There are two tours available at Kartchner Caverns State Park, the Rotunda/Throne tour and the Big Room tour.  The Rotunda tour winds a half mile through the cave and takes one and a half hours.  Children under 6 tour for free, ages 7-13 costs $9.95 and 14+ costs $18.95.  The Rotunda tour runs year-round.  The Big Room tour is also a half mile through the cave and lasts one and a half hours.  Children under 6 are not allowed, 7-13 costs $12.95 and 14+ costs $22.95.  This tour only runs October 15-April 15.

All tours are led by a guide, no self-guided tours are allowed.  Reservations are required, and can be bought over the phone at (520) 586-2283 or at the park on a first come, first served basis.

Check out videos of the cave here. 

Generation Next provides the knowledge and tools needed to take on leadership roles in the nonprofit community, with instruction by renowned professors at ASU as well as established nonprofit leaders from organizations that engage with the ASU Lodestar Center. 

To become a member of the 2010-11 class of Generation Next, return the application along with required documentation no later than June 14. For more information or to download an application, visit the ASU website and find everything you need. 

Since then the movement has picked up quite a bit of speed, evolving from a small political outcry to a full blown trend. Now it’s cool to be “green.” There is so much pressure to be green that one might have an anxiety attack in the grocery checkout line when asked the simple question “Paper or plastic?” (For the low down on which is really best, check out this handy article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18538484)

How does this pertain to you, loyal apartment dwellers? Well, if your Phoenix apartment doesn’t even have a recycling program, you need to help them catch up with the times. Here are a few ideas to help your apartment community Get Green:

• Recycle: Read this wonderful step-by-step guide to recycling and waste management specifically geared towards apartment communities, created by the BFI Waste Service of Salinas, CA: http://www.bfi-salinas.com/multi-family-sbs-guide.cfm. Talk to your apartment manager about investing in a community recycling bin that residents can dump in. If necessary, send a petition or poll around the building to get your neighbors support.

• Grow: Scout out a plot of soil on the apartment grounds to start a community garden. Growing and eating your own food not only helps the environment, but it also helps you save on your grocery bill. You don’t need a ton of space to grown common veggies, fruits and herbs. Just a little patch of soil in a well-lit area will do. If you live in an urban apartment with zero green space, no problem, you can plant in containers on the rooftop, too. Recruit a team of residents to help you plant and maintain the garden (maybe you have a landscape designer or horticulturist living amongst you?). Make it fun for kids, too, by labeling areas of the garden with what they could be used for, like “Salsa garden” for tomatoes, cilantro and onions, or “Pizza Garden” for basil and peppers. Once you have a thriving garden, plan a community garden cookout!

• Reuse: Organize a drive at your apartment to collect gently used clothes, shoes, cell phones, laptops and small kitchen appliances to ensure they are properly disposed of or donated to those in need. You’d be surprised by how many organizations are out there to collect specific items. Most likely all you need to do is contact them with your idea and they can help you make it happen.

• Educate: Reserve the community clubhouse to host free seminars on topics such as composting, gardening, recycling, organic nutrition, etc. Not only will your neighbors enjoy the free learning opportunity, but I’m sure there are plenty of local small businesses who could use the free advertising, too.
• Volunteer: Round up a group of residents to participate in green volunteer activities around the neighborhood, such as planting, picking up trash, maintaining trails, etc. Contact your local parks & recreation office for ideas.

• Switcheroo: Minimize waste and contaminants as much as possible inside your own apartment. Replace all light bulbs with more efficient kinds (you’ll love the reduced utility costs), use low-no VOC paint on your accent walls, switch to using recycled paper products, shop at farmers markets, etc. These are small, simple changes that make a big difference.

There are a ton of other great ideas out there that will help take care of the environment, and also bring your apartment community and neighborhood together in the process. Not to mention that volunteer activities and community leadership look fabulous on a resume…

The event will include food, networking opportunities and some pretty interesting elite athletes. Attendees will include Olympic gold medalists Amanda Borden and Misty Hyman, a gymnast and a swimmer respectively, softball players Rikki Caito, Dot Wilkinson, Billie Harris and Sis King, tennis players Anne Guerrant and Carolyn Lane, and runners Victoria Jackson and Laurie Trapp. This is just part of the list, with more names being added as the event draws closer. 

Register and purchase tickets for yourself or your sports team at http://www.phoenixwomenssports.org/. Proceeds contibute to scholarship and programming funds to support girls in sports.  

For directions and a map of Downtown Phoenix, visit: http://www.hubbuzz.com/Phoenix/CentralPhoenix/NeighborhoodMap.aspx

Tickets:

http://www.madcaptheaters.com/events/viewevent.aspx?eid=192

This popular event will take place Wednesday, February 10, in the Memorial Union Center of the ASU-Tempe campus from 12:30-4 p.m. The event is expected to be packed, so show up early to get your bearings and beat the crowd.

Check out the ASU career site for details and registration information.

There is not cost to visit the gallery, only to bid! Please contact Rachel St. Moritz at 602-485-0100 with any questions or for more information.

Sip champagne as you browse the 5,000 sf shoe salon, fall designer collections for men and women, excessive amounts of accessories, beautiful beauty products and a whole lot more. Not to mention the 2nd floor brasserie to nourish and re-energize you after an exhasting day of shopping.

For more info check out the article in Front Door News.

Here are some tips on how to stay safe and healthy at your apartment this flu season: 

1.) By far the #1 most important and effective way to prevent illness is to wash your hands. And not just after you go to the bathroom, either. Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands after working out at the community fitness center, shooting pool in the clubhouse and using the business center computers, too. 

2.) It’s one thing if you want to cover your own apartment in germs, but PLEASE, if you have to cough or sneeze in the hallway, laundry room or any other public areas of your apartment building, make sure you turn your head into your elbow or shoulder! No, it is not sufficient to use your hand to cover your mouth because then you will spread your germs to the next surface you touch (unless, of course, you run straight to a bathroom to scrub your hands ?)

3.) Get a regular flu shot. There is much debate about what time of the season you should have the flu shot administered, but most health professionals agree that getting a flu shot is a solid step towards preventing illness. Go one step further and work with your apartment manager to organize a flu shot clinic at the community to encourage your neighbors to get one, too.

4.) If you live with roommates, make sure you all pitch in to clean your apartment at least weekly. Wipe down kitchen and bathroom counters with an anti-bacterial cleaner and a clean sponge and/or paper towel. Also, regular vacuuming and sweeping cuts down on dirt particles that can aggravate allergies (which cause sneezing and germs). 

If you still get sick this fall, do your best to stay at home so you don’t infect your neighbors and/or co-workers! Don’t use the community amenities during your down time, including the fitness center, hot tub or TV/game room, and make sure to wash your bedding and toss your toothbrush once you’re back on your feet again. 

And, if you're really worried about getting H1N1, maybe you should invest in a neat face mask like the one in this picture haha.

You can find more information about swine flu on the Center for Disease Control website.

Looking for an apartment to rent in Phoenix? Search apartment rentals by neighborhood now on hubbuzz.com!

Last year reps from more than 250 employers in a variety of industries arrive to recruit young, promising employees. Historically, an average of 1,000 students per day show up to browse the booths and shmooze with potential employers. It is the premier event at ASU each year, and is also one of the largest college job fairs in the country.

You do not want to miss this opportunity! Especially if you are a senior looking towards graduation in just 9 short months and are planning to immediately enter this tumultuous job market. This event will almost certainly boost your chances at landing a job right away and could be the sole decision that will separate you from the crowd of floundering job seekers in June!

This event is also open to ASU alumni!  Whether you've been laid off or are just looking for a new career direction, you don't want to miss out!

And if you're really serious about maximizing this great opportunity, be sure to also attend the "Succeeding at Career Fiesta" workshop on Sept 10 from 2:30-3:30pm or Sept. 21 from 1-2pm in the Student Services building (rm. 329). You'll learn what to expect and how to approach participating employers to make a great first impression. Contact careerservices@asu.edu or 480-965-2350 for more info and to register for the workshop.

The event is completely FREE for students and alums. Just be sure to bring your Sun Card or old ASU I.D. to get in on the day of.

List of participating employers: http://www.students.asu.edu/career

One is YardSaleTreasureMap.com which lets you enter an address, search radius and day of the week to generate a list and a map of local yard sales taking place around Phoenix that day. The listings are pulled from craigslist ads and not only show the location of the sale but also details about what sort of items will be up for grabs.

If you have recently moved into a new house or apartment in Phoenix and need some new furnishings this could be a very helpful tool that will save you time and money. And if you’re not familiar with Phoenix, don’t worry, the site helps you map a route and lets you print directions so you don’t get lost.

Another great site is MapMyFitness.com which has a ton of fitness tools, including articles from popular fitness magazines, local running paths, fitness plans, and a ton of other cool tools for fitness buffs. This tool would be especially helpful for someone who has just moved to a new Phoenix neighborhood and needs to create a new fitness routine, or even for someone who travels a lot and needs to change their routine often for different locations.

You can also hook up with other members to join fitness groups in Phoenix on the ‘community’ tab. There are so many links and resources on this site that you could spend hours browsing and planning. Related sites include MapMyHike.com, MapMyRide.com and MapMyTri.com.

Another upside to offering textbooks and other reading materials via electronic download? Students may save money at the bookstore, and will definitely save their backs from the strain of carrying a heavy backpack or bookbag.

You can read more details about the use of Kindle technology in American universities here: "Universities Turn to Kindle" from the New York Times.

Heading back to ASU this fall? Rent an apartment in Tempe and get $101 cash back when you move! That could help you pay for a textbook (or a Kindle download).

(photo courtesy of Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times)

Fashion Show, Live Music, and Food.

When: June 27th 8pm to 11:30 pm

http://www.soldiersrus.org

Entertainment: Live body painting, Catwalk, Live Band, DJ, Playboy Golf Lounge, meet Playmate Jennifer Walcott, After Party at Dirty Pretty in Scottsdale

-Win a VIP Haute Night Out with All Star Transportation. VIP limo service to Dirty Pretty and Bottle Service for the evening.

-Drawings, Raffles, Silent Auctions and Giveaways

-Hole in One putting contests

-Percentage of Food and Beverage Sales at Sauce and The Egg and I benefits Soldiers R U.S.

-Food and Beverage sampling from Revolution Tea, Nothing Bundt Cakes and more.

Please stop in and see us!

One of my favorite places to relax, rejuvenate and keep the sweat beads at bay is the South pool at the Fairmont Scottsdale Hotel [where: 7575 East Princess Dr., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255].  Lined with cozy lounge chairs, spacious daybeds (that happen to be bigger than my full-size at home), private cabanas and a poolside mist bar it’s the perfect place to unwind and escape from the heat. The daiquiris help too :)

You’re going to want to get there early – especially on the weekend because this place is hopping. If you miss a spot don’t accept defeat…there are four other pools to choose from.

Take advantage of the poolside food service…the market salad with balsamic dressing is light and goes well with the sunshine wheat beer. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water, too – we are in the desert, you know.

Also, pack a book (and sunscreen, too!) – it’s a day trip or an overnight one if you got an amazing deal on hotels.com like I did. And if that is the case, the place for din din is the Bourbon Steak restaurant by Michael Mina. No doubt you worked up an appetite relaxing all day and are in dire need of a Kobe beef burger with duck fat fries. You can even make your own (burger that is).

Finally, swing by the Stone Rose lounge for a night cap – sipping a cocktail while relaxing on the plush white couches overlooking the waterfall will soothe the soul.

Now this is what I call survival of the smartest. 

Need more info and a map of Scottsdale? Check out the Scottsdale Neighborhood Page on hubbuzz.com.