Cary Spotlight | Issue #584

The Big Easy Oven and Tap (Correction), Flame of Hope Carried Through Wake County, Summer DMV Access Expands


🧭 Here’s what’s in today’s issue:

🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 🍽️ Discover Cary: The Big Easy Oven and Tap (Correction)
📰 News: Flame of Hope Carried Through Wake County Ahead of Games
📰 News: Summer DMV Access Expands in Wake County
• ⚽ Sports: Cary Set for Soccer Festival of the Year
😄 Meme of the DayJust for laughs
🏪 Support Local: Small biz to check out and coffee tips
📅 Events: Upcoming Events (Top Picks)

👉 Browse the highlights. Skip to your favorites.

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Question: What metal can melt in your hand?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

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Credit: The Big Easy Oven and Tap

The Big Easy Oven and Tap (Correction)*

*Editor’s Note: The restaurant description in yesterday’s entry was incorrect and referred to a different venue. We've corrected the information below.

The Big Easy Oven and Tap 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.

The Big Easy Oven + Tap in Cary, NC, is a modern Southern kitchen with New Orleans roots, offering scratch-made dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, po’boys, and fried seafood, all served with true Southern hospitality in a rustic-contemporary setting.

Check out their menu on their website: The Big Easy Oven and Tap

Address: 231 Grande Heights Dr, Cary, NC 27513 | Get Directions

The Big Easy Oven and Tap

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Do you have a favorite place to eat in Cary, NC? Click to share your pick.

Flame of Hope Carried Through
Wake County Ahead of Games

Ahead of this weekend’s Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games, law enforcement officers from across Wake County participated in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run. Despite the rain, representatives from multiple agencies—including the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, Raleigh Police, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office—ran a 10-mile leg carrying the Flame of Hope through the county.

The LETR is more than symbolic—it’s a key fundraising effort aiming to generate over $2 million statewide to support Special Olympics programming. For participants like Deputy Joseph Smokes and longtime supporter Don Connerly, the event carries personal significance and community impact.

The run highlights a rare but powerful moment when law enforcement unites not just to protect but to uplift. Officers described the camaraderie, conversation, and community connection as vital components of the event.

A final five-mile run will take place Friday to officially open the Games. For runners and spectators alike, the message is clear: every mile brings hope. Read Full Report

Summer DMV Access Expands
in Wake County

Residents of Wake County will have expanded access to DMV services this summer as part of a statewide initiative to ease scheduling bottlenecks. From May 31 to August 23, two Raleigh-area DMV locations—Raleigh East on New Bern Avenue and Raleigh West on Avent Ferry Road—will open for walk-in service every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to noon.

These hours come in response to strong demand, following a summer in which nearly 17,000 customers across 16 offices took advantage of Saturday service. This year, the program has expanded to 20 locations across North Carolina, with new additions including Elizabeth City, Durham East, Clayton, and Kernersville. In Raleigh, the East office will replace the North location as the weekend service point.

Saturday DMV offices will be closed on June 28 and July 5 in observance of the Fourth of July holiday. No appointments are required for Saturday visits, offering added convenience for those with weekday constraints. Read Full Story

How likely are you to take advantage of the new weekend hours?

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Cary Set for Soccer Festival of the Year

TST returns to Cary June 4–9 with international soccer stars, live shows, food vendors, kids’ clinics, and 130+ matches. Use code TST20 for $20 off tickets before May 30 at 10 a.m. TST7v7.com/tickets.

Cary’s WakeMed Soccer Park will once again host TST, the high-stakes 7v7 tournament drawing world-class talent and entertainment to the Triangle. With teams like Wrexham, Club América, and the U.S. Women’s National Team taking the pitch, the event mixes sports spectacle with festival vibes.

Fans can expect live shows, global cuisine, youth coaching clinics, and appearances from soccer legends. The action peaks on Thursday, June 5, with live coverage of The Pat McAfee Show, major matchups across men’s and women’s divisions, and a slate of soccer celebrities.

Are you planning on going to this local event?

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Meme of the Day.
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🎟️ Upcoming Events (Top Picks)

Outdoor events may be changed due to weather, so click the links to see latest event information. Here are a few ideas for the week, so plan ahead:

Today: Board Game Social 4PM-8PM
Today: Square Dance (mainstream and plus level dancing) 7:30PM-9:30PM
Friday: Sex Please, We're Sixty @ Neuse Little Theatre 4PM-10:45PM
Friday: Discover Dance: DISHOOM 7PM-10PM
Saturday: Cary Farmers Market 8AM-12PM
Saturday: Richmond Kickers vs North Carolina FC (City Stadium) 7PM

To save space in your inbox, we’ve moved the full list of events online — now you can plan ahead with access to this week and next! See Full 2-Week Calendar

The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇
Gallium is a soft, silvery metal that can melt in your hand, thanks to its low melting point of about 85.6°F (29.8°C). While it's safe to touch and non-toxic in its elemental form, gallium looks like mercury but behaves more like a novelty for science demonstrations. It’s often used in electronics and semiconductors, and its melting property makes it a fascinating example of how diverse the elements can be.