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Here’s what’s in today’s issue:
• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 😋🍴 Discover Cary (Eat & Drink): Ole Time Barbecue
• 🚗 Drivable Destinations: Discover William B. Umstead State Park
• ✈️ Airline Travel: Hello, Sydney!
• 😄 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: In the restaurant industry, what number does the kitchen commonly assign to an item that they've run out of?
(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.
Ole Time Barbecue
Ole Time Barbecue 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.
Ole Time Barbecue is an old-school roadside barbecue joint on Hillsborough Street that has served hand-chopped Carolina pork, fried chicken, Brunswick stew, chicken pastry and homestyle sides since Jerry Hart opened it in 1993.
Technically Raleigh, but practically Cary. Ole Time Barbecue is so close to the border, your GPS won't even notice... but your taste buds definitely will!
Check out their menu on their website: Ole Time Barbecue
Address: 6309 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27606 | Get Directions
Ole Time Barbecue
Discover William B. Umstead State Park
Just off I-40 on Cary's northern edge, William B. Umstead State Park feels like a whole different world. The park covers about 5,600 acres of rolling forest tucked between Cary, Raleigh, and RDU Airport, and it's one of the most visited state parks in North Carolina. With three lakes, shady creeks, and miles of quiet woods, it's easy to forget the highway is only a few minutes away.
There are more than 30 miles of trails to explore. Hiking-only paths wind through the trees and along the creeks, while about 13 miles of wide, gravel multiuse trails are open to walkers, runners, cyclists, and horseback riders. The trails here are hillier than a typical greenway, so bring water and take your time. Company Mill Trail, which starts at the Harrison Avenue entrance in Cary, leads to the site of an old mill on Crabtree Creek and is a local favorite. Families will like the shorter loops near the visitor center, and leashed dogs are welcome on the trails.
Big Lake, the largest of the three lakes, has a boathouse that rents canoes and rowboats in season, and all three lakes are open for fishing with a valid NC fishing license. Bird watchers have spotted more than 200 kinds of birds here, and Big Lake and Sycamore Creek are good places to start, so pack your binoculars. Keep an eye out for deer, foxes, and raccoons too, especially early in the morning. When it's time for a break, both entrances have picnic shelters, so grab a table, unpack lunch, and enjoy one of the best free days out in the Triangle.
Good to Know:
Location: Reedy Creek Entrance, 2100 N. Harrison Ave., Cary, NC 27513 | Directions (Crabtree Creek Entrance and Visitor Center: 8801 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27617)
Hours: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM in September, October, March, and April; 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM May through August; 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM November through February. Closed Christmas Day. Visitor center open daily 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Amenities: Hiking and multiuse trails, three fishing lakes, seasonal canoe and rowboat rentals, picnic shelters, restrooms, visitor center, campground, horse trailer parking, all-terrain wheelchair rentals
Entry: Free! (Fees apply for boat rentals and camping.)
Tip: The two entrances don't connect by car inside the park, so put the right one in your GPS before you leave. Bikes and horses must stay on the multiuse trails, and trails may close after heavy rain. Sections of the Cedar Ridge and Turkey Creek multiuse trails are currently closed for bridge work, so check the park website before a long ride.
Official Website: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/william-b-umstead-state-park
Just curious…
What’s your favorite way to enjoy Umstead State Park?
Forget Elon's Gadget. Buy the Companies Behind Its Tech.
Every breakthrough device runs on chips, parts, and materials from other companies — most of them public and overlooked. Our analyst named 3 positioned to profit from Elon's July 22 launch, plus the most undervalued name in the supply chain.
Hello, Sydney!
Gateway to Harbor Icons and Golden Beaches
Welcome to Sydney, Australia, a place where ferries glide past a famous white-sailed opera house, surfers catch waves before breakfast, and sunny cafes spill onto old sandstone streets. There are no direct flights from RDU (Raleigh-Durham) to Sydney Airport (SYD), but one-stop connections through hubs like Los Angeles, Houston, or Vancouver will get you there.
The fastest trips take about 21 hours. It's a long haul, but the payoff is huge. Sydney blends big-city energy with easygoing beach life, plus a history that reaches back more than 50,000 years through its Aboriginal people.
Why Visit Sydney?
Sydney Opera House:
With its sail-shaped roof perched on the edge of the harbor, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most recognized buildings on Earth. Take a guided tour behind the scenes, catch a concert or show, or grab a drink on the waterfront and watch the sunset glow across the sails.The Rocks:
This is where modern Sydney began, when the First Fleet arrived from Britain in 1788 on land Aboriginal people had called home for thousands of years. Today its narrow lanes are lined with sandstone buildings, historic pubs, art galleries, and a lively weekend market, all in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk:
About half an hour from downtown, this clifftop trail starts at world-famous Bondi Beach and winds roughly four miles along the Pacific. Along the way you'll pass hidden coves, sparkling ocean pools, and sandy beaches like Bronte and Tamarama, and from May to November you might spot migrating whales offshore.
Travel Guides – Here are two comprehensive travel guides to help you plan your trip.
Lonely Planet: Sydney - Expert writers share the city's top sights, best beaches, neighborhood picks, and money-saving tips so you can plan a trip that fits your style and budget.
Sydney.com (Official Sydney Tourism Website) - Run by the state's tourism office, this site has current events, neighborhood guides, and ready-made itineraries, including a three-day plan made just for first-time visitors.
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?
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The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇
A) 86
In the restaurant industry, the kitchen commonly assigns the number 86 to an item that they have run out of.When a dish is "86'd," it means it is officially off the menu for the rest of the shift, and waitstaff should no longer take orders for it.