Northwest Indiana Weekly Planner, Feb. 9

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AN EVENING OUT

Caring Place Preview Night: 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, Memorial Opera House, 104 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso, for a performance of “Oliver!” tickets are $25 per person, proceeds benefit the Caring Place, 464-0840, Ext. 102

Valentine’s dinner-dance: 5 to 8 p.m. dinner, 7 to 11 music and dancing, Saturday, Feb. 11, American Legion Post 502, South Haven, 429 W. County Road 750N, music by Another Shot, dinner is $8 per person, 759-2121

Valentine’s dinner: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, Winey Beach Cafe, 1350 119th St., Whiting, dinner for two $50, with music by Keenan Baxter, 659-1466

Laugh for Paws Comedy Show: 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, American Legion Post 170, 798 Wabash Ave., Chesterton, comedy show at 7 p.m., music by Billy Wayne and Ed Strudas from 9 to 11, $15 per person, $20 per couple, proceeds benefit the Porter County Animal Shelter, 926-4577

Evening with Elvis: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, Hanover Central High School, 10120 W. 133rd Ave., Cedar Lake, doors open at 6:30, sponsored by Hanover Central Band Boosters, $15 at the door, 365-0971

Mardi Gras party: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 7667 E. 109th St., Winfield, buffet dinner, DJ music, $20 per person in advance, $25 at the door, adults only, 661-0644

National Council of Negro Women 2012 Heritage Gala: 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, Genesis Convention Center, One Genesis Plaza, Gary, “Harnessing the Power of Women” honoring local women in the media, Afro-Centric attire, $35 per person, 938-0130

FAMILY FUN

Parent-Child Sweetheart Dance: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, Jean Shepherd Community Center, 3031 J.F. Mahoney Drive, Hammond, $5 per couple, $1 for each additional person, photos $8 each, music by DJ Casey Ramos Sr., 853-6378, 554-0155

Snowflake Saunter: 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve, 178 E. Sidewalk Road, Chesterton, hike with a naturalist, free for all ages, 926-1842

FOOD

Empty Bowls Chili Dinner: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, Hebron High School, 509 S. Main St., $10 adults, $5 children, everyone who attends receives a handmade bowl made by a member of the Hebron student body, proceeds to the local food pantry, 996-4771

Spaghetti dinner: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, St. Joan of Arc Parish, 200 E. 78th Place, Merrillville, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 13003, $7 adults, $3 ages 6 to 12, ages 5 and younger eat for free, 942-8378

Fish fry: 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, Knights of Columbus Council 7473 at Elizabeth Ann Seton, 509 W. Division Road, Valparaiso, $10 adults, $9 senior citizens, $5 ages 5 to 13, ages 4 and younger eat for free, 464-1624

Chili cookoff: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, Wheeler United Methodist Church, 307 North St., Wheeler, $5 for a ballot and a bottomless bowl of chili, proceeds to send youth to camp, 759-1108

Spaghetti dinner: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, First Presbyterian Church of Portage, 6225 Lute Road, $6 ages 11 and up, $3 ages 5 to 10, evening includes silent auction and bake sale, 762-4914

Chili supper: 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, Hobart Arts League, 3850 Howard St., $6 adults, $4 children, 945-5248

ON STAGE

“The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?”: 8 p.m. Feb. 9 to 11; 2:30 p.m. Feb. 11, 12, Chicago Street, 154 W. Chicago St., Valparaiso, $18 adults, $15 senior citizens ages 62 and older, students ages 21 and younger and veterans with ID, 464-1636

“Oliver!”: 8 p.m. Feb. 10, 11, 17, 18; 2 p.m. Feb. 12, 19, Memorial Opera House, 104 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso, $21 adults, $18 senior citizens and students, 548-9137

“Sordid Lives”: 8 p.m. Feb. 17, 18, 24, 25; 2 p.m. Feb. 26, Beatniks on Conkey, 418 Conkey St., Hammond, doors open 30 minutes early, reservations suggested, $12, 852-0848

“Urinetown”: 8 p.m. Feb. 24, 25, March 2, 3, 9, 10; 2 p.m. Feb. 26, March 4, 11, Portage Yacht Club, 1370 Indiana 249, Portage, $15 adults, $12 senior citizens and students, 759-1408

“Ordinary Days”: 8 p.m. Feb. 24, 25, March 2, 3, 8 to 10; 2 p.m. Feb. 26, March 11; 3 p.m. March 4, Towle Community Theater, 5205 Hohman Ave., Hammond, $15 per person, 937-8780