Whether he's sporting football pads and oversize furry pants or argyle socks and a sedate cashmere sweater, Andre 3000 looks good as hell. No wonder Esquire magazine named this Outkast rapper the Best-Dressed Man in the World in 2004. Now local guys can step up to the fashion plate. Today Esquire magazine is looking for the Best-Dressed Real Man in America. Think you have what it takes? All right, Beau Brummel, register at www.esquire.com or www.macys.com, and come on down to Macy's Aventura Mall (19535 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura). Tonight from 7:00 to 9:00 a panel of editors, style experts, and local luminaries will enjoy a parade of handsomely turned-out dudes and will pick one as the best-dressed Miami man. One semifinalist is selected from each region, and Esquire editors will choose five to be featured in the September issue. America gets to vote for a winner, who will be crowned live on NBC's The Today Show. (PEGY)
FRI 13
Tucked away in an unassuming strip mall on bustling Biscayne Boulevard is The Honey Tree (5138 Biscayne Blvd., Miami). This bright, inviting vegetarian restaurant/health food store is truly a gem. During the week, you can enjoy a rotating menu of tasty meat-free delights, refreshing drinks that don't include high fructose corn syrup as a main ingredient, and aisles of all-natural products. The store transforms into an art gallery tonight. Every second Friday of the month, local artists (including at least one especially creative child) display their work and are celebrated with an artists' reception, including drinks and delicious edibles. Expect to see anything from terra-cotta sculptures to designer handbags to bright, bold finger paintings beginning at 6:00. Call 305-759-1696. (PEGY)
SAT 14
Lolo and Sara, the young, fierce owners of Sweat Records (2320 NE Second Ave., Miami), are both musically savvy and politically minded. Their interests are reflected throughout their independent record store, which is chock full of awesome CDs, vinyl, and DVDs, as well as kitschy knickknacks, beautiful handmade jewelry, and out-there artwork by local talents. Tonight the politics of Sweat will come out front and center at the Intifada: Human Rights Benefit show. A host of talented artists, DJs, and musicians will give props to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), an organization of mostly Hispanic and Haitian immigrant workers who slog through backbreaking, low-paying jobs in South Florida. Fight for the right to party and for a decent minimum wage tonight at 7:00. The suggested donation is five dollars. Call 305-573-5681, or visit www.sweatrecordsmiami.com. To learn more about CIW, visit www.ciw-online.org. (PEGY)
SUN 15
Piano lovers, rejoice! (We're talking to classical piano lovers, not you fans of Billy Joel and smooth jazz.) The eighth annual Miami International Piano Festival has returned. You can catch moving pieces performed by an impressive lineup of young kings and queens of the ivory keys. Today you can listen to the magical fingers of Martin Stadtfeld, a handsome twentysomething German pianist who could easily land a gig on The O.C. if he were to tire of the touring circuit. His South Florida debut includes Bach's Three-Part Inventions and Schumann's Bunte Blätter and Toccata in C major. The festival kicks off May 13 with a gala recital featuring the Ukraine's Alexander Gavrylyuk, and runs through May 22. Recitals start at 8:15 p.m. at the Lincoln Theatre, 541 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach. Tickets cost $15 to $50; student discounts are available. Call 305-935-5115, or visit www.miamipianofest.com for a complete schedule. (LO)
MON 16
To commemorate the 57th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center (18900 NE 25th Ave., North Miami Beach) is hosting an array of events this month, including the Israel 57 Film Series, which kicks off with a free showing of Out for Love ... Be Back Shortly today at 10:30 a.m. Directed by Dan Katzir, the autobiographical film records the documentarian's courtship with Iris Arie, who is serving in the Israeli Army with Noa Ben Artzi, the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's granddaughter, and captures the emotional aftermath of Rabin's assassination. Call 305-932-4200, Ext. 128, or visit www.marjcc.org. (LO)
TUE 17
Yes, we know you were afraid, even petrified, and you thought you could never live without him by your side, but please -- we are begging you -- do not ruin a fabulous karaoke night with your pals by singing "I Will Survive." No one wants to hear your rendition of the Gloria Gaynor hit. It's too old; let go. But a spontaneous poll of the New Times revealed these ditties for showcasing your personality and range of (off-key) octaves: Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," Journey's "Don't Stop Believing," and Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." You can show your true vocal colors tonight at the SushiSamba Dromo (600 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach) Wasabi Tuesdays. The croakers -- um, we mean the beautiful balladeers -- start crooning at 10:00, so skip the dairy during dinner and stick to drinking hot lemon water until your performance. Call 305-673-5337, or visit www.sushisamba.com. (LO)
WED 18
Has your photography hobby left you with a plethora of pretty flower prints or a clutter of cute cat collages? Then it's time to get out of the house and focus your lens on something that won't try to scratch your eyes out. The First South Beach Photomarathon is just the challenge you need. Participants will have six hours to capture two photographs for each of six topics. You'll be competing against time and other friendly photogs. Both digital and film photography are acceptable for the contest, but because film photographers have more difficulty seeing their final exposures, they will vie for first through third places, while digital camera users are eligible for only fourth through sixth places. And the prizes? You can win cash and gifts from Tiffany & Co. and Starbucks, and an exhibition of the top 50 entries will be shown at Tropicolor Gallery (1442 Alton Rd., Miami Beach; 305-672-3720) in July, so you can drive your friends mad by taking them to see your work every time you happen to pass by the store. The registration deadline is May 31. You will receive complete instructions, locations, and an itinerary one week prior to the event, which begins at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 12. Registration costs $50. Call 305-532-4855, or visit www.fotomission.org. (LO)
By Lyssa Oberkreser and Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik
