that continue to operate under these predatory practices.

Henceforth, I recognize no legitimacy in their rule over the roads, nor shall I submit to their financial demands without resistance. This war shall be waged in the spirit of defiance, economic rebellion, and strategic rerouting.

Justification for War

The following heinous offenses have led to this declaration:

The Cline Avenue Incident – A direct affront to my honor and dignity, wherein I was charged a toll fee while not even present in the country, proving that their greed knows no geographical limits.

Unjust Economic Hardship – The imposition of fees that defy all logic and fairness, forcing the common driver to pay excessive tolls simply to reach their destinations.

Monopoly Over Essential Routes – The exploitation of strategic locations, forcing travelers to either comply or suffer through endless detours and traffic bottlenecks.

Predatory Billing Practices – The unholy scourge of surprise charges, inexplicable fines, and collection notices for tolls that were allegedly unpaid, even when proof suggests otherwise.

Failure to Provide Fair Dispute Resolution – The intentional obfuscation of appeal processes, ensuring that innocent drivers remain trapped in a bureaucratic nightmare.

General Disrespect for Hardworking Commuters – The blatant disregard for the financial burdens imposed on everyday people, treating the roads as personal revenue streams rather than public utilities.

Call to Action

In response to these injustices, I hereby pledge to:

Hold a grudge now and in perpetuity throughout the universe until the end of my life.

Engage in absolute non-payment resistance where legally and morally possible.

Encourage the widespread use of alternative routes, even if inconvenient, to deprive these organizations of their ill-gotten gains.

Publicly expose and shame the exploitative tactics of toll companies at every available opportunity.

Support and advocate for legislation that abolishes or significantly reduces toll fees and ensures greater transparency in their collection.

Seek reparations for the wrongful tolling incident, wherein I was charged in absentia the amount of $44, as a matter of principle and personal honor.

Rally fellow motorists in The Great Toll Rebellion, a movement dedicated to the liberation of the roads from the clutches of private profit-driven toll entities.

Conclusion

Let it be known: The roads were meant to be traveled freely, and no company, government agency, or digital toll collection system shall stand unchallenged in their pursuit of unjust enrichment. This war will persist until the roads are reclaimed, justice is restored, and the tolling oligarchy is dismantled.

Until that day, I remain steadfast in my resistance.

Signed,

Me

Supreme Commander of the Great Toll Rebellion

Defender of the Open Road

Avenger of the Cline Avenue Incident

Best medspa or injector in NWI and why?

Former Beverly Shores Town Council President Carol Ruzic helped save the Duneland town's historic South Shore Line station and went on to curate many exhibits after the building was transformed into The Depot Museum and Art Gallery.

Ruzic died Saturday at the age of 96. She’s remembered as a historian who was considered the “memory of Beverly Shores.” She published the "SandTracks" newsletter that’s still distributed monthly in town and assembled the archives of Beverly Shores, which are kept at the museum.

“Following her arrival in 1950, Carol saved every piece of paper that ever related to the town,” The Depot Board President Suzy Vance said.

Ruzic helped save the historic and still-working South Shore Line station near the entrance of Beverly Shores on Broadway. A landmark on Dunes Highway, the pink stucco building serves as an active train station, a sign welcoming visitors to Beverly Shores and a hybrid museum and art gallery.

“Quite simply, the Depot would not be here today but for her efforts and leadership in her mission to save it," Vance said. "In 1939 a number of stations were built in the Mediterranean style along the South Shore railroad between South Bend and Chicago. ... There were two stations originally built in Beverly Shores, one at Central Street and what we now know as the Depot on Broadway. In 1988, the station at Central Street was torn down overnight. Carol feared that the remaining station would meet the same fate. It had been boarded up for some time, serving simply as a stop on the South Shore Line where passengers could take the train east to South Bend or west to Chicago. Carol became afraid that the Depot would meet a similar fate as the Central Street station, barring something being done to prevent this.”

https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/carol-ruzic-depot-beverly-shores/article_dc019bb8-de58-11ef-9777-9f14e064ec79.html

I have a few questions about for someone that is on probation in Lake County. Please DM me so i can get some info.

Thank you in advance

https://x.com/nwi/status/1884964809067630931

Cinemark in Valparaiso will host its annual Oscar Movie Week Festival from Monday, Feb. 24, through Sunday, March 2. People can see nominees for Best Picture, as well as live-action and animated short films.

Does anyone from the NWI region enjoy the local casinos? If your a regular and enjoy playing we should go together 😀

Heading up north for the weekend to cross over into Michigan briefly, any recommendations on where to stay? Not familiar with most of the area, we’re considering Valpo or Michiana and maybe check out the Dunes.

Edit: We had a great trip! We hit the Bloomery then Burn ‘em brewery for dinner and a few beers.

Lakeshore Cafe for breakfast then hung out at Washington Park Beach for a few frigid minutes.

We loved the St Stanislaus Resale shop. Really cool stuff and the ladies were so nice.

Finally, we hit the Nike outlet store for a nice haul. Dh wears an ungodly large size shoe and he had so many to choose from. He got 2 pair & I got 2 pair. We have a Nike outlet around us & found the prices in Michigan City sooo much better.

All together we had such a nice trip thanks to everyone’s recommendations. Thank you so much!!

I took this photo while in Valpo facing southwest at about 5:15pm today. I was driving at the time so my picture isn't the best but it kind of freaked me out lol does anyone know what it was? I haven't been able to find anything online about it

Hi everyone,

My friend (16 years old) and I (18 years old) have been running a car detailing business in NWI since June of last year. We have been on the off season lately for the winter days and we are looking to open up again soon. Starting in early March we will begin detailing cars. Please DM us on Instagram to book a spot before it is taken. If you have any questions, ask below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

ALSO, make sure to give us a follow on Instagram!

https://preview.redd.it/bsjqudh0u0ge1.jpg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c57a79d4e1a35c0433c0188e61d7bca979a9f91

I've got pics but can't get to them atm. There was something, I heard, a hostage situation, going down yesterday around 3:30 pm. They had the block shut down, surrounded by cops with guns drawn, spike strips ready and literally 100 cop cars easy. They were staged in the alleys and down an entire block. I keep trying to see what happened but yet, no idea. Does anyone know what happened? I mean, we were riding right by the cops with guns ready, bunkering down behind vehicles, not just little guns either big guns..we had to drive over the rope to pull the spikes cause we were literally in the middle of it. So, I'm super curious and hoping to hear that whatever victim may have been involved is okay.

My brother is an alcoholic. From what I can deduce, he drinks when he's stressed, which is a lot. He's going through a divorce and basically got kicked out of his own house (long story). Plus, the recent passing of our Dad. He was staying with a friend, but he burned that bridge. He needs help. I want to find him a program to help him get sober. I think he's tried AA, but I'm not sure if he took it to serious. I'd help, but I live in Texas, and our other brother lives in Noblesville. There's only so much we can do. Any suggestions or recommendations are welcome.