Plus, Fall Creek Greenway is expanding into Lawrence.
 
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68º | 10% chance of precipitation | Sunrise 6:33 a.m. |
Sunset 8:48 p.m. | Full Weather Report | Traffic Report
 

A Message From Our Team
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We can’t thank our readers enough for contributing to our fundraising goal. We’re ~$600 away from our goal of $2,000 — and our fundraising campaign ends tonight. Help us by giving today and supporting our free, unbiased approach to local journalism. We promise, this is the last time this year we’ll bother you about donations.
 

🏛️ Indy’s Roman Empire

The history of The Ruins at Holliday Park
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Since 2021, The Ruins have come back to life each summer with the Rock the Ruins outdoor concert series. | Photo by @dfellegy + @rocktheruins
How often do we think about the Roman Empire? Maybe not as often as the people who flooded TikTok with their answers late last year — but what we do think about often is The Ruins at Holliday Park, which look like they came straight from an ancient Roman palace. Especially now that Rock the Ruins is starting back up, we’ve been wondering: Where did these mysterious, beautiful structures come from?

The provenance of The Ruins isn’t quite as ancient as you might believe. Most of the structures are actually the remains of the former St. Paul building in Manhattan. Completed in 1898 and demolished in 1958, it was once one of the tallest skyscrapers in New York City, standing 26 stories tall.

The most prominent feature of the St. Paul building were the three squatting figures, collectively known as “The Races of Man.” Created in the 1890s by sculptor Karl Bitter, the bodies represent people of different ethnicities working together to hold up the building, according to Visit Indy.

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Many of the sculptures and structures seen within The Ruins were made from Indiana limestone.

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Photo by @severalwizards

When the St. Paul building was scheduled for demolition, The Committee to Preserve American Art stepped in to save the building’s unique creative pieces. Several organizations and entities in the United States made requests for the sculptures, with Indianapolis ultimately winning thanks to Elmer Taflinger’s detailed plans for The Ruins.

Over the next 20 years, Taflinger, once described as the “grand old man of Indiana art,” surrounded the St. Paul remnants with other local salvaged pieces. These included a horse trough once located at the base of a historic monument in Fountain Square, 26 Greek columns from the Sisters of the Good Shepherd Convent, and eight statues of goddesses that stood above the entrance to the original Marion County Courthouse.
The state of the ruins in 2024
Asked

Which Rock the Ruins concerts will you be attending?
A. The Decemberists
B. Greensky Bluegrass
C. Orville Peck
D. Amos Lee
E. Manchester Orchestra
11 more acts to vote for
Pins Mechanical Co.
 
Events
Friday, May 10
  • Portugal. The Man | Friday, May 10 | 8 p.m. | Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., Indianapolis | $57-$85 | Feel it still at this concert that’s sure to be electrifying.
Saturday, May 11
  • Mother’s Day Weekend | Saturday, May 11-Sunday, May 12 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Newfields, 4000 N. Michigan Rd., Indianapolis | Museum admission | Enjoy live music, lawn games, brunch specials, and local vendors in the gardens.
  • World Collage Day Indianapolis | Saturday, May 11 | 12-3 p.m. | Tube Factory Artspace, 1125 Cruft St., Indianapolis | Free | Bring materials of your own or use provided supplies to make a collage out of magazines, old books, paint swatches, string, and anything else you can think of.
  • Sudzfest | Saturday, May 11 | 4-9 p.m. | German Park, 8602 S. Meridian St., Indianapolis | $5-$10 | Sip the afternoon away with drinks from four local breweries, bratwursts, and live music — admission is free for those under 21.
Sunday, May 12
  • The King and I | Sunday, May 12-Sunday, May 19 | Times vary | Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, 9301 Michigan Rd., Indianapolis | $55-$82 | Experience the grandeur of 19th-century Siam with this beloved musical.
Monday, May 13
  • Women’s Self Defense Class | Monday, May 13 | 7:30-9 p.m. | BPD Training Facility, 75 Whittington Dr., Brownsburg | Free | Put on some comfy workout clothes for this monthly class with both classroom + hands on instruction.
Events calendar here
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Plan Ahead

The Louisville, KY music festival worth making the drive for
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There’s no better pairing than warm weather and live music by the water. | Photo courtesy of Louisville Tourism
Memorial Day weekend trip to Bourbon City, anyone?

The inaugural GAZEBO Festival will be held at Louisville’s Waterfront Park on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26.

Jam out to a stacked lineup of 26 artists, including SZA, Jack Harlow, Vince Staples (and more) at this distinctly Louisville event.

One-day general admission, weekend, and VIP options are available. Pro tip: Check out these frequently asked questions before you go.
We have our tickets — do you?
News Notes
Community
  • Pacers Bikeshare announced that Marion County residents can register for a free annual “IndyRides Free” pass, just in time to check out 325 new e-bikes. Once you request a pass, an access code will be sent to you in the mail.
Fun Fact
  • The Indy 500 is setting a new pace with the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 3LZ coupe, which will be the first hybrid pace car in the race’s history. It’s the world’s only sports car to pair a conventional propulsion system with responsiveness powered by electrified All-Wheel Drive. (IBJ)
Announced
  • Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles is coming to Indianapolis on Tuesday, Oct. 29 as part of a gymnastics show at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tickets for the “Athleta Presents Gold Over America Tour” go on sale on Friday, May 17. (WTHR)
Outdoors
  • A new two-mile segment is being planned for the Fall Creek Greenway. The addition will start in Lawrence at Lee Road and 63rd Street and go to the Upper Loop Trail at Geist Crossing. It will connect to the existing Fall Creek Greenway, spanning 14 miles from downtown to Fort Harrison State Park. (WTHR)
Active
  • Swish swish. On Saturday, May 18, Fishers Parks will host an unveiling event to celebrate the completion of two new basketball court murals at Brooks School Park. Festivities include a 3-on-3 double-elimination tournament for ages 16+ and a three-point contest for ages 8+. Register. (The Reporter/WISH)
Sports
  • The Pacers come home today, and the pressure is on to start a comeback against the Knicks. How can they do it? Locked On has the keys.
    Wellness
    • Match with a licensed therapist on Betterhelp and talk anytime, anywhere — phone, video, or text. Get 25% off your first month.*
    Louisville Tourism
     
    The Buy

    The Buy 5.10.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
    This bestselling cordless table lamp. No cord means it’s ideal for outdoor lounge areas and patios — the rechargeable battery lasts up to 48 hours per full charge. Snag it in black, antique brass, or brushed nickel.
    Answered

    We asked what items you like to buy at local farmers markets. Here’s what you said:
    Kale growing in a greenhouse
    Garcia’s Gardens is cultivating a green oasis amidst the city life hustle and bustle. | Photo by @garciasgardens
    • 73% of you said fresh produce. We love fruits and veggies from these urban gardens. You can find Mad Farmers’ Indy at the Garfield Park Farmers Market and Garcia’s Gardens at the Broad Ripple, Binford, and Irvington markets.
    • 18% said prepackaged local foods. If hot sauce is your fave, here are the local brands you should know.
    • 9% said flowers and plants. Check out our guide to other nearby spots where you can get flowers on non-market days. You can also pick up your newest houseplant that you definitely won’t kill at these shops.
     
    The Wrap
     
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    Today’s edition by:
    Shea
    From the editor
    One of my favorite events I’ve attended at The Ruins is a summer sunrise Invoke Yoga class. You can keep an eye out for the (hopeful) return of the partnership on the park’s calendar.
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