Meet Jody Rogers Lazar! Jody started her publishing career at LAKE magazine several years ago. She says that the experience working for LAKE helped her to discover several hidden treasures along the lakefront on a daily basis. Now, she is truly blessed to own two lakefront magazines, Lakefront Neighbors and Lakelife, and a third magazine near South Bend called Granger Living. Her magazines feature a lakefront resident on every cover, which is such a wonderful way to showcase WHY people choose to live along our beautiful shore. She thoroughly enjoys working on “Lake Michigan related” stories and learning about new places and things to do in the area.
What brought you to the dunes? I grew up in South Bend and would frequent the beaches with my high school friends. I moved to Chicago as a young adult and lived in Lincoln Park. I regularly enjoyed biking and walking along the lakefront but always missed the beautiful scenery of the dunes. I moved back to the area 15 years ago and cannot imagine living anywhere else!
How long did you live here? Off and on, all my life.
What is your favorite thing to do in the area? I love going to the beach in the summer with my husband. We enjoy walking along the beach searching for beach glass to add to our collection. We also love patronizing the local restaurants, boutiques and wineries on a regular basis. We are so blessed to live so close to so many great locally owned places!
Tell us a secret about the dunes We have discovered so many private/secluded beaches throughout NW Indiana and Harbor Country. They are perfect places for us to unwind and relax!
Give us your top three “hidden treasures” (restaurant, shop, trail, beach, event…really anything!)
a) Darling Boutique and LUXE Boutique in Michigan City – my two favorite places to shop!
b) Shady Creek Winery – We love the people that hang out there. It is such a hidden gem right here in our backyard.
c) The rooftop at Bentwood Tavern.
What would you like to teach people about the dunes? One thing that comes to mind, is the number of people that do not utilize our lakefront. I have met so many people that never visit the dunes – they don’t know what they are missing!
Anything else? Be on the lookout for some sort of collaborative effort with Dig the Dunes and my magazines. We are still working out the details, but Eve and I feel that together we can bring more awareness to the dunes and the wonderful things it offers!