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Here’s what’s in today’s issue:
• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 😋🍴 Discover Cary (Eat & Drink): Pro's Epicurean
• 🚗 Drivable Destinations: Discover Kids Together Park
• ✈️ Airline Travel: Hello, Bologna!
• 😄 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 color is human blood that isn't oxygenated?
(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)
I Almost Threw Out My Keurig. It Wasn't Broken.
Every cup from my Keurig started tasting weak, flat, stale — so I unplugged it and stuck it in a closet. Then I learned the dirty secret of grocery store K-Cups: by the time a pod reaches your kitchen, it's usually spent months going from factory to warehouse to truck to shelf. The flavor oils are long gone. Some brands even over-roast to hide it.
The fix wasn't a new machine. It was fresh pods from Angelino's, a family-owned L.A. roastery that roasts, packs, and ships within 3–5 days — straight to your door, from 39¢ a cup. Over 1,000,000 happy customers. 50+ flavors, no subscription required, and 15% off your first order, applied automatically at checkout.
Pro's Epicurean
Pro's Epicurean 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.
Pro's Epicurean in Downtown Cary is a cozy Italian and French restaurant known for scratch-made pasta, sandwiches, and a well-stocked charcuterie and cheese counter served in a warm, European-style setting.
Check out their menu on their website: Pro's Epicurean
Address: 211 East Chatham Street, Cary, NC 27511 | Get Directions
Pro's Epicurean
Discover Kids Together Park
🐉 A Cary Park Where Every Kid Is Invited to Play
If you're looking for a Cary park that offers something beyond the traditional swings and slides, Marla Dorrel Park, better known to many families as Kids Together Park, stands out for the idea behind its design.
The roughly two-acre playground was created around a simple goal: children of different physical and developmental abilities should have opportunities to play together.
At the center of the park is KATAL, a large dragon-shaped climbing structure that has been a favorite for more than two decades. Surrounding it are ramps, bridges and accessible play areas designed to accommodate children who use wheelchairs or walkers alongside other visitors.
Kids can also explore a roller slide, accessible see-saw, swings and quieter play spaces, including areas for digging in the sand and imaginative play.
❤️ The Story Behind the Playground
What makes Kids Together Park particularly meaningful is how the idea came to life.
Two young Cary girls, each of whom had a sister with special needs, helped raise money to create a place where children could play together regardless of ability.
That focus on inclusion remains visible throughout the park, from its accessible play features to sculpture benches and a misting garden that offers some relief on hot afternoons.
🌳 Turn Your Park Visit Into a Family Walk
Families who want to keep exploring can pick up the Hinshaw Greenway directly from the park.
The trail crosses a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 64 and connects with MacDonald Woods Park. A round trip between the parks is about 1.4 miles, with a relatively flat, stroller-friendly route.
Along the way, the greenway passes a stream and wetland areas where visitors may spot songbirds, turtles and occasionally deer near the tree line. Mornings and early evenings can be especially pleasant times for a quieter walk.
🛹 There's More Than a Playground
Marla Dorrel Park also has picnic tables and a reservable shelter for gatherings, along with a basketball slab, multi-use slab and pop-up skate park.
Public restrooms are available, making it easier to turn a playground visit into a longer family outing.
📌 Good to Know
📍 Location: 111 Thurston Dr., Cary, NC 27518
☀️ Hours: Sunrise to sunset
💵 Admission: Free
🐉 Don't miss: KATAL, the park's giant dragon climbing structure
🛝 Amenities: Inclusive playground, basketball and multi-use slabs, pop-up skate park, picnic shelter, picnic tables, restrooms, public art and misting garden
🥾 Bonus: Easy access to the Hinshaw Greenway and MacDonald Woods Park
⏰ Tip: Weekend afternoons can get busy, so mornings may offer a quieter experience.
Official Website: http://www.kidstogethercary.org/
Just curious…
What would your family head to first at Kids Together Park? 🐉🌳
Daily news for curious minds.
Be the smartest person in the room. 1440 navigates 100+ sources to deliver a comprehensive, unbiased news roundup — politics, business, culture, and more — in a quick, 5-minute read. Completely free, completely factual.
Hello, Bologna!
Gateway to Italy's Food Capital
Welcome to Bologna, Italy, a place where red-brick towers rise above miles of covered walkways, and the smell of fresh pasta drifts out of every corner shop. There's no nonstop flight from RDU to Bologna's Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) right now, so you'll connect through a hub like New York, Boston, or a major European city.
Once you land, you're in one of Italy's most flavorful and least crowded cities, where medieval history, a lively university crowd, and some of the best food in the country all share the same cobblestone streets.
Why Visit Bologna?
The Two Towers: These leaning medieval towers are Bologna's most famous landmark and a symbol of the city's long history. Climb the taller one, the Torre degli Asinelli, for a sweeping view over the red rooftops, or just admire them from one of the cafes below.
Piazza Maggiore and the Porticoes: This grand central square has been the heart of Bologna since the 1200s, ringed by grand buildings like the Basilica of San Petronio. Wander out from the square under the city's famous covered porticoes, which stretch for miles and were named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2021.
The Quadrilatero Food Market: Just steps from the main square, this old market district is packed with butcher shops, cheese counters, and food stalls selling the tortellini and mortadella Bologna is famous for. It's the perfect spot to grab a quick bite or watch locals shop the way they have for centuries.
Travel Guides – Here are two comprehensive travel guides to help you plan your trip.
Lonely Planet: A trusted starting point with practical tips on Bologna's top sights, food scene, and neighborhoods.
Bologna Welcome: The city's official tourism site, with English-language listings for events, museums, walking tours, and hotel booking help.
Learn about more family trips built for adventurers of all ages.
G Adventures is the leader in small group and solo travel for 30 years, they know how to do it right. Check out the Online Deals: Shop Travel Deals
Meme of the Day.
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📅 Planning your week in Cary?
To save space in your inbox, we’ve moved the full list of events online — now you can plan ahead with access to today’s events and next week! See Upcoming Events
The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇
A) dark red, maroon, or burgundy color
Human blood that isn't oxygenated is dark, muddy red (often described as maroon or burgundy). It is a common myth that deoxygenated blood inside your body is blue. In humans, blood is always red.
The shade changes based on how much oxygen it carries:
Bright red: Blood leaving the heart and lungs with a full load of oxygen.
Dark red: Blood returning to the heart through veins after dropping off its oxygen.
Learn more: Is blood actually blue?