The stingrays are back for an annual visit to the Phoenix Zoo. This year there are three nurse sharks and nine bamboo sharks in addition to the regular group of about 30 cownoses and southern stingrays. Phoenix Zoo is located at 455 N Glavin Parkway in Phoenix. For more information about is annual fun Stingray Bay exhibit that the entire family will enjoy check out the website for the Phoenix Zoo. This attraction that features a 14,000 gallon aquarium made its debut last year. It was a very popular attraction and now it is back. Be sure to catch it before it leaves for the season on April 30th this year.

In you are in the Phoenix Arizona area through May 11, 2008 and ejnjoy butterflies consider checking out the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion located in the Desert Botanical Garden located at 1201 N Galvin Parkway in Phoenix. There are butterflies of all descriptions that fly free. Stand still and they will land on you. Check out the website for the Desert Botonical Garden to learn more about this intriguing exhibit.

Interested in taking the entire family to enjoy an evening of camping, outdoor crafts, big screen movies, stargazing and food? If you are in, or near, Scottsdale Arizona you may want to check out the Starlight Sleepover event slated for April 26 and 27, 2008. The event will be held at the Scottsdale Stadium located at 7408 E Osborn Road in Scottsdale. Activities are oriented for kids 2-10 years of age. For more information call 480-312-7957.

Local First Arizona is a fairly new non profit organization in Arizona oriented to promoting local, independent businesses as a preferred alternative to chain stores. The non profit utilizes things like festivals, wine tastings, art walks and other community activities to help businesses get their name in front of people. The group is working on producing items like community guides and maps to also help foster the effort. Shopping at local merchants puts more money into the local economy as compared to shopping at chains. For more information about this non-profit and how to get involved visit their website.

Arizona is noted as a golf destination. But if you are looking for a golf spot that you can play even when the summer heat arrives, you may want to check out virtual golf in Gilbert Arizona’s Cross Woods golf-center. For $25 you can enjoy golf without a cart and without worrying that someone in front of you is playing too slow. There are munchies and liquid refreshments available also. Located at 522 Baseline in Gilbert Arizona, you can learn more about Cross Woods by checking their website.

Is this a trend of the future? In this era when we read of lending problems in the news every single day, here is a new idea rising from the desert like the Phoenix of old - a "lifestyle" bank. Located at the corner of Scottsdale and Camelback Roads in Scottsdale, Goldwater Bank is forging ahead with a new look to banking called "lifestyle" banking. The focus they are offering is to put customer service back into banking. For well heeled individuals with a minimum of $25,000, the customers get access to an in-house concierge service that will handle everything from personal shopping to making dinner reservations and more. Customers can relax in the chic lounge area that is complete with plasma TVs and plenty of refreshments all the time. Is this a country club, spa or bank? Time will tell and time will tell whether this idea catches on other places.

Who would have thought that by using "blue" one could "go green"? A company in Chandler Arizona is doing just that. They are taking old blue jeans and using them to make insulation materials that are "green". The company is Bonded Logic Inc.. They take old blue jeans and chew them up into scraps and bond the denim with a fire retardant.. Then the material is processed into an insulation that is used for commercial buildings and homes. Much of the company’s business is bulk orders and commercial, but it will handle small requests from home owners and small businesses who want to have insulation that is more eco-health-friendly.

If you are in the Phoenix Arizona area and are interested in eco friendly materials you may want to check them out.

Scottsdale Arizona is used to hot nights, but the atmosphere of a steamy night in Havana evokes a tasty new twist as the Mondrian Scottsdale goes Cuban each Tuesday in the Asia de Cuba restaurant. Yummy small plates with Cuban inspired specialities such as chicken "lollipops" with chipotle and honey glaze and speciality drinks including mojitos, margaritas and martinis, or their speciality the Havana Sunset make the visit there a tasty experience. Havana Tuesdays start at 6pm every Tues. The Mondrian Scottsdale is located at 7353 Indian School Road in Scottsdale. Call 480-308-1100 for more details.