Ten years is a long time, but in a good way — see if these tidbits tickle your remembrances of the past decade, from the pages of Cary Magazine to the grand openings and local happenings that make life great in Western Wake!
2004
Premiere issue of Cary Magazine!
First CM editor: Danielle Stanfield
First-issue features: New Cary Mayor Ernie McAllister, Spartacus Grille
Launch of CaryMagazine.com, with subscription capability
CM moves: From Maynard Road to Weston Parkway
CM features Faye Parker, mom of 2003 American Idol finalist Clay Aiken
Population of Cary: 108K
Cary ranks #1 Small Town in America, by Money Magazine
The Matthews House opens its new ballroom
Amphitheatre at Regency Park renamed Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Cary first dog park: Pet Central, on West Chatham Street
2005
Cary Magazine names its first Women of Western Wake: Ann Goodnight, Pat Bazemore, Sheila Ogle, Hilda Pinnix-Ragland, and Daphne Ashworth
First Maggy Awards ballot, a paper pullout!
CM circulation: 20K
CM launches Cary Business and Triangle East; Kerry Watson Garner is first TE editor
CM features WQDR’s Heather Green; she later joins CM editorial staff
Restaurant features in CM: Loop Pizza, Serendipity, Sushi-Thai, Daniel’s, Maximillian’s
Wedding of Lionel & Missy Vatinet, owners of LaFarm Bakery, featured in CM
Prestonwood Country Club unveils new ballroom
USA Baseball breaks ground on National Training Center
Hopewell Academy admits first students
2006
Cary Magazine announces first Maggy Awards winners, including: FIGS Market, Cindy’s House Café, Iatria Spa, and The Toy Chest
Other Maggy winners become perennial reader favorites, such as: Town & Country Veterinary Hospital, Daniel’s Restaurant, Triangle Pilates (now studioVIBE) and Fairview Garden Center
CM makes enhancements to CaryMagazine.com, adds online Maggy Awards voting
Carolina Railhawks choose SAS Soccer Park as base; park is renamed WakeMed Soccer Park in ‘07
Sandy Jordan named Cary’s first economic development director
Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival turns 30
Now open: West Regional Library, mixed-use development Stone Creek Village
Martha Stewart visits Cary for opening of Twin Lakes neighborhood
No. 2: Cary’s rank on Relocate-America.com list of America's Top 100 Places to Live
Cary Tennis Park earns U.S. Tennis Association’s Outstanding Tennis Facility of the Year
Cary Teen Council named Most Diverse Council at State Youth Council convention
The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions
2007
Cary Magazine holds first Elegant Weddings Gala!
CM circulation: 24K
First CM e-newsletter, titled Restaurant Row
Now open: The Umstead Hotel & Spa
Harold Weinbrecht becomes mayor of Cary
Grand opening: Triangle Aquatic Center
Cary hosts PONY National Fastpitch Softball Tournament, drawing teams and visitors from Alaska and West Coast
Population of Cary: Up 5.9 percent, to 122K
2008
Cary Magazine hosts first Women of Western Wake Luncheon! Honorees are Mary Lou Powell, Ann Denlinger, Nellie Shipley, Barbara Mulkey and Lucy Daniels
CM adds chief photographer Jonathan Fredin; Nancy Pardue becomes editor of Triangle East
Winner of a CM makeover is Ami Claxton Harris of Cary
CM compiles Western Wake 100 list of most influential businesses
Serving as CM fashion models are Cary Police officers Ricky Burch, Josh Bonin, Seth Everett, Keith McKenna and Tony Menendez
Famous names featured in CM: Kristi Yamaguchi, Taylor Swift and Rachael Ray
CM parent company S&A Cherokee named to Inc. 5000 list
NCAA selects Cary as a Championship City
Cary ranks as fastest-growing N.C. town in U.S. Census Bureau data
WakeMed Cary cuts ribbon on new patient tower
Now open: Stick Boy Bread Co. in Fuquay-Varina, mixed-use community Grace Park in Morrisville
2009
Cary Magazine parent company S&A Cherokee earns placement on Publishing Executive’s Best Magazine Publishing Companies to Work For, and Triangle Business Journal’s Fast 50 Award
CM features the first Cary Smile Makeover winner, Pat Mitchell
Beaver Creek Commons in Apex beats Cary Crossroads Plaza by 19 votes to win the Maggy for Best Non-Mall Shopping Center
5K: Number of CM e-news subscribers
Lazy Daze festival rated tops in nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine
2010
Cary Magazine launches Facebook page
CM relaunches CaryMagazine.com
Winner of new Maggy category Best Preschool is Primrose School of Cary
S&A Cherokee wins Cary Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Award
Susan Kroll of Cary wins CM Holiday Decoration Makeover
Population of Cary: 135K, up 116 percent since 1990
Cary named Best Place to Live in Southeast by Money Magazine
Now open: Cloer Family Vineyards in Apex, The Meat House in Cary
Groundbreaking ceremonies held for Cary Arts Center
Construction underway on new W.E. Hunt Recreation Center in Holly Springs
2011
Cary Magazine hosts first Maggy Awards Party! Held at Tribeca Tavern, winner of Best New Restaurant
CM e-news has 7,200 subscribers
Winners of CM’s Pet Photo Contest are Andrea Gonzalez & kitten Ollie
Emily Uhland and Tara Croft named CM co-editors
CM features celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s visit to Cary
Pam Schmid, former CM contributor, hosts launch party for her book, 101 Things You Should Know About Breast Cancer
Scotty McCreery of Garner named American Idol
Cary is ranked Highest Quality of Life in N.C. by American City Business Journals
Ed Gawf becomes Cary’s first director of downtown development
Dedication ceremonies held for both Cary Arts Center and refurbished Cary Depot
2012
Cary Magazine increases annual issue count, from 6 to 8!
CM e-news has 18K subscribers
CM earns Gold Hermes Creative Award, and Bronze InSpire Award of Excellence from N.C. Chapter of Public Relations Society of America
Nancy Pardue named CM co-editor
Cary hosts U.S. Olympic Trials in table tennis
Cary Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 50th year
Apex hosts inaugural Peak City Pig Fest
Now open: Park West Village in Morrisville
2013
Introduction of Cary Magazine Gives Back program; first partner is Horse & Buddy
CM features Most Eligible Bachelors Brian Ackley, David Galatas, Austin la Luz, Josh Phillips, Jeff Winkler, and Carolina Hurricanes Justin Faulk and Jiri Tlusty
Live wedding proposal takes place at CM Elegant Weddings Gala; she says yes!
CM pick-up rate: 95 percent per issue!
CM e-news has more than 21K subscribers
Nonprofit The Carying Place celebrates 20 years
Cary ranks No. 8 Small American City of the Future-Economic Potential by fDi Intelligence
Friends of the Page-Walker receive Capital Area Preservation's Anthemion Award
#9: Apex’s rank on Money Magazine Best Place to Live list
Holly Springs ranks Best Place to Raise Kids, by Businessweek
Garner named All-America City by National Civic League
2014
Cary Magazine celebrates 10th anniversary!
CM features food trucks, for the first time
Grand openings: The Cary, Bass Pro Shop
Cary ranks No. 6 Safest Suburb in America by Movoto; Apex is No. 7
Population of Cary: 145K
Construction underway on MetLife
