The Cary Report

06/07/2026

Peck & Plume is high quality, surprisingly affordable, and a must-visit.

Lunch prices are comparable to most chain restaurants, but you’re getting much better food. Most entrees are around $15.

Dinner and drinks are a little pricier, but still very reasonable for what you’re getting.

Weekday lunches are usually fine without a reservation, just make sure you call ahead for dinner or on weekends.

They do brunch on Sundays too!

📍 Inside The Mayton, 301 S Academy St

06/05/2026

BREAKING: Vicious Fishes in Cary has closed. Updates to follow.

South Line Brewing will remain open.

06/05/2026

Duke Energy Wants to Raise Your Electric Bill by 18%

Duke Energy is asking state regulators to approve an increase of up to 18% in residential electric rates over the next two years, a proposal that would add roughly $34 to the average North Carolina customer's monthly bill by 2028.

That's on top of the 22% increase residents have already absorbed since 2020.

The request is now in front of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, which is expected to issue a final decision this fall.

Public hearings have drawn significant pushback, with more than 72,000 people signing a petition calling for an independent audit of Duke Energy's billing practices.

Duke is citing the need to expand infrastructure to keep up with rising demand across the state (150,000 new customers, 10 new substations, and broader grid upgrades), but a significant portion of that demand is coming from massive data centers that Amazon and Microsoft are planning to build across North Carolina, not from ordinary households.

Advocates say residential customers shouldn't be the ones footing that bill.

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson filed 700 pages of testimony opposing the plan, arguing it would cost residents nearly $1.4 billion in unnecessary charges over two years, largely to benefit corporate profits. Duke, for its part, earned $4.9 billion in profit in 2025.

If you want to weigh in before a decision is made, you can submit a public comment through the NCUC website https://www.ncuc.gov/hearings/hearings.html using docket number E-2 Sub 1358 (Duke Energy Progress) or E-7 Sub 1313 (Duke Energy Carolinas).

06/04/2026

The lotus at Downtown Cary Park’s lower pond has completely taken over 🪷

There’s a citizen science station called a Chronolog right at the pond where you can snap a photo from a designated spot and your shot gets added to a crowd-sourced time-lapse of the whole ecosystem changing over time. Pretty cool way to be part of something.

You put your phone on a stand which helps angles your shot perfectly, and then you can upload it to the chronolog. 100s have already done this, but it’s easy to miss!

The station is on the side of the park, in-between the library and The Walker apartments. There is also a bench right next to it.

You can see the time-lapse and add your own photo at chronolog.io/project/DCP

06/04/2026

Happy pride, Cary!

06/03/2026

Rita’s Italian Ice opened in Cary back in 2024 and it remains as popular as ever.

The Pennsylvania-based chain is known for their Gelati (layers of Italian ice and frozen custard), a rotating flavor menu, and 590+ locations across the country.

The Cary location is at 921 N. Harrison Ave, near the neighborhood Walmart.

06/03/2026

Report 22 is out!

Inside:

- Wake County approves property tax increase
- TST results
- June events
.. and more!

The June edition.

06/01/2026

Wake County is voting on a property tax increase tonight. Here's what Cary residents need to know.

The Wake County Board of Commissioners is expected to vote tonight on the FY2027 budget, and it includes a property tax increase that affects everyone in the county, including much of Cary.

County Manager David Ellis proposed a nearly $2.3 billion budget that would raise the county's property tax rate by 2 cents (from 51.71 cents to 53.71 cents per $100 of valuation).

For the owner of a $450,000 home (roughly the county median), that's about $90 more per year.

In addition, Cary's own proposed FY2027 budget includes a 3.75-cent increase that would bring the town's rate to 37.75 cents per $100, and that vote is scheduled for June 25.

If both pass, Cary homeowners within Wake County limits would be looking at a combined increase of 5.75 cents per $100 of assessed value, which works out to roughly $258.75 more per year on a $450,000 home.

The county's proposed increase would fund 16 new EMT positions, the reopening of the jail annex with 92 new detention staff, and support for a fire services training manager position that was previously covered by federal dollars running out in December.

Schools are part of it too, with $25.3 million proposed to fully meet the Wake County Public School System's funding request.

The county is also dealing with a significant revenue shortfall tied to what officials are calling the "Blue Ridge loophole," where some apartment property owners have claimed tax exemptions they may not actually qualify for, costing the county millions. You can read more about it here: https://ncnewsline.com/2026/03/09/affordable-housing-tax-loophole-threatens-to-drain-local-government-budgets-in-nc/

Tonight's vote is just for Wake County, while the Cary piece comes June 25 - we will keep you posted on both.

You can read the full recommended budget here:https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wakegov.com.if-us-west-1/s3fs-public/documents/2026-05/FY27%20Wake%20County%20Recommended%20Budget%20Web%20-%205.11.26.pdf

06/01/2026

Pirates Cove Greenway is a short, quiet path on the eastern side of Cary. It’s 0.7 miles out and back, low traffic, and runs through the woods alongside a stream.

Street parking at the end of Greenwood Cir, and if you want to add some distance, you can connect to Hinshaw Greenway by walking through the neighborhood at the end.

📍 Pirates Cove Greenway, Cary NC

05/29/2026

How good can a little Mexican restaurant next to a Trader Joe's actually be?

At Chido Taco (151 SE Cary Parkway, in the Shoppes of Kildaire), the answer is: unbelievably good.

You order at the register, grab a seat, and the food comes out fast and fresh.

The menu is built around traditional street tacos with fillings like carnitas, al pastor, and lengua.

The quesabirria is a crowd favorite (and only $1.99 on Mondays!!).

The best part of Chido Taco is how they grill their meat. You can taste the smoky char in each bite and it makes you want to try everything on the menu.

Chido Taco got its start in Raleigh back in 2019. They now have three locations (two in Raleigh, and this one in Cary).

They're open Monday through Thursday from 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday until 10pm, and Sunday until 8:30pm. You can also order online if you'd rather grab it to go.

https://chidotaco.com/