Wire Magazine Issue 30

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PLUS INTRODUCING HOT PIC OF THE WEEK TING TINGS RELEASE NEW ALBUM CHEF TIM ANDRIOLA SERVES UP DUCK CONFIT 10,000 COPIES ARE DISTRIBUTED EVERY THURSDAY IN MIAMI AND THE BEACHES t THE LONGEST-RUNNING WEEKLY ON SOUTH BEACH

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ALL WIRED UP

BY THOMAS BARKER

SIZZLING TRAVEL DESTINATIONS OFFER A BREAK FROM THE SUMMER HEAT As beautiful as Miami is, the summer heat can really hinder your chances of having a good time outdoors. Throughout the summer it seems, we all run from one airconditioned room to another, hoping that we don’t sweat profusely along the way. To make matters worse, the summer is one of the quietest times in Miami, so on top of being trapped in doors, we’re also board out of our minds. Between the heat and the empty streets, summers in Miami are the perfect time to get away and explore other vacation destinations.

Nowadays there are a variety of options when it comes to gay travel. In this issue, we decided to focus on three distinct travel alternatives. For those of us, who like the finer things in life and want nothing less than five-star accommodations, we feature Straight Out Adventures. I took a moment to sit down with Straight Out Adventures founder Joanne Cerant to learn more about her high-end travel agency and their upcoming trip to The Turks and Caicos.

Joanne created Straight Out Adventures because she felt there was a void in the gay travel industry. According to Joanne, 56 percent of gay men are in a committed relationship and, of those couples, a large number want to vacation with people of like minds. Joanne decided to take her travel expertise and combine it with her exquisite taste to create one of the most luxurious travel agencies

in the world. Unlike most other gay travel organizations, Straight Out Adventures does not try to appeal to the masses, and, by the price tag associated with their trips, you can see why. Straight Out Adventures’ vacations are incredibly exclusive. In fact, most of their trips are created for five to 10 couples or less.

and models will submit their photos to be considered for Wire Magazine’s Hot Pic of the Week. We then select the hottest photo for your viewing pleasure. This week, we are featuring a photograph by Hector Rodriguez of gorgeous model, Adam Kaye. That is definitely some delicious eye candy!

Unfortunately with the current recession, not all of us can afford a luxury vacation, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a fantastic one. Zoom Vacations offers a variety of gay tours and vacations at very affordable prices.

Their destinations range from India to the Caribbean to South Africa, and pretty much everywhere in between. The best part is that for those of us who are single and ready to mingle, the groups of travelers can range from as small as 15 people to as large as 1,000 plus, depending upon the destination and type of venue.

Of course, no issue would be complete without our biweekly columns. This week, Wired Inside the Chef’s Kitchen returns with Chef Tim Andriola from the Bancroft’s SupperClub teaching me how to make a succulent roasted duck breast and leg confit with sweet potato ravioli. The dish is a bit extravagant, but when all is said and done, it is one fantastic meal.

Now for those of us who are looking to get away, but don’t want to leave the Miami scene behind, there’s always Fire Island Pines. There are hundreds of locals, who have a timeshare or home on the Island, so going to Fire Island is literally like taking South Beach out of South Florida for the summer and moving it to New England. In this issue, we set down with Fire Island Pines activities coordinator Adam Weaver to get the scoop on the festivities. From international DJs to cocktailing all day and night, there is an assortment of wonderful things to do on the gayest island in America.

You’ll also notice in this issue a new addition called Wire Magazine’s Hot Pic of the Week. Photographers

We also have DJ FR8-O reviewing the Ting Ting’s new album, which he says is incredible, and our favorite lesbian on the scene, Michelle Gaber, giving us a rundown of her sassy late night antics.

If that weren’t enough, we have also included some photo pages of two fantastic social functions, the Miami Beach Gay Pride Volunteer Kick-Off Party at the Romero Britto Gallery and Score’s monthly Salvation Saturdays soiree, which took place over Independence Day Weekend.

I hope you enjoy this issue as much as we did putting it together, and if you need a break from the summer heat, now you know where to go and how to get there.

COVER PHOTO BY: Max-Arthur Mantle www.maxarthurmantle.com 5FM Cover Model: Roberto @ Elite

WIRE STAFF CEO/PUBLISHER: rafa carvajal EXECUTIVE EDITOR/PUBLISHER: thomas barker

DESIGN DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION: jose gonzalez/true ink designs l.l.c.

COLUMNISTS/WRITERS: alfredo barrios joe jackson micheal knipp michelle gaber george shapiro PHOTOGRAPHERS: john anthony sutton & danny gabriel | image1st.com dale stine | dalestine.com juan saco mironoff | miami-gay-blog.com henry perez | henry1dj@bellsouth.net WIRE MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED, PRODUCED AND OWNED BY WIRE MEDIA GROUP L.L.C. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

t: 305.520.WIRE | f: 786.272.0123 | e: info@wireweekly.com #SJDLFMM "WFOVF # t .JBNJ '-

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PUBLISHERS’ CORNER REACH OUT FOR THE MOON – IF YOU MISS YOU’LL REACH THE STARS This past Monday, our nation celebrated the 40th Anniversary of man’s landing on the moon.

No matter how many times I see the film footage or the still pictures, it still amazes me that Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin were able to accomplish a feat that, for centuries, was considered to be an impossible dream.

During an eight-day mission commanded by Neil Armstrong, both Armstrong and Aldrin came down from their NASA Eagle landing craft, took "one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind�, and then planted an American flag on the surface of the moon.

To this day, our country continues to draw inspiration from Neil Armstrong’s first historic step.

person on the moon, and decisive, executable action on the part of our government officials and healthcare industry executives.

Although we have a short history as a nation, the United States and its citizens have demonstrated an immense capacity and economic power to accomplish the impossible. Today, many people believe it is impossible to reform our ineffective, costly, and out of control healthcare system. Do not let any politician, or so-called expert, fool you – it CAN be done. If it was possible to land Apollo 11 on the moon, it is possible to tackle and fix the big elephant in the room called healthcare. Our country just needs some strong leadership, like President Kennedy’s push to land a

And now for the fun stuff, courtesy of Wire Magazine.

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We, the people, need to also be proactive and raise our voices to let our representatives in Washington know that they must address the healthcare issue.

Reasonably affordable healthcare should be accessible to all citizens, one way or another. It is inexcusable that so many hard working Americans cannot afford basic healthcare or are forced to make enormous sacrifices to pay increasingly higher premiums or exorbitant rates for healthcare services. Call or write your representative in Washington and the White House and voice your opinion, so that our politicians and healthcare industry executives make this a national priority, and we can some day look back twenty or forty years from now and celebrate another anniversary about something else some people thought was simply impossible.

Visit www.wireweekly.com to find out who won our Wire Magazine “pick your own prize� contest.

Congratulations to the winner and many thanks to all of you who participated for the chance to win great and valuable prizes.

tickets and learn about all the weekend’s festivities.

A series of fabulous events and a bar crawl, all sponsored by Belvedere Vodka and Bud Light, will take place from Friday to Sunday. Remember, this is the charity event of the summer: all proceeds from your ticket purchases will directly benefit The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Equality Florida.

This week’s Summer Travel issue brings you some wonderful vacation ideas. We are also introducing our new weekly Hot Pic of the Week – make sure to check out this week’s pic! If you wish to be considered for upcoming Hot Pics of the Week, send us your photos and contact information via email to hotpic@wireweekly.com.

Have a wonderful week, get ready for Summerfest CZ CVZJOH ZPVS UJDLFUT BOE GFFM GSFF UP TUPQ VT PO the streets of Miami and the Beaches to share your thoughts and ideas with Wire Magazine. We welcome your feedback and suggestions to continue providing great lifestyle content for our readers!

Cheers, Rafa For The Publishers

Summerfest ’09 and the Equality Florida Bar Crawl XJMM CF IFSF PO 'SJEBZ +VMZ TU 7JTJU Rafa Carvajal: rafa@wire-magazine.com www.summerfestmiami.com to purchase your Thomas Barker: thomas@wire-magazine.com

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MIAMI BEACH PRIDE HOSTS KICK-OFF SOIREE @ BRITTO GALLERY PHOTOS BY SHARON KERSTEN

In April of this year, Miami Beach made history by hosting its very first gay pride event. Literally hundreds of volunteers worked tirelessly throughout the year to ensure things would go off without a hitch, and that it did. Over 20,000 people flooded Ocean Drive to celebrate our community and enjoy all the festivities.

4JODF .JBNJ #FBDI (BZ 1SJEF XBT TVDI B IVHF success, expectations for next year are pretty high. In fact, Miami Beach Pride, Inc. has had to double the budget in order to accommodate a larger crowd during Miami Beach Gay Pride 2010. Luckily, a number of the volunteers from last year, along with a whole new crop of volunteers, have already started working on next year’s event. To celebrate the kick-off, Miami Beach Gay Pride hosted a cocktail soiree for past, current, and future Miami Beach Gay Pride volunteers at the Romero Britto Gallery. As guests sipped on cocktails courtesy of Belvedere Vodka, they received a sneak peak of next year’s Pride event. If you are interested in volunteering with Miami Beach Gay Pride this year, visit www.miamibeachgaypride.com to sign up.

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MIAMI BEACH PRIDE HOSTS KICK-OFF SOIREE @ BRITTO GALLERY PHOTOS BY SHARON KERSTEN

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FEATURE STORY: STRAIGHT OUT ADVENTURES

Exclusive, Exotic, and Unique The Epitome of Luxury Travel

BY THOMAS BARKER

Selecting a vacation destination, where gay couples can feel comfortable can sometimes be a daunting task. If you’ve never been to the spot before, how do you know if it is mostly Midwest straight couples with 10 rowdy children in tow? Furthermore, with so many different resorts offering the best in luxury hospitality, how would you know if the five-star hotel you booked is really a onestar by American Standards? The answer is simple, you don’t!

Luckily there are travel agencies out there like Straight Out Adventures that dedicate countless hours, searching the globe for fresh destinations for gay couples to enjoy.

Straight Out Adventures began with a vision to provide a unique high-end vacation service to gay couples, and that is exactly what they offer. According to Straight Out Adventures founder, Joanne Cerant, 56 percent of gay men are in a committed relationship, and that means that there are thousands of couples looking to get away and enjoy a romantic week with their partner in exotic locales.

This November, Straight Out Adventures will be offering a fabulous vacation package to the Turks and Caicos, 10 | wire magazine

which is a chain of 40 islands, located about 600 miles from Miami. You could literally be there in less than two hours.

Between the fabulous destinations to the quality of service, Straight Out Adventures seems to have it all, and that is very important for anyone looking to enjoy a nice “holiday”.

I took a moment to sit down with Joanne to learn more about Straight Out Adventures, the services they offer, and their fantastic new destination. Here’s what she had to say: How did Straight Out Adventures begin?

Well it really started with a vision to provide a unique vacation service for gay couples. Many of my friends, who have been in long term relationships for 20 or 30 years, including my best friend Ken, who was in a new relationship, told me on many occasions how wonderful it would be to vacation as a couple with people that were open and accepted them. They told me that when gay couples go on vacation, straight families can sometimes

cause anxiety and stress. I have always loved to travel and I have some very particular values and expectations when I travel. I know exactly what I want and how everything should be. So the combination of a need for this type of service and my travel experience became Straight Out Adventures.

What distinguishes Straight Out Adventures from other gay travel organizations?

First of all, we offer unsurpassed value. The privacy, the pampering and the peace–of–mind we offer is unique.

Each holiday is designed as a retreat in the most beautiful surroundings available. Our holiday retreat in November is in the Turks and Caicos. It will be very private and exclusive. Only five couples will get to enjoy the hilltop villa and relax in a beautiful setting, surrounded by turquoise seas and tropical gardens.

Our vacationers delight in privacy and customized service. From the moment they book their vacation with our travel partner to the moment they arrive back home, everything is taken care of. We have a full staff attending to vacationers’ needs, including a personal chef with a

FEATURE STORY: STRAIGHT OUT ADVENTURES How many people do you serve throughout the year?

Our vacations and retreats are designed for groups of 5 to 10 couples.

As opposed to most gay travel organizations, you guys refer to your service as luxurious.

Why is that?

Luxury is defined by the relationships we develop with our clients. We want to meet and exceed our customer’s expectations. As I said earlier, we offer premium products and services. From the villa and its surroundings to the personal accommodations, personalized services, and choices of activities, food, wines, and spirits, everything is very high-end. We continue to raise the bar on best practices in customer service in the travel industry.

customized menu service. We also have servers, house attendants, a villa manager, resident tour guide, and Straight Out Adventures hosts, who manage every detail, so people can relax and be worry-free.

Vacationers have many choices. The service team, which includes me, wants to develop long-term relationships with clients, so that they will continue to book with us around the world.

Why do you exclusively cater to gay men?

When we go on holiday, we want to be able to anticipate whom we’re going to be sharing space with.

People with young children go to resorts, which offer plenty of activities and lots of kids to frolic with. Childless couples like to vacation at resorts that guarantee a child-free environment. Vacationing among people who share your values and norms is hugely important to the whole experience, so why not a holiday with like-minded people? With 56 percent of gay men in committed relationships, it’s time we served this important segment of the market.

With the current economy, a lot of people don’t have as much disposable income. What do you guys offer for those of us, who may not be able to afford a $5,000 vacation?

Traveling to the Turks and Caicos is typically more expensive than developed tourist destinations, but then that’s typical of most Caribbean islands. The 4 and 5-star resorts on the island offer one-bedroom ocean-views that range from $625 to $1,200 a night and the value added is a continental breakfast. For a seven-night holiday the average cost will range $4,375 to $8,400 not including tours, customized meals, wine, or liquor. The $4,610 is an excellent value.

How did you choose the airline to partner with and why?

Straight Out Adventures Inc. partners with Canada’s largest gay and lesbian travel company Rainbow High Vacations/Conxity, which has served the gay community TJODF #FTJEFT CFJOH UIF MBSHFTU HBZ BOE MFTCJBO travel company, it offers first class service, which is

consistent with my vision of the whole experience.

Greg coordinates our clients’ flights and gathers the information we need to ensure guests have the most comfortable holiday possible, including food and alcohol preferences, food allergies, desired events and activities, car rental, etc.

How can people book a trip with you guys?

They can call Greg Kozdrowski, who works with our travel partner, Rainbow High Vacations, at 1.800.387.1240, extension 223. They can also visit their website, www.conxity.com/villa or visit our website, www.straighoutadventures.com to register online.

What’s in the future for Straight Out Adventures?

Exotic but safe global retreats in undiscovered places and more frequent holiday offerings with even more choices of luxury levels. Straight Out is about understanding what people dream about when they think of a vacation and making their dreams comes true.

How do you select the destinations to partner with?

A lot of research goes into that. I personally spend a lot of time researching the destinations. I will visit the islands and conduct site inspections to explore the various luxurious amenities offered by these resorts. That is how I decide where we are going to go. I make sure that the destination has everything our clients would want. The service has to be impeccable, and the resort has to be top notch. I fell in love with Turk and Caicos. I think it is one of the best-kept secrets as a holiday destination.

The Turks and Caicos Islands boast some of the most exquisite beaches in the entire Caribbean. Grace Bay Beach on Provo is a 12-mile-long stunner that was voted best beach in the world on two occasions by readers of Conde Nast Traveler. There’s also so much to do on the Islands, including world-renowned snorkeling and scuba diving, humpback whale migration, deep-sea and bone fishing, as well as all types of water sports, shopping, and cultural activities. They also are known to have one of the best golf courses in the Caribbean, with an 18-hole championship golf course.

Describe your average customer?

Our customers’ age range is between Generation X and the baby boomer. Most of our customers are professionals between the ages of 35 and 65. wire magazine | 11

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Wire Magazine’s

HOT PIC OF THE WEEK Model: Adam Kaye www.modelmayhem.com/adamitalia Agency: Posche Models Photograph by: Andreas Delrosi www.andreasdelrosi.com

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FEATURE STORY: FIRE ISLAND PINES

PINE-ING FOR SUMMER

TAKE RECESS

FROM THE

The Fire Island philosophy is simple. You wake up and fry on the sand all day, with the occasional cruise up and down the beach to scope out the cuties. In the evening, you get glammed up and go to tea—which is a fun dance party.

The music starts at 5 p.m., and on weekends, it doesn’t stop until 5 a.m. the next day. There’s low tea, high tea, middle tea, an underwear party, and a nightclub called Pavilion, where big name DJs like Brett Henrichsen and Junior Vasquez play.

But Fire Island Pines is more than a party. There are fabulous restaurants, a gourmet market, Starbucks, cute shops, and a gym. Plus, the beaches are beautiful. And there are no cars allowed on the island—so you really feel like you are in a gay paradise.

With so many locals traveling back and forth between Fire Island and Miami Beach this summer, we decided to spend some time with someone who could fill us in on all the goings-on at Fire Island. Adam Weaver, who heads the BDUJWJUJFT PO UIF JTMBOE UFMMT VT BCPVU TVNNFS A Why is 2009 the summer to experience the Pines?

Flights are cheap this year, so we’re gearing up for more boys than ever.

How are you preparing for the extra guests?

We've expanded the high tea room to fit more guys. We've also perfected our DJ roster to include all the favorites, as well as some hot, new talent. I've been scouting the bars of NYC for the best, new nightclub performers, and I'm counting on a few big name acts to make it to the Pines too.

RECESSION

AT

FIRE ISLANDBY P INES GEORGE SHAPIRO

Can you give us some of the artists already confirmed?

I'm really excited about the Perry Twins over Ascension weekend. It will be their Fire Island debut! We had Joe Gauthreaux at Bay Dance and we will have Tony Moran at Ascension, so you know that party is going to be fierce.

I'm so psyched for the holiday weekend line-ups, but really, we've got great talent coming out every night of summer.

When visiting the Pines, what should men include on their itinerary?

Low Tea is a great place to have drinks and dance with your friends. High Tea follows at 8 p.m., where the dance party gets a little more wild and crazy. On weekends, there are live performances at Blue Whale Restaurant, which is a great place to have dinner or to just hang out at the bar to see the show. Oh, and if you’re here on a Friday, you can’t miss the underwear party. It’s really hot!

What would you advise all gay men pack in their bag for a fun-filled weekend in the Pines?

If you are coming for a day trip, all you need is a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and some drinking money. For a longer trip, make sure you bring plenty of cute swimsuits.

The daytime look in the Pines is a Speedo and designer shades. At night, make sure you have sexy jeans and you may want to pack a hoody for chilly nights.

What does the Pines offer singles that other gay destinations do not?

P-Town is a great place to relax, and Atlantis is a great place

to go wild. At the Pines, you get the best of both. You can chill on the beach and hang out with your friends at your beach house or you can go downtown, where there's a party every night. Fire Island is what you make it.

Where is the best place to meet cute guys?

It’s really fun to check out guys on the beach all day, pick your favorites, and then make your move at low tea. You will find yourself meeting so many cool people every night of your vacation. Guys just seem to be more relaxed here. I’m not going to mention the “meat rack;� you guys have to find out about that on your own.

Is the Pines suitable for a romantic getaway?

The Pines is definitely a romantic place. It's a great place to get away from it all and enjoy the quiet beaches and tranquil nature. You can cook dinners at home or go out to excellent restaurants. And if you are a couple who like's to have fun, we've got plenty of that too.

How can out-of-towners book their Fire Island Pines getaway?

You can find everything from the latest summer entertainment schedule to available houses and hotel rooms at www. thepinesfireisland.com. Holiday weekends in the Pines book early, so it's a good idea to start planning your trip soon.

ASCENSION is Aug 14-16, featuring DJs Manny Lehman, Brett Henrichsen, Kimberly S and The Perry Twins, with DJ Tony Moran headlining the beach party. Visit www.thepinesfireisland.com. wire magazine | 15

SCORE HOSTS SALVATION SATURDAYS PHOTOS BY JUAN SACO

During the summer, most bars and clubs take a break from the circuit. Because of our seasonal community, they just don’t feel the need to drop any money on great DJs, entertainers, and performers. Luckily that is not the case for the only gay club on Lincoln Road. Every Saturday night, Score brings in some of the world’s leading DJs to work the decks and entertain the crowd. Over Independence Day Weekend, they brought in the infamous Stephan Grondin during their monthly Salvation Saturdays party. Hundreds of boys looking to let off some summer steam filled the dance floor, as Stephan mesmerized them with some high-energy tribal beats. This Saturday Score has recruited DJ Hector Fonseca to turn it out, and from what we understand, Hector is one hell of a DJ. Until then, check out what we were able to capture on camera. See you on the dance floor!

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SCORE HOSTS SALVATION SATURDAYS PHOTOS BY JUAN SACO

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TOPTRAX

BY DJ FR8-0

THE TING TINGS MAKE SOMETHING FROM ‘NOTHING’

Do you ever have one of those times when you keep hearing about a cool new band over and over again, but you never really get around to checking out their stuff? Maybe a friend recommended them to you or you heard one of their songs on the most recent episode of [insert your guilty pleasure here] and thought it was hot. That was pretty much how I came to hear about The Ting Tings. I first caught an earful of the U.K. duo about a year ago when a friend hooked me up with a CD overflowing with fresh tracks by various unknown rock/pop/alternative bands. Theirs was the first jam I heard and I immediately had to find out who they were and what other music they had out there.

Unfortunately (although not surprising) I was seduced by the procrastination fairy and my curiosity and motivation became as faded as Jessica Simpson’s career. Since then, The Ting Tings’ music has made leaps and bounds; not just on the U.K. charts, but across the pond, right onto the U.S. charts, TV, films, and even our dance clubs. So naturally, I had to revisit these British badasses and find out how they went from being just a local house band to an International award-wining phenomenon.

Katie White grew up on a farm outside Manchester, where "It's so cold and so CPSJOH UIBU UIFSFhT OPUIJOH UP EP 4P BMM ZPV EP JT TJU BOE NBLF NVTJD *O TIF started her music career in the punk girl trio TKO with two friends, opening for UK pop acts like Steps and Atomic Kitten. Jules De Martino was born in London and credits his mom and dad for awakening him to the joys of music. "My parents had a great record collection," he remembers. "The classics: Beatles, Elvis, etc. Musically, I was into production and the B-sides always had something more experimental, not necessarily driven by the hits. I was attracted to that."

The two met in 2001 when De Martino was brought in to write a few songs for TKO and found they had a mutual love of Portishead. When TKO took a dive, the pair and a friend went on to form the Portishead-influenced trio Dear Eskiimo and signed to Mercury Records. But a change in management stirred up creative differences and caused them to split, leaving White and De Martino with a distrust of the music industry.

Liberated from the constraints of micro-managers, Katie and Jules started from scratch, taking a more personal approach to their music. "We didn't know what sound we were looking for," Katie (vocals, guitar, and bass drum) points out. "We didn't even plan on being a band, because we'd had such a horrible time in the music industry. We didn't think anybody would be interested in what we did, so we wrote songs for ourselves to play to our friends�.

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She credits much of her musical influences at the time to Talking Heads, the Tom Tom Club and LCD Soundsystem. Jules (vocals, drums, electronics) preferred more experimental stuff. Their distinct tastes complimented each other perfectly and eventually led them to regroup in 2007. Suddenly, they were generating massive excitement at a series of house parties at Manchester's Islington Mill, a thriving underground artist collective housing painters, filmmakers, writers, sculptures, and musicians. But they still needed a name for their accidental band. At the time, Katie was working in a boutique with a Chinese girl named "Ting Ting," which is Mandarin for "band stand". The band mates felt the name had a rhythmic quality about it that suited their new sound. So they decided to go with it and released their first single That’s Not My Name, a chanty hybrid of Toni Basil’s Mickey and The Knack’s My Sharona. A few months later, the Ting Tings dropped their debut album, We Started Nothing.

The album itself is far from nothing. Each track is infused with the Ting Tings’ signature beatdriven garage sound and hooks that make it catchy enough for radio, yet still edgy enough to be thrown down by even the most discerning alternative DJ. And don’t be surprised if you catch your bff chanting one of these little ditties on stage at Score’s Sunday night karaoke (although the half dozen frozen cosmos may have something to do with it too).

If you think the album versions are too harsh for the dance floor, check out the remixes by 7th Heaven, Bimbo Jones, Soul Seekerz, Tom Neville and Tocadisco—HOT!!!

My personal favorite (for obvious reasons) is Great DJ, which was featured in the Oscarwinning film Slumdog Millionaire.

The band has already started writing their second album, which is set to record in a converted jazz-club in Berlin in October. In the meantime, The Ting Tings will be making a couple of U.S. appearances in August and then joining P!nk on her Funhouse tour starting September 15th. "What's wonderful about the Ting Tings," says Jules, "is every step of the ladder that we climb is a new experience. We love playing live and the experience is so rewarding. Doing our own recordings and our own artwork and having that interaction wherever we are in the world is something that keeps us human."

If you’re a DJ, producer or artist and would like your song or remix featured in TOP TRAX, gimme a shout at alfredo@wire-magazine.com.

FEATURE STORY: GAY-CATION!

GAY-CATION!

BY MICHAEL KNIPP

There are vacations, and then there are Zoom Vacations – gay getaways that, according to the Chicago-based company’s co-founders, Joel Cabrera and Bryan Herb, “expand the mind, invigorate the soul, and re-energize the imagination.”

Created in the months after September 11th – the owners say the tragic events that transpired that day motivated them to spend their lives celebrating their passion – Zoom travels to some of the most spectacular spots on earth to deliver its LGBT customers one-of-akind experiences they can’t get anywhere else.

“Zoom Vacation tours are multisensory, experiential journeys that blend adventure, luxury, culture and style,” says Herb, a former high school English teacher, about Zoom’s unique itineraries, many of which wouldn’t be feasible on an independent expedition.

For example, on a recent trip to Rio de Janeiro, guests had the option of hang-gliding into a chic beach party.

In Peru, an elaborate and exclusive dinner was held at a private, palatial mansion. And on a trek to Africa, travelers arrived by elephant-back to a gourmet candlelit dinner on the banks of the Zambezi River at Victoria Falls, which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

“We believe that gay people desire exciting excursions and adventure by day, and would like to end their day in the finest way possible, ensuring comfort and luxury throughout their vacation,” Herb says.

While most of Zoom’s travelers are professionals who range in age from 25 to 65 – with the majority of them between ages 35 and 50 – Herb says that “this demographic is searching for something more than just big parties. They appreciate the care and details we place into each trip. They want to see the world in a comfortable way, which allows them to truly be themselves, and make new friends along the way.”

“But they also like to let their hair down and have a great time cocktailing, dancing, or meeting the locals,” says Cabrera, who spent 10 years as a lawyer before launching Zoom.

Of course, in a recession, you’d think these two entrepreneurs would be worried that gay travelers might be more discretionary with their pink dollar, but that’s not the case according to Herb, who said in a recent Chicago Tribune article that despite the down economy, business is up.

And there’s a good reason why.

“Thoughtful details are put into every Zoom trip to make sure our guests are well looked after and pampered in physical and emotional ways,” Cabrera says.

Take for instance, a 40th birthday party Zoom planned at a palace in Prague, where staff dressed in Victorianera clothing and guests were decked out in festive black and white. Before the fete kicked off, revelers were picked up at a Four Seasons hotel by a lineup of horse-drawn carriages. At the end of the celebration,

a cake was brought out to the birthday boy by a pair of Bel Ami porn stars, wearing only pants of the Victorian period.

But while Zoom Vacations cater to individual needs, Herb and Cabrera recognize that gay families and friends want to take trips together - an experience that Herb says “becomes a platform on which they strengthen their own relationships and enjoy stress-free time together.”

“The LGBT community seeks vacations that allow them to get the most out of the destination and experience, while completely being themselves,” he continues. “They seek adventure, melded with comfort, style and authenticity.”

Which is what they’ll continue to get with Zoom, as the company constantly enhances its offerings with recent additions like the Gay Pride celebration in Madrid; the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany; and other exotic locales, such as China and India – all unique travel experiences that gay people can’t access on their own for the price Zoom offers.

As for Herb and Cabrera, Zoom is just the beginning of something bigger for them.

“In five years, I see us doing more than just providing gay travel,” says Herb. “We would like to have written a book and have our own gay travel show.”

Until then, however, the vacation-planning business partners are content globetrotting with the LGBT community, “enjoying the best a destination has to offer and creating long-lasting memories.”

XJSF NBHB[JOF ]

WIRE GIRLZ

BY MICHELLE GABER

SUMMER DAZE

THE SCENE THURSDAY, JULY 23rd

SUMMERDAZE This week my nights and days were filled with club hoping, friends gossiping, hot bikini models, over the top dragorama, and a little self-improvement.

I kicked off my weekend early and hit the super fabulous club, LIV, at the Fontainebleau on Wednesday night for Miami Magazine’s 2nd Annual Splashion Fashion Show. Babes in bikinis were strutting their stuff for the Miami fashionista scene.

Local and international designers and boutiques, including Dulce, Krelwear, La Martina, Becca

by Rebecca Virtue, So Accesso, and Calypso St Barth flooded the runway with the newest trends in beach couture, while Grey Goose and Stella Artois flooded the crowd with delectable libations.

Event maestro and publicist Heather Davis gave me the grand tour, and after the festivities, we snuck out for a little late-night guilty pleasure at the BK Lounge.

Well it’s summer and a little self-improvement never hurt anyone, so I began a 10-week course titled Creative Insight. The class promises to identify and awaken my creative passions and authentic purpose in life. I thought my purpose was to buy shoes and handbags, but I have found that there just might be more to this sassy girl. Dream coach and facilitator, Jennifer Safina, launched the program recently as part of her new Click Consulting Group and has been selling out classes to rave reviews.

Next on my dance card was dinner with friends at one of my fav sushi hideaways, Fuji Hana in Aventura.

Gabby, Desi, and Vanessa met my girl and I for an assortment of yummy rolls and gossip. Afterwards, it was off to Halo for their weekly girl-fest, Sweet, to celebrate Janet Regalado’s birthday and the upcoming opening of her new biker shop, Friction Zone.

When Friday arrived, we decided to hit the “Village�, Mary Brickell Village that is, for a spirited night with the girls. First, we shook our maracas at Rosa Mexicana with some delicious margaritas and spicy nibbles. Then, we did a little window-shopping and people watching, followed by some cocktails at the very “now� and very crowded hot spot, Segafredo.

My eyes wondered as a host of sexy girls and boys sipped cocktails and cruised the crowd for their next conquest. Loving the Village!

20 | wire magazine

Saturday had arrived and the party continued, as we headed to the grand opening of The Mix, a new weekly Saturday dance event at the notorious Voodoo Lounge that is going to shake up the Fort Lauderdale club scene. I know it’s across that pesky little county-line, but I have high hopes that the vibe will keep you coming back for more.

We arrived early and the club was already jumpin’.

Host, Gary Santis, welcomed and escorted us to the VIP room, where we mixed and mingled with Michael Murphy, Loann Halden, Stephen and Mark from Jumponmarkslist.com, Hot Spots editor Scott Holland, and Design Star’s Michael Verdugo, who was traveling with his entourage in tow. The only thing that outshined the club was their special guest performer, Kristine W, who wowed the crowd with a string of her past hits along with her new hot single, Walk Away.

I awoke on Sunday and questioned if I had been slipped a ‘roofie’, but soon realized it was just a case of old age. Note to self: going out till the wee hours of the night four evenings in a row is my ‘sassy girl’ limit and will come with some baggage including a headache, puffy eyes, the occasional mysterious bruise, and tired feet. Duty called, so I put on my best Sunday dress and headed to Lincoln Road for the Kinsey Sicks ‘Wake the F*#@ Up America’ Show presented by Edison Farrow with my preapproved date of the evening, up-and-coming raw foods chef, Gabriella Cartiglia. I am not a drag aficionado by any means, but this dragapella beauty shop quartet brought the house down with their unique blend of singing, sharp satire, and over-the-top drag.

They seem to be a fixture in gay America, touring everywhere from long stints in Provincetown to appearances in Kansas to Las Vegas and beyond.

Next time you see them coming to a city near you, round up your friends and make a night of it.

After the show we zipped over to Cheesecake Factory to visit my favorite twins and new Cheesecake Cadet, Gaby from GAG Me. I got a quick lap dance, met a lady in the bar, who was begging to be converted, and someone squeezed my ass. Who new you could have so much fun on a Sunday night.

I can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store for us all‌

Sweet presents Cherry Pop 2 Year Anniversary Party Q N UP B N Halo lounge 1645 Michigan Avenue, South Beach Pandora events presents this hip weekly women’s party at the most opulent bar on South Beach. DJ Zehno will spin a fun set of electro, hip hop, and mash. Cherry Pops and surprises for all the ladies. $7 Belvedere special and $3 Miller Lites all night.

No Cover www.pandoraevents.com FRIDAY, JULY 31st FAT KAT FRIDAYS 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

VLADA lounge 3215 NE 2nd Ave, Midtown Miami Every LAST Friday of the month Lynn Bove host a hip, monthly Friday night for the girls. DJs Gooddroid and Michelle D. Panties will be on the decks mixing up some great music. $5 cover all night plus drink specials. www.icandeeevents.com FRIDAY, July 31st - SUNDAY, August 2nd SUMMERFEST ‘09 The only gay weekend event of the summer returns this year with a whole slew of fabulous events for everyone. Starting on Friday night with Meltdown, the women's segment of Summerfest at the Catalina Hotel. DJ Nancy Star will be on the turntables, and you can bet the girls will be getting down all night long.

On Saturday night, head over to the Palace for Girlz Just Wanna‌ Sizzle with DJ Meesh and delicious go-go girls working out for your viewing pleasure.

Get your liver ready for Sunday, because it is going to be one long day of drinking and partying with UIF PGĂĽDJBM 4VNNFS 'FTU QPPM QBSUZ BU UIF )PUFM Victor from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. with DJ Char Mix, shows by Queen Cabaret and, of course, some free Belvedere and Bud Light.

After the pool party, it’s time to crawl the night away at the second Annual Equality Florida Bar Crawl.

Enjoy free drinks with your ticket at SoBe’s hottest gay bars, Palace, Halo, Score, and TWIST. Best part 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Equality Florida.

To purchase tickets visit www.summerfestmiami.com

WIRE TAX & ACCOUNTING

BY JOE JACKSON

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, UNCLE SAM’S MORTGAGE FORGIVENESS CAN HELP BAIL YOU OUT Are you one of the thousands of homeowners in South Florida that owe more on your residence than the property is worth? Has the value of your property plummeted since you purchased it in the last few years? Are you thinking of a short sale or possibly foreclosure? Many existing homeowners in our area and country-wide are dealing with these pressing issues. Not only are property values declining, homeowners are losing their jobs on a daily basis. As the unemployment rate rises, some of you may be struggling with the possibility of not being able to pay your monthly mortgage payment. As the failure to make payments continues, this may lead you to the decision of either a short sale or foreclosure. The result of these transactions, leads into several income tax related topics that you should be aware of.

Typically, if you owe a debt to someone else and they cancel or forgive that debt, you are treated for income tax purposes as having received income and may have to pay tax on this income, referred to as cancellation of debt income. However tax laws were put into place in 2007 (Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act), and recently extended (The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008), which allows you to exclude from income certain cancelled debt on your principal residence. Debt reduced through mortgage restructuring, as well as mortgage debt forgiven in connection with foreclosure, qualifies. The maximum amount of debt that can be excluded is $2

million or $1 million for taxpayers who file as married filing separately. The special relief applies to qualified principal residence indebtedness that is forgiven from tax years 2007 to 2012.

So you may be wondering, does the relief apply to all forgiven or cancelled mortgages? Unfortunately, the answer is no, it only applies to debts that were used to purchase, build, or improve your principal residence or to refinance debt incurred for those purposes. In addition, the relief discussed above only applies to your principal residence. However, there may be other exceptions that could apply to you, which would allow you to exclude from income the amount of cancelled debt. This could include exclusions under insolvency or debt discharged in a Title 11 bankruptcy proceeding.

If you are considering a short sale or are going into foreclosure, you need to be aware of all the potential tax and legal issues. The items discussed above only pertain to the cancellation of debt. It does not address any potential gain and/or loss that may arise from the short sale or foreclosure. Before proceeding with a short sale or foreclosure, you should consult with experienced tax and legal advisors to discuss the potential income tax effect of not only the forgiveness of debt, but of any potential gain/loss arising from these types of transactions, and any legal ramifications/complications. If you have recently gone

through foreclosure or a short sale, and you qualify for any of the exceptions discussed above, you need to be aware that you have a filing requirement to disclose the cancelled debt amount and the exclusion for which you qualify on your individual income tax return in the year of sale.

If you are one of the thousands of taxpayers out there to whom this may apply to, do not fear, Uncle Sam is out there to help bail you out.

Joe Jackson, C.P.A.

Joe is a tax partner at the accounting firm, Sharff, Wittmer, Kurtz, & Jackson, P.A., which has been serving South Florida for over 55 years.

Should you have any questions or comments, email him at jjackson@swkj-cpa. com or visit the firm’s website at: www.swkj-cpa.com.

wire magazine | 21

FOOD 11TH STREET DINER Corner 11th Street and Washington Ave., MB 305.534.6373

Array of home-style American diner cuisine, from meatloaf to fried chicken.

Daily specials and great prix fixe menu for POMZ $BO U CFBU UIF QSJDFT IFSF It’s where the locals eat as well as the starving tourists.

A LA FOLIE 516 Espanola Way MB | 305.538.4484

South Florida’s original crêperie that is more cafÊ-like in its offerings of classic French crepes, sandwiches, salads, and platters. A very casual, friendly lounge with competent, knowledgeable wait staff.

No need to rush here! It’s French, after all!

Sit, relax, peruse the numerous periodicals over a glass of Pouilly FumĂŠ or a Stella Artois. Or maybe an herbal tea or infusion.

Right in the heart of the fabulous EspaĂąola Way neighborhood. Outside lounge open for special champagne nights in season.

Call for special prix fixe international dinners.

ANDIAMO 5600 Biscayne Blvd.,Miami | 305.762.5751

Seven-year-old pizzeria that has expanded

22 | wire magazine

outdoor seating with video screens and complimentary wi-fi. Gourmet pizza is award winning and nationally recognized!

Additional Italian menu selections include paninis, salads, soups, desserts. Serves beer and wine. Now Serving Frankie’s Philly Cheese Steaks!

al fresco. Ask about their special prix GJYF NFOVT o POF BU BOE POF BU $27.50. They can’t be beat. Full bar with drink specials, too. The service has been outstanding as owners Leo and Mario keep careful watch. That’s why this restaurant is so popular!

CAFÉ AT BOOKS & BOOKS

DAVID’S CAFÉ II

933 Lincoln Road, MB | 305.695.8898

One of the most important things that Books & Books has that sets it apart from any other chain bookstore is a wonderful personality.

Not only can you find the latest books and coolest magazines, now you can enjoy truly delicious and generous food in one of the most relaxed environments possible on Lincoln Road. The food is really quite something, especially their Miami Cheese Steak Sandwich.

DA LEO TRATTORIA 819 Lincoln Road, MB | 305.674.0350

One of the pioneers of Lincoln Road, Da Leo is popular spot with locals, tourists, and celebrities. Where else could you enjoy rich, tasty food, which is basic homestyle pastas and meat dishes, and some of the best people-watching while dining

1654 Meridian Ave., MB | 305.672.8707

:PV EPO U IBWF UP USBWFM NJMFT UP enjoy Cuban cuisine. Just walk over to David’s CafÊ II off of Lincoln Road Mall on Meridian Avenue for some of the finest Cuban dishes anywhere. And all at very reasonable prices. They’re open 24 hours.

Full bar. Incredible buffets for those on the go.

FRONT PORCH CAFÉ 1418 Ocean Drive, MB | 305.531.8300

After 17 years of serving South Beach locals the freshest, impeccable meals in generous portions, this restaurant has nothing to prove. It’s the best for casual fare at any time, but especially for their breakfasts. A great menu with the most reasonable prices. You might have to wait, but be patient, it’s well worth the effort as Larry, Michael, and Dawn cater to your every need.

GRAZIE 701 Washington Ave., MB | 305.673.1312

Sample the haute Italian cuisine and service that have made Grazie one of the most popular fine dining restaurants in South Florida. At this 75-seat location, diners will find a rare gem – an elegant yet comfortable space that eschews pretense and embraces a dedication to hospitality that turns every diner into a VIP. www. graziesouthbeach.com.

GRILLFISH 1444 Collins Ave., MB | 305.538.9908

Best fresh seafood in a great open-air atmosphere. Great fish and pasta combos.

Very popular with the local crowd. Great bar for a drink while waiting for a table.

LA SANDWICHERIE 229 14th St., MB | 305.532.8934

Sandwiches and salads along with fruit smoothies and shakes is what you will find at this landmark sandwich shop on 14th Street between Washington and Collins.

It’s one of the best places on the Beach for an outstanding selection of light fare with a French flair. Very reasonable prices. Open GSPN B N UP B N BOE EFMJWFSZ VOUJM 10 p.m.

WIRE MAGAZINE’S LIST OF DINING PLEASURES MISS YIP

PASHA’S

1661 Meridian Ave., MB | 305.534.5488

900 Lincoln Road, MB | 305.673.3919

Not even Cameron Diaz could have a successful and long-lasting restaurant in this space, but leave it to the intrepid Jennie Yip to defy gravity. This Hong Kong-style Chinese restaurant has easily become a very popular spot right off Lincoln Road in a very short time. They serve truly scrumptious homemade Wonton or hot and sour soup; really good Moo Shu pork and Mongolian beef; and a terrific variety of vegetable, rice, and noodle dishes. Don’t forget their awesome Shanghai Express $8.88 lunch specials – over 45 choices!

As one of Miami’s healthiest places to grab a bite, Pasha’s has become a staple among South Beach’s trendiest dieters.

The menu features a number of delicious Mediterranean dishes including kebabs, hoummus, and falafel. You can now also grab breakfast at Pasha’s as well. Located on Lincoln Road, the restaurant also features outdoor dining for great people watching, and you can either take the food to go or have a nice sit down dinner.

PALACE

One of the best places for fantastic thincrust pizza. Piola has made a name for itself for high quality ingredients, friendly service, and a very local and lively crowd that comes back again and again. Pizzas, pastas, salads, and a full bar.

1200 Ocean Drive, MB | 305.531.7234

Landmark gay owned and operated restaurant and bar on Ocean Drive and 12th Street with a simple, popular tourist and locals’ menu. An American bistro flair still with one of the best 8-ounce burgers on the Beach. The bar has long been a meeting point for American and international gay tourists. Stop by any day of the week – open from 10a.m until 2 a.m. and serving food until 10p.m.

PIOLA

1625 Alton Road, MB | 305.674.1660

QUATTRO GASTONOMIA ITALIANA 1014 Lincoln Road, MB | 305.531.4833

This 160-seat restaurant includes an outdoor terrace for the more casual look while the interior has to be one of the chicest around. It’s chock full of Murano glass chandeliers, hand-crafted Italian furniture, and leather banquettes. Twin

chefs Nicola and Fabrizio Carro from Alessandria in the Piemonte region of Italy have developed a Northern Italian menu paired with an all-Italian wine list. Quattro Gastronomia Italiana is open for lunch and dinner Sunday through Thursday, from noon until midnight and until 1 a.m.

Fridays and Saturdays.

SEGAFREDO 1040 Lincoln Road, MB | 305.673.0047

This is the most fun and authentic Italian cafÊ in South Florida! It has coffee, deserts, light food, a fabulous bar, and the best music, all of which guarantee a fantastic time for hanging out with Miami’s hottest coolsters and tourists alike. This is where the hip hangs out with the hipper.

SOYKA 5556 N.E.4th Court, Miami | 305.759.3117

Famed restauranteur Mark Soyka’s namesake restaurant at 55th and Biscayne.

Great array of affordable “comfort food� for everyone. Comfortable and inviting.

Draws a great local crowd who like to hang out at 55th Street Station adjacent to the restaurant. Food and service are well worth a visit. Now featuring The News Lounge!

SPRIS 731 Lincoln Road, MB | 305.673.2020

The pizzeria restaurant of Tiramesu.

Absolutely the best Italian pizza on South Beach prepared by a great pizza chef.

An excellent selection of white pizzas, too. You can also order your pizza with a whole wheat crust. Sandwiches and salads are excellent. Best bet for an after movie light dinner or late night snack.

TIRAMESU 721 Lincoln Road, MB | 305.532.4538 A thriving Italian restaurant on Lincoln Road with great service and excellent, moderately priced Northern Italian specialties. Expansive menu – open for lunch and dinner with very friendly staff and management.

VAN DYKE CAFÉ 846 Lincoln Road, MB | 305.534.3600

What News CafĂŠ is to Ocean Drive, the Van Dyke is to Lincoln Road. Another huge success for Mark Soyka who has now partnered with Graziano Sbroggio to run the place. Always packed offering some of the best people-watching on the Road and a quick breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Also check out Upstairs at the Van Dyke for an evening of Jazz and entertainment.

WANT TO SEE SOME

STIMULUS IN YOUR CHECK? Come to da Leo trattoria In the heart of Lincoln Road Most pastas $10.00 Cocktails, house wine, and imported beer $5.00 (certain restrictions apply)

.JBNJ #FBDI '- t XXX EBMFPUUSBUUPSJB DPN wire magazine | 23

WIRED: INSIDE THE CHEF'S KITCHEN

CHEF TIM ANDRIOLA SERVES UP: ROSTED DUCK CONFIT WITH SWEET POTATO RAVIOLI!

BY THOMAS BARKER PHOTOGRAPHY: RAFA CARVAJAL Over the years, South Beach has seen its fair share of dining trends. It seems every restaurant that opens on our multi-billion dollar sandbar has something unique to offer; yet, it is very rare that they actually deliver a fabulous product. Since the turn of the millennium, a number of restaurants have decided to up the ante by not just providing delicious food, but fantastic entertainment as well.

Unfortunately most of these lounge-restaurants end up with either great food and bad entertainment or great entertainment and bad food.

time in securing us a table in the back corner of the restaurant. Within minutes of sitting down, our waiter for the evening, Steven Mignot, stopped by to explain the menu and take our drink orders. I opted for a nice glass of Shiraz while Rafa settled on a light pinot grigio. We also decided to kick off the meal with some spicy octopus and miniKobe beef burgers. Both of which were absolutely delicious.

By the time the appetizers arrived, we had settled on our entrees, which included the wild Alaskan Last week, fellow publisher Rafa Carvajal and I salmon, Wagyu beef tenderloin, and a Maine had an opportunity to check out the SupperClub lobster tail. The salmon was cooked to perfection, at the Bancroft Hotel on the corner of Collins and while the Wagyu beef tenderloin was just like any 15th. The SupperClub opened last month with the other steak at other restaurants. The highlight of premise of offering glamour, entertainment, and the entrees was definitely the Maine lobster tail. fine dining in one elegant, dramatic venue, and is a In South Beach, a number of restaurants claim to collaboration of acclaimed Chef Tim Andriola and have Maine lobster when, in fact, they are actually nightlife impresarios Dimitri Fragoulias and Sergio serving Florida lobster. For anyone who is a lobster Quinonez. So while Chef Andriola manages the meat lover, you know that Florida lobsters tend to menu, Dimitri and Sergio manage the entertainment. be smaller, gamier, and definitely chewier than their New England cousins. It was refreshing to 8F BSSJWFE BSPVOE Q N BOE XFSF HSFFUFE CZ enjoy a lobster that actually tasted like lobster, as a typical South Beach hostess, who wasted no opposed to a rubber chew toy with a fishy flavor.

24 | wire magazine

While we nibbled on the various offerings, the restaurant began to transition into a nightclub.

The lights came down, the music went up, and hundreds of beautiful partygoers and diners filled the banquets. The highlight of the entertainment began around 10:30, as an electric harp player took to the center of the room, stroking the chords along to the beats of the DJ. Between the fantastic cuisine, beautiful dĂŠcor, and great music, SupperClub seems to be one of the few restaurants in Miami that actually delivers wonderful food and great entertainment in one all encompassing venue.

In fact, we were so impressed by the food; I thought it would be great to go into Chef Andriola’s kitchen to learn how to make one of his signature dishes.

After a little coaxing, Chef Andriola agreed to teach me how to make his signature roasted duck confit with sweet potato ravioli.

Like most people, I have always been afraid to cook duck. There are talented chefs out there, who can’t even get it right, so how could I? Cooked improperly, duck meat can come out tasting more like a piece of leather than a succulent dish, so

WIRED: INSIDE THE CHEF'S KITCHEN setting my intimidation aside, I joined Chef Andriola in the kitchen to learn how to properly prepare and cook duck.

Duck Confit First we took 2 whole ducks and broke them down, separating the breast from the legs and thighs. Afterwards, we took the breasts and laid them breast down in a skillet and cooked them on a very, very low flame. According to Chef Andriola this takes the fat out of the breast, firms them up, and will help create the confit that we will later use for the thighs and legs.

them in the duck fat, and added 3 cloves of garlic, 2 sprigs of thyme, and 1 teaspoon of peppercorns. Now if you don’t get enough fat from the duck breast, you can always buy some duck fat at Epicure, Whole Foods, or your local butcher. You can also use clarified butter or vegetable oil as a substitute.

After we prepared the duck confit, we covered the roasting pan with aluminum foil and cooked it in a 250-degree oven until the meat was fork tender, which took about 2½ to 3 hours. After the confit was ready, we let it cool down and removed the thighs and legs from the fat.

Sweet Potato Ravioli Once the duck meat and broth was good to go, we moved forward with the ravioli. First we combined ½ cup of durum wheat flour and ½ cup of semolina flour in a mixing bowl. We then beat 3 large eggs in the center, gradually pulling the flour into the center. When the dough began to form, we removed it from the mixing bowl and put it on the counter, where we kneaded it with our hands, adding more flour or water if necessary.

We did this until we had a nice, tight ball that wasn’t sticky to the touch.

Duck Broth After we removed the breasts, thighs, and legs from the duck, we took the remaining carcass and bones and placed them in a 350-degree oven along with 1 onion, 1 carrot, and 2 celery ribs. Once that was golden brown, we took out the bones and placed them in a large stockpot.

We then took the roasted veggies and added 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and 3 cloves of garlic to the pan. We roasted it for about 3 minutes then added the mixture to the bones in the stockpot. Afterwards, we covered the veggies and duck bones with 1 quart of chicken broth and 3 cups of water, which we simmered on low heat for about 2 hours.

Once the broth was ready, we combined 1 carrot, 1 onion, 2 ribs of celery, ½ cup of egg whites, and 3 plum tomatoes in a food processor and chopped everything up on high. This mixture is used to create a float at the top of the broth that will suck out all of the solid ingredients, leaving us with a very clear broth at the end. We let the broth simmer for about 20 minutes and then let it cool. Once it was cooled, we poured the broth through a very tight strainer, removing all of the solids.

Once the sheet of pasta was ready, we then pureed 1 large sweet potato, which we roasted for 1 hour in a 350-degree oven, 1 egg, and 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese. After everything was nice and blended, we took a tablespoon and set out 12 of what Chef Andriola likes to call “Hershey kiss-sized drops” of the puree on half of the sheet. We then took some water and lightly brushed around the puree drops.

After placing the puree drops on the sheet, we took the other half of the pasta sheet, and laid it on top of the other sheet, and proceeded to use a two inch round dough cutter to cut out the raviolis.

After creating 12 ravioli, we picked up each one and pinched the sides to seal. Chef Andriola reminded me that it is really important to push out all the air, so before we completely sealed the ravioli, we placed it in the palm of our hands and applied pressure until there was no air left inside.

When the ravioli was ready, we cooked them in salted boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes.

While the ravioli was cooking we also prepared the broth by placing 2 heads of blanched baby bok choy, which were split in half, along with ¼ cup of blanched fresh shucked peas, in the duck broth.

After letting the dough sit for five minutes, we cut it into five pieces and overlapped each one so that the ends were touching each other. We then flattened the pieces together to create one unified flat piece of dough. Afterwards, we pushed the thick dough through a pasta machine until we got it as thin as the machine would allow. This surprisingly created a very long sheet of pasta.

While that was all cooking on the stove, we took the duck legs, thighs, and breast and roasted everything in a 375-degree oven for about 5 minutes. Now if you like your duck well done, you will want to cook the breast for a longer period of time.

To plate everything, we took four serving bowls and placed 3 ravioli, some bok choy, peas, broth, 1 duck leg, 1 thigh, and 1 breast, which was split in half, inside each bowl. Once that was done, we sprinkled some chopped parsley on top, and the result was one fabulous dish!

Now back to the confit. After rendering the fat from the duck breast, we took the thighs and legs and rubbed them with salt. In most cases, you would let the legs and thighs sit over night, but because we didn’t have very much time, we moved ahead with the preparation by placing the legs and thighs in a tall roasting pan. We then completely submerged wire magazine | 25

THIS WEEK THURSDAY, July 23 AZUCAR: Join Shanaya Bright and Amanda West at Miami’s only seven-day-a-week Latin gay bar as they host Drag Wars, a month long competition where Miami’s fiercest drag divas duke it out for a grand prize of $500.

2301 SW 32nd Ave., Miami.

BUCK15 LOUNGE: It’s The Simple Life Thursdays. DJ Daisy D. spins fun hip-hop, ‘80s, rock, and dance hits, with Chyna as Door Goddess. 707 Lincoln Lane, Miami Beach.

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HALO: Tonight Halo hosts Sweet Thursdays IPTUFE CZ 1BOEPSB &WFOUT -JWF %+ GSPN Q N UP B N )BQQZ )PVS GSPN Q N UP p.m. with half price drinks! Located near the corner of Lincoln and Michigan.

NEWS LOUNGE: music by a rotating repertoire of some of Miami’s best DJs, including Induce, Doormouse, Manuvers, Benton, and more. Happy hour until midnight, and there are Scrabble Battles, Book of the Month, and general fun for everyone. 55th Street Station.

PALACE: Enjoy an incredible dinner and a show, complete with a fabulous menu from 7 to 10 p.m. Three-course prix fixe menu for POMZ 0DFBO %SJWF BOE UI 4USFFU

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SCORE: Enjoy cocktails out on the patio and watch the famous Lincoln Road traffic pass by as you and your friends chill and enjoy great music. Tonight Score hosts the steamiest Thursday night soiree with fab beats by DJ Pride and an incredible crowd of delicious partygoers. No cover tonight! 727 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach.

TWIST: Don’t miss out on a fabulous night at TWIST with seven different bars, DJ Mika, stiff drinks, beautiful dancers, and of course, the only place where there’s “Never a cover...

Always a groove.�

VLADA LOUNGE: Will Rod presents ‘Sup Thursdays. A night of sexy urban professionals mingling to the Latin lounge vibes of DJ Bode. 6 p.m. till close. Enjoy Happy Hour 2-4-1 wells, domestics, and infused vodka drinks from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.

FRIDAY, July 24 AZUCAR: Stop by Miami’s hottest Latin club to enjoy a night of fabulous beats by DJ Jarel and an evening of scandalous banter by Las Divas del Jacuzzi and Mariloly the Queen of Comedy. 2301 SW 32nd Ave., Miami.

HALO: Friday Happy Hour! Half price drinks and complimentary hors d'oeuvres from 3 Q N UP Q N %+ '3 0 PO UIF UVSOUBCMFT all night long. Great music and never a cover! Located near the corner of Lincoln and Michigan.

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SCORE: The Penny Back Boyz host the all new weekly Friday night party Filthy Gorgeous Fridays with DJ Honey Dijon spinning a true open format and Score’s hottest Go-Go boys on the speaker boxes.

SEGAFREDO: Friday Happy Hour starts at 6 p.m. This outdoor Italian-inspired cafĂŠ has comfortable, living-room style furniture on the terrace so that patrons can truly enjoy themselves in friendly surroundings. 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach.

TWIST: Don’t miss out on a fabulous night at TWIST with seven different bars, DJ Mika, stiff drinks, beautiful dancers, and of course, the only place where there’s “Never a cover...

Always a groove.�

VLADA LOUNGE: Enjoy Happy Hour 2-4-1 wells, domestics, and infused vodka drinks from 4 to 8 p.m. Then meet and greet the cast and crew of Mad Cat Theatre for the "Viva Bourgeois" opening night after party 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, July 25 AZUCAR: Stop by Miami’s hottest Latin club to enjoy a night of fabulous beats by DJ George Ferraro and great shows by Naomi, Victoria Grantty, and Maite West. 2301 SW 32nd Ave., Miami.

HALO: Tonight Halo hosts a weekly themed party with resident DJ George Figares. Happy hour from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Located on the corner of Michigan and Lincoln.

NEWS LOUNGE: The Good News. Old School Miami DJ trio DHM spins a diverse mix of funk grooves, deep house, rock, disco and everything in between and beyond.

55TH Street Station.

PALACE: The only gay bar on Ocean Drive and 12th Street, stop by for lunch or dinner, and enjoy the hottest people-watching this side of the ocean. Tonight is Drags Gone Wild with Drag Shows by Geraldine and the gang today starting at 6 p.m.

SCORE: Tonight is Bigger Saturdays, the largest gay dance party on the Beach with beats by DJ Hector Fonseca, and performances by CircX. 727 Lincoln Road.

TWIST: Happy Hour 2-4-1 with Tommy and UIF MPDBMT GSPN Q N UP Q N PO FWFSZthing. Come tonight and enjoy a full house of hot men and some incredible beats by DJ Craig Demo. “Never a cover...Always a groove.�

VLADA LOUNGE: Join DJ FR8-O every Saturday at Vlada for some Saturday Love and enjoy the awesome music and "Show Me Love" Martini specials from 10 to close! The HOTTEST tunes and bartenders mixed with the COLDEST drinks in Miami, only at Vlada!

NEWS LOUNGE: Amazing sounds of DJs Terence and Mike Sike, spinning an eclectic cornucopia of sound. The evening also features Newstendo, our throwback to the original Nintendo NES System, where everyone can indulge in an old school game of Galaga, Tetris, Punch Out, etc. 55th Street Station.

AZUCAR: The Best show in Florida, running for nine years now with comedy at its best as Marytrini and Las Divas del Jacuzzi (Sophia and Teresita) hit the stage to perform one hell of a show. 2301 SW 32nd Ave., Miami.

PALACE: The Palace is the place to be after the beach, as well as for lunch or dinner. The incomparable Geraldine and Fernan-D-Cute TIPXT TUBSU BU Q N

HALO: Bloody Marys, mimosas, and fresh fruit cocktails! Happy Hour from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. with half price drinks! Located near the corner of Lincoln and Michigan.

SUNDAY, July 26

HEATHROW LOUNGE: Omar Gonzalez, the Penny Back Boyz, and Dustin Reffca present CLICK, SoBe’s hottest Sunday night party. Shows by Adora and Chyna Girl with special guest appearance by Misty Eyez, Elaine Lancaster and Asia Avience. DJ Kidd Madonny, DJ ROXX, and DJ Power Infiniti along with special guest DJs. THE NEWS: The News Lounge and The Miami Art Museum Contemporaries present Cinematic Sounds. Starts at 8 p.m. 55th Street Station.

PALACE: Stop by and check out Palace’s new Sunday drag brunch with the infamous Geraldine. Unlimited champagne and fabulous nibbles for only $25. You also won’t want to miss their weekly Sunday T with fab drinks, gogo dancers, and incredible drag shows at 6 p.m.! 1200 Ocean Drive.

SEGAFREDO: Hip outdoor Italian-inspired cafĂŠ with comfortable, living-room style furniture on the terrace for patrons to truly enjoy themselves in friendly surroundings. 1040 Lincoln Road.

TWIST IBQQZ IPVS GSPN Q N UP p.m. on everything. Ebonee Excell and her girls perform upstairs. At TWIST: “Never a cover...Always a groove.

VLADA LOUNGE: Weekend wine-down with organically infused bloody Mary's.

Doors open at 4 p.m. and never a cover.

MONDAY, July 27 BLACK SHEEP MONDAYS: Shelly Novak hosts an insane night of performances, cheap drinks, and scandalous banter. Joanna Mills, the Liquor Sisters, and various guests will perform all night beginning at 11 p.m. for your entertainment! 721 N Lincoln Lane.

HALO: Swing by and imbibe a 1/2 priced gin and vodka martini on Halo’s Martini Mondays. Located on the corner of Michigan and Lincoln.

PALACE: Stop in for comfort food at lunch or dinner. Monday nights you can grab an Infusion Mojito for only $6 and domestic beers for $4. 1200 Ocean Drive.

SCORE: Happy Monday, where all drinks, well and domestic, are half-price from 3 p.m.

UP Q N /P DPWFS TWIST )BQQZ )PVS ESJOLT AUJMM Q N Then it’s “I’m A Local� night, with $3 drinks for anyone with TWIST’s “I’m A Local� I.D. all night long. Join Nathan in the Frolic Lounge for his signature mix of pop and the top 20.

Also check out the fabulous men of Gaiety in the Bungalow Bar starting at 10 p.m.

VLADA LOUNGE: Happy Hour specials, 2-4-1 Infused Vodka drinks, well drinks, and domestic beers.

TUESDAY, July 28 BOTANICAL GARDEN: Weekly book club meeting begins at 12:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. 2000 Convention Center %SJWF

CRĂˆME LOUNGE: It’s Latin Night tonight at Crème Lounge, playing the best Latin music in a posh New York-style lounge and drink specials.

HALO: LoLo Inc., the Penny Back Boyz, and Omar Gonzales, host the Art of Life, featuring local artists paired with delicious martinis all night long. Located on the corner of Michigan and Lincoln.

MARTINI TUESDAY: Edison Farrow hosts the most sophisticated cocktail party in South #FBDI GSPN Q N UP B N XXX TPCFTPcialclub.com PALACE: Better than ever before on Ocean Drive and 12th Street, try it for lunch or a late afternoon snack, or just hang out at the bar with the locals. $6 Long Island Ice Teas and frozen drinks all day.

SCORE: It’s Planeta Macho, the hottest Latin Party in Miami Beach, featuring incredible Latin beats by award winner DJ George Ferrero, Pelu Rivero on drums, amazing shows by Miami’s best female impersonators, and the hottest crowd in town. Don´t miss this party – it’s South Florida’s Best Latin Party!

TWIST: 2-4-1 Happy Hour from 1 p.m. to Q N PO FWFSZUIJOH 1VTTJMB .BEOFTT OJHIU with DJ Diva Bugie in the main room and the hottest boys in South Beach.

VLADA LOUNGE: Tantalizing Tuesday's hosted by the Puerto Rican princess herself Shantell Smith Williams, bringing the island IFBU UP .JEUPXOhT )055&45 WFOVF BU Q N WEDNESDAY, July 29 HALO: Tonight Wire presents Wire Community Wednesdays with 1/2 priced Absolut Vodka drinks all night long. Located on the corner of Michigan and Lincoln.

PALACE: French Kiss for girls who loves girls with great drinks, hot music, and beautiful mommies. 8 p.m. to close. 1200 Ocean Drive.

SCORE: Come and spend a pleasant evening on one of Score’s outdoor couches as they host Martini Madness Night. A half price )BQQZ )PVS SVOT UJMM Q N BOE UIFO JU T Martinis all night long.

TIRAMESU: Swing by and enjoy some delicious Italian fare while imbibing on a half price bottle of wine during Tiramesu’s Half Price Wine Wednesdays.

TWIST: It’s time to hit the stage as Sean Brady hosts the Sean Brady Show. Karaoke and tons of entertainment all night long.

Afterwards head upstairs to WERK @ WERK WEDNESDAYS with DJ Craig Demo. Happy )PVS GSPN Q N UP Q N XJUI on everything. “Never a cover...Always a groove.�

VLADA LOUNGE: DOLCE and Peace Shield Records present Mid-Summer Wednesday's at Vlada hosted by Marcela Di Santo with Dylan on the decks. $8 Dolce Kiss Martini's BOE DIBNQBHOF CPUUMF TQFDJBMT GSPN Q N to 2 a.m. wire magazine | 27

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