Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. and his 219 Day Committee are inviting all of Northwest Indiana as “Region” residents age 21 and older to join him to celebrate 10 years of 219 Day with high school–themed reunion festivities this weekend. The annual party billed as 219 Day, as a nod to the telephone area code for Northwest Indiana, returns to the Hammond Civic Center, 5825 Sohl Ave., from 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. Admission is free and this year’s celebration features live entertainment from Boy Band Review, classic backyard games and a lounge area, along with fan-favorite attractions including the piñata area, selfie booth, 219 Day temporary tattoos and the mayor’s annual reading of the 219 Day Proclamation. For more information, visit www.gohammond.com/219day/.
A SWIFT SOIREE
Lead singer Tiffany Lidster is center stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, with her Red Revolution: The Taylor Swift Experience performance paying tribute to superstar Taylor Swift at Theatre at the Center at The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road in Munster. Lidster and her five-piece band, including twins Jeremy and Jason Andrews of Echoes of Pompeii fame, will deliver a song salute to Swift’s showstopping concert performances, complete with costume changes while playing her catalog of hits, including “Shake It Off,” “Cruel Summer,” “Anti-Hero,” “Bad Blood” and other hits. Lidster says Red Revolution “captures Swift’s high-octane energy and earns rapturous applause honoring pop superstardom.” Tickets are $40 for adults and $25 for ages 18 and younger by calling the box office at 219-836-3255 or visiting www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com. Before the concert, there is the option for an additional $25 to add a themed buffet and activities experience presented by 10Forty Banquets & Catering Inc. in the ballroom of The Center for Visual and Performing Arts. Dinner seating is from 5-7 p.m., and reservations and meal payment are required by calling 219-836-1930, Ext. 2. The buffet dinner includes menu stations such as “Marry Me Chicken Tenders,” “Shake It Off Sliders,” “Fearless French Fries,” “RED Pasta” and assorted dessert sweets. The ballroom landscape will be transformed into a “Taylor Swift Dreamscape” with the opportunity to make friendship bracelets, along with a nail polish and make-up makeover station, and plenty of time for a coloring sheet station and selfie booth.
DINE OUT
“Forks up!” is the 2026 theme for “Savor the South Shore Restaurant Weeks,” which begins Feb. 23 through March 8, inviting residents and visitors to dig into Northwest Indiana’s varied and unique food scene. During the 14-day culinary celebration, more than 30 local restaurants are offering specially priced three-course meals or exclusive menu deals showcasing their signature flavors. “Savor the South Shore is all about celebrating the incredible creativity of our local restaurants while giving diners a fun reason to explore new favorites,” explained Phil Taillon, president/CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority. Diners can check in at participating restaurants using the South Shore Passport App for a chance to win an exclusive $250 gift card prize package. Each check-in counts as an entry, and the more dining dates that add up, the better the odds of being selected as the one lucky winner announced during the week of March 9. The participating restaurants and menus are online at savorthesouthshore.com. No coupons or discount codes are required. Guests should ask for the “Savor Menu” from the server when dining.
WHAT’S ‘ROTTEN’
Originally on Broadway in spring 2015, “Something Rotten!” is a stage musical that cleverly addresses “an ages-old debate” still raging today in stage circles. How could William Shakespeare have written such a vast and famed library of plays and dreamed up so many inventive plots and interesting characters during his lifespan, which only reached age 52, without any help or “borrowing” from other writers? That question is addressed in a very funny manner by brothers Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick, the duo who conceived the bright music and clever lyrics, teamed with best-selling author John O’Farrell, for the book of their fun-loving show opening at Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso for a run Feb. 27 to March 15. Nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, “Something Rotten!” had its first national Broadway tour in 2017 and became available for community theatre licensing in 2022. Tickets are $27 to $60 available by calling 219-548-9137 or visiting www.memorialoperahouse.com.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and radio show host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at PhilPotempa@gmail.com.
