Cary Announces New Art Grant Recipients!

Happy Wednesday Cary!

Late last week, Cary announced the final recipients for the 2025 Cary Art Daze grants! These grants support a variety of local programs and projects meant to inspire and connect Cary residents throughout the year.

The full list contains over two dozen unique artists and groups from Cary, but some notable inclusions are the Cart Art Loop, the Cary Community Choir, and the North Carolina Storytelling Guild!

These grants go a long way: dozens of arts give away and present their art during the annual Cary Lazy Daze festival every year. They also contribute their art to downtown Cary and help bring a warm and inviting local atmosphere.

It’ll be a bit of time until we see the fruits of these grants, but the 50th anniversary of Cary’s Lazy Daze arts & craft festival will sure to be a huge one. We don’t know the exact date yet, but it’s anticipated to run during late August.

News

New “Connecting Cary” Sidewalk Project

The Cary council has recently appropriated funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) towards a new system of sidewalks and non-profit initiatives throughout all of Cary.

According to the release, the project seeks to close various “sidewalk gaps” that were selected based on the following principles:

• New (not replacement) sidewalks

• Improve safety and mobility

• Fill critical sidewalk gaps

• Make an impact

• Readily aware of need

• Connect neighborhoods to activity centers

• Distribute projects across Cary

The project is fully funded and the developer has been awarded the contract. You can view the Sidewalk Projects Map to see all of the current and upcoming sidewalk projects near you!

Restaurant of the Week: Chef’s Palette

Located at 3460 Ten Ten Road, Chef's Palette Restaurant & Bar offers a unique dining experience that blends culinary excellence with local charm.

Here’s what makes Chef’s Palette unique:

• Artistic Ambiance: The restaurant features original artwork by local artists, creating a vibrant and creative atmosphere.

• Live Entertainment: Guests can enjoy live music on Saturday evenings, enhancing the dining experience with exceptional performances.

• Diverse Menu Options: Chef's Palette offers a variety of menus, including dinner, weekend lunch, bar, cocktails, desserts, and gluten-free options, catering to a wide range of dietary preferences. The restaurant is actually split into two sides: a fine-dining side and a more casual, bar side.

Whether you're seeking a cozy dinner, a relaxed bar atmosphere, or live entertainment, Chef's Palette provides a memorable experience that delights all the senses.

Hours:

• Dining Room Hours: Monday to Saturday, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

• Bar Hours: Monday to Thursday, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM; Friday and Saturday, 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

City Updates

Free Native Trees!

My Tree, Our Tree, a community-run gardening program, is providing free native trees to plant in your yard this spring. They’ll even plant it for you! 

All of the threes are grown from locally sourced seeds and sized to be easily cared for and maintained.

They also boast a very high rate of long-term success, meaning you may enjoy the tree for years or even decades to come.

Cedar Street Stormwater Road Closure

East Cedar Street is undergoing a stormwater improvement project to prevent further flooding issues plaguing the area. This also means, however, that the road section between Roger Alley and North Walker Street will be closed for the drainage project until may!

For updates on the schedule and project progress, check out the project page on the official Town of Cary website.

Community Digest

Huge Crowd to Protect Lake Crabtree Park

The RDU airport authority was faced with a full house of Cary and Wake County residents speaking out to protect the beloved Lake Crabtree County Park, which is potentially about to be developed over.

According to soundrivers.org, the proposed plan would turn the park into a new entertainment district. The district would completely pave over the various trails, rentals, playgrounds, and other outdoor locations, however.

“It was wild. There were hundreds of people there at the peak of it and the conference room only fit about 40 people,” Samantha said. “They seriously underestimated the amount of public engagement they were going to have. It was overwhelming.”

If you want to protect the park, consider donating to the Sound Rivers organization or getting involved with volunteer work!

Spring Baseball and Softball Registration

Registration has officially opened to participate in the spring Baseball and Softball leagues. Registration was already opened for residents, but now non-residents can also join up as of January 29th.

Baseball leagues: Ages 5-18 as of April 30, 2025.

Softball leagues: Ages 9-18 as of January 1, 2025.

Register through TeamSideline now!

Events coming up this week:

Community Events 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦

Cary Elite Rockstar Connect Networking Event | February 5th (Tickets)

• Location: Back Then Bar and Grill

• Description: Hosted by Rockstar Connect, this event is all about building meaningful relationships with people who get things done in Cary. Known for its friendly and engaging atmosphere, our event is open to everyone, ensuring you feel welcome from the moment you arrive.

Downtown Cary Historic Walking Tour | February 9th (Tickets)

• Location: Esteamed Coffee - 114 S Academy Street

• Description: Take a stroll through the history of Cary. Learn about these stories and Cary's historic downtown architecture on this guided walking tour.

Special Events 🥂

Valentine's Tea Etiquette & Tastings | February 7th (Tickets)

• Location: Sophie’s Grill and Bar,

• Description: An Afternoon Extravaganza of British Elegance!

Big Game Base | February 9th (Tickets)

• Location: Fenton

• Description: Catch the biggest game of the year on the biggest screen in the Triangle! Don’t miss a single play and all the iconic commercials on our 42-foot TV during Big Game Bash on Sunday, February 9!

Have a good day!

Thanks for reading, see you next week!