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This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 24.2019

By Rafa Carvajal | Photos provided by General Motors

The 2020 Stingray Corvette is Chevrolet’s first-ever mid-engine Corvette and the fastest, most powerful entry one. It delivers new levels of performance, technology, craftsmanship and luxury. The new mid-engine layout gives the 2020 Stingray better weight distribution, and better responsiveness and sense of control with the driver positioning closer to the front axle. It also delivers the fastest 0-60 time of any entry Corvette ever – under three seconds when equipped with the Z51 Performance Package. The Stingray sports a 6.2L Small Block V-8 LT2 engine that produces 495 horsepower of torque when equipped with performance exhaust, which is the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette. The 2020 Stingray’s canopy forward stance was actually inspired by the F22s, F35s and other modern fighter jets and Formula One racing, with a cockpit that envelops the driver to match its high performance and aeronautic theme. With Stingray’s center of gravity placed close to the driver’s inside hip, this sports car literally turns around the driver, so it completely changes the perception of vehicle handling and responsiveness. It also has dual trunks with a total of 12.6 cubic feet of cargo volume that can provide you storage for luggage or even two sets of golf clubs. Priced from $59,995.

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Digital Issue 5.2020

By Alyn Darnay

Quarantining yourself during the COVID-19 outbreak is unnerving, challenging, and downright boring. Yes, there are things you can do to occupy the endless hours, games to play, friends to connect with online, things to write, and, of course, books and magazines to read. You can also drink, cook and eat food, walk your rooms endlessly, or clean obsessively. There you go, lots of things to do to pass the time with.

Oh, did I forget to mention there are also some decent films to watch? Shame on me! There are some you know, but even better than that, there are some really great films available to stream, movies that are so good they are a reward in themselves just to watch. Films that will suck you in so absorbingly that you’ll lose yourself in them for a couple of hours.

Here in part one, I’ve outlined some of them for you, they are all available on one or more of the streaming services or on YouTube. Some are three-hour popcorn fests, some are trilogies, some are visually beautiful, others have great stories, all are worthy of the time you put in watching. So here we go:

Director David Lean Trilogy

Lawrence of Arabia: (3 hrs. 48 mins.) The true story of T.E. Lawrence, and how he single-handedly united and led the Arab Tribes against the Turks in WWI.

Bridge on the River Kwai: (2 hrs. 41 mins.) Another true story, this one about British POW’s building a railway bridge in the jungle, and the men assigned to destroy it.

Doctor Zhivago:  (3 hrs. 17 mins.) The adventures of a Russian doctor/poet during WWI and the October Revolution.

James Dean Trilogy

Giant: (3 hrs. 21 mins.) The epic tale of a Texas cattle rancher, his wife, a ranch hand, and all his friends as the decades change their lives. Director George Stevens

East of Eden: A Cain vs. Abel tale about a young man’s attempt to gain his strict father’s approval while trying to find his place in the world amid falling in love with his brother’s girlfriend. Director Elia Kazan.

Rebel Without A Cause: A rebellious young man finds friends and enemies when his family moves to a new town. Director Nicholas Ray.

Quentin Tarantino Writing Trilogy

Four Rooms: Four separate tales by five directors that all take place in a fading Hollywood hotel during New Year’s Eve.

True Romance: Movie geek marries call girl, steals cocaine, and tries to sell it in Hollywood while the mob chases them. Director Tony Scott.

From Dusk Till Dawn: Two thieves and their hostages unknowingly take refuge in a ‘south of the border’ truck stop inhabited by Vampires. Director Robert Rodriguez.

Two from Director Tom Tykwer

Run Lola Run: After her boyfriend botches a money delivery, Lola has 20 minutes to raise and return the money to save him. This movie will constantly surprise you!

Winter Sleepers: A small town, a man out for revenge, a young couple dealing with life’s problems, and the most exquisite cinematography, make for a most unusual winter tale.

Trois Couleurs (Three Colors) Trilogy from Director Krzysztof Kieslowski

Blue: A woman struggles to understand life after the death of her famous music composer husband and their daughter.

White: A divorced Polish immigrant plots to get even with his ex-wife.

Red: A fashion model stumbles on a retired judge who invades the privacy of others.

There’s something for everyone in this collection of films. I hope they help make your quarantine a little less tense. I’ll follow up soon with a list of lighter films that you might have missed over the years. Stay safe and healthy!

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Digital Issue 2.2020

By Alyn Darnay

Directed by: Stephen Gaghan Screenplay by: Stephen Gaghan, Dan Gregor, Doug Mand

Live Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Jim Broadbent, Jessie Buckley, Harry Collett. Voice Cast: Remi Malek, Octavia Spencer, Kumail Nanjiani, John Cena, Emma Thompson, Tom Holland, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez

When I was a boy, lad, young child, I was fascinated by an old black and white film I saw on TV called Treasure Island. It exposed me to everything I knew nothing about, a dangerous sea voyage, nasty pirates, the hunt for treasure, and a resolution in doubt. I was so impressed by it that I still remember the impact it had on me to this day. Dolittle achieves that same impact utilizing modern effects and featuring an enduring character as memorable as Long John Silver. 

I know that audiences today are more jaded than during my youth, having already been exposed to films like the Pirates Of The Caribbean, The Avengers movies, and even the rash of animated films starring talking animals. Even still, any young child who sees Dolittle will be fascinated by all the elements in it, and that goes for we adults as well. It’s loaded with family-style humor, abundant action, and it delivers believable animation that smoothly floats the storyline along.

Just so you know, this is not a continuation of the Eddie Murphy comedy films about the same character, or any of the sequels with Kyla Pratt, or even the one way-back-when starring Rex Harrison; it’s instead a pure adventure story from another era. 

Here’s the storyline… 

In young Queen Victoria’s England, eccentric doctor and famed veterinarian Dr. John Dolittle (Downey Jr.) has locked himself away from the world in his vast manor house following the death of his beloved wife seven years ago. He lives there with a unique menagerie of talking animals consisting of a fearful gorilla (Malek), a bird-brained duck (Spencer), a sarcastic ostrich (Nanjiani), an upbeat polar bear (John Cena), and a pig-headed parrot (Thompson). 

When the young Queen (Buckley) suddenly falls deathly ill, Dolittle is called in to find a cure for her sickness. It turns out that the antidote lies on a mythical island across a forbidden sea filled with old adversaries and strange creatures. So, the adventure begins, off he goes with his young apprentice (Collett) and his entourage of animals in search of the fabled cure.

Once you get past the strange accent Robert Downey Jr. chose to use in the film, you’ll find the child in you falling right into the story. Absurd? Yes. Contrived? Yes. Fun? Absolutely! Funny? You bet! It’s also an interesting game putting the animal’s voices with the actual actors voicing the roles. Truth is, if I had a seven-year-old child right now, you’d find us in line at a theater buying tickets to see Dolittle on the big screen.

My take… packed with comedy, action, and animation, Dolittle is a rousing good time for the whole family. Go see it.

Dolittle Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)  Rated: PG (for some action, rude humor and brief language) Running Time: 1 hour and 41 minutes

By Rafa Carvajal 

This year's 19th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival, also known as SOBEWFF, will take place February 19-23, 2020, presented by Capital One. I always enjoy joining celebrity chefs, culinary personalities, winemakers, spirits producers, and thousands of fellow foodies at the Festival. The 2020 SOBEWFF will include more than 100 events across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. In this issue, we also preview the chefs attending SOBEWFF, as well as some of the best events, including Festival favorites, brand new events, and the CRAVE Greater Fort Lauderdale Series presented by My Fort Lauderdale Beach. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit sobewff.org. You can also stay up to date by following the #SOBEWFF on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and by visiting wiremag.com/free for a free subscription to Wire Magazine, so you can download our digital issue into your computer, tablet or mobile phone.

SOBEWFF's mission is to "Eat. Drink. Educate." and the Festival does so by supporting the education of future leaders of the hospitality industry at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University. To date, the Festival has raised over $30 million. To gain some insights and preview this year's SOBEWFF, Wire Magazine sat down with Chef Zac Young, one of the Top Ten Pastry Chefs in America by Dessert Professional. Check out what Zac what to say and learn about his culinary skills. Furthermore, find out which Festival events Zac will be partaking in, and learn what he is looking forward to the most about this year's SOBEWFF.

Rafa Carvajal: Why did you decide to become a pastry chef? Zack Young: I was an art-centric kid. I loved pottery, dance, music, theater. I was also shockingly strong in science and math. All of my strengths and interests collide in pastry, which is all about creativity within the confines of science. I also wanted a job where I could wear pajama pants to work.

RC: What is the best part of what you do for a living? ZY: Watching people's reactions and connections to what we make. Pastry is much more emotionally evocative than savory food. I love playing with people's sensory memories. A riff on peanut butter and jelly, an updated classic recipe from my grandmother, or a cocktail inspired dessert. Watching people smile, laugh, and cry when they see and experience a dessert brings me great joy.

RC: What are you looking forward to the most about this year's SOBEWFF? ZY: Seeing my friends and colleagues! Not just to let loose and throw back some mojitos, but to also see what everyone else is serving. The food world is so generous, there are no "secret recipes," I always get inspired by new ideas and techniques.

RC: What event(s) are you participating in during this year's Festival? ZY: Goldbelly presents Sweets & Beats and Fontainebleau Miami Beach presents Wine Spectator's Best of the Best.

RC: Tell our readers about those event(s). ZY: Sweets & Beats is the best late-night fiesta in South Beach, featuring some of my favorite pastry people and friends like Jacques Torres, Hedy Goldsmith and Buddy Valastro. At Best of The Best, you get 60 acclaimed chefs from around the country and 100 wines, which scored over 90 from Wine Spectator. This is like some fancy, luxurious wining and dining.

RC: Why do you think the SOBEWFF has become so popular with chefs, TV personalities and attendees? ZY: I live in New York, so South Beach in the winter is a dream. But, the name really says it all: South Beach Wine and Food Festival. I'm sold!

RC: What culinary ventures are you focusing on these days? ZY: My partnership with Goldbelly, which is an amazing online marketplace that you can get iconic foods from notable eateries all over the country shipped right to your door. I started shipping our original Thanksgiving PieCaken with them years ago, and have now expanded to include more holiday offerings throughout the year. Up next is the PassCaken, our PieCaken for Passover.

RC: Is there anything else you would like to share with Wire Magazine readers about yourself or SOBEWFF? ZY: If you can't find me, I'll be by the pool with a glass of sparkling rosé.

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 3.2020