It was a year ago on Halloween weekend when the celebrated occasion was all treat and no trick to herald the 300th cat adoption magic moment on Oct. 29, courtesy of a team-up for Second Chance 4 Pets with The Region Cat Café, 281 W. 80th Place in Merrillville.
This week is “Paw Palooza,” hosted from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday in the same space and according to organizer JoAnn Palko, there’s a very good chance milestone adoption No. 500 might be an added reason for cake and confetti. Earlier in the week, the whisker rollcall was already up to adoption No. 489.
The afternoon will include food, vendors, drawings and a special pet blessing ceremony provided by Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church of Merrillville.
For more details, visit www.TheRegionCatCafe.com or www.sc4pets.org or call 219-771-6768.
Babyface headlines Hard Rock
The last time Babyface performed in our area was a concert last July at Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo and a prior show in August 2021 at the Hammond Horseshoe. This weekend the 13-time Grammy winner will be in the spotlight for one concert at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 at Hard Rock Northern Indiana Casino at 5400 W. 29th Ave. on the Hard Rock Live main stage. Tickets range in price $105 to $141 219-228-2383; hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com/entertainment.
‘Air’ apparent
It was in April 2022 when light pop rock icons Air Supply played Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo. Now, the dynamic duo of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock are back for their 49th year of touring with one concert 8 p.m. Oct. 5 once again on stage at Four Winds Silver Creek Event Center, 11111 Wilson Road, New Buffalo, Michigan. Tickets start at $55 at 866-494-6371 or fourwindscasino.com.
Going green
Performances of “Young Frankenstein” continue this weekend with curtain times at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at Memorial Opera House. The spooky fun run will conclude with one more weekend of shows before the 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13 finale. Tickets are $23 for seniors, students and military, $25 for adults and $50 for the loge seating in the historic landmark space at 104 Indiana Ave. in Valparaiso. Call 219-548-9137 or memorialoperahouse.com.
Funny TV name
Nick Swardson is known to TV audiences as character Terry Bernadino on “Reno 911!” and his film work with fellow funny guy Adam Sandler. He’s now adding on miles doing his “Toliet Head” national stand-up comedy tour that brings him to The Venue at Hammond Horseshoe Casino at 777 Casino Center Drive in Hammond for one show at 8 p.m. on Oct. 5. Tickets are $54 and available by calling 866-711-7463 or go to caesars.com/horseshoe-hammond/shows.
Scary good time
Whiting’s weekend fright festival Wickedly Whiting opens for 2024, one weekend only, 5 p.m. Friday and then on Saturday, starting at noon through 11 p.m. Visit wickedlywhiting.com for the full events schedule or call 219-659-0292.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at pmpotempa@comhs.org.
