Larra Skye took a big risk when she left Ryerson's Journalism program to pursue a career in music. Fortunately, the Toronto jazz singer has had a run of good luck since releasing her successful debut album The World Disappears in 2005. With no intentions of turning back now, she's started work on the follow-up the disc, and hopes to release it next year.

Skye took some time to speak to me at a Bloor street cafe recently.

Q: Tell blogTO's readers a bit about yourself.

LS: I was born in Toronto and I don't know why or when I started loving music.

Sometimes I think why did I get into music and I don't really know why. I just know that I've always loved it. It was something I've felt compelled that I have to do!

I grew up with a Nanny and Poppa as opposed to a Nonna and Nonno but just being at Lil' Baci makes me feel like I am part of a large Italian family.

Part of the recent crop of new restaurants in Leslieville, Lil' Baci has entered as a contender for some of the best food on the block. Located right beside its sister restaurant Kubo Radio, it sits somewhere between the classy atmosphere of Joy Bistro and the laid-back nature of Velvet.

Read the full review of Lil' Baci in our restaurants section.

Contributed by Natalie Taylor

Ten designers have to create couture worthy fashion featuring chocolate. Sounds like an episode of Project Runway to me. In this scenario, however, the couture is created by some of Canada's most established designers as well as notable up and comers, the chocolate is sponsored by Cadbury and the catwalk is located in the regal surroundings of the Carlu. Welcome to the alliteration profound 2007 Cadbury Chocolate Couture Collection Fashion Show.

Halifax's Jenn Grant has drawn more than a few comparisons to Feist thanks to her jazzy, warbling style of singing. A few of the songs on her excellent debut album Orchestra For The Moon even sound like they could have been outtakes from Canada's reigning queen of indie rock's last couple of albums.

But the country and folk sound found on the album quickly sets her apart. Since releasing the CD this summer, she's shared the stage with everyone from Feist and The Great Lake Swimmers to her current tourmates The Weakerthans, who she'll open for at The Phoenix on November 7th and 8th.

Grant took a few minutes while on the road to a tour stop in Quebec City to speak to me.

Q: Tell blogTO's readers a bit about yourself.

JG: Well, I was born in PEI, I live in Halifax. I'm just touring with my band right now with The Weakerthans.

Well, I'm 27 and I have freckles. I grew up in Halifax and done a lot of time around the Maritimes and stuff like. I started writing music when I was a kid and started performing when I was half way thorough getting an art degree.

I've always done music and painting but I didn't do any performing until about four years ago because I was really afraid of people looking at me and stuff. But it's okay now!

The bands that former Torontonian Nathan Lawr (he's relocated to Sudbury) has kept time for is a virtual who's who of the TO roots/alt-country scene, including the late, lamented Royal City and Fembots.

This might overshadow the fact that Lawr has released three albums, the most recent is A Sea of Tiny Lights, and is a talented singer and songwriter is his own right. He's returning to Toronto to play a CD release party at Supermarket on October 18.

Q: Tell blogTO's readers a bit about yourself.

NL: I play music and that's about as specific as I could possibly get.

The latest effort from Vancouver's Mohawk Lodge, Wildfires, finds the band moving away from their acoustic folk roots and embracing a gritty blue-collar roots rock sound that recalls the music of Crazy Horse and Bruce Springsteen's early material.

They've also earned a reputation as one of the best live bands out there thanks to their incendiary live shows. Singer/guitarist and White Whale Records impresario Ryder Havdale said that the band plans to rock Toronto at their two upcoming shows.

Q: Why did you make the shift away from acoustic folk on the new album in favour of a plugged in sound?

RH: I guess it kinda came up by chance because we had a number of problems with acoustics on stage.