Wire Magazine 31.2018 Meet Attractive Model Michael Aaron by David Vance

ISSUE # 31 | 08.02.18 HOME CHEF: EASY & ELEGANT DESSERTS OUT & ABOUT: MONSTER JAM ROARS BACK INTO TOWN TOP TRAX: CELEBRATE A DECADE OF MUSIC WRITING

MEET ATTRACTIVE MODEL

MICHAEL AARON

BY DAVID VANCE

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Staying easy, elegant and not horribly unhealthy with a delicious dessert just takes some planning ahead and a few key ingredients. Enjoy the recipes!

12. OUT & ABOUT: MONSTER JAM

Monster Jam is returning to the BB&T Center, so Wire Magazine sat down with driver Tyler Menninga to preview this year's monster truck motorsports extravaganza.

14. COVER STORY: MEET MODEL MICHAEL AARON

BY DAVID VANCE

This week, we showcase freelance model and healthcare worker Michael Aaron and his sexy photos by renowned photographer David Vance.

22. TOP TRAX: 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Time flies when you are having fun, and that is certainly the case with DJ FR8-O's ten year tenure as Wire Magazine's music writer and his penning of our Top Trax music column.

GO TO WIREMAG.COM: GOING OUT

Visit wiremag.com/goingout for this week's rundown of nightlife, dining and cultural events to plan your outings and have fun!

PHOTO BY DAVID VANCE. DAVIDVANCEPRINTS.COM

8. HOME CHEF: EASY & ELEGANT DESSERTS

Publisher/Editor in Chief Rafa Carvajal Associate Publisher/Editor Michael Bustamante Design & Production True Ink Designs L.L.C. | trueinkdesigns.com Columnists Alfredo Barrios Alyn Darnay Anthony Reyes Michael W. Sasser Dr. Amy Wecker Official Photography Studio Photo Studio Miami Staff Photographer J.R. Davis Local Advertising advertising@wiremag.com

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National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media | 212.242.6863 Contact Information Tel: 305.520.WIRE Email: info@wiremag.com 1541 Brickell Avenue, #2004, Miami, FL 33129 Wire Magazine is published, produced, and owned by Wire Media Group L.L.C. All Rights Reserved.

Distributed in print in Miami, The Beaches, and Fort Lauderdale, and digitally worldwide through wiremag.com The views, opinions or positions expressed by contributors to and interview subjects of Wire Magazine are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of Wire Magazine, its staff or publisher.

Cover photo by David Vance davidvanceprints.com Model: Michael Aaron

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PUBLISHER'S CORNER PURSUING YOUR DREAMS

DISCOVER NEW CUSTOMERS!

This week's issue celebrates the pursuit of dreams with three examples.

One is freelance model Michael Aaron, the other is Wire Magazine's very own music writer Alfredo Barrios (aka DJ FR8-O or Fredo) and the third one is monster truck driver Tyler Menninga. Michael, Alfredo and Tyler have a passion for something and they decided to pursue it. For Michael, it led to freelance modelling, and a cover and cover story in this week's issue of Wire Magazine. For DJ FR8-O, it led to DJing and the celebration of his ten year anniversary as our music writer. DJ FR8-O has shared his passion for music with hundreds of thousands of people through the pages of Wire Magazine in print, digital issue, online, social media and our weekly email newsletter to our readers. For Tyler, it was becoming a professional monster truck driver at a very young age.

wiremag.com/advertising

EXPLORE NEW OPPORTUNITIES!

One of my favorite things to do as the publisher and editor in chief of Wire Magazine is telling the stories of people who can inspire us.

Thanks to our collaboration with great photographers like David Vance and Photo Studio Miami, we are able to discover people from all walks of life who have decided to model. Michael Aaron is a healthcare worker, originally from Connecticut, who now lives in New York City. You are able to meet him this week through the beautiful photography work of David and my interview of Michael about modeling, his interests, and life in general.

Ten years ago, Fredo was doing a little bit of writing on his own for fun when a friend suggested that he should do it professionally. Since he loves music so much, Fredo thought he could segue from playing it to writing about it. At about the same time, Fredo noticed that Wire Magazine did not have a music section, so he offered his services as a music columnist and has been writing Top Trax ever since. Thanks to the pursuit of his dream, thousands of people get to enjoy DJ FR8-O's Top Trax column, including myself. Fredo is an excellent writer, and I want to personally congratulate him on doing a great job as our music writer for a decade and for many more years to come!

Tyler Menninga grew up around motorsports and raced off-road trucks when he was young. "Being in Monster Jam has always been a dream of mine because I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in motorsports.

Driving for Monster Jam is as good as it gets," explained 21-year-old Tyler. In this week's Out & About, I interview Tyler regarding this year's Monster Jam at the BB&T Center and what it's like driving a monster truck. Tyler invites all Wire Magazine readers who love motorsports and the roar of big engines to come see him drive the famous Grave Digger monster truck.

Pursue your dreams. You never know when they may come true!

TM

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6 WIREMAG.COM #31 2018

UPCOMING DATES August 3 August 17 September 7 September 21 On the first and third Friday of every month, Frost Science fuses music from some of the greatest artists of our time with old-school laser light visuals—all under the Frost Planetarium’s 67-foot dome.

BUY TICKETS AT: frostscience.org/laserfridays

1101 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132 | 305-434-9600 | frostscience.org The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is supported by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners of Miami-Dade County. This project is supported by the Building Better Communities Bond Program and the City of Miami.

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and a member of the Association of Science and Technology Centers. Frost Science is an accessible facility. All contents ©Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. All rights reserved.

HOME CHEF

By Michael W. Sasser

EASY AND ELEGANT

DESSERTS PHOTO CREDIT: © DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM | BELCHONOCK

nce upon a time, planning a special meal for friends or families meant ample time invested in desserts. Whether our foodie culture, our more health-conscious sensibilities or other factors drove the focus to the savory courses, desserts became the thing that a bachelor guest might pick up at an ethnic or specialty baker; or that might be a bland add-on. One of the great dinner parties of my life fizzled when dessert ended up being "authentic" hot chocolate with lady fingers – from Publix.

8 WIREMAG.COM #31 2018

TAKE THE LEAD

Take an active role in your health.

Ask your doctor if an HIV medicine made by Gilead is right for you.

onepillchoices.com GILEAD and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc. © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. UNBC4606 06/17

A world of "no."

Staying easy, elegant and not horribly unhealthy doesn't take a lot of effort. It just takes some planning ahead and a few key ingredients.

Don't let your dinner party fizzle out at the end.

Instead, consider some of the following suggestions, or at least flavor profiles, to base a memorable dessert around which to revolve. Your guests will be thrilled you did.

• Peel and poach a pear until soft enough to easily slice with the side of a fork. For poaching substance, use a red wine or sparkling wine. Remove and place pear halves on ice to stop cooking. Assemble a dessert plate with a pear half, a tablespoon or two of soft goat cheese, a drizzle of honey and some crushed pistachios for texture.

Sophisticated but not fussy.

• Please prep for this dish by watching a YouTube video on how to flambee or otherwise cook with raw alcohol. Add cherry brandy to a deep pan and gradually raise temperature. Toss in two cups of good, seasonal cherries, stir to coat and then... light it up... carefully. Cook for a full minute or minuteand-a-half and then suppress flames. Pour out cherries in a dish and set aside. Then, assemble two cups sour cream, crème fraiche or Greek yogurt with two tablespoons of brown sugar and one cap-full of vanilla extract. Stir well. In red wine glasses, layer cherries and sauce mix all the way to the top. If you are lucky enough that your stems all make it this far, it's elegant and fun to eat. Either way, there are a few things to remember: use cherries in season from the U.S. for a few months, there are no better available. Now, the sauce. I knew a media hostess on Miami Beach years ago that could slide this sauce by anyone. It is the easiest thing on earth to make, it's delicious and you can alter the flavor with a different extract or similar additive.

• This next dish is so easy, that one of your friends has probably served it to you in a stripped down version. Clean and core a fresh pineapple and cut into rings. Season with brown sugar and a touch of cayenne pepper. Grill the slices until somewhere between browned and slightly charred, remove to plate. Top with shredded coconut, crushed macadamia nuts and a couple of cherries soaked overnight in rum. Personally, I like a half-moon of fresh ricotta to finish.

PHOTO LICENSED BY INGRAM IMAGE

I'm not a baker and am limited in the pastry and chocolate I can eat. When I want to serve an elegant dessert, I look to fruit most often. Consider:

How easy are those? I used to worry about dinner parties because I can't bake and didn't like leaving the burden of dessert on guests. So I found replacements – fruit... well, and a few other tricks I have picked up over the years.

Those are for another day.

Author/writer Michael W. Sasser has written on food and dining in South Florida and abroad for hundreds of publications, ranging from Where Miami and the Sun-Sentinel to Frommer's Fodor's, Time Out, Fresh Guides, Black Book NY and more.

10 WIREMAG.COM #31 2018

OUT & ABOUT

MONSTER JAM

ROARS BACK TO THE BB&T CENTER here is always something going on for everyone in South Florida. Last week, I invited my brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew, visiting from Costa Rica, to see Cirque du Soleil's CRYSTAL show at the BB&T Center. My nephew races go karts and is one of the top Costa Rican drivers in his age group. He also loves anything with an engine that roars. So when we saw that Monster Jam is returning to the BB&T Center, I decided to catch up with driver Tyler Menninga regarding this year's monster truck extravaganza as a preview for Wire Magazine readers who love motorsports.

Rafa Carvajal: Tell our readers about the upcoming Monster Jam return to the BB&T Center on August 11th and 12th.

Tyler Menninga: The Monster Jam return and dirt-debut to the BB&T Center is going to be awesome! If you haven't been to a Monster Jam show before, this is the one to go to. I'm interested to see the dirt in the arena for the first time. Plus, some of the best drivers in the series are going to be battling it out for the top spot!

12 WIREMAG.COM #31 2018

"NOTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD COMPARES TO DRIVING A MONSTER TRUCK. IT'S AN ADRENALINE KICK AND SUCH A RUSH." - TYLER MENNINGA

RC: What drew you to motorsports and how did you become one of Monster Jam's youngest drivers?

TM: I grew up around motorsports and raced off-road trucks when I was young. Being in Monster Jam has always been a dream of mine because I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in motorsports. Driving for Monster Jam is as good as it gets.

RC: What is it like driving a monster truck and what do you enjoy the most about it?

TM: Nothing else in the world compares to driving a monster truck. It's an adrenaline kick and such a rush. My favorite part is trying new moves and tricks that no one has ever seen before. It's such an amazing feeling when I pull those moves off.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FELD ENTERTAINMENT

By Rafa Carvajal

"FANS ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE FREESTYLE PORTION OF THE SHOW BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE DRIVERS ARE GOING TO DO!" - TYLER MENNINGA

RC: What is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to you driving a monster truck?

TM: The most exciting thing that has ever happened during my time with Monster Jam was making it to the finals two years in a row at the Monster Jam World Finals.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FELD ENTERTAINMENT

RC: What do fans love the most about Monster Jam competitions?

TM: Fans absolutely love the freestyle portion of the show because you never know what the drivers are going to do! Most drivers' favorite part about the Monster Jam competition is the freestyle too!

RC: Share with us something your fans don't know.

TM: Most of my fans probably don't know I'm a huge metal fan!

RC: Tell us about your background and the challenges you faced along the way to becoming a professional driver.

TM: My main background is off-road racing, which I started when I was seven years old.

My family was a huge influence for my early racing career, which eventually led into Monster Jam and I couldn't be happier with where I am today.

RC: Describe Monster Jam in three words.

TM: All out craziness!

RC: What is your favorite hobby? Besides driving.

TM: Enjoying a day out on the boat and jet skiing.

RC: What is your current struggle?

TM: Right now, my biggest struggle is trying to find new moves. I love to keep the fans on their toes and excited. I have some stuff up my sleeve and I can't wait to show everyone at the BB&T Center!

RC: Is there anything else you would like to share with Wire Magazine readers?

TM: Thanks for letting me share my answers with you so Monster Jam fans can get to know me better. I hope to see everyone at the BB&T Center on August 11th and 12th for Monster Jam!

#31 2018 WIREMAG.COM 13

MEET MODEL MICHAEL AARON THROUGH THE LENS OF DAVID VANCE

By Rafa Carvajal | Photos by David Vance. davidvanceprints.com

his week, we showcase freelance model and healthcare worker Michael Aaron and his sexy photos by renowned photographer David Vance. Michael is originally from Connecticut, the first U.S. state I lived in, when I attended the United States Coast Guard Academy.

I sat down with Michael to learn more about him, his background and his love of modeling.

Rafa Carvajal: Where are you originally from and where do you live?

Michael Aaron: I'm originally from Connecticut and I currently live in NYC. RC: Describe yourself in three words.

MA: Look up "Scorpio."

RC: What do you do for a living?

MA: I work in healthcare and I'm a freelance model on the side.

14 WIREMAG.COM #31 2018

"I EAT TONS OF FRUIT AND LOVE GOING TO THE GYM TO DE-STRESS." - MICHAEL AARON

#31 2018 WIREMAG.COM 15

16 WIREMAG.COM #31 2018

#31 2018 WIREMAG.COM 17

18 WIREMAG.COM #31 2018

"I LOVE THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION THAT COMES WITH MODELING." - MICHAEL AARON

RC: Who is the professional icon that inspires you most, and why?

MA: I honestly don't have a professional icon.

The people who inspire me most and encourage me to be the best version of myself are family members and close friends.

RC: How do you stay in such great shape?

MA: I eat tons of fruit and love going to the gym to de-stress. The gym is my therapy at the end of a long day.

RC: What do you enjoy the most about modeling for photography?

MA: I love the freedom of expression that comes with modeling. To me, modeling is like acting, conveying feeling. It's also a really cool way to meet some awesome people.

RC: Boxers or briefs?

MA: Briefs all the way. That support is key, haha.

RC: What is your favorite food?

MA: If I have to pick just one, I would say dark chocolate‌ but a really good thin crust NYC pizza is a close second.

RC: What is your favorite pastime?

MA: I really enjoy reading novels and writing short stories.

RC: Where would you travel if you could go anywhere, and why?

MA: I really want to travel to Italy. Everyone tells me that it's incredible. I hope to be there next year.

RC: What is your current struggle?

MA: At the moment, probably dating in the city.

RC: Is there anything else you would like to share with Wire Magazine readers?

MA: I'd love to thank David Vance for the opportunity to collaborate with him. He is truly talented and such a great guy. I couldn't be happier about these images.

#31 2018 WIREMAG.COM 19

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TOP TRAX

10 YEARS

CELEBRATING

By Rafa Carvajal

OF AMAZING MUSIC

ime flies when you are having fun! That is certainly the case with Alfredo Barrios' (aka DJ FR8-O) ten year tenure as Wire Magazine's music writer and his Top Trax music column. This week, I want to congratulate our beloved music writer extraordinaire on achieving this wonderful milestone and thank him for keeping us abreast of the latest and greatest in music for a decade. Thanks to DJ FR8-O's music insights and celebrity interviews, we can all jam to our favorite tunes, regardless of the occasion.

I sat down with DJ FR8-O to look back at how it all got started and why he enjoys writing about music so much.

RC: How did you first get into DJing?

DJF: It was completely by chance, if you can believe that. About 12 years ago, a friend of mine who is also a big music fan asked me to "DJ" for his birthday party at a popular South Beach bar called Buck 15. I had never been behind turntables before, so I had no idea how they worked. I got a 5-minute crash course on how to use the equipment from the manager just

22 WIREMAG.COM #31 2018

PHOTO BY XAVIER MORA PHOTOGRAPHY

Rafa Carvajal: How did you develop your passion for music?

DJ FR8-O: I guess I've always been passionate about music. As a kid, I'd listen to the radio almost nonstop. I knew every song by heart.

In high school, I was always the guy who was in charge of the music for impromptu house parties; using nothing more than cassette tapes and a home stereo system. When CDs arrived, I snatched them up left and right. Now, I download music almost every day. It's a sickness really.

"IT MAKES ME VERY PROUD TO KNOW THAT WIRE MAGAZINE STILL LOVES ME AND THAT PEOPLE STILL ENJOY READING MY COLUMN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS." - DJ FR8-O

before the party, and off I went. Once I got a taste of the crowd's reaction to what I was playing, I was hooked! After that, I became a regular DJ at Buck 15, started my own Saturday night party at The Albion Hotel, and eventually had residencies at TWIST, Score, Palace and Glitter Box. I also had appearances at a few other bars as well, at major events like Winter Party, Save Dade Halloween, Summerfest, Miami Beach Pride and Chicago Market Days. It's been a crazy ride!

"BY FAR, THE BEST PART OF THE JOB IS ALL OF THE RECORDING ARTISTS I'VE MET ALONG THE WAY." - DJ FR8-O

RC: How did you go from DJ to music columnist for Wire Magazine?

DJF: I was doing a little bit of writing on my own for fun when yet another friend suggested that I should do it professionally. Since I love music so much, I thought I could segue from playing it to writing about it. Around that time, I met Wire Magazine's then-publishers Carl Zablotny and Thomas Barker, and noticed that the magazine didn't have a music section. So, I offered my services as a music columnist. I submitted a sample article for them to review and I've been writing Top Trax ever since.

RC: How does it feel to reach the 10 year anniversary as Wire Magazine's music columnist?

DJF: It feels unreal! When I started Top Trax, I never imagined I'd be doing it for this long. I just figured I'd enjoy it until I got cancelled, ha-ha. It makes me very proud to know that Wire Magazine still loves me and that people still enjoy reading my column after all these years.

RC: What do you enjoy the most about writing Top Trax for Wire Magazine?

DJF: By far, the best part of the job is all of the recording artists I've met along the way – from some of my childhood idols to DJs that inspire me to emerging artists who've become some of my faves. Even after all this time, it still feels surreal to hear them casually tell me their stories, share some laughs with them or see their faces light up when we meet in person. Some of them I still keep in touch with, and one even put me in her music video.

RC: How do you choose the topics you write about?

DJF: It's different every week. Much like when I DJ, I choose my topics very spontaneously. It could be a new artist I recently discovered, or an album that just got released, or someone who is performing in town that week. Sometimes, I like to break it up and do a list of my favorite tracks at the moment, but I always try to keep it fun and interesting.

RC: How do you stay current about music and what to write about?

DJF: I work with a few PR agencies that send me press releases pretty much daily. That's usually how I find out about emerging artists, concerts and album releases. Other times, I just stumble onto things while I'm online searching for new music for my personal library.

Photo by Xavier Mora Photography

RC: Who was the first artist you interviewed, and what was it like?

DJF: Oh, he's going to kill me! It was a South Beach bartender named Howard Tonkin, who was launching his music career at the time. I was really focused on featuring local talent, so I reached out to as many local DJs and recording artists as I could and asked them if they would be interested in being interviewed. I knew there was so much great talent right in our own backyard that deserved to be heard, and I wanted to help get the word out.

RC: Who has been your favorite person to interview, and why?

DJF: There are so many great ones! It's hard to pick just one. They're all special in their own way because the stories they shared brought a whole new perspective to their music. Kristine W was my first international artist, and her story of survival is incredibly inspiring. Cyndi Lauper was my first legend, and she's done so much for the LGBTQ community. Sophie-Ellis Bextor was just hilarious, we could've talked all day.

Calum Scott was simply dreamy and an absolute sweetheart! Some of the fringe artists like Wrabel, Dragonette, St Lucia, Lauv and Sofi Tukker were very down to earth too, but I guess the one that really made my inner fanboy scream was Gloria Estefan. As a Cuban Miami guy, how could I not be in heaven? #31 2018 WIREMAG.COM 23

RC: Who is still on your wish list to interview, and why?

DJF: Oh, top of the list is Kylie Minogue, for sure. Her songs have always resonated with me since my 20s. I can't tell you how many times I've belted out her anthems in the car, the shower and, of course, the dance floor. Lady Gaga would be a close second, and I would be a very bad gay writer if I didn't include Madonna on that list too. She's got a lot of stories to tell, I'm sure!

RC: What constitutes as a "good" album to you?

DJF: Well, it's different for every album. I don't think it's fair to review a pop album the same way you would a rock album, or a hip-hop album the same way you would a dance music album. So, I do my best to be objective, even if it's an artist I don't particularly care for. In the end, if they take risks, they don't just "phone it in" and the songs stick in my head for days, then I consider it a great album.

RC: How has writing Top Trax influenced your DJing, and vice versa?

DJF: Through Top Trax, I've discovered tons of new music and artists that I may not have come across otherwise. Whenever possible, I like to share my discoveries by featuring those artists in my DJ sets. In reverse, sometimes I find some really great music for my sets that inspires me to write about that artist in a future article or feature their song in one of my Top Trax faves lists.

RC: Is there anything else you'd like to share with Wire Magazine readers?

DJF: Thank you so much for the most amazing ten years!

I look forward to bringing you more great music and interviews for another ten.

TM

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Savings with 2 year price guarantee with AT120 starting at $59.99 compared to everyday price. All offers require credit qualification, 2 year commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/ Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification. Fees apply for additional TVs: Hopper $15/mo., Joey $5/mo., Super Joey $10/mo.

1-855-631-6426 Se Habla Español Call 7 days a week 8am - 11pm EST

Offer for new and qualifying former customers only. Important Terms and Conditions: Qualification: Advertised price requires credit qualification and eAutoPay. Upfront activation and/or receiver upgrade fees may apply based on credit qualification. Offer ends 7/11/18.

2-Year Commitment: Early termination fee of $20/mo. remaining applies if you cancel early. Included in 2-year price guarantee at $59.99 advertised price: America's Top 120 programming package, local channels, HD service fees, and Hopper Duo for 1 TV. Included in 2-year price guarantee for additional cost: Programming package upgrades ($69.99 for AT120+, $79.99 for AT200, $89.99 for AT250), monthly fees for upgraded or additional receivers ($5-$7 per additional TV, receivers with additional functionality may be $10-$15). NOT included in 2-year price guarantee or advertised price (and subject to change): Taxes & surcharges, add-on programming (including premium channels), DISH Protect, and transactional fees. Premium Channels: 3 Mos. Free: After 3 mos., you will be billed $55/mo. for HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and DISH Movie Pack unless you call to cancel. Other: All packages, programming, features, and functionality and all prices and fees not included in price lock are subject to change without notice. After 6 mos., if selected you will be billed $8.99/mo. for DISH Protect Silver unless you call to cancel. After 2 years, then-current everyday prices for all services apply. For business customers, additional monthly fees may apply. Free standard professional installation only. HBO®, Cinemax® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. SHOWTIME is a registered trademark of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS Company. STARZ and related channels and service marks are property of Starz Entertainment, LLC. All new customers are subject to a one-time, nonrefundable processing fee.

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