Cary Spotlight | Issue #515

Annelore's German Bakery Review, CaryLIVE! Concert Series, March Madness Begins

In this Cary Spotlight Issue…

💭Spotlight Hook

🧭 Discover Cary: Annelore's German Bakery Review

📰 CaryLIVE! Concert Series

📰 Analysts’ Predictions Take Shape as March Madness Begins

📰 The Strange Ways Space Changes the Human Body

😀 Meme of the Day

☀️ Cary NC Weather

🏛️ Support Cary Local Businesses

📅 Lots Of Events This Week (The Week at a Glance)

Question: Which North Carolina team has won the most NCAA Men's Basketball Championships?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

😋 Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine | Offering tasty and healthy dishes (see menu)

“We love Pho, so we were so excited to get their Steak Pho, their Signature Banh Mi, Chicken Dumplings, Rocket Shrimp and Pho with Steak and Meatballs! And, what we also loved, is that they are at a great price point and really is the perfect spot for busy moms to grab a meal for the family when they just don’t feel like cooking for a night” - Megan

Discover Bee Banhmi, a local business sponsor of Cary Spotlight. They do catering, online ordering, home delivery and in-store. Great food made with quality ingredients. You can read their Business Spotlight | Order Online | Catering Options

Partner with us to reach our local audience in Cary, NC.
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Credit: Annelore's German Bakery

Annelore's German Bakery Review

Annelore's German Bakery is one of the local food places nominated by Cary Spotlight’s readers for our Discover Cary project. If you had a chance to sample their food, feel free to share your opinion below.

Annelore's German Bakery in Cary, NC, offers an authentic taste of Germany with traditional breads, pastries, and desserts made from time-honored recipes and high-quality ingredients.

Check out their menu on their website: Annelore's German Bakery

Address: 308 W Chatham St, Cary, NC 27511 | Get Directions

Reader Poll Results

Annelore's German Bakery (23 Votes)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Love this place! (14)
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ 😊😊😊 I have never been there but I might give it a try (9)

Cary Spotlight Reader’s Feedback:

“High quality ingredients and extra care in baking have made Annelore's a family favorite since we discovered them at the Farmer's Market years ago. Highly recommend the blueberry Kuchen. Enjoy a lovely treat that's not overwhelmingly sweet. ”

“I love all their pastries, delicious but pricey!”

“Great baked goods”

“It’s been a while since I have been there because it's too good. ”

“Excellent pastries. Such good ingredients and variety. ”

“excellent bakery and I can practice my German. ”

Annelore's German Bakery

Click to share 3 things you love about this place or recommend an item people should try on their menu.

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CaryLIVE! Concert Series

This free outdoor concert series takes place monthly on Saturday evenings at Downtown Cary Park, running from April to October 2025. The series features nationally touring artists in an intimate setting, along with food trucks, local craft beer, and family-friendly fun. Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair or blanket!

🎶 2025 CaryLive Concert Series Lineup
All concerts take place on Saturdays at 7 p.m. at Downtown Cary Park and are free to attend.

  • April 13 – The Collection
    Indie-pop group from North Carolina known for their dynamic, harmony-rich sound. Expect upbeat, folk-tinged anthems to kick off the season.

  • May 11 – Son Little
    Grammy Award-winning soul and R&B artist blending vintage vibes with modern flair. A soulful night perfect for fans of blues-infused rhythms.

  • June 8 – Danielle Ponder
    Former public defender turned powerhouse vocalist. Ponder’s blend of soul, R&B, and social justice storytelling is both inspiring and electrifying.

  • September 14 – Fantastic Negrito
    A three-time Grammy winner for Best Contemporary Blues Album, known for raw energy and powerful lyrics. Expect an unforgettable live performance.

  • October 12 – Girl Named Tom
    The sibling trio and winners of NBC’s The Voice. Their tight harmonies and folk-pop charm offer a warm, heartfelt close to the season.

🎟️ Tickets?
No tickets are required—CaryLive is completely free! Just bring a lawn chair or blanket. Food trucks and craft beer vendors will be on-site.

📍Location: Downtown Cary Park, 327 S. Academy Street, Cary, NC

For more details and updates, visit the official CaryLive page.

Just a reminder…

Cary’s The Nest at Downtown Cary Park is in the running for Best Public Playground in the U.S.—and your vote can help secure the win! You can vote once per day! Vote Now

Are you planning on going to this local event?

Click to cast your vote

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Analysts’ Predictions Take Shape as March Madness Begins

Early action in the South Region of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is unfolding largely as predicted. Creighton, a No. 9 seed, dominated Louisville 89–75 to move into the next round, confirming its status as a strong sleeper pick. No. 1 seed Auburn also advanced with a comfortable 83–63 win over Alabama State, living up to its billing as the tournament’s top overall seed.

Before the games began, college basketball analysts had highlighted Duke and Alabama as strong Final Four contenders—though injuries to key players like Cooper Flagg and Grant Nelson raised questions about their staying power. BYU, Vanderbilt, and Baylor were also flagged as potential dark horses, though matchups against elite defensive teams like VCU could challenge their progress. With the first games in the books, the South Region has held steady, but more unpredictable turns likely lie ahead.

Just curious…

Men's College Basketball

Click to vote for your Men's College Basketball Team

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The Strange Ways Space Changes the Human Body

Astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams inside the International Space Station's Harmony module, June 2024. (Photo Credit: NASA/AP)

After nearly nine months aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth last week, ending what was originally planned as a short mission. While they arrived safely, the real adjustment begins now—as their bodies relearn life under gravity. Upon landing, the pair were carried out on stretchers, not due to injury, but because months without gravity leave astronauts dizzy, disoriented, and temporarily unable to walk.

In space, the absence of gravity changes nearly every system in the human body. Fluids shift toward the head, sinuses swell, and leg muscles shrink. Astronauts can grow up to three inches taller, but often experience back pain and weakened bones, losing mineral density at a rate similar to advanced osteoporosis. Eyes can change shape, leading to vision problems, and the soles of their feet soften from months without walking. Even simple tasks like sitting in a chair or standing upright can become difficult after such a long time in orbit.

These changes aren’t just physical. Long-term space missions are mentally taxing as well, with disrupted sleep cycles, isolation, and the absence of a natural day-night rhythm taking their toll. NASA continues to monitor returning astronauts for both short-term effects and long-term impacts—including DNA changes and shifts in the immune system—especially as future missions look to Mars and beyond. Williams and Wilmore, like many before them, now face the quiet challenge of recovering in a world that feels very different from the one they left.

What Surprised You Most?

Astronauts experience a lot of strange physical changes in space—but if you had to pick just one...

Which of these space-related body changes surprised you the most?

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Meme of the Day.
Brought to you by Cary's Daily Newsletter.

What’s faster than word of mouth? Cary Spotlight! Keeps you updated on what is going on locally and connects businesses to our vibrant community.

Who else do you know in Cary who might also want enjoy reading the Cary Spotlight?

Meme-o-meter

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Support Cary Local Businesses

Upcoming Local Events

Looking ahead to events happening in Cary, NC for the rest of the week.
Outdoor events may be changed due to weather, so click the links to see latest event information.

March 21st (Friday)

March 22nd (Saturday)

March 23rd (Sunday)

March 24th (Monday)

The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Question 👇👇👇

The University of North Carolina Tar Heels hold the record for the most NCAA Men's Basketball Championships among North Carolina teams, with six national titles (1957, 1982, 1993, 2005, 2009, and 2017).

Known for their iconic powder blue uniforms and storied basketball legacy, the Tar Heels have produced legends like Michael Jordan, James Worthy, and Vince Carter, and were led by legendary coaches Dean Smith and Roy Williams. Their consistent success has cemented UNC as one of the blue-blood programs in college basketball history.

Learn more about UNC's championship history on NCAA.com