Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/486631
photography by jeff gale (sigal); silent a photography (Westervelt) Amy Westervelt environmental writer mArisA Finetti food writer Andy WAng real estate writer Jill sigAl feature writer Jill Sigal is vice president of US government policy at Conservation International and also serves as chief of staff to the organization's chairman and CEO, Peter Seligmann. As the assistant secretary of energy for Congressional and intergovernmental affairs during the George W. Bush administration, she led the effort to pass the Energy Policy Act of 2005. For this issue, she wrote "Nature in the Eye of the Storm," about the drastic effects of our changing climate. What inspired you to write this piece? For my entire life, I have loved being surrounded by nature—hik- ing, rock climbing, biking. In nature I find a sense of peace that I don't find in the fast-paced world we live in. I was motivated to write this piece to help raise awareness of the importance of nature in our daily lives and to inspire people to get involved and take action to sustain nature for genera- tions to come. What is your proudest career moment? Serving my country during my tenure as a presidential appointee at the US Department of Energy. Andy Wang has covered Las Vegas for more than a decade—primarily for the New York Post, where he edited the residential real estate and travel sections and launched Alexa Luxe Living, a broadsheet pullout devoted to high-end property. He is a contributing editor at Los Angeles magazine and a columnist for Las Vegas Weekly, and his writing has also appeared in The New York Times and Ocean Drive and on MSNBC.com. It looks like you got to witness firsthand the Property Brothers' verbal sparring. Obviously the Property Brothers know that taking verbal shots at each other gets them attention. But this also seems to be a story about a family that loves one another and wants to spend more time together. The fact that they bought a foreclosure that they've turned into a dream home says a lot about the Vegas market: The high end is back, and so is the desire to customize fantastic houses. Marisa Finetti, who penned our CuiScene story on eco-friendly yet luxe local eateries, was born in Tokyo and raised in California. She has worked as a Hollywood publicist and grown Zinfandel grapes. Going on 10 years in Las Vegas as a magazine writer, she has written for Desert Companion and Nevada Magazine, among other publications, as well as The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas. Any favorite restaurants? Favorite restaurants bring me back to treasured places. I-Naba takes me to the hot springs at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan, where I spent my early childhood. Estiatorio Milos brings me straight to the salty air of a seaside vacation, and Honey Salt reminds me of the California wine country lifestyle. I'm inspired by these chefs who are so passionate about their conscious efforts toward responsible sourcing and bringing only the freshest, most delicious ingredients to their guests. Their farm-to-table approach and fierce sustainable-dining initiatives only heighten our city's reputation for world- class dining experiences. Amy Westervelt is an award-winning journalist who writes about the environment, business, and health for The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian UK, among other publications. She is a cofounder of the online environmental journal The Boxwood Bureau. For this issue, she wrote our Spirit of Generosity story on Green Our Planet. What were your impressions of Green Our Planet's Ciara Byrne and Kim MacQuarrie? They're both so energized about the work they're doing, it's really inspiring. With their documentary work, they have devoted their lives and their talents to getting important stories out there and improving the world. Why are their Outdoor Garden Classroom Program and Green Our Planet so important? It goes so far beyond just building gardens at schools. They're providing a space to teach kids about everything from biology to nutrition, they're getting them outside and moving around more, they're teaching them about where food comes from, and they're even teaching them about the food business. Are you a greenie yourself? I am! I use little to no plastic, buy mostly second- hand things, walk or bike when I can, and so forth. And I try to conserve energy and water as much as possible—we don't water our lawn, I keep showers under three minutes, etc. 26 vegasmagazine.com ...Without Whom this issue would not have been possible // late spring 2015