Northwest Indiana Weekly Planner, Jan. 19

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AN EVENING OUT

Speed-dating event: 3 p.m. social hour, Saturday, Jan. 21, Les Brother’s Restaurant, 2708 Highway Ave., Highland, upscale dress, all ages, $25 in advance, $40 at the door, 805-3283

South Shore Orchestra, seventh annual wine dinner: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m. dinner, 9 p.m. live auction, Saturday, Jan. 21, Venue by Bistro, 74 W. Lincolnway, Valparaiso, $95 per person, $25 of ticket price goes to the orchestra, advance ticket sales only, 464-7816

St. Edward School’s 18th annual Dinner Dance and Auction: 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, St. Elijah Serbian American Bicentennial Hall, 8700 Taft St., Merrillville, with open bar, dinner, live and silent auctions, DJ, dancing and raffle, $50 per person, tickets available through Friday, Jan. 27, 696-9876

Winter White Ball: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, Halls of St. George, 905 E. Joliet St., Schererville, hosted by P.A.T.H., A Positive Approach to Teen Health, includes dinner theater, dancing and silent auction, $50 per person, tickets must be purchased by Friday, Jan. 20, 548-8783

Wild game dinner: The men of the communities are invited to the annual wild game dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, Lake Hills Baptist Church, 9309 W. 85th Ave., Schererville, with meats, fish, poultry and music by a bluegrass band, $10 per person, only 300 tickets available, 365-4747

CRITTERS

Free pet food: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, Kibble Kitchen Pet Pantry Inc., 5882 U.S. 6, Portage, for qualified Porter County residents suffering financial hardship, proof of Social Security disability, unemployment, disabled veteran, foreclosure required as well as proof of income, 734-6936

“Thank Goodness It’s Fondue!” fundraiser: 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, Service Doctor, 5150 E. U.S. 30, Merrillville, $35 per person in advance, $40 at the door, proceeds benefit Humane Society Northwest Indiana, Gary, 938-3339

FAMILY FUN

“The Winter Sky”: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Jan. 20 and 27; Saturdays, Jan. 21 and 28, Merrillville Community Planetarium in Pierce Middle School, 199 E. 70th Ave., Merrillville, $3 adults, $2 children, reserve seating, 650-5486

Gardening show: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Road, Valparaiso, with children’s corner, seed and bulb exchange, food, exhibitors, vendors and more, $10 adults, age 12 and younger admitted free, free parking, 465-3555

Oldtime dance: doors open at 6:30 p.m., dance at 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 21, YMCA, 1201 Cumberland Crossing Drive, Valparaiso, guest caller is Paul Collins, Hoosier Recruits provide music, children welcome, $5 per person, $15 per family, free admission with college student ID, 464-0846

Princess brunch: 10 a.m. registration, 11 a.m. brunch and show, Sunday, Feb. 5, Grand Metropolitan Ballroom, Star Plaza, 800 E. 81st Ave., Merrillville, with appearances by Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Little Mermaid and Jazmine, $23 per person, advance ticket sales only, 769-6311

FOOD

Fish fry: 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, American Legion Post 261, 13050 Washington St., Cedar Lake, sponsored by Sons of the American Legion Squadron 261 of Cedar Lake, $10 shrimp dinners, $9 fish dinners, $6 chicken-strip dinners, 374-9815

Angels for Allison spaghetti dinner benefit: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, St. Michael’s Church hall, 1 Wilhelm St., Schererville, $8 adults, $5 children and senior citizens, age 5 and younger eat for free, proceeds defray medical costs for breast cancer patient Allison Elo, 765-2019

GAMES & PRIZES

Texas Hold ’em: doors open at 11 a.m., first deal at noon, Saturday, Jan. 21, American Legion Post 502, South Haven, 429 W. County Road 750N, Valparaiso, $50 in advance, $60 at the door, 759-2121

Knights of Columbus bean bag tournament: 10 a.m. sign in, 11 a.m. games, Saturday, Jan. 28, Nativity of Our Savior Catholic School hall, 2949 Willowcreek Road, Portage, $10 per person, $20 per team by Tuesday, Jan. 24; $15 per person and $30 per team at the door, 508-1291, 617-3766

GET MOVING

ZUMBA Fitness Winter Wonder Jam: 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, YWCA, 150 W. 15th Ave., Gary, $10 per person in advance, $12 at the door, doors open at 2:30 p.m. 381-4433

MAKE A DONATION

Bomber Girls cookie drive: drop off homemade cookies at VFW Post 2511, 1290 Wagner Road, Porter, by Saturday, Jan. 21, pack a dozen or more homemade cookies in gallon zippered plastic bags with the quantity marked on the bag, include a slice of white bread to keep cookies fresh during shipment to troops overseas, 242-0911

ON STAGE

“Oliver!”: 8 p.m. Jan. 20, 27 and Feb. 3; 2 p.m. Jan. 22, 29 and Feb. 5, Great Oaks Banquets, 13109 S. Wicker Ave., Cedar Lake; dinner served 90 minutes prior to the performance, $32 adults, $30 senior citizens, $25 age 12 and younger, 365-3197, 374-8000

“A Few Good Men”: 8 p.m. Jan. 20, 21, 27 and 28; 3 p.m. Jan. 29, old Lake County courthouse courtroom in downtown Crown Point, $15 adults, $10 students and senior citizens, 805-4255

“The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?”: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, 28, Feb. 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11; 2:30 p.m. Jan. 29, Feb. 4, 5, 11 and 12, Chicago Street Theatre, 154 W. Chicago St., Valparaiso, $18 adults, $15 senior citizens age 62 and older, students age 21 and younger, and veterans with ID, 464-1636

“Oliver!”: 8 p.m. Feb. 10, 11, 17 and 18; 2 p.m. Feb. 12 and 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 and 25; 2 p.m. Feb. 26, Beatniks on Conkey, 418 Conkey St., Hammond, doors open 30 minutes early; seating reservations recommended, $12, 852-0848

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

“Ordinary Days”: 8 p.m. Feb. 24, 25, March 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10; 2 p.m. Feb. 26 and March 11; 3 p.m. March 4, Towle Community Theater, 5205 Hohman Ave., Hammond, $15 per person, 937-8780