Theater goers learn about female Titanic survivor during a special show in Munster.

By Guest Blogger Eloise Valadez.

Titanic play takes the stage at Theatre at the Center where a new survivor is discovered during a special show in Munster, Indiana.

Actress Leslie Goddard relays the story of Violet Jessop, a cabin maid crew member on the Titanic, in the one-woman show “Violet Jessop: Titanic Survivor” at Theatre at the Center. The play runs through March 30.

Jessop, who died in 1971, also survived the sinking of the HHMS Britannic. She was one of the passengers who obtained a lifeboat seat. Goddard has been portraying interesting and pioneering women on stage through the years such as Jackie Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt, Julia Child and Amelia Earhart.

Image courtesy of Theatre in the Middle.

During the play, Goddard talks about both the Titanic and Britannic tragedies as well as other aspects of the cabin maid’s life. During a past interview, Goddard said she enjoys researching the lives of strong, creative, and influential women.

Video courtesy of Blue Star Line

Goddard, who took an interest in theater as a child, has undergraduate and master’s degrees in theatre as well as a PHD in history. The actress previously brought her shows on Amelia Earhart and Julia Child to Theatre at the Center.

Image courtesy of Theatre in the Middle.

In addition to the performance, theater goers can make a reservation for a Titanic-themed meal created by 10Forty Banquets. The meal is inspired by the final meal served on the Titanic. Cost for the meal is an additional $30.

FYI: “Violet Jessop: Titanic Survivor” runs to March 30 at Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster. Tickets are $40. Call 219-836-3255  or TheatreAtTheCenter.com.

Top photo courtesy of Theatre at the Center.

About Eloise Marie Valadez

Guest blogger Eloise Marie Valadez, a frequent contributor to Travel/Food, is a professional journalist/writer and editor with four decades of experience covering the arts, entertainment, and culinary industries. A native of Chicago, she has a passion for the written word.

Taylor Takes Indy: Photos from the streets on the first night

If you couldn’t make it, you can still feel the vibe with these great photos taken by Keith Griner and courtesy of visitindy.com

Two women in purple feather boas
Indy: Taylor street scenes on the night of her first concert. Keith Griner photo.
Young girls dancing
Photographer Keith Griner’s pics of the first night of the Taylor Swift Indy concert catch the mood.
Photo by Keith Griner shows Taylor taking over Indy.
Taylor fans are ready for the big night. Photo Keith Griner.
Some 200,000 people were expected to visit Indy over the weekend because of the concert. Photo by Keith Griner.
Keith Griner photo.

Savor the South Shore: Over 30 Restaurants to Try

Savor the South Shore Restaurant Weeks offers residents and visitors 3-course meals or other special offers at discounted prices. The 14-day culinary promotion began February 26 and will end March 10. More than 30 local restaurants in seventeen different communities will be participating.

Restaurants include:


Aftermath Cidery & Winery, Valparaiso
Asparagus Restaurant, Merrillville
Bedarra Bar, Crown Point
The Brewery Lodge & Supper Club, Michigan City
Byway Brewing, Hammond
Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Gary
DOC’s Smokehouse and Craft Bar, Dyer
Four Corners Winery, Valparaiso
Freddy’s Steakhouse, Hammond
Fuzzyline Brewery, Highland
Gamba Ristorante, Merrillville
Goblin and the Grocer, Beverly Shores
Grindhouse Café, Griffith
Jack Binion’s Steak, Hammond
Jax’s Crown Town Grill, Crown Point
Lighthouse Restaurant, Cedar Lake
Midwest Eats, East Chicago
Miller Pizza Company, Gary
Northwoods Falls, St. John
Off Square Brewing, Crown Point
Parlor Doughnuts, Munster & Valparaiso
River Rock Restaurant at White Hawk Country Club, Crown Point
Rosebud Steakhouse, Munster
Running Vines Winery, Chesterton
T-Bones Pier 11, La Porte
Teibel’s Restaurant, Schererville
Tiny’s Coffee Bar, Gary
Union Hall – Journeyman Distillery, Valparaiso
William B’s Steakhouse at Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa, Michigan City
Zorn Brew Works Co., Michigan City


Specially priced menus are listed online at http://www.savorthesouthshore.com. Customers do not need a coupon or discount code, they only need to ask to order from the Savor menu. Savor Restaurant Weeks and participating restaurants will also be promoted through Facebook at www.facebook.com/SavorSouthShore and through a VIP Text List by texting “Savor” to 219- 799-7770 (standard text rates apply).

An all-new promotion this year, the South Shore Passport App will be available to download beginning on February 26! This app will replace the current South Shore Brewery Trail App and in addition to breweries will also include other passports including one for Restaurant Weeks. It will be available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

App users will be able to check-in to as many participating Savor restaurants as they can between February 26 – March 10. Each check-in earns an entry towards an exclusive gift card package valued at $250! One winner will be chosen at random the week of March 11. The more you dine out during “Savor the South Shore” …the greater the chance of winning!


Savor the South Shore was created by the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority to promote area restaurants, attract new customers and highlight specialty menu items and pairings. Learn more at www.savorthesouthshore.com.