Good people of Cary,

We made it to the double-digits! Thank you so much for supporting The Cary Report.

Our number of subscribers has increased by 23% since last week! If you’re new here, I’d like to give you a warm welcome.

In this issue, we’re going to take a look at the State of Cary address, parking in downtown Cary, and St. Patrick's Day events coming up this weekend that you won’t want to miss.

Thanks for being here and for continuing to support local.

James

On March 6th, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht hosted the public 2026 State of Cary Address. The actual slides have been available for over a month, and other private presentations were held, in case this sounded too familiar.

After the presentation, a roughly half-hour-long Q&A session from the public followed.

Out of the 16 questions, 12 of them were about the rumored new ICE facility and asking the town to take a stand.

Mayor Weinbrecht repeated that the town has no authority to stop the federal government from moving an office into the town.

In an email from Foundry Commercial, the leasing agent for the property in question, it is stated that the lease was signed in October 2025, and it is not being used as a detention facility.

We will provide updates as they become available.

Additional reading: Email from Foundry Commercial, State of Cary Address Recording

The parking lot in downtown Cary that hosts Big Dom’s Bagel Shop, TuTu School, Pro's Epicurean Ristorante, and more, is switching to a validated parking model.

What this means is that if you park in that lot to use any of the businesses in the plaza, then your parking is free. If you park there to explore the rest of downtown Cary, then you’ll have to pay.

This new model actually makes a lot of sense. Parking for those businesses is limited, and it logically makes sense to restrict the lot to their customers only. Two new parking decks, including one just one block away from that lot, are rumored to be opening as soon as next week.

If you’re looking for a place to park in downtown Cary, I created a guide in 2025 to what I consider to be your best options (which I think holds true today). You can also check out the town’s official parking map here.

Additional reading: Cedar Street Parking Deck Updates, Academy Street Parking Deck Updates

Feeling lucky?

Downtown Cary is turning green this Saint Patrick's Day weekend with Cary's Pot O'Gold — a bar stroll across some of your favorite local spots.

Here's how it works: Starting Friday, March 13 at 3pm, pick up a map at any participating location and spend the evening (and into Saturday) collecting stamps at each stop. Rack up five stamps, including one from presenting sponsor Hearsay Cocktail Bar, and you'll be entered to win gift certificates to local businesses. Turn in your completed passport at your last stop.

The full lineup, with hours:

The stroll runs Friday, March 13 through Saturday, March 14 at 2am. Grab your map, find your pot o'gold.

More info

Interested in partnering with us? Reach out at [email protected] and let's find something that works for you.

Thursday Night Music Club: Nashville Songwriters Round

What: Six songwriters take the stage together in an intimate Songwriters in the Round format, sharing the stories behind their songs. Led by Nashville's Lexie Hayden, with Gina Venier, Jason Nix, Kylie Sackley, Morgan Johnston, and Timothy Baker. Tickets required.

Where: The Cary Theater (122 E Chatham St)

When: Thu, March 12 | 7:30 p.m.

More Info

Movie Night: The Dark Knight

What: The 2026 Downtown Cary Park movie series kicks off with a screening of The Dark Knight (PG-13). Pre-screening activities and bat mask making start at 6 p.m., film begins at 7:30 p.m. Food trucks on site 4–9 p.m. Free.

Where: Downtown Cary Park (327 S. Academy St)

When: Fri, March 13 | 6 p.m.

More Info

St. Patrick's Day at Doherty's

What: Doherty's Cary celebrates St. Patrick's Day with live music, Irish dancers, bagpipes, and traditional Irish food. Free admission; pay for food and drinks.

Where: Doherty's Irish Pub (1979 High House Rd)

When: Tue, March 17 | 12–9 p.m.

More Info

Each week, I highlight a spot in Cary that I think you should check out. This week, we’re heading to a small but peaceful park near downtown.

Cary has no shortage of parks, but every so often you stumble onto one that feels like it belongs to the neighborhood more than the town. Heater Park is one of those.

Tucked into a quiet residential block at 400 S. West Street, the park is small (just 1.5 acres) but it earns its keep. A creek cuts through the middle of it, and on a calm day you'll hear more birds than people. There are benches scattered throughout, enough shade to make an afternoon there comfortable, and almost no crowd to speak of. That last part might be the best thing about it.

There's no parking lot, which probably helps keep the foot traffic down. You can park along the street, or if you're coming from downtown, it's about a ten-minute walk from the parking deck on Academy Street.

If you find yourself wanting more after your visit, Dorothy Park is just a short walk away and has a similar low-key vibe, though it's a bit smaller.

Heater Park isn't going to show up on anyone's must-see list, and that's kind of the point. Check out the town's official page for more details.

Location: 400 S. West Street
Website: https://www.carync.gov/recreation-enjoyment/parks-greenways-environment/parks/heater-park

Thanks for reading! If you liked or disliked this issue, feel free to reply and let me know! I love hearing from you.

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