In this Cary Spotlight Issue…

💭Spotlight Hook Trivia

☀️ Cary NC Weather

🔥 Daily Quote

🧭 Following the Sun: A Family's Transformative Year Around the World

✈️ Direct Flights to Panama City Begin This June at RDU

🧭 The Ripple Effects of Google Reviews on Your Business

🚢 Ritz-Carlton's Evrima Redefines Luxury Cruising with Boutique Flair

▶️ Evrima Ship Tour

😋Tasty Trend: Crockpot Barbecue Ribs 😋

🏛️ Support Cary Local Businesses

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(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

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Following the Sun: A Family's Transformative Year Around the World

Margaret Bensfield Sullivan, previously a marketing executive, embarked on a transformative yearlong journey around the world with her husband, Teddy, and their two young children.

The family traveled to 29 countries, experiencing diverse cultures and creating lasting memories. The trip, which they planned after a revelation about the fleeting nature of time, helped them bond deeply as they adapted to the needs and rhythms of family travel.

Highlights included engaging with the cultural richness of Mongolia and Vietnam, and enjoying the simplicity and joy of local interactions.

The journey not only brought the family closer but also altered their perspective on life and time, inspiring Margaret to share their story through a book. Read Full Story

Direct Flights to Panama City Begin This June at RDU

Starting this June, Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) will launch direct flights to Panama City with Copa Airlines.

The service, starting on June 21, will fly directly to Tocumen International Airport four times a week. This initiative is part of a larger expansion at RDU, which also includes new direct flights to Germany and Mexico later this summer.

The expansion not only enhances travel convenience but also bolsters economic ties, particularly for North Carolina’s agricultural sector. RDU has also recorded a significant increase in traveler numbers, marking a record-breaking spring break this year. Read Full Story

The Ripple Effects of Google Reviews on Your Business

Local businesses with a low number of Google reviews or with low ratings can experience significant disadvantages, including less visibility in search results and on maps, decreased consumer trust, and lower sales compared to competitors. This can lead to a negative market perception that is difficult to change.

The most immediate impact of scant or negative reviews is reduced visibility. Google’s search algorithms prioritize businesses with higher ratings and a larger volume of reviews, both in search results and on maps. This can lead to decreased exposure to potential customers, directly affecting a business's ability to attract new clients.

Moreover, consumer trust and credibility are often tied to online reviews. Many potential customers view these reviews as vital social proof when deciding between similar businesses. A lack of positive feedback or the presence of negative reviews may lead customers to question a business's reliability and quality, potentially driving them towards competitors with better-reviewed services or products.

These challenges contribute to a vicious cycle of decreased sales. Businesses with poor or few reviews often find their sales figures lagging behind those of more positively reviewed competitors. Customers are generally more inclined to choose services or products that have received favorable endorsements from other consumers.

Over time, a continued lack of positive reviews or the accumulation of negative feedback can negatively shape market perceptions of a business, branding it as unreliable or of inferior quality. This perception can be hard to reverse and harmful in the long term.

Furthermore, customer reviews offer businesses critical feedback that can be used to refine products and services. Without this feedback, businesses may struggle to identify areas needing improvement or to understand their strengths, potentially stalling further development and refinement.

We are looking for 7 local business who want to double the amount of customers they get from their Google business profile. If you want to learn more, email [email protected] today and use the subject line “S.T.A.R.S. program” and I’ll get you more information.

Ritz-Carlton's Evrima Redefines Luxury Cruising with Boutique Flair

The Ritz-Carlton has expanded into the cruise industry with its debut yacht, the Evrima, offering a distinct boutique hotel vibe aboard a 624-foot luxury vessel.

Targeted at culturally inclined younger demographics, the Evrima will sail across the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

The yacht features 149 exclusive suites and a range of amenities including bars, pools, a spa, and a marina terrace. With itineraries designed for extended stays at ports, the Evrima provides an intimate and sophisticated cruising experience, with prices starting at $5,800 for week-long trips.

Feel free to visit their website for current cruise dates and destinations 

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Crockpot Barbecue Ribs 😋

Becky Hardin of Cookie Rookie has mastered an easy crockpot recipe for pork ribs that are perfect for any gathering, ensuring they are both delicious and effortlessly tender. This slow cooker ribs recipe is so simple! You can cook these crock pot BBQ ribs stress-free, and they'll come out super tender and flavorful.

📋 Ingredients List:

• 6 pounds St. Louis-style pork spareribs or baby back ribs

• 3 tablespoons smoked paprika or regular paprika

• 3 tablespoons brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon kosher salt

• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper

• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

• 24 ounces BBQ sauce store-bought or homemade (1 jar) – Blue's Hog original recommended

• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar (if the barbecue sauce is on the sweet side)

📝 Instructions:

1. Set the slow cooker to low and spray with nonstick cooking spray. (I always spray the underside of the lid to help with cleanup.)

2. Remove the silver membrane from the back of the ribs. Here's a video with instructions. (You might have bought ribs with the membrane removed, and if so, skip this step.) 6 pounds St. Louis-style pork spareribs.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together the paprika, brown sugar, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Rub the dry-rub mix evenly over the ribs.

   3 tablespoons smoked paprika,3 tablespoons brown sugar,1 tablespoon kosher salt,1 tablespoon ground black pepper,½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

4. Brush both sides of the rib with barbecue sauce and set the ribs in the slow cooker standing upright with the meaty side against the inside wall, of the slow cooker. 24 ounces BBQ sauce

5. Pour the remaining barbecue sauce over the ribs. If using a sweet sauce, pour the cider vinegar over the ribs. ¼ cup apple cider vinegar

6. Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours or until the meat is fork-tender.

7. Serve with additional store-bought barbecue sauce or strain the juices, from the pan, through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium saucepan. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer 15-20 minutes or until the mixture has reduced to 2 cups.

8. To serve, slice the meat between the bones and serve with barbecue sauce.

Notes 💡:

• Whichever ribs you choose (spare rib or baby-back), you can’t go wrong. Both are equally as delicious.

• You will need to cut the ribs a bit to make them fit in the slow cooker. It’s easy to just eyeball it as you work them into the cooker.

• Make sure you remove the silver membrane before cooking!

• When done cooking, simply slice between the bones and serve with extra BBQ sauce!

• This recipe calls for the ribs to be cooked to a higher temperature to make sure they’re super tender. We want them closer to 195°F.

• Storage: Store crock pot ribs tightly wrapped in aluminum foil in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 5 hours 15 minutes | Total Time: 5 hours 25 minutes

Print Recipe

Give it a try and let us know what you think.