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Here’s what’s in today’s issue:
• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 😋🍴 Discover Cary (Eat & Drink): Boteco do Brazil
• 🚗 Drivable Destinations: Explore Jack Smith Park
• ✈️ Airline Travel: Hello, Bath, England!
• 😄 Meme of the Day – Daily Chuckle
• 🎁 Adventure starts close to home: Thank You For Your Gift
• 📅 Events: Planning your week in Cary?
👉 Browse the highlights. Skip to your favorites.
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Question: What did ancient Romans use to soften leather?
(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)
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Boteco do Brazil
Boteco do Brazil is one of the local food places nominated by Cary Spotlight's readers for our Discover Cary project. If you've had a chance to sample their food, feel free to share your opinion below.
Boteco do Brazil in Cary serves up authentic Brazilian dishes like picanha steak and coxinha in a cozy, family-run space that feels like a true Brazilian gathering spot.
Check out their menu on their website: Boteco do Brazil
Address: 4214 NW Cary Pkwy, Cary, NC 27513 | Get Directions
Boteco do Brazil
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Explore Jack Smith Park
Jack Smith Park (Photo Credit: Town of Cary)
Jack Smith Park is a fun, family-friendly stop in southern Cary that mixes green space with a little bit of whimsy. The park sits on 50 acres that used to be the Bartley family farm, and you can still feel that open, easygoing farm charm in the wide lawns and big sky views. Whether you're chasing kids around the playground or just want a quiet spot to stretch your legs, this park has a little something for everyone.
Families flock here for the playground built for kids ages 2 to 12, and when the weather heats up, the sprayground is the real star of the show. It's Cary's first splash pad, with seven water features that keep kids cool from mid-May through mid-September. Feeling brave? Head over to the 10-foot climbing boulder, which welcomes everyone from first-time climbers to seasoned pros. There's also a fenced dog park for your four-legged friends, so the whole family can enjoy the day, paws and all.
Keep an eye out for the park's playful public art. Local artist Vollis Simpson's three whirligigs spin in the breeze near the play area, built from repurposed farm equipment and machine parts. Nearby, a flock of nine sheep sculptures by artist William Moore pays tribute to the land's farming roots. Bring a picnic, wander the greenway trails, or just relax at one of the picnic tables while you take in the scenery.
Good to Know:
Location: 9725 Penny Road, Cary, NC 27606 | Directions
Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Sprayground operates mid-May through mid-September, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (weather permitting), and closes one day a month for maintenance.
Amenities: Playground, sprayground, dog park (pass required), climbing boulder, picnic shelter and tables, greenway trails, restrooms, public art
Entry: Free! (Dog park requires a paid pass.)
Tip: Picnic shelter reservations are only accepted October through April, so if you want a spot in the warmer months, plan to grab a table on a first-come basis.
Official Website: https://www.carync.gov/recreation-enjoyment/parks-greenways-environment/parks/jack-smith-park
Hello, Bath, England!
Gateway to Roman Baths and Georgian Grace
Welcome to Bath, England, a place where ancient Roman ruins sit beside honey-colored Georgian townhouses and the whole city seems to glow at golden hour. Getting here from Raleigh-Durham is easier than you might think: American Airlines flies nonstop from RDU to London Heathrow every day with 48 weekly flights operating daily, typically departing in the evening. From Heathrow, Bath is just a 1.5-hour train ride away, making it a perfect add-on to any London trip. Once you arrive, you'll find a small city packed with history, hot springs, and a whole lot of charm
Why Visit Bath?
The Roman Baths:
This 2,000-year-old bathing complex is the reason the city got its name in the first place. A fine museum surrounds the ancient bathing site, where visitors can wander past well-documented displays, Roman artifacts, and the actual mouth of the spring that started it all. Bring good walking shoes, since the stone floors can get slippery near the water.The Royal Crescent:
This sweeping row of townhouses is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in England. It shows off the wealth and elegance of Bath's 18th-century glory days, when the city was the trendiest address in the country. Snap a photo from the lawn out front, then wander the nearby Circus for more of the same graceful curves and columns.Bath Abbey and Pulteney Bridge:
Right in the heart of the city, this soaring medieval church sits just steps from one of the few bridges in the world lined with shops on both sides. It's an easy walk from the train station, and the mix of towering stone architecture and riverside views makes for one of the prettiest strolls in England.
Travel Guides – Here are two comprehensive travel guides to help you plan your trip.
Rick Steves shares detailed, no-nonsense tips on what to see, where to eat, and how to make the most of a short visit to Bath.
Lonely Planet offers an overview of Bath's top sights along with guides to the best times to visit and things to do for free.
Learn about more family trips built for adventurers of all ages.
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Meme of the Day.
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📅 Planning your week in Cary?
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The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇
A) animal feces (such as dog or human dung), stale urine, and fats and oils
Ancient Romans used animal feces (such as dog or human dung), stale urine, and fats and oils to soften raw animal hides into pliable leather. The natural enzymes produced by bacterial fermentation in the dung broke down rigid proteins in the hide, making the resulting leather highly flexible and supple.
Romans collected human urine from public street vessels. Once left to age, the urine transformed into ammonia. This alkaline solution was used to remove hair, fat, and leftover flesh from the hides, while simultaneously relaxing and softening the rigid skin fibers.
Learn more, The Use of Leather in Ancient Rome