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FOR A WILDER MITM IT’S ALL ABOUT AMY IS CAB A TAXI? Can you drink a taxi? Let’s talk Cabernet Shall we? AND AS ALWAYS, BEAUTY IN ABUNDANCE r e d l i W Y M A OUR CAST OF CHARACTERS Who’s Who in the Zoo David Mecey – Founder/Publisher (Former staff photographer-Playboy) Writer, Photographer, Driver. The man whose ‘near-name’ sits atop this magazine David brings what he did for that iconic publication to Mecé Magazine. Similar, yet different. David’s wish, to add a contemporary, sophisticated feel to the photography while upholding the highest standards for the art. For those yearning to know, also sharing how it’s done. Kenji Kita – Art Director-Web Designer – Kenji is not only the behind-the-scenes guy with the website/digital magazine, he’s also behind the camera himself since his teenage years, first as a hobby, now as a professional. He brings a background of corporate IT along with a myriad other talents to Mecé Magazine. Working in enterprise IT for close to 20 years in several varying industries, he brings website creation knowledge, with infrastructure design to create cutting-edge digital content, while also giving the magazine it’s new look. Hal Schmitt – Food & Beverage Editor, call sign, ‘Bull’. Former Navy Top Gun pilot-instructor. It was Hal who convinced David he needed to bring out a magazine containing beautiful photography of beautiful women. A more mellow Hal is himself a gifted photographer and serious master of Photoshop, teaching both for years at his own studio, Light Workshops. Hal will make sure things are in order by lending stories about his latest passion, wine, and food. Yes, the man makes his own wine, incredible vintages that are growing more in popularity each new season. Lou Maggio – Travel Editor - Producer, entrepreneur, longtime friend of David. Having once owned his own modeling agency in Florida, where he met David, he has always had his finger on the pulse of knowing and working with beautiful and talented women. After giving up on the agency life, he worked as director of photography for Florida-based, VENUS swimwear for several years, traveling throughout Florida and the Caribbean on various photo shoots. Since leaving VENUS, he now works as a producer creating movies and TV shows with several produced, with others in current development. Murphy’s Law Review – Entertainment Editor - Our man, A. Murphy, is a Las Vegas native with a penchant for all things intriguing and interesting, that incite his curiosity. He will be talking about a lot of subjects, with movies #1 on the list. Watch for his reviews going forward in Mecé. Jeany Zhao – Automotive Editor - Jeany is one of the hottest looking car enthusiasts you’ll ever meet! But a serious one, so don’t let those looks fool you. Working with IMSA at races while also being a writer herself, she’s been published in the Porsche magazine, EXCELLENCE, and so much more. Entrepreneur is a best description, as she’s juggling several businesses constantly, while always finding time to exercise her cars at nearby racetracks. Jeany will be dropping by and sharing a few of her stories about cars and her involvement in motorsports, so keep an eye peeled for her. Guest Artists – Makeup Artists/Stylists. When the magazine’s idea began to form, David wanted a way for beauty and skincare secrets be a part of the publication. With that, we will be offering a chance for various makeup artists, stylists, and industry leaders a place to share their expertise into the world of beauty and skincare products for the readers. Submissions – Writers, Photographers, Models. On occasion we will have writers drop by with something to say about anything and everything. As well, photographers and models who meet the standard and fit the look of Mecé magazine into their work, have the opportunity to be published. Names and a bit about each will appear here. 3 2 2 6 0 E U S S A Letter from the Publisher I Welcome to Mecé magazine! Editorial Staff As a photographer, most of my career was all about photographing women for Playboy. Publisher/Editor-in Chief David Mecey ([email protected]) I worked for the magazine as a staff photographer for well over two decades. I was all about the “Rabbit;” I walked it, talked it, lived it, but most of all, photographed it during those years Hef was at the helm. Art Director Kenji Kita ([email protected]) We feel that classic style of photographing beautiful women in sexy light fading away. Even the models known as Angels are no more. We are creating a place where this artform can flourish. A place to celebrate women’s beauty, both inside and out, along Food & Beverage Editors with their necessity in this world. Hal Schmitt ([email protected]) It seems as if society’s mad dash towards equality has more to do with reducing the talents, accomplishments, and natural gifts Travel Editor of select people than empowering and encouraging people to thrive using their unique talents. Instead of convincing people Lou Maggio to downplay their natural gifts to seem more accepting, we challenge all of society to celebrate the differences. We want to emphasize the strengths in people while minimizing their weaknesses. Entertainment Editor With Mecé Magazine, we intend to bring back a taste of that classic look, allowing women to be as proud of how incredible A. Murphy they look as well as shining symbols of intelligence. A contemporary feel, yet with touches of the classic style men and women have loved for so many years, to readers of a younger generation who will also revel in the lifestyle our magazine offers. Automotive Editor Jeany Zhao Lighting and refining my photography to reflect the model’s beauty and personality have always been my signature trademarks. Whether you are a longtime fan or growing enthusiast, I look forward to sharing all my experience and talent Circulation - Ian Branson with you at Mecé magazine. In addition to the gorgeous photographs, we will be sharing articles about lifestyle interests such as beauty products, food, wine, travel, all types of tech, automobiles, and yes, tips on photography. Even some magic thrown into the mix here and there. We will introduce you to a luxury lifestyle and give you tools and information that will help you be a part of that scene. Our goal is to inspire our readers to live life better while having fun, an important element. We will always strive to provide consistent and compelling content to our readers. Let us begin with one key acronym I want to announce: M.I.T.M! Welcome to Mecé magazine’s “Model in the Middle”, the photograph that will be the only image stretching edge to edge, 11” x 22”, in our magazine. This is the highest honor we can bestow on one of our models, the one who represents all we are at Mecé magazine. She must demonstrate natural beauty, yes, but also a dedication to community, and for making a better world About the Cover in which we live. Our cover, we hope, In closing, we would like to extend an invitation to models and photographers who are interested in being a part of our vision brings you back to to contact us. If you are interested in joining us, look for the link and submission guidelines on our website. another time when magazines had covers We invite you to open our pages, look around at the beauty and articles we offer. with beautiful models looking sexy, gorgeous Cheers! and fun. Let’s all begin our chant today; Amy, Amy, Amy Follow Mecé Magazine on Photography: David Mecey FB: MeceMagazine Shot on location: Hedonism II Negril Jamaica IG: MeceMag Mecé Magazine is published monthly by Mecé Magazine, Inc, 10300 W. Charleston Blvd, Ste. 13-457, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89135, all rights reserved. You may not copy or reproduce any articles, photos, videos, or any content contained within Mecé Magazine without prior written consent from the publisher. Not all opinions, commentary or editorial content necessarily reflect the opinions of our magazine. 4 June! It’s Summertime, Baby! Summer means sun & fun, which means bikinis, shorts, and all kinds of sexy garments for women. To us, summer is the best time of year, not only due to those perks it brings but all that glorious warmth. We’re not sure how you feel, but we don’t like being cold! So, to help warm things up let’s share what we have for June. To begin, let’s talk about our opening pictorial, a seriously sexy young woman by the name of Chloee Dietz. David captured her at a photo gathering back in 2020, yep during the summer. But no better time to share it than in the summer of 2022! Our travel feature this month lies closer to home. It’s about a place that was discovered by the Spaniards some 250 years ago for its gold and silver. Now a tourist spot that seems to be the place photographers with inside information gravitate to when visiting Sin City. David shares some facts about it along with some photos to show how it could be a fun location for photoshoots while on vacation, or otherwise. Check out our feature on Nelson Ghost Town. Of course, there’s another lovely gracing our pages this month, this one, all the way from Charleston, South Carolina. Leslie Ann Starnes shows how you can be sexy while wearing just a top, or a dress in a studio shoot by David. We’re excited to add another fun aspect to our magazine, someone who can give us insights and reviews on all manner of things. Starting this month with movies, our man Murphy will share his thoughts in Murphy’s Law Review each month. Then, of course, there is our June Model in the Middle. You thought we forgot? Please… It’s an oh-so-sexy photoshoot done in sunny Jamaica with David photographing Atlanta-based model, Amy Wilder. She shines in lingerie, and less, so be sure to look in the Middle for all things Amy. Our foodie fighter pilot Hal has another stellar article, this one on wine for us. So, sit back, grab a glass, then join him (and us) for all things Cabernet. You say you want more beauty? Well, who are we to say no? Look no further than the pictorial on one stunning model, Sara Stokes. David had the honor to work with her more than once, with this being their very first session together. Be watching for something more in the future as she’s beyond gorgeous in everything they did. As you know, we always end with another excerpt from the life of David, with this month being no exception. He regales us about his love of all things cars and how it’s been a part of him since his youth. And how it has grown into becoming a second career in this month’s, A Loving Look Back. We love how you’ve been enjoying our new magazine, so please keep it up. But do us a huge favor, please? Tell all your friends to look us up and buy a copy, we would so appreciate it. Now, how about some summertime fun… The Editors 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS 8 24 14 8 ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK Part of David’s other life is working as a writer-photographer for the Porsche magazine, 22 IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CABS Excellence. Enjoy this article he wrote and For a wine aficionado, it’s often all about photographed. Cabernet. Our man Hal shares the skinny about all that’s special about this red wine. 12 PHOTOGRAPHS OF NOLA Another photographer shares his skills with Mecé, with his images of NOLA street scenes. 24 NELSON GHOST TOWN Spaniards discovered gold and silver near this spot 250 years ago. Now it’s a 14 CHLOEE DIETZ hot stop for tourists along with a few Our first beauty this month is this gorgeous photographers as well. example David captured two summers ago. 6 Celebrating Beauty & Life Through the Eyes of Photographer David Mecey 30 60 72 50 LESLIE ANN STARNES Leslie flew all the way to Vegas from South Carolina just to be photographed by David. So how could we 30 MODEL IN THE MIDDLE not share a few of the pictures she and he produced? We have one sexy model doing us Check out one bodacious babe in Leslie. the honor for our June Model in the Middle, and she’s Amy Wilder. She and David did some seriously hot images in 60 SARA STOKES just as hot Jamaica. How do we follow up Leslie? By bringing you yet another incredibly gorgeous woman! David shares his first photoshoot 48 MURPHY’S LAW REVIEW with Sara with some wonderful results. We added an Entertainment Editor to our roster. An inconspicuous one. But he’s got a lot to write about, starting with a few 72 A LOVING LOOK BACK movie reviews. Be watching for articles by our man, A. Murphy, now and in the It’s David’s other passion in life, cars. future. Driving them, photographing them, writing about them, the works. Here’s that story. 7 ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK R E P R I N T E D F R OM A N A RT IC L E T HAT A P P E A R E D I N T H E P O R S C H E M AG A Z I N E , E XC E L L E N C E Words & Photographs – David Mecey W “Porsche had all the racing heritage and back in the ‘70s when I got my license everybody wanted one.” So, I guess Dave felt it his duty to help bring those incredible cars of yesteryear back to life. Even if it meant recreating them himself. hen talking about special automobiles, it’s fairly easy to use random superlatives at every juncture in describing such This orange Carrera began as a 1984 911 Carrera with the rare things. Being car people, I feel we all tend to fall prey to laying on M491 option. If you’re a Porsche-phile, you should know that accolades when we spot a car that is just so ‘special’. means you’re receiving a 911 with bulging turbo fenders, massive rear spoiler, bigger brakes, and a slightly better suspension. He But in the case of Dave Kealoha’s tribute 911 to the Porsche 911 acquired it via a friend in 2015 and began with a stripped-out RSR of 1973, words sometimes do fall short. No matter how interior and no brakes. But it was the perfect candidate to become much you try to extol their virtues. the RSR of his dreams; circa 1973 is all that mattered to Dave. Kealoha’s car is simply an incredible example of what can be done Kealoha stripped the car down to its shell and then sent it over to when a person pours their heart and soul into a project. With Abe Mena at San Diego Rod and Custom to handle the metalwork. Dave, he grew up with that kind of mental fortitude, due much to Though it would begin with a sunroof, which was quickly closed his father’s influence. and filled, he would also fabricate an oil cooler panel. “My dad was a wholesale dealer and I started driving cars for him Mena at Rod and Custom also filled the holes where once were the as soon as I could get my license” Dave remarked when I original door mirrors, front antenna, washer nozzles, rocker trim, questioned him as to how he grew up learning about cars. and fuel filler door, which was moved from the front left fender to near mid-center of the hood. An effort that would greatly enhance Kealoha’s first car was a $150 Corvair. From there it was the front of the car by adding a very race-oriented arrangement in Volkswagens which eventually would lead him down the path to doing so. what many consider the uber-car from Germany, Porsche. 8 “Abe made the stock short-hood into a long-hood It was Kealoha’s idea to move the fuel filler from by fabricating a piece of steel, wrapping the edges, the front left fender to near the center of the and welding it in place,” Kealoha said. His hood and create a beveled opening for a truly father-in-law, Benny Flores, would then modify innovative idea, while, as mentioned earlier, the stock fenders to be the earlier, long-hood harking back to its racing roots by doing so. In style for him. Flores would also end up producing fact, I personally found this to be one of my the gorgeous signal orange paintwork for the car. favorite items on the car. A small one for sure, yet its aesthetic just reached out to me the first One could say, Dave, put into play a family affair time I walked up to the car. contributing to the car’s creation along the way. All during this exterior/interior Dave gushed about Flores’ talent working with transformation, Dave had his friend/ automobiles when he relayed this to me; “he’s mechanic and owner of Mirage been in the car business for over 40 years doing International, Jae Lee, building the motor for any and everything, including fabrications. But the car. Jae would start with the stock 3.2-liter where he really shines is his body and paintwork. Carrera six and build upon it. Kealoha told me, If you know where to look you will see the little “We didn’t split the case, and nothing was done details that set the car apart from 99% of to the bottom end as it looked like new when we backdated cars out there today.” opened it up. We sent the stock Mahle cylinders out to have them bored 98-mm and replated, It’s obvious Dave chose the right people for the which would give the power plant a 3.4-liter job as everything is first-rate and appears as if displacement.” this were a factory car from Stuttgart. Being around Dave I quickly realized he was not We added DC40 camshafts to shift the someone who is simply building or restyling cars powerband higher while adding Aasco valve to sell. He was another of those rare individuals springs, titanium retainers, and steel head studs. who find a calling, which not only motivates but Everything to strengthen and make the motor also dominates their life by creating standards more durable. above and beyond what many consider to be nice. To Dave’s kind of people, nice is never, ever good He would use a JB Racing twin-plug enough. distributor along with a twin-plug set up to handle the spark. Adding to that he would use Moroso 8-mm plug wires, dual MSD coils, and dual MSD 6AL ignition boxes placed inside the interior. Making sure he kept the oil cooled; Jae added a Setrab fender-mounted cooler in combination with a Mazda RX-7 front-mounted cooler. He would finish it off by having Brian Bodart of RarlyL8, fabricate the stainless-steel headers and stainless steel RSR-style mufflers. Which looked just fantastic while photographing the undercarriage of the car. They were striking and as a ‘car nut’ myself, left me gazing at them for quite some time. They appeared, via the color and shape as works of art, at least from where I stood. Dave would not stop there though as he would reject the original CIS injection setup and go with a pair of triple-throat PMO carburetors, set up by Mark Kinninger at Black Forest Automotive. The fuel is delivered via a Holley Red fuel pump using an Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator monitoring its progress along the way. The transmission is a rebuilt 915 5-speed along with a limited-slip differential and WEVO shift lever. When asked about the car’s performance Kealoha had this to say, “it accelerates very quickly but is also quite drivable. Going in I wanted a car that put the power down on the street, lower in the rev range where you can really use it.” Spoken like a true American, as we all grew up with pony cars and their small-block V8s that delivered the torque low-end and made quick trips for us between red lights. I have a feeling Dave was aspiring to have a similar feel from this Carrera. From how he describes it, he got it in spades. By making that decision, no, it’s not a Carrera that is a top-end king as one might suspect from a Porsche, as the power curve tapers off above 6600 rpm. Yet, weighing in at only 2451 pounds, for a steel-bodied car that’s incredibly light. Combined with the fact the engine is making 309 hp at the crank (which equates to 262 at the wheels) you could say straight-line performance is rather ‘robust’. Speaking of my earlier comment a paragraph or so back about small-block V8s. When you hear this Carrera crank, your first thought is just that, a small block V8 rather than a Porsche 6-cylinder 3.4-liter motor. It sounds; okay here are a couple of superlatives for ya. It sounds absolutely insane and would seriously stir the soul of any car enthusiast standing within earshot. That I guarantee. Now with the car making that much horsepower and it being rather light on its feet, the next most important item to attend to was suspension. Make sure all that power gets put to good use while also allowing the car to remain supple and fun on a twisty road. Because even with the way it sounds, it’s still a Porsche and it’s still in all practical terms representing the RSR Porsche linage. That meant great handling was also a must. So, it’s back to Jae Lee who would handle the chassis setup. He chose Bilstein heavy-duty shocks while pairing them with 19-mm front torsion bars and 26-mm rears. He also applied Elephant racing bushings throughout, Rennline mono balls in the trailing arms, and Tarrett adjustable anti-roll bars front and rear. He would use factory 911 turbo calipers front and rear as well. Harking back to the ’73 RSR, probably one of the most visually stunning parts of that car was its Fuchs alloy wheels. Huge 15 x 9-inch fronts and even larger 15 x 11-inch rears. Dave wanted to recreate that look and went with a set of Braid BZ