Halloween Saturday in E-town: bundle up, then go big after dark

Morning, Edmonton. It's -7 out there this Saturday, which is a good deal colder than we've had this week, so the toque and the good mitts are coming out of the hall closet whether you like it or not. UV is barely a factor at 1.0, which means the sun will be out and doing very little, the classic prairie deal. Sunset comes at 6:03 PM, so you've got about nine and a half hours of daylight to get your errands done before the dark rolls in early, and it'll be dark well before the trick-or-treaters finish their rounds.

For getting around, the main thing to know is that Route 106 and Route 051 are both back to serving 132 Avenue after the October 19th changes, so if you've been sending yourself around a detour out that way, you can stop doing that. Otherwise the roads are clear of anything major for a weekend run.

A few things have been on people's minds around town. The city is asking folks to pay attention to parking bans as snow removal season gets underway, so keep your car off the street when the signs go up, because nobody wants to be the one who gets towed on the first real snowfall. Down the road, the High Level Bridge is set to close to traffic next year for a full construction season, so start thinking now about how you'll cross the river when that happens. And if you've got a fondness for downtown real estate, there's a dormant high-rise site at 121 Street and 102 Avenue listed for $4 million, which is the kind of number that makes you wonder what's next for that corner.

For food, Elio's has opened on the south side with Filipino comfort food and a real gathering feel, which sounds like a good place to land for a late lunch or a dinner with friends. Hazeldean Bakery has reopened in south Edmonton, so if you're craving something sweet and a bit of a neighbourhood story, that's worth the drive. Paperbirch by Chartrand is closing up at the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market after two years, so if you've been meaning to grab something there, don't let it slip past you this weekend.

This afternoon the Kamloops Blazers visit the Edmonton Oil Kings at Rogers Place at 1:00 PM, so if you've got hockey in your blood, the Ice District is the place to be. Tonight is Halloween, and you've got options: SCREAM Halloween runs at both the Edmonton EXPO Centre and the Edmonton Convention Centre at 7:00 PM, with the EXPO Centre event being 18+. If you'd rather keep it classy, The Great Gatsby - The Musical is at the Shoctor Theatre at The Citadel Theatre at 7:30 PM, or The Phantom of the Opera is at the Winspear Centre at 7:30 PM. Since it's -7 out, indoor plans are the obvious pick, and any of those will keep you warm while the wind does its thing outside.

That's your Saturday, neighbour. Stay warm, drive safe, and have a good Halloween.