A
Native's Guide to Northwest Indiana ,
by Mark Skertic & John J. Watkins
When I first saw A Native's Guide to Northwest
Indiana on a publisher's book list a few weeks ago, I was
intrigued and looked forward to receiving a copy. In my mind's
eye, northwest Indiana evoked memories of a fall walk in the
Indiana Sand Dunes. I will never forget that color of the sand
- almost like brown sugar - on the edge of Lake Michigan, the
nearly deserted streets of downtown Gary, and the hustle-bustle
of traffic on Interstate 90 just east of Chicago's urban sprawl.
The author, Mark Skertic, grew up in Hammond, Indiana, which
is a stone's throw from the Illinois border. Some people would
consider his home town to be merely a suburb of Chicago, but
as I was about to discover -- and I hope you will as well --
this northwest section of Indiana is a treasure trove of cultural
and scenic beauty that is worthy of a dedicated road trip to
the area.
Skertic, a reporter for the
Chicago Tribune, defines northwest Indiana as the counties
of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte, all of which hug the southern
tip of Lake Michigan. For each county, he provides a simple
map and some pertinent facts about the naming and establishment
of the county and some general information about what can
be found there. But the real meat of this book is in the detail
he presents about the primary towns and cities in each of
the three counties. In succinct fashion, he lists the incorporation
dates, population, median age, land area, and nickname for
each of the towns. He also provides information about local
attractions, events, and restaurants that have a real "insiders"
feel.
Throughout the book, Skertic
weaves in fascinating historical detail. I didn't know that
John Lloyd Wright, son of the more famous Frank, was also
an architect who designed buildings in Long Beach, or that
he was the inventor of Lincoln Log toys. Places that I want
to visit after reading this book would certainly include Rodizio's
restaurant, which is located at the famous Meyer's Castle
in Dyer. I'd also enjoy the International Culture Festival
held every September in Hammond which, according to the author,
is a perfect way to experience the rich cultural diversity
of the region. Munster, Indiana, would be another "must-stop"
for me, in part for the free blues festival held in July,
but also for a savory meal at Café Elise, a tiny restaurant
in a small shopping center that has earned a reputation as
being one of the finest gourmet eateries in the area.
Whiting, also known as "Little
City on the Lake," is home to the Hoosier Theatre, a
classic movie house that opened in 1924 and still boasts crystal
chandeliers, a thirty-two foot screen, and a pipe organ that
"thunders before shows." Whiting is also home to
the Pierogi Festival where a local boy dresses up each year
as a giant Polish dumpling. I am not overly fond of the Wizard
of Oz , but there is an event each September that I may have
to go see after reading Skertic's descriptions. The "Oz
Fantasy Festival" is held in Chesterton, and some 50,000
Oz fans attend. In particular, I would like to see the "Monkey
Drop," a variation of the ever popular rubber duck races.
In this case, stuffed monkeys are dropped from a hot air balloon
onto a yellow brick road where Dorothy's ruby slippers sit.
The winner is the person whose monkey lands closest to the
slippers.
Skertic also provides detailed information
about specialty interests reflected in northwest Indiana.
These include recommendations for the best antique stores,
the nicest golf courses, the best places to walk on the sand
dunes, unique shopping centers, and a rather complete list
of live theater and local media outlets. It really is a fun
and useful guide, and I heartily recommend it the next time
your road trips include travel to the southern end of Lake
Michigan.
Mark
Sedenquist
7/10/05
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