Seven Questions
Seven Questions
Branch Whitney
The hiking expert and author on what makes Las Vegas the ideal outdoor recreation destination, why he’s the man to guide you and his scariest fall
October 20th, 2011
After a stint as a serious blackjack player and working in sales in the health-club industry, Branch Whitney turned his focus outdoors, exploring his first mountain in 1995. It was the first of hundreds of hikes that have covered—by his estimate—about 3,000 miles of terrain. Read more »
Seven Questions
Ruth Reichl
America’s foremost food critic on Las Vegas’ culinary scene, the state of food journalism and her dream dinner party
October 13th, 2011
These days, Ruth Reichl—who recently visited Las Vegas—can be found on the lecture circuit, online (she’s the editorial adviser of GiltTaste.com), on television (she was a judge on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters’ Season 3 last spring) and in her kitchen in Columbia County, N.Y., cooking with passion. Read more »
Seven Questions
Andre Agassi
The tennis legend talks about what it’s like to play on the Champions Tour, how he could beat Rafael Nadal and why he never left Las Vegas
October 6th, 2011
“Who is the greatest athlete ever to come out of our city—tennis legend Andre Agassi or baseball immortal Greg Maddux?” But while Maddux is putting in plenty of time tearing up the golf course, Agassi’s still feeding his competitive jones through the sport that made him famous. As a mainstay of the Champions Series, he’ll be battling it out all fall with former superstars ranging from his boyhood hero, Jimmy Connors, to longtime rival Pete Sampras. Read more »
Seven Questions
Barbara Buckley
The former Assembly speaker on working as a maid, why she pursued a career in politics and why she loves helping others
September 29th, 2011
After putting herself though college at UNLV and law school at the University of Arizona, Barbara Buckley became executive director of the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, where she’s been assisting the poor since 1989. Looking to make an even bigger difference, Buckley ran for the state Assembly in 1994 and won, the first of eight electoral victories. She rose to speaker in 2007, serving in that capacity until 2009, when term limits forced her to give up her seat. Once thought to be a candidate for governor, Buckley instead bowed out of political life, turning her focus back to the Legal Aid Center. Read more »
Seven Questions
Alison Victoria Gramenos
The local interior designer on her new reality TV gig, why you should never remodel your kitchen by yourself and her dream Strip makeover
September 22nd, 2011
If there was a checklist that highlighted positive individual character traits, Alison Victoria Gramenos would undoubtedly score high marks across the board. Bright, successful, attractive, gregarious, funny, talented, passionate, confident … and a foul mouth that she’s not the least bit ashamed of. So it’s not exactly shocking that Gramenos is about to launch a reality-TV show career as host of Kitchen Crashers on DIY Network. What’s astounding is it took this long for someone to find and hire the 30-year-old interior designer. Read more »
Seven Questions
Pete Rose
The Hit King on the likelihood his record will ever be broken, who’s going to win the World Series and why he agreed to a lifetime ban from baseball
September 15th, 2011
It’s been 26 years since Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb’s hallowed record for most career hits in Major League Baseball. And it’s been more than 22 years since Rose set foot on an MLB field in an official capacity, having been permanently banned in August 1989 for betting on baseball. Despite a full confession, countless mea culpas and several attempts at reinstatement, Rose remains persona non grata in baseball, a punishment he estimates has cost him “conservatively, $60 million,” not to mention a spot in the Hall of Fame. Read more »
Seven Questions
Dr. Oscar Goodman Jr.
The oncologist discusses his upbringing, the latest in cancer research and what it will take for him to become the third Goodman to run for mayor
September 8th, 2011
Within 60 seconds of meeting Oscar Goodman Jr. it becomes quite apparent that the only thing he has in common with his famous father is that name. Whereas Oscar Sr. is boisterous, basks in the spotlight and loves to swill gin, Oscar Jr. is understated, most comfortable behind the scenes and can’t stomach his father’s martinis. Read more »
Seven Questions
Dwight Jones
The school district boss on how to fix a broken system, why testing matters and why he loves teaching
September 1st, 2011
When asked to pinpoint the exact moment he knew he wanted to pursue a career in education, Dwight Jones instantly rewound to third grade in “a little country school” in western Kansas. He recalled a system plagued with racism and apathy, with no light at the end of the tunnel. One day, walking home, he told himself, “I’m going to become a teacher and see if I can’t do better.” Forty years later, Jones faces what might be his biggest challenge in education. Read more »
Seven Questions
Forrest Griffin
The former UFC champ sounds off on his upcoming fight, impending fatherhood and why he @#%& hates traveling
August 25th, 2011
The only thing scarier than meeting up with Forrest Griffin in the octagon? Sticking a microphone or camera in his face in the days leading up to a big fight. See, the former UFC light heavyweight champion has a reputation for being moody. Sure enough, his temperamental personality was on full display when we recently caught up with the Las Vegas-based fighter before his co-main event bout against Maurício “Shogun” Rua at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 27. Read more »
Seven Questions
Jeremy Aguero
The economic analyst on stock-market chaos, how much longer the recession will last and why he’d never bet against his hometown
August 18th, 2011
As principal for Applied Analysis, a company he formed in 1997, Jeremy Aguero is responsible for collecting, processing and analyzing economic and fiscal data, then turning those results into recommendations for his clients. That’s a fancy way of saying Aguero is a numbers guy who’s in the speculating business. That means Aguero very well might have the most stressful job in town right now. Think about it: One day we’re in “economic recovery” happy land and the stock market is soaring; the next day we’re buying gold in bunches and fretting about a double-dip recession. Read more »
