BARBIE PARTY. Celebrate the July 21 release of “Barbie” at Paragon Theaters in Cary’s Fenton Square on Saturday, July 22, 2–6 p.m. Dress as your favorite Ken or Barbie and win prizes. The event includes a pink carpet and DJ, along with games, activities and photos. Photo by jorge Eduardo/stock.adobe.com.
NEW TRAFFIC PATTERNS. Drivers will encounter a new traffic pattern at the Jones Sausage Road interchange with Interstate 40 beginning in October, according to the News & Observer. The interchange will be the Triangle’s second, and one that has drivers briefly driving on what would normally be the wrong side of the road. Two others are under construction, at I-40 and N.C. 42 in Johnston County and on I-40 at Airport Boulevard near Raleigh-Durham International Airport. A fifth is planned at the I-440 Beltline interchange with Wake Forest Road, and two more are included in NCDOT’s plans to turn Capital Boulevard into a freeway between Raleigh and Wake Forest.
WICKED FUN. The untold story of the Witches of Oz returns to the Durham Performing Arts Center August 23–26. Broadway’s acclaimed “Wicked” transfixes audiences with the story of what happened before Dorothy dropped into Oz. Purchase tickets here.
ART GRANTS. The United Arts Council has invested $130,000 for 16 Community Spotlight Project Grants across Wake County. The grants for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations support projects that feature or are led by historically underrepresented communities. United Arts will highlight projects from the following groups: American Dance Festival, Arts Access, Artspace, Burning Coal Theatre, Carolina Dance Collaborative, Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, Diamante Arts & Cultural Center, El Pueblo, Gigi’s Playhouse, Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association, Inkspired, International Focus, InWave, North Carolina Indian & South Asian Film Festival, North Carolina Opera and VAE Raleigh.
FIFA WATCH PARTIES. The FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer match between the United States and Vietnam will be shown on a large LED screen at Moore Square Lawn in Raleigh on Friday, July 21, 6–11 p.m. The free watch party features food trucks and a local market, plus games and activities. Game time is 9 p.m. Meanwhile, Tap Yard in Raleigh is also hosting a watch party for the soccer match on the big screen with food trucks supplying the snacks. And if you’re in Cary, you can take in the game at Sports & Social on the 42-foot LED screen.
NEW NETWORK. The ACC released news last week that the CW Network has secured the rights to carry 50 ACC football and basketball games per season through 2026–27, beginning this September. The switch comes after the conference was freed from its contract with bankrupt Bally Sports, according to the News & Observer. The new deal includes weekly Saturday football telecasts in addition to Saturday men’s basketball doubleheaders in December, January and February, along with weekly women’s basketball games on Sundays.
ART NEWS. Fine Arts League of Cary will host Meet the Artist on the terrace of The Mayton on the third Wednesday of the month, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Each showcase will feature three exhibiting artists.
Cary Arts Center is hosting the exhibit Blue Glacier Then & Now by Chip Freund through Sunday, August 27. Guests can meet the artist at a reception on Friday, July 28, 6–8 p.m. The reception will also include the debut screening of the companion documentary film of the project immediately following the reception in the auditorium.
NEW RESTAURANTS. Back Then Bar and Grill opens at 107 Edinburgh South Drive in Cary July 21. The menu offers burgers, sandwiches, wings, tenders, salads and a variety of appetizers. The restaurant also offers a large bar and dance floor, and welcomes local bands.
Sweet Talk Cafe & Desserts, a new Asian-inspired dessert and specialty beverage cafe, has opened at 2008 Creekside Landing Drive in Apex. The cafe is open 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday. Indulge in sweets like Strawberry Hearts, Mango Sunshine and Churro Creme Croffle. Specialty beverage options include the Vanilla Lavender Latte, White Tip Jasmine Happy Tea and Lychee Sparkling Lemonade, among many other choices.
FOR A GOOD CAUSE. Online registration has begun for the Triangle area Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Halifax Mall (300 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh) on Saturday, October 7. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. The walk is 2 miles round-trip. More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease.
WINE IN SPAIN. Vitis House Wine School is offering international trips run by owner Doreen Colondres, beginning with a trip to Spain from Monday, October 30–Saturday, November 4. The culinary trip is suited for wine lovers and collectors. The group will visit the wine regions of Ribera del Duero, Sardon del Duero and Rueda, along with stops in Madrid and Segovia. Learn more here.
FLIGHTS TO PARIS. Delta Airlines is ending its nonstop flights between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Paris, but Air France is picking up the service, according to the Triangle Business Journal. Air France, a Delta partner, is launching a new route between Paris and RDU in the Fall with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The flights begin October 30 and will run three times a week.
FIRST RESPONDER FUNDING. WGU North Carolina is offering first responders and their families an opportunity to apply for first responder scholarships. The fully online and accredited nonprofit university is making the offer to EMTs, paramedics, police, firefighters, corrections officers, dispatchers and their spouses. The scholarship is worth up to $4,000 and can be applied to any of WGU’s bachelor’s or master’s degree programs in health care, business, information technology and K–12 education.
READY FOR KINDERGARTEN. Registration is underway for Kick-off to Kindergarten at Marbles Kids Museum on Saturday, August 19, 9 a.m–5 p.m. The event will include typical school-day events such as circle time, music and PE. Kids can take a ride on a school bus, practice lunch line and more.
