Grey, Wet, and Mild: Your Thursday in Montréal

Bonjour-hi, and happy Thursday. It's a soft, grey one out there: 15 degrees, a light rainshower hanging around, and honestly that's warmer than we've had all week, so you can leave the parka at the back of the closet and grab a light jacket with a hood instead. Keep the umbrella in your bag. The UV is basically nothing today, so no sunscreen debate. The big thing to plan around is the early dark: the sun goes down at 4:36 this afternoon, so if you're heading out after work, you'll be walking home in the dusk.

On the streets, nothing I'm seeing in the morning reports screams detour, so the usual commute should hold. Give the métro a little extra time if you're taking the bus connections, since wet pavement has a way of slowing everybody down, drivers included. Leave ten minutes early and you'll be fine.

What's on your mind this morning in the city? A couple of stories are worth knowing. About 200 people gathered at place Jean-Paul-Riopelle to rally against real estate speculators, as the minister promised enforcement. Separately, a former Quebec immigration official, Marilena Ida, has been charged over more than 100 false PEQ certificates. And a Salvation Army survey found food affordability is among the top concerns for Quebecers, which, if you've been at the épicerie lately, won't surprise you.

A note for your lunch and dinner plans: there are a few food recalls to keep in mind. Boulangerie Richard pulled its pâtés across Quebec because of undeclared wheat and fish allergens, so if you or someone at the table has an allergy, check the label before you buy. A Montreal-North bakery has also recalled all its products over possible wood contamination, and Néo Chips freeze-dried fruit sticks are under recall for possible dried stem fragments. On the good-news side, six Amir locations across Quebec were fined $12,500 for food safety violations over the past year, so if you're a regular, you might want to think about where you go for your next plate of something.

Tonight the rain is outside, but the live music is inside. There's Sam Breton at the Cabaret du Casino at 7:30, a Leonard Cohen tribute marking ten years at Théâtre St-Denis at 8:00, Alexandra Streliski at Place des Arts also at 8:00, and MICO at the Théâtre Beanfield at MTELUS at 8:00. Pick your vibe: piano, Cohen, or something louder. If you're a hockey person, the Canadiens host the Utah Mammoth at Centre Bell at 7:00 tonight, so the Bell is the place to be if you want to yell at the refs with thousands of your neighbours.

For the weekend, Olafur Arnalds is on the calendar Friday and Saturday, along with a pet fair and plenty of music, so start thinking now about which one you want to catch.

Stay dry, bring a jacket, and I'll see you on the other side of the rain. À demain.