Blacktoberfest is an event designed to highlight Black Owned Businesses and give platforms to those who may not have the benefit of a brick-and-mortar establishment, website, or supply chain operation.

The event takes place Saturday, October 30 from 4pm – 10pm in the heart of the community at 1544 Columbia Avenue in Indianapolis, IN.

It’s offering black business owners a venue to network with other business owners and connect with the local community who will not only patronize, but support them beyond the day of the event.

The event will feature live performances, music and all the odes to Black Culture, with the modern aesthetics of a Beer Garden in Fall. Complete with the amber glow of fire pits, and hanging bulb lights overhead illuminating unapologetic blackness and entrepreneurial excellence.

Renee King, singer/song-writer, joined us today to give a preview of the kind of performance you can expect from her and others there.

For more information visit, indyblacktoberfest.com, @ReneeKAllDay on social media and okaraimani.com.

Curtains are going up on some of Indy’s live local performances, so we’re going “On the Aisle” with Tom Alvarez, performing arts critic, to learn where you can catch some of these fun shows and how they’re doing their part to practice social distancing.

Tom’s Performing Arts Picks 

Actors Theatre of Indiana Drive In, Monon Square Shopping Center, Sept. 18, atistage.org

William Shakespeare’s Long-Lost Play (Abridged), IndyFringe Indy Eleven Theatre. Sept. 18, IndyFringe.org

Beethoven at Butler, Butlert Arts Center, Sept. 20, butlerartscenter.org

Brenda Williams, IndyFringe Basile Theatre, Sept. 18, Indyfringe.org

Indianapolis Symphonic Choir Community Sing, Basile Opera Center, Oct. 2, Indycboir.org

Holliday Park Concert, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Sept. 20, Icomusic.org

To read Tom’s reviews, previews and interviews on his “On the Aisle” blog, visit TomAlvarez.Studio. Also, follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.