Mild Wednesday in E-town, and the Oil Kings are on at Rogers Place

Morning, Edmonton. You can leave the big parka in the closet today, because it's sitting at a mild 1°C, which is a real treat after the last few days. The UV is barely a whisper at 1.0, so sunglasses are optional, but the sun sets early at 5:55 PM, so you've got about nine hours of daylight to work with. If you're planning anything outdoors after supper, bring a light layer and a toque just in case the evening air bites. Enjoy the warm spell while it lasts, because this is the kind of November morning that makes you forget what's coming.

The fog that rolled over the city all day Sunday was an odd one, and it grounded flights and made the commute a slog for a lot of people. Nothing like that is reported this morning, so you should be able to get where you're going at a normal pace. Give yourself a few extra minutes on the Yellowhead or the Henday as usual, and you'll be fine.

Around town, there's some talk about the city's budget plan, which proposes a 4.9 per cent property tax hike for 2027, so if you own a home in Edmonton it's worth a look at what that could mean for your bill. On a happier note, Spencer Beach is offering hope to soldiers injured in the CFB Wainwright fire, and the Oilers' Nugent-Hopkins is poised to pass Kevin Lowe as the team's all-time games leader, which is a pretty solid milestone for a guy who's been around the Oil for a while. Connor Brown, a former Oiler, isn't off to the start he'd want with New Jersey, which is worth knowing if you're keeping an eye on your old favourites.

For lunch or supper, there's been a lot of new food news around the city. Westblock Glenora Ayco Cafe is among the newer spots worth trying, and Hazeldean Bakery has reopened in south Edmonton with new owners, so if you've got a sweet tooth, that's a good one to check out. If you're after Filipino comfort food, Elio's just opened on the south side with a real gathering feel. Paperbirch by Chartrand is closing at the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market after two years, so if you've been meaning to stop by, don't wait too long. And if you're feeling nostalgic, the Lydo is still a classic old-school Edmonton call.

Tonight, if you're after a hockey fix, the Edmonton Oil Kings take on the Lethbridge Hurricanes at Rogers Place at 7:00 PM, which is right in the Ice District if you want to make a night of it. If live music is more your speed, Quest Master with Rhythm of Cruelty and Ritualizer play the Starlite Room at 7:00 PM, and Ogün Sanlisoy is doing an acoustic set there too. For something a bit more polished, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is performing Bach, Zappa & Beyond at the Winspear Centre at 8:30 PM, or you can catch The Great Gatsby, The Musical at the Shoctor Theatre at the Citadel at the same time. Everything tonight is indoors, so the weather doesn't really factor in, which is a nice change.

So pick your energy level and get out there, E-town. Have a good Wednesday, and stay warm.