Friday in CAL-gree: cold start, Grey Cup weekend kicks off

Morning, neighbour. It's 2°C out there this morning with a partly cloudy sky, so grab the good toque and the warm mitts before you head out. The UV is barely a factor today, but the cold is real after the milder stretch we've had, so give the car a few extra minutes to warm up before you roll. Sunset comes at 5:51 this evening, which means you've got about nine hours of daylight to work with. If you're planning anything after work, know that by the time you're leaving the office it'll already be getting dark.

On the roads, the one thing to keep an eye on is the Foothills road conditions and cameras, so check them before you head out if you're driving anywhere out past the city limits. Give yourself a little extra time for the drive, and if you're heading into the hills, take it slow.

It's Grey Cup weekend, and the city is buzzing about it. Montreal and Edmonton are meeting in the 113th Grey Cup at McMahon, and the Stampeders won't be part of it after missing the playoffs, which is a tough one for the locals. Still, the Alouettes are chasing the Cup and Tyson Philpot is back in town, walking into the old locker room, which is the kind of story that makes the rest of us feel a little nostalgic. Down at the Big Four Building the Grey Cup Festival is running from 12:30 this afternoon, so if you want to get a taste of the football weekend without the tailgate scrum, that's a good place to start. The CFLAA Legends Luncheon is also on at the Big Four Roadhouse at 11:30 for anyone who wants a proper lunch with a side of football history.

The other story making the rounds is Taffy the horse, who walked through a Calgary hotel as part of a decades-old Grey Cup tradition. It's one of those quirky local things that makes you proud to live here. Separately, Calgary man Allistair Chapman remains in custody while he fights extradition to the U.S. over an alleged cartel murder plot, and separatist leader Mitch Sylvestre was in Okotoks urging the crowd to work inside the UCP, which is sure to keep the coffee shop debates going.

For lunch or dinner, SAIT's student-run Highwood Kitchen + Bar reopens on November 20 after a full renovation, so mark that one down. If you're after comfort food, the city has seven restaurants serving standout mac and cheese, which is exactly the kind of thing to order on a cold Friday. And if you're in Kensington, Tipsie is opening a new wine bar in the former Kensington Winebar space, a nice spot for a glass before the weekend hits. Out in Okotoks, Soul Sisters Café holds its grand opening at Air Ranch Plaza on Saturday.

Tonight the music and the shows are out in force. Boy Golden and friends are playing the Good Goddamn Another Tour at Modern Love, with a 5:00 PM start and Boy Golden on at 6:00 PM. If you want something heavier, Korpiklaani with Crimson Shadows and Mongol hit The Arrowhead at 7:00 PM. For a night at the theatre, Disney's Beauty and the Beast is on at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium at 7:30 PM. Everything tonight is indoors, so the cold won't be an issue once you're inside.

So grab a warm drink, dress for the cold, and enjoy the start of the weekend. Stay warm out there, and I'll see you around the city.