Cary Spotlight | Issue #550

Cary Academy Students on the World Stage, Scratch Kitchen & Taproom Review, Strawberry Season Comes Early

In this Cary Spotlight Issue…

💭Spotlight Hook Trivia

🧭 Discover Cary: Scratch Kitchen & Taproom Review

📰 Cary Wraps Up NC Science Festival with Hands-On Outdoor Activities

📰 Strawberry Season Comes Early: ‘Red and Gorgeous’

📰 Cary Academy Students Take Four-Square Skills to the World Stage

😀 Meme of the Day

❤️ Thank You, Debbie!

🏛️ Support Cary Local Businesses

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

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Question: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop (on average)?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

Discover Goodnights Presents: Ladies Laugh Lounge Mother’s Day Edition, today’s local event sponsor of Cary Spotlight.
Round up your moms, daughters, besties, and devoted dog or cat moms for a girls’ night out you’ll remember (but hey, guys are welcome too)!

It’s all happening Thursday night, May 1st, 2025, at 7:30 PM at Goodnights Comedy Club. Cary Spotlight readers enjoy exclusive 4-pack tickets and free Ladies Laugh Lounge swag. Don’t miss the laughs — we’re grateful for their support!

Goodnights Comedy Club:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Fantastic venue with intimate seating and great atmosphere."

Partner with us to reach our local audience in Cary, NC.

Credit: Scratch Kitchen & Taproom

Scratch Kitchen & Taproom Review

Scratch Kitchen & Taproom is one of the eateries that was nominated by the Cary Spotlight’s readers for our Discover Cary series. If you had a chance to sample their food, feel free to share your opinion below.

​Scratch Kitchen & Taproom in Cary, NC is a welcoming eatery known for its made-from-scratch Southern-inspired dishes, creative cocktails, and warm hospitality, offering a cozy spot for friends and family to enjoy a great meal together.

Here are the results from our reader poll and readers feedback (see below). Check out their menu on their website: Scratch Kitchen & Taproom

Address: 160 E Cedar St, Cary, NC 27511 | Directions | No Reservations

Reader Poll Results

Scratch Kitchen & Taproom (21 Votes)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Love this place! (15)
🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 😊😊😊 I have never been there but I might give it a try (6)

Cary Spotlight Reader’s Feedback:

“Right in the heart of Cary, everything I eaten there was delicious !”

“Awesome, fresh food! The Westminster burger is my go-to. Service is outstanding!”

“My favorite restaurant in downtown Cary. Every thing is so fresh and the variety on the menu is wonderful. Love the bowls, especially the Bar B Que. Salads and sandwiches are also great. Love that it serves mid afternoon, between lunch and dinner.”

“Great variety of selections on the menu, food fresh, presentation is great. Servers attentive and friendly. Love the bowls, especially the bar b que bowl. Good selection of draft beers.”

“I have always enjoyed eating at Scratch Kitchen. They have great service and delicious food, especially their desserts. I always look forward to an enjoyable meal.”

Scratch Kitchen & Taproom

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

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Wanna Recommend a Place
to eat in Cary, NC?

We want to hear about it! Cary Spotlight readers are always on the lookout for delicious local gems, and your recommendation could be the next must-try spot in town. Whether it’s a cozy café or a brand-new restaurant with flavors worth sharing, let us know!

Share your favorite finds and help fellow food lovers explore the Cary’s dining scene.

Cary Wraps Up NC Science Festival with Hands-On Outdoor Activities

Credit: North Carolina Science Festival

As April draws to a close, so too does Cary’s contribution to the North Carolina Science Festival — but not without one final burst of hands-on exploration. The last two days of Science in the Spillway take place this Friday and Saturday at Fred G. Bond Metro Park, offering families a final chance to experience the science woven into the everyday world around them.

Part of the statewide NC Science Festival, the Cary series has transformed a quiet corner of Bond Park into a lively outdoor classroom throughout the month. Each week has highlighted a new theme — from tuning into the sounds of nature to spotting natural patterns, and most recently, exploring the origins of earth’s resources. Visitors have engaged in free, STEAM-based activities that blend art, ecology, and sensory discovery in a setting that’s equal parts science lab and nature trail.

Open to all ages and entirely free, the event is hosted at the Spillway, accessible by walking paths from the Bond Park Boathouse and Community Center. It’s designed not only to teach but to inspire — encouraging curiosity and connection to the natural world in one of Cary’s most beloved parks.

The festival concludes this Saturday, and organizers invite all curious minds to drop in for the final round of activities. Learn more at ncsciencefestival.org

Are you planning on going to this local event?

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Strawberry Season Comes Early: ‘Red and Gorgeous’

Credit: DJ's Berry Patch

North Carolina strawberry farmers are enjoying a surprisingly strong season after a disease scare earlier this year. Neo-P, a fungal infection that first appeared in 2022, led many growers to switch plant suppliers in hopes of protecting their crops. The decision to pivot away from Canadian plants to California-grown ones has proven effective — most farms are now reporting disease-free fields and an abundant harvest.

However, the growing season has brought its own twist: an unusually early and intense flush of strawberries. While ideal harvest timing would coincide with Mother’s Day, most farmers are now seeing peak yields arriving weeks early, sparking concern over whether all the fruit can be sold in time.

For local berry lovers, now is the time to visit fields like DJ’s Berry Patch in Apex. (1223 Salem Church Road, Apex, NC) The farm offers pick-your-own and pre-picked options, with strawberries described as "the size of your palm" and rich in flavor. Open daily (Mon-Sat, from 9am to 7pm, or Sunday 11am-7pm), the farm invites visitors to savor the season — before it disappears as quickly as it came. Read Full Report

How do you like to enjoy your fresh-picked strawberries?

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Cary Academy Students Take Four-Square Skills to the World Stage

Cary Academy students Grayson Tsalik and Emelia Murphy have proven that even a schoolyard game can become a competitive sport with the right blend of passion and discipline. Starting with casual games during recess, the pair trained for months, creating regulation courts on campus and studying international rules.

Their efforts culminated in standout performances at the Four-Square World Championships in Bridgton, Maine. Emelia placed fourth in her bracket with a dynamic spin move, while Grayson advanced to the top three with a sharp backspin technique and strong tournament strategy.

Looking ahead, the students are already preparing for next season, with Grayson planning to launch a new Upper School Four-Square Club. Their journey is a compelling example of how initiative and teamwork can transform a simple game into a competitive pursuit. Learn more about Cary Academy

Before reading this, did you know there was a World Championship for Four-Square?

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Meme/Thought of the Day.
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Just in case you missed it this morning.

Meme-o-meter

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Thank You, Debbie!

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Featured Event

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.

April 25th (Friday)

April 26th (Saturday)

April 27th (Sunday)

April 28th (Monday)

The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇

According to a study by Purdue University, it takes an average of 364 licks to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop. Using a machine designed to mimic the licking motion of a human tongue, researchers tested how long it takes to dissolve the candy coating. Human volunteers, however, varied widely in their results—ranging from a couple hundred to over 600 licks. So while the answer may not be exact, science got closer than the owl ever did.