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Cover photo by Photo Studio Miami Instagram: @PhotoStudioMiami
Jorge Freire @jorgino29official & Abel Cruz @abel4all Model: Mattitude
PUBLISHER’S CORNER 250 YEARS OF OUR NATION’S HISTORY
As we gather this July 4th to celebrate our United States 250th anniversary, we are reminded that our nation’s story is one of both dreams and progress. For two and a half centuries, the United States has been guided by the revolutionary belief that all people are created equal and deserve the opportunity to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.
While our founding fathers did not envision every challenge future generations would face, they established a framework built on the principles of freedom, justice, and individual rights. Over time, Americans have expanded the promise of those ideals, working to ensure that more voices are heard and more communities are protected under the law. For members of our LGBTQ community, the journey toward equality has been marked by difficulties, courage, resilience, and determination. From the fight for basic dignity and acceptance to the hard-won victories in marriage equality, workplace protections, and representation, progress has been achieved because individuals and allies refuse to accept exclusion as the final word.
While commemorating our nation’s 250th birthday, we must also recognize that the work of protecting freedom is never complete – especially for our community. The rights we enjoy today can only endure when we remain engaged, informed, and committed to defending them. Equality is not a destination; it is an ongoing fight and responsibility shared by every generation.
This Independence Day, let us celebrate both our nation’s history and its capacity to grow stronger through inclusion. Let us honor those who came before us by continuing to champion a society where every person regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, faith, or background must live openly, safely, and authentically. The American experiment has always been about achieving dreams and fighting for liberty. We must continue that work, ensuring that the promise of freedom truly belongs to all of us.
In this issue, we celebrate Independence Day with some special model photos by Photo Studio Miami. Sexy Rides previews the new 2027 INFINITI QX65. Dining Delicious includes a delectable Orange Shrimp Quinoa Bowls recipe. Out & About showcases my exciting visit and private animal encounter at Jungle Island, and our photo album is from the Arsht Center Pride CommuniTea Dance 2026.
Happy Independence Day, and Happy 250th Anniversary to our United States!
Rafa Carvajal Publisher & Editor in Chief rafa@wiremag.com
Why you need dental insurance in retirement.
Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, through employer-provided benefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to put off or even go without care.
Simply put — without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.
When you’re comparing plans ...
Look for coverage that helps pay for major services. Some plans may limit the number of procedures — or pay for preventive care only.
Look for coverage with no deductibles. Some plans may require you to pay hundreds out of pocket before benefits are paid.
Shop for coverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.
Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1
That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meant to cover everything. That means if you want protection, you need to purchase individual insurance.
Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones.
The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.
Previous dental work can wear out.
Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2
Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 often need.
Consider these national average costs of treatment ... $274 for a checkup ... $299 for a filling ... $1,471 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.
1 “Medicare & You,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2025. 2 “Aging changes in teeth and gums”, medlineplus.gov, 4/17/2022. 3 FairHealth, Inc. National average dental fees. Data current as of July 2025; subject to change.
Insurance
Inc.
“Absolutely love”
“I
absolutely love my dental insurance. My dental office files the claims, leaving me with very little balance to pay.”
Dorothy P., TN
By Rafa Carvajal
THE ALL-NEW 2027 INFINITI QX65 SEXY RIDES
The all-new 2027 INFINITI QX65 blends a sporty fastback design with luxurious interior, and spirited, satisfying performance. This new two-row midsize luxury SUV features a Variable Compression Turbo (VC-Turbo) engine delivering 268 horsepower and 286 lb-ft of torque, paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain has been uniquely tuned for responsive, confident acceleration with bold torque delivery, and a sportier, more aggressive shift schedule, that delivers decisive off-the-line performance and powerful merging capability. QX65 also features Active Noise Cancellation and Active Sound Enhancement similar to noisecancelling headphones. Its standard Intelligent All-Wheel Drive also provides you confident traction in all types of road conditions.
The QX65 includes several standard safety and driver assistance technologies, including Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Blind Spot Intervention, Lane Departure Prevention, High Beam Assist, rear parking sensors and ProPILOT Assist. Optional features include Smart Rear View Mirror and a 10.8-inch color head-up display. The QX65 SPORT and AUTOGRAPH models include several innovative camera features, including 3D Around View® Monitor, Front Wide View and Invisible Hood View with advanced image processing to see more of the vehicle’s surroundings, making parking, driving busy city streets and tight maneuvers easier to handle.
The QX65 also has powerful technology for staying connected, informed and entertained, including standard dual 12.3-inch displays on all models, one for the reconfigurable instrument cluster, and one for the infotainment system, with Google built-
in, including Google Assistant, and standard wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ paired with a Qi2-standard wireless charging pad. Two available Klipsch® premium audio systems can deliver immersive, powerful sound. QX65 SPORT has a 16-speaker Klipsch Premium system with 600 watts of power, an 8-inch TriPower® subwoofer and 1-inch titanium dome tweeters, and QX65 AUTOGRAPH has a 20-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere system with 1,200 watts of power. The AUTOGRAPH also features Individual Audio, which uses headrest speakers for the driver and front passenger to specifically target music or phone conversations to different occupants. The INFINITI QX65 arrives at U.S. retailers early summer 2026 with a MSRP starting at $53,990.
Photos provided by INFINITI Motor Company
“We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
- The Declaration of Independence, 1776
By Rafa Carvajal
Instagram @rafa_carvajal
Photos by Photo Studio Miami Instagram @PhotoStudioMiami
Jorge Freire @jorgino29official & Abel Cruz @abel4all
“America is known as a country that welcomes people to its shores. All kinds of people.”
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“ The American flag represents all of us and all the values we hold sacred.”
- Adrian Cronauer
“I’d like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free and wanted other people to be also free.”
-
Rosa Parks
“You never completely have your rights, one person, until you all have your rights.”
- Marsha P. Johnson
“There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured with what is right in America.”
- Bill Clinton
DINING DELICIOUS
By
A BOWL FULL OF FLAVOR
If you’re looking for a dinner or lunch combination that is wholesome, filling and, of course, easy, you’re not alone. Meal prepping is a popular trend for many people (and families) who are working on healthy eating habits but are constantly on the go.
No matter if you’re searching for a healthy family dinner, a quick lunch at home or an easy idea to meal prep for the week ahead, this Orange Shrimp Quinoa Bowl is perfect for seafood lovers who also enjoy a hint of spice. It’s fresh, healthy and full of deliciously prepared shrimp and veggies, including mushrooms, peppers and cucumbers.
The sauce is light and has a sweet yet spicy vibe. Everything rests over one cup of steamy quinoa – a filling base that also serves as an easy way to add some healthy grains to your diet. Visit wiremag.com/issue06dd to watch a video of how to make this recipe and find more wholesome and healthy recipes at Culinary.net.
Orange Shrimp Quinoa Bowls Recipe (Serves 2):
1 cup quinoa
1 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon soy sauce
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon white miso
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 pounds shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 cucumber, sliced into half moons
5 green onions, sliced
1 avocado, sliced
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
Cook quinoa according to package instructions. Set aside. In medium bowl, whisk together orange juice, hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, vegetable oil, lime juice and miso until combined. Pour one-quarter of this sauce into a separate bowl. Set aside. Add shrimp to remaining mixture and marinate 15 minutes. Heat large skillet over medium heat with butter. Add shrimp, salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes on each side until pink. Add mushrooms and cook until tender. In two serving bowls, divide quinoa, bell pepper, cucumber, onions, avocado and shrimp. Sprinkle sesame seeds and cilantro over both bowls. Drizzle the bowls with the remaining sauce.
Photos Provided by Culinary.net & Feature Impact
Culinary.net. Feature Impact
OUT & ABOUT
By Rafa Carvajal
DISCOVER JUNGLE ISLAND ADVENTURES AND PRIVATE ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
Miami offers a plethora of things to do. But some places have been part of our lives since we were kids. That is the case with Jungle Island, so I recently decide to celebrate Timothy’s twelve birthday by experiencing a local adventure and private animal encounter at this famous Miami family-friendly entertainment and outdoor adventure destination that has been entertaining visitors since it was opened in 1936. I first visited the park when I was a ten-year old boy with my family and have the iconic photo posing with vibrantly colored macaws and cockatoos perched directly on my arms and shoulders.
During our recent visit, we really enjoyed the lush tropical landscapes, beautiful animals, our private animal encounter, and watching other guests pursuing their Treetop Trekking Miami adventures. It was fun and relaxing to take a leisurely stroll through Jungle Island’s shaded pathways, Everglades habitat, and into the Manu aviary to visit vibrantly colored macaws and cockatoos, and turtles up close. We also loved Jungle Island’s Guardians of the Jungle regularly held animal show. It was very entertaining to see all the animals at close range, and we learned some very interesting lessons about
wildlife preservation. It was particularly exciting to experience the stunning owl flying over our heads, since I love seeing owls in the wild at the farm I visit in Defuniak Springs, Florida to enjoy time off several times a year.
Booking a private animal encounter was the highlight of our visit as Timothy, Kim and I loved meeting, interacting with, and feeding the two giant Aldabra tortoises, while our guide shared fascinating facts with us about the most ancient and massive animals at Jungle Island. Aldabra giant tortoises are native to Aldabra Atoll of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. These magnificent reptiles are among the largest tortoises in the world, with some adults weighing over 500 pounds. Giant tortoises once lived across many Indian Ocean islands, including Madagascar and the Mascarenes, but sadly most of them were driven to extinction from hunting and exploitation by sailors. The Aldabra tortoises survived because of their remote location. These enormous tortoises are famous for their
Photos Courtesy of Jungle Island
Photo by Rafa Carvajal
long lives because they often live well over 100 years, and some of them are believed to reach ages close to 200 years.
As explained by Jungle Island President & CEO Jeremy Hauwelaert, “Every visit is an adventure unlike any other. From our unique aerial adventure experiences, exciting events, to up-close animal encounters, we offer a world of exploration that you won't find anywhere else in South Florida.” Jungle Island’s original owner Franz Scherr opened it as Parrot Jungle 90 years ago as a place where birds could fly free. This world-famous South Florida attraction has changed a lot over the years, including moving to its current location on Watson Island in 2003 and expanding to offer a wider array of adventures. Fans may remember Pinky, the high-wire bicycle riding cockatoo, and the park’s world-famous pink flamingos, who starred in the opening credits of the hit 80's TV series Miami Vice. Jungle Island has also hosted numerous illustrious visitors, including Sir Winston Churchill.
Jungle Island offers a variety of seasonal events such as the Luminosa festival of lights and Halloween Horrorland, providing new and exciting opportunities for returning guests. I have also attended gala dinners and fundraisers at the park, where indoor and outdoor spaces are used by corporations and institutions to host memorable events. Plan your next Jungle Island adventure, seasonal event visit, family day out, or special event soon. The park is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4 p.m. Visit jungleisland.com for more information about Jungle Island and the different private animal encounters, and to purchase your tickets.
Photos by Rafa Carvajal
ARSHT
Photos by Morgan Sophia Photography. Courtesy of Arsht Center
