Montreal's Black Fashion Week, presented by Adama Paris, begins tonight at Eglise Saint-Jean Baptiste Just in case you let the title fool you, the event is actually geared towards expressions of multiculturalism(s) within fashion itself.

Real men don't shave. Real men trim, twirl, and rub things like moustache wax or beard oil into their own-grown facial creations. But to confidently pull off a look that ninety per cent of men can't (or won't) — that alone more than off-sets the lost earnings potential.

It's hard not to love Citizen Vintage. What's better than a business started by three enterprising friends that sells some of the most cutting edge, perfectly chosen vintage clothing in the city? Tonight they're are taking things further with a fundraiser for prostate cancer prevention and research in honour of the wonderfully hairy month of Movember. The night will include a slew of stellar artists and DJ sets by Adam Wilcox and jason Voltaire. A $5 donation at the door will get you in; with $10, you'll be entered to win prizes handpicked by the Citizen Vintage.

Go to the Facebook event page here for more details.

photo taken from Worn Fashion Journal

Jon Cohen is soft-spoken, but unrestrained when it comes to enthusiasm for the work itself, the people that inspire, the community. That small lovely electric light is no doubt part of the contribution he's made (you know, aside from the music he's played) in bands like The Dears and The Social Register; in his own successful solo project; and now in the flourishing of his festival: a celebration of that small lonely light that graces a stage in the body of the One Wo/Man Band...

"My name is Jon Cohen, of the Jon Cohen Experimental. I'm the founder & artistic director for the one-man band festival (18th to 20th of May 2012), an original new music festival in its maiden year here in Montreal, which celebrates and showcases exclusively, the talents and creativity of one man/ one woman bands from all over the world. I started out as a musician in a band and gradually moved into a one man band format which has allowed me to make a living touring the world and now I want to bring this unique phenomenon into one big amazing music fest exclusive to the solo performer."

The Montreal music landscape wouldn't be the same without Blue Skies Turn Black, point finale. Meyer Billurcu and Brian Neuman put the money and manual labour in for well over a decade to bring the bands to us and audiences to the bands, and we all owe them beers and hugs. The quote below from Canada's music authority exclaim on BSTB celebrating their 10 year anniversary gives you a hint. (And in the embedded video interview at the bottom of that article you can watch me interview Meyer back in the day and see what it looks like when two sort of socially awkward people talk earnestly into a computer after a few beers in the sun! During allergy season I might add.)

"In the past few years, BSTB has become one of the most prominent independent music promoters in the city, putting on shows for the likes of Animal Collective, Kool Keith, the Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse, CocoRosie, TV on the Radio, Les Savy Fav, Iron and Wine, and many more."
- exclaim

Meyer and Brian opened Il Motore a few years back and lurking around the bar up there on Jean Talon I've seen and produced some of my favourite live shows of recent years - mostly because of the intimacy, friendliness and lack of pretension in the space and staff. I am looking forward to seeing what they do with the room in months and years to come as they continue to make investments in it's survive and thrive, so I was giddy like a kid that Meyer was willing to answer our local love questions.

"I'm Meyer Billurcu, owner of local concert promotions company Blue Skies Turn Black and the live music venue Il Motore. I began promoting shows twelve years ago, which led to opening the venue three years ago. BSTB got its start booking lesser-known bands, but we are better known today for our work with a diverse range of artists, bands, and genres."

There's a bright new atelier boutique on Bernard, and ever since the ladies at Atelier B urged me to interview her I've been hoping to have an exchange with the lovely redhead who works within, spinning her beads and ribbons and trim. This week, dreams become friendly reality as we get a hello and update from the Mademoiselle herself.

"My name is Charlotte and I took my grandmother's maiden name, Hosten, to name my jewelry line :Charlotte Hosten. I was born in Belgium and moved here when I was 10. I started making jewelry when I was 15 and never stopped. It eventually grew into a passion, not to say obsession. After deciding to forgo a career as a lawyer (I got a law degree), in october 2009, I officially launched my jewelry line. Since then, we have had the chance to expand our wholesale distribution to the rest of Canada and some stores around the world, such as Takashimaya in Japan and the famous Anthropologie. Opening our own store in november 2011 was a dream coming true for me - I love sharing my passion with clients and having the chance to "build a house" around my creations."