10 Fun Things to Do in Northwest Indiana this Weekend: January 2 – 4

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Happy New Year! Welcome in 2015 by getting out and experiencing it! We have lots for you and your family to do this weekend. As always, if you have an event you'd like to submit, send us an email to share@nwndianalife.com

 Lubeznik Center for the Arts January 2015 First Friday Open Mic Night
Lubeznik Center for the Arts is calling all poets, musicians, comedians, dramatists and storytellers! Start the New Year by sharing your talent at our open mic First Friday event hosted by Tim Rounds. Performers interested in participating must register online at lubeznikcenter.org by Dec. 30. Check-in is at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 2, performances run from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Please note that we anticipate allowing 10 minute time slots per performance, however, this is subject to change depending on the number of registrants. Questions? Call the center at 219-874-4900.

A Christmas Story Comes Home Now on Display through January 4th
The Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond features six animated display scenes from "A Christmas Story." The displays include Higbee's Department Store Window, Flick's Tongue and the Triple Dog Dare, It's a Major Award, Santa's Mountain at Higbee's, The Bumpus Hounds and A Hero's Dream.

Come to the UFC Viewing Party at Majestic Star Casino this January
Want to make your first event of 2015 really awesome? Then come and watch the UFC 182 Fight Card with us at Majestic Star Casino on January 3, 2015.

Walking in a Whiting Wonderland
A first for the City, and kicking off the festivities is the Whiting Lakefront Holiday Light Spectacular. This drive-thru display of lights will be set up in beautiful Whiting Lakefront Park and consist of over 100 different holiday light displays. Stay warm in the car with family and fix your eyes on the twinkling holiday lights along the lake. Some of the sparkling displays include a Penguin Winterfest, Toyland, a Teddy Bear Village, and Reindeer and Santa Band. The holiday lights will be lit at dusk each day from November 28th until January 5th for public viewing.

 Newsies Broadway Musical at the Oriental Theatre Day Trip Saturday January 3, 2015
The Valparaiso Parks Department is planning a first-class day trip to the Oriental Theatre in Chicago to see Broadway's Smash Hit Musical Newsies. Day trip guests will have a ticket to the matinee performance of this Tony award winning play. Guests will also experience first-class suite service upon arrival and at intermission. This exclusive service includes light appetizers, a full private bar, dessert, private restroom facilities, private coat check and first rate attentive service.

Hospice of the Calumet Area Offers Grief Support for Teens and Adults
Hospice of the Calumet Area Healing Hearts program provides counseling through a bereavement support group for teens and adults who have experienced a loss of a loved one, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the death. Individuals who are experiencing a loss need to know that they are not alone at this most difficult time in their lives. Healing Hearts offers, at no cost, helpful information, support, and a comfortable atmosphere for sharing feelings and experiences, struggles and triumphs. The upcoming teen workshops series will be held on Monday evenings from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. at Hospice of the Calumet Offices located at 600 Superior Avenue in Munster on January 5, January 26, February 9, February 23, March 9, and March 23.

Opening Reception for "Perspectives from Extraordinary Students" on January 2, 2015
For the 4th year The Southern Shore Art Association is exhibiting the unique talents of extraordinary young adult art students with special needs. A generous grant from the Michigan City Enrichment Corporation and some other contributions enabled the budding artists to explore an eclectic mix of techniques and media. An eight-week art program, taught by artist members of the SSAA resulted in this exhibit of landscapes, drawings, abstract art, clay modeling, collage, photography and more. Join the young artists and their parents on Friday, January 2 during the free Opening Reception with refreshments and snacks at the Southern Shore Art Association Gallery from 5-8 pm, during the monthly "First Friday" celebration in Michigan City's historic Uptown Arts District.

"How Did We Get Here?" A Personal Story Writing Class on Friday Mornings in January 2015
Organizations where people share values—families, religious organizations, fraternal ones, even businesses—have important stories to pass on to the people who come after them. If you have a story to tell, make 2015 the year you get it on paper—or maybe on the internet. In this class, Katharine Hadow Ploense, will teach you effective ways to present it: newsletter, article, book, website, or some combination. You'll bring your facts, your anecdotes and your pictures. You'll round them out with library research and internet research. You'll decide on your main theme, and you'll begin chronicling it. You'll spend part of each class in a formal discussion, and part in a studio setting where you can collaborate, research and ask questions one-on-one. The pace of the class will be rapid, so please plan to attend all five sessions on January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. in the Tri Kappa Meeting Room at the Crown Point Library.

See a Show at the Portage 16 IMAX
The New Year brings big movie releases to Northwest Indiana each year and this year is no exception at the Portage IMAX! See The Interview, Into the Woods, Big Eyes, Annie, The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies, and other great releases this weekend! Click here for more showtimes.

Red Cross Will Have Area Blood Drives
The American Red Cross will be holding upcoming blood drives throughout La Porte County.
Christ Church, 802 Indiana Avenue in La Porte on January 3rd