Read that Kansas City Star piece about the Crossroads art walk a while back, the whole district got listed as one of the best free things to do in the Midwest. Third Fridays in Phoenix are supposed to be a good one too if you're ever out that way.

What kinds of jobs were you applying to when you cut them? I ask because the cover letter thing seems to depend a lot on the field. My friend does hiring for a marketing team in Chicago and she straight up ignores them, but a buddy applying for gov jobs out in Springfield said they basically won't look at you without one. So your 4 interviews could just be about the roles you were going for, not cover letters being dead everywhere.

Here is the thing: your guide was basically performing a magic trick and you did not even realize it. Telling a crowd "look up" at a cave ceiling full of old hand holds instantly makes the tour feel special and personal. Maybe those divots are real, maybe they're just natural pits in the sandstone. Either way, she got you to slow down and actually pay attention, which is more than most people do at any tourist site. Guides who pull that off deserve a good tip.