Community organizations, vendors and food trucks will gather in Washington Park June 1-2 for the Community Love Fest dustbowl tournament, kickback and praise in the park.  Saturday’s festivities will include a basketball tournament with over 30 teams, live music from The Tony Bryant Project, a line dance workout and a bounce house. Ten faith congregations will come together on Sunday to host the praise in the park event.   The weekend activities will be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 1-3 p.m. Both days will feature food vendors and organization booths.&n ..read more

Follow the yellow brick road to Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s 2024 season family show.  On stage now through July 7, Beef & Boards’ production of “The Wizard of Oz” brings L. Frank Baum’s classic adventure to life on stage through classic songs and familiar characters. Sponsored in part by Indy’s Child, the family-friendly production follows Dorothy Gale, a farm girl from Kansas as she is introduced to the magical land of Oz and some of its many residents on her journey to find her way back home. Although “The Wizard of Oz” first premiered on Broadway in 1902 — just two years aft ..read more

JB Art is a business focusing on creating high-quality, custom artwork for its clients. The company is led by Joshua Benedict who can create a wide variety of pieces, including drawings, paintings and more. JB Art also offers a variety of services such as the customization of wearables like tennis shoes and crocs. “I have been doing art since I was like three or four years old,” Benedict said in an interview with the Indiana Minority Business Magazine. The company’s mission is to provide its clients with unique and beautiful artwork that will enhance their homes or businesses while invoking th ..read more

With the start of summer swiftly approaching, the Indianapolis Arts Center has concluded their spring showings, cementing the end of the season.  The exhibits were expertly curated, comprised of a collection of clay pieces made within the center’s own studio, sculptural display by Jennifer Crupi who has work in the possession of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Biannual ArtReach Exhibition, and a group show of contemporary wearable art. Though these featured the works of both budding minds and experienced artisans, the most striking collection within the galleries was certainly th ..read more

The Neon Black Dance Festival debuts June 8 and 9 at the Madame Walker Legacy Theatre in downtown Indianapolis. The first of its kind, Neon Black’s mission is simple: Black joy, Black power and Black excellence. The Allure Dance company will represent the NEON Black Dance Festival. (Photo/Gary Watson) The event will be two days of performance by local BIPOC-led dance groups and a workshop offered by Michelle Gibson, a renowned New Orleans-inspired dance leader. Lauren Curry, director of Indy Movement Arts, is excited for both Gibson and the ten dance groups. “(The festival) is for any age, any ..read more

The District Theatre’s latest musical takes audiences back in time, shining a spotlight on Indiana Avenue before its decay. “Voices of the Avenue,” written by local playwright Brandi Metzger, premieres May 31 through June 3 at the District Theatre as part of the organization’s new grant-funded Black Light Training and Development program. The program, which enrolls new students each spring and fall, includes funding for a series of one-act plays centering around the effect of displacement and gentrification on Indiana Avenue, said Tijideen Rowley, director of training and development for Black ..read more

Tiffanie King rocks out at the inaugural “I Made Rock’n’Roll Festival.” (Photos/LaTasha Boyd Jones) Indianapolis proudly hosted the inaugural I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll Festival, a truly unique event that lived up to its name. The festival, aptly titled I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll (IMRR), was not just a music celebration, but a masterclass in narrative control, authorship amplification, and cultural reclamation. The visionary behind this event, Alan Bacon Jr., a musician and co-founder of GangGang, brought his resonant understanding of American-made genres and his passion for celebrating the historical leg ..read more

Gospel artist Kirk Franklin is returning to Indianapolis this fall. The 19-time Grammy Award-winning songwriter unveiled the 2024 leg of The Reunion Tour on May 20. The tour, which is an extension of Franklin’s 2023 tour of the same name, is set to include a stop in Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sept. 21, 2024. The Reunion Tour will reunite some of the biggest names in gospel music and icons. Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp and the Clark Sisters are set to join Franklin on the tour as co-headliners. Kierra Sheard-Kelly, American gospel singer and evangelist, will join the t ..read more

Indy Pride, Inc. is making a concerted effort to increase access to this year’s festival. The 2024 Indy Pride Festival and Parade promises a day of entertainment, food and drinks and community celebration beginning with the parade in downtown Indianapolis and continuing the festival in Military Park on June 8. However, this year will introduce a few new elements to increase access and make the event an even more welcoming place, Indy Pride Festival Director Jeff Kuhn said. “It’s always just so exciting for me and refreshing to just see all the smiling faces there,” Kuhn said. “I mean, you see ..read more

The countdown to race day is almost up, but there is still plenty of Indy 500-themed events, festivities and porch parties going on around town to check out this weekend! To make things easier on our beloved Indy 500 fans, the Recorder has compiled a list of a few things to tune into before the green flag drops on May 28. Friday, May 24 The American Legion 500 Memorial Service  Indiana War Memorial Noon Free Every year, just before the Indy 500, a memorial service is held in honor of those who died while serving in the armed forces. The service will feature keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Jon A ..read more