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Here’s what’s in today’s issue:
• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 😋🍴 Discover Cary (Eat & Drink): Scratch Kitchen & Taproom Reviews
• 🚗 Drivable Destinations Cary Garden Tour
• ✈️ Airline Travel: Hello, San Diego!
• 😄 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 was the name of the space capsule that carried the first woman in space?
(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)
Parents across the Triangle often wonder how their teens can build meaningful leadership experience that truly stands out when applying to college.
An upcoming Hum Sub Youth Leadership Summit in Cary is designed to help students begin exploring those opportunities. The event invites students in Grades 8–11 from across the Triangle to learn about leadership, entrepreneurship, and ways young people can start building experiences that colleges value. Event is coming up, May 2, 2026.
Parents are welcome to attend to learn more about opportunities to help their children prepare for college applications. Coming soon: 2 May 2026.
If you have questions about advertising, email: [email protected]
Scratch Kitchen & Taproom Reviews
Scratch Kitchen & Taproom 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.
Scratch Kitchen & Taproom is a downtown Cary restaurant where every dish is made from the ground up — think Southern hospitality meets creative American cooking, with bold flavors that range from cast-iron chicken and truffle lobster mac to pork belly bites tossed in a Thai-chili hoisin glaze.
Check out their menu on their website: Scratch Kitchen & Taproom
Address: 160 E Cedar St, Cary, NC 27511 | Get Directions
Reader Poll Results
Scratch Kitchen & Taproom (55 Votes)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Love this place! (38)
🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 😊😊😊 I might give it a try (17)
Cary Spotlight Reader’s Feedback:
“Go early to get a seat at the table. Best Mac and cheese I’ve had in awhile. Good service, friendly folks. Wish it was a little bigger so more folks could enjoy the greatness!”
“Joe the bartender is AMAZING!!!! Food is always good & plentiful. ”
“Love their food, took out of town company there for lunch and they loved their food, as well. ” “Good food and great creme brûlée’s ”
Awesome, fresh food! The Westminster burger is my go-to. Service is outstanding!”
“Freshly cooked food but it has hot pepper in most of the food. A slim selection for those who can not tolerate it. But delicious!”
“Very cool vibe there. Great location, I love downtown Cary.” “Great food, drinks & service!” “Right in the heart of Cary, everything I eaten there was delicious !”
“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.”
Scratch Kitchen & Taproom
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Cary Garden Tour
Blends Inspiration, Community, and Giving Back
Saturday, May 30 & Sunday, May 31, 2026
If you love gardens, put the Cary Garden Tour on your calendar right now. On Saturday, May 30 (10 a.m.–5 p.m.) and Sunday, May 31 (1–5 p.m.), you can walk through 13 beautiful private and public gardens tucked behind the hedges and homes of Cary. This self-guided tour spans Downtown Cary and South Cary, giving you a peek at spaces most people never get to see. Some of these gardens haven't been open to the public in years — so this really is a one-of-a-kind opportunity.
Every stop on the tour has something a little different to offer. You'll find pollinator gardens buzzing with bees and butterflies, tidy vegetable beds, sun-catching solar features, and terraced gardens that show off some serious creativity.
The Page-Walker Arts & History Center (119 Ambassador Loop) serves as a comfortable stopping point along the way and is where you can pick up a pre-ordered box lunch on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. While you're there, take a few minutes to stroll through the Page-Walker's own pollinator garden and the Anne Kratzer Educational Garden — both are worth a look.
Best of all, your ticket ($30 for adults, free for kids under 18) supports two great local nonprofits. The Cary Woman's Club channels funds into civic and community projects like the Page-Walker Pollinator Garden and The Carying Place. MOM's Valentine for You uses the proceeds to deliver flower arrangements to widows and shut-ins every Valentine's Day — and in 2026, they delivered more than 800 arrangements.
Tickets are valid for both days, so you can spread the tour across the weekend at your own pace.
Good to Know:
Location: 13 delightful gardens in Downtown Cary and South Cary, NC
Tickets & map: carygardentour.org
Hours: Saturday, May 30: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Sunday, May 31: 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Amenities: Self-guided garden tour, Page-Walker Arts & History Center comfort stop, pre-ordered box lunch available Saturday (11 a.m.–2 p.m., $15 per person)
Entry: $30 per adult | Free for children under 18 | Ticket valid for both days
Tip: Order your lunch in advance at carygardentour.org — it sells out. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring sunscreen. A printed or digital garden map will be included with your ticket.
Official Website: www.carygardentour.org
Which part of the Cary Garden Tour are you most excited about?
- 🌸 Exploring private gardens rarely open to the public
- 🐝 Seeing pollinator gardens and wildlife-friendly spaces
- 🥕 Getting ideas from vegetable and edible gardens
- 🌞 Checking out creative features like solar and terraced designs
- 🧺 Enjoying a relaxing stop (and lunch) at Page-Walker Arts & History Center
- Other (please specify)
Hello, San Diego!
Gateway to Sun, Surf, and Southern California Cool
Welcome to San Diego, California, a city where perfect weather, stunning beaches, and a rich sense of history come together in one seriously fun package. Getting here from Raleigh-Durham is a breeze — literally.
Both Breeze Airways and Alaska Airlines offer direct flights from RDU to San Diego International Airport (SAN), putting you in America's Finest City in just under six hours. Whether you're chasing waves, exploring world-class museums, or indulging in some of the best fish tacos you'll ever taste, San Diego has something for every kind of traveler.
Why Visit San Diego?
Balboa Park: This is San Diego's crown jewel — a 1,200-acre urban park that packs more into one place than most cities manage citywide. Home to 17 museums, lush gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park is the kind of place where you could spend an entire day and still leave wanting more.
The Gaslamp Quarter: San Diego's historic downtown district pulses with energy from morning coffee to late-night live music. The neighborhood's Victorian-era buildings, buzzing restaurants, rooftop bars, and walkable streets make it the perfect home base for exploring the city's food and nightlife scene.
La Jolla Cove: Just 20 minutes north of downtown, La Jolla is where rugged coastal cliffs meet crystal-clear water and laid-back California charm. Kayak through sea caves, watch sea lions sunbathe on the rocks, or simply soak in one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the entire country.
Travel Guides – Here are two comprehensive travel guides to help you plan your trip.
Lonely Planet – San Diego: Lonely Planet's San Diego guide covers everything from hidden neighborhood gems to the best beaches and day trips, making it a reliable starting point for any first-time visitor or repeat traveler.
SanDiego.org – Official Tourism Site: The San Diego Tourism Authority's official site is packed with up-to-date events, neighborhood guides, dining tips, and travel tools straight from the people who know the city best.
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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🎁 Adventure starts close to home.
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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) Vostok 6
The first woman in space, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, flew aboard the Vostok 6 (Russian: Восток-6) capsule. Launched on June 16, 1963, the mission lasted nearly three days, during which she orbited the Earth 48 times.
Learn more about Vostok 6