My interview with Susur Lee is scheduled for 4:00pm. I breeze through the door of his eponymous restaurant on King West just a tad before schedule, expecting a nice, quiet sit-down with the Toronto-based, world renowned chef.

I expected wrong.

Sure, at any other restaurant, a quiet hour with the big kahuna two hours before service may have been possible. But Susur is hardly any other restaurant.

Opened in 2000, Lee's second restaurant in Toronto--the celebrated Lotus closed its doors in 1997--has been getting rave reviews from the culinary cognoscenti since day one. The distinguished temple of gastronomy offers five- and seven-course tasting menus that change daily, a concept simple in theory, but remarkably difficult in execution. Each night's offerings are crafted based on Lee's mood and purchases at the local markets that day. As such, menus are not known until 5:00pm the day it is served.

Maybe a 4:00pm interview wasn't such a great idea.

It's been a good three years since I last interviewed Jay Malinowski. Back then, the Bedouin Soundclash frontman was still a university student living in small town Kingston, Ontario, hustling for gigs, and groaning about his upcoming exams. The band had only one release under its belt, Root Fire (2001), recorded in one 12-hour go with the $400 the boys had scrimped and saved from playing college bars.

Fast forward three years and, my, how things have changed. Since the 2004 release of Sounding a Mosaic, Bedouin's breakout album, Malinowski, along with bandmates Eon Sinclair and Pat Pengelly, have been catapulted to music stardom. (Juno aside, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't get a goofy grin upon hearing the devil-may-care amble of "When the Night Feels My Song.") These days, the Montreal-born, Vancouver-bred Malinowski calls Toronto home. That is, when his schedule actually permits him to spend time in one fixed location. Bedouin's touring schedule will see the band in 11 different countries in the next month alone, playing in venues all over Europe. Not too shabby for someone whose definition of a good night, last we chatted, was pocketing $50 from a night of gigging at the local dive.

Ask the average twentysomething Canadian who Tommy Douglas was and, chances are, you will be met with a blank stare. Shame.

Mention to the same doltish dunce, however, the names Kenny and Spenny and, more likely than not, you will be greeted with enthusiastic blabber about two of our nation's most (in)famous citizens.

"Dude, remember that time Spenny got covered in cow shit?"
"Yo, what about the first episode of season two, when Spenny ate Kenny's puke? That was awesome!"
"No, man, the best was when Spenny had to bite off Kenny's toenail. Now, that was cool."

It seems like everyone has a favourite tale about these two hometown heroes. ("We're Toronto boys, born and raised," they boast.) Forget Margaret Atwood, forget Glenn Gould, forget Leonard Cohen, and say hello to Canada's current red-hot exports: a guy (Kenny) who, on their show just last week, ingested his best friend's (Spenny's) freshly harvested snot balls. (Though, to be fair, not all famed Canadian exports have us beaming with pride: Vegas showgirl--errr, songstress--Celine Dion comes to mind.)

Friday, October 27 - I have a soft spot for Kid Koala. He's just such a little mumfert. He always says the darndest sweetest things and you just wanted to pinch his cheeks and cootchie cootchie coo him. That, and he's a damn fine musician. As a rule of thumb, you really can't go wrong with anyone off the Ninjatune roster, and Kid Koala is no exception. Expect oddball samples, turntablism that truly leverages the power of the decks, and just an all-round, lighthearted good time. You'll leave smiling, guaranteed. Mod Club (722 College W), $17.50, doors 9pm. --Panthea

Saturday, October 28 - blogTO music kids were a little MIA this week (ahem!), and so I'm now semi-blindly recommending the Hold Steady show for no reason other than a) it looks pretty lame to only have two picks any given week; and b) my darling friend Jordan is stoked on it and if there's anyone you should trust on matters of music (or of baseball, for that matter), it's Jordan...even if he does do this weird sniggerin' thing when going through my iPod. Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen W), $15, doors 9pm. --Panthea

Sunday, October 29 - The local Wavelength Music Series, which happens every Sunday at Sneaky Dee's, continues well into the 300's as Wavelength #337 showcases Guelph's "punkgrass" greats The Barmitzvah Brothers, and the dynamic display of describing how bad aspartame is for you, Pyramid Culture. Sneaky Dee's (431 College St), PWYC, doors 9pm. --Garry

[Photo credit: SekondHandProjects. Also, if you saw this Hot Ticket earlier in the week and are wondering why it disappeared and has since reappeared...five words: the server can bite me.]

You may know him from such events as Alto Basso's Dear Hip Hop (nee LOVEmovement), the monthly Shuffle Party at Revival, and the African Way Tour with K'naan and South African hip hop outfit Tumi and the Volume. In the past week, he's spun at k-os' record release party, hosted a weekly radio show, thrown a bumpin' monthly jam, and got the wheels a-turnin' on a new food-meets-music entertainment/dining concept in Toronto (psst: it's still very hush hush, but you heard it here first).

Meet Nana Jr. Gyamfi-Kumanini, aka DJ NaNa, the local hip hop beatsmith who brings new meaning to the phrase "life in the fast lane".

Thursday, October 19 - Toronto's music scene is on the rise because of bands that can easily change things up quickly, just like The Born Ruffians. The band, which has already been signed to XL and WARP, is having its EP-release party this Thursday. The debut album will be available (for the first time ever) for a measly $5. Dance party will follow. $5, Neutral (349a College). --Garry

Friday, October 20 - Girl Talk's recent Night Ripper album bulldozes through 150 samples in 40-odd minutes with razor-sharp cut n paste mixing. From the everybody-sing-along-now rock choruses and cheesy top 40 anthems to vicious electro synth stabs and raucous rap refrains--the pace promises to be fast and furious. And your booty will surely follow suit, shakin a-merrily. $15 advance, Spin Gallery (1100 Queen W), doors 8pm. --Panthea

Saturday, October 21 - A million dance parties in Toronto and only one seems to capture the essence of being true to its 60s French-pop culture. Okay, okay, fine. ZOI ZOI is the only 60s French-pop dance night in Toronto--that's exactly what makes it so unique. But yes, ZOI ZOI is a swingin' monthly party that goes down at The Boat. To makes things a bit more interesting, this month, it will be a party within a party as ZOI ZOI will be celebrating its one year anniversary. $5, The Boat (158 Augusta), doors 10pm. --Garry

[Photo credit: Born Ruffians]