Indianapolis, IN

Rivals Five-Star: Key WR storylines to follow heading into Indianapolis

Published

12 months ago

June 17, 2025

Rivals Five-Star: Key WR storylines to follow heading into Indianapolis

The Rivals Five-Star is being held June 23-24 at the Indianapolis Colts’ practice facility. Here are four wide receiver storylines we’re following heading into the biggest event of the summer.

How much higher for Tristen Keys?

Tristen Keys, the Mississippi five-star, is currently in rare air for a wide receiver. He’s sitting at No. 5 in the entire country just behind a pair of potential franchise offensive tackles and quarterbacks.

But could he rise even higher with an electric performance at Rivals Five-Star?

The opportunity is certainly there. Keys is the highest-rated player coming to the event which gives him an opportunity to show everyone that he can do it on the biggest stage against the best competition. It’ll be fun to see him go to work.

Young guns step on the stage

This is the type of event where younger players can really burst onto the scene. We don’t have a shortage of very talented young prospects ready to make an impact.

Ohio State commit Jamier Brown is already a five-star and can stamp himself as the next one up for the Buckeyes.

Indiana native Monshun Sales (6-5, 195) has turned a lot of heads during his recruitment but we haven’t seen him against top competition. Eric McFarland is an electric player out of IMG Academy. He’s one of the youngest players attending as a 2028 prospect and will look to leave his mark.

LSU well represented

The battle between LSU and Ohio State for the title of ‘Wide Receiver U’ isn’t a debate to get into right now. However, the Tigers will be well represented at Rivals Five-Star.

Kenny Darby, Tristen Keyes and Jabari Mack are all scheduled to be in attendance. So we’ll get a good look at the future of the Tigers’ receiving corps. That’s if the Tigers can hold on to Keyes. He was at Tennessee recently for an official visit and the Vols were one of the top contenders for his signature before his verbal pledge to LSU.

Will Zion Robinson be on the board?

Right now, it seems to be a three-team race for the Texas wideout. He’s completed official visits to Michigan and Miami already. Both programs feel like they improved their chances with the big-bodied playmaker. A visit to Stanford looms just before the Rivals Five-Star event.

Will the Cardinal be able to close the gap with the two powerhouse programs? That’ll be one of the first questions asked to Robinson at media day on Monday.

It’s also very interesting that Robinson has seemingly eliminated TCU, where he has family ties, and will leave the state.

Will another five-star emerge?

As things currently stand, Tristen Keys and Jamier Brown are the only five-star receivers that will be at the event. So this is a great opportunity for the other receivers to step up and make a name for themselves in front of analysts and evaluators.

There are several candidates in the mix to make a move. But I’ll have my attention on a select group of players that the NFL is loving right now.

At the slot position alone Tyreek King, CJ Sadler and Vance Spafford will get to show who is the alpha at the position this cycle. Getting a closer look at that battle will be a lot of fun.

Source link

Indianapolis, IN

New stores in Indianapolis include indoor kid’s playground, cafe

Published

10 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

New stores in Indianapolis include indoor kid’s playground, cafe

May came and went, and with it, we saw the closest Indianapolis 500 finish in history, the 150th anniversary of Eli Lilly and a contested primary election day.

There’s also been some movement in retail news ahead of the summer shopping season. On the north side, a new women’s clothing store opened while a piercing studio set up shop in Speedway. Meanwhile, an indoor children’s play place opened on the near north side.

Read on for four spots that recently opened and one in Broad Ripple that said farewell.

Openings

Monkee’s

8659 River Crossing Blvd., monkeesofindianapolis.com, opened in March

Monkee’s of Indianapolis, a high-end women’s clothing store, opened recently on the north side in the Shops at River Crossing near the Fashion Mall. The brand Monkee’s started in the South three decades ago and has since grown to nearly 70 locations. In Indianapolis, Missy Llewellyn and Whitney Schmitt started the franchise to bring the clothing brand to the Circle City.

The Nest Play Cafe

515 E 22nd St Suite 101, indynestplaycafe.com, opened early May

The Nest Play Cafe opened at the corner of Central Avenue and 22nd Street, offering an indoor space for parents and caregivers to bring their children to play. Caregivers can book 90-minute play sessions for $15 per child over the age of one. Tickets for additional siblings run $10. The cafe sells coffee and snacks, too.

Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to noon. Closed Tuesdays.

Forget Me Not Piercing Studio

5324 W. 16th St., jessflowerspiercings.square.site, opened May 27

A new piercing studio opened in Speedway at the end of May just days after the Indianapolis 500. Forget Me Not Piercing offers traditional lobe, helix and conch piercings along with nostril and septum piercings. Artist Jess Flowers opened the one-woman shop on 16th Street.

Open Sunday and Thursday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Black Orchid Barbers Fountain Square

1201 Prospect St. Suite 100, blackorchidbarbers.com, opened in May

Black Orchid, a local barbershop known for its sharp haircuts with a side of humor, opened its Fountain Square spot, marking the company’s seventh brick-and-mortar location. Walk-ins are welcome but Black Orchid recommends grabbing a time slot online for your preferred service.

Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closures

Vitality IV Bar

6302 Guilford Ave., vitalityivbar.com

An IV-wellness spot in Broad Ripple shut its doors last month. Vitality IV Bar was located next to the Thieves cocktail lounge, formerly the Broad Ripple Starbucks location, before it went out of business.

Vitality IV still operates an Indianapolis-area location on Mass Ave downtown at 749 Massachusetts Ave where customers can book a variety of infusions with vitamins.

See a store opening or closing near you? Contact IndyStar reporter Alysa Guffey at alysa.guffey@indystar.com.

Source link

Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis artist merges forgiveness, healing and protecting water

Published

20 hours ago

June 2, 2026

Press Room

Indianapolis artist merges forgiveness, healing and protecting water

Carolyn Springer added streaks of light blue with her brush to the canvas. The streaks, representing light reflected through water, crossed over names written in chalk.

Forty-one names comprised the 11th layer of Springer’s “The Forgiving Sea VI,” an interactive painting that invites people to wr

Source link

Indianapolis, IN

Garfield Park Conservatory will combine nature and crafts in June

Published

1 day ago

June 2, 2026

Press Room

Garfield Park Conservatory will combine nature and crafts in June

Elizabeth Gabriel, Mirror Indy

(MIRROR INDY) — The Garfield Park Conservatory will host multiple family-friendly events throughout June. The events include plant shows, kid’s story time and Dollar Menu Night, which allows residents to harvest and eat veggies from a community garden.

Events at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 2505 Conservatory Drive, range in price and some require advance registration.

The Indianapolis Bonsai Club will have displays and answer questions about a variety of bonsai. Vendors will have items for purchase.

🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6, 1-5 p.m. June 7
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)

Preschoolers ages 2-5 can participate in nature-themed storytime and crafts.

🗓️ 10-11 a.m. June 9
🎟️ $6 per child

Residents of all ages can harvest and eat veggies from Blakes’ Garden. Advance registration is preferred.

🗓️ 6-7 p.m. June 10
🎟️ $1 per person

Focused on ages 2-8, participants will listen to a nature-themed story and explore Blakes’ Garden. Attendees will relocate to a classroom if there’s inclement weather.

🗓️ 10 a.m. June 12
🎟️ Free

Up to 15 neighbors ages 10 and up will learn to ferment kimchi. Registration is required.

🗓️ 1-2 p.m. June 13
🎟️ $15 per person

Kids ages 2-5 can plant and harvest crops in the Children’s Garden. Registration is required.

🗓️ 11 a.m. to noon June 24
🎟️ $6 per child

The Indiana Insectivores will display tropical and native Indiana predator plants. Plants will also be available for purchase. Those who attend the plant show will also have free entry to the Predatory Plants Presentation 1-2 p.m. June 27.

🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27, 1-5 p.m. June 28
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)

Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.

Mirror Indy reporter Elizabeth Gabriel covers the south side of Marion County. Contact her at elizabeth.gabriel@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X at @_elizabethgabs.

Source link