Saturday in MTL: crisp, grey, and plenty to do

Bonjour-hi, and happy Saturday. It's a cloudy 7°C this morning, the kind of grey November day that feels made for a slow coffee and then a proper walk. The UV is basically nothing, so sunscreen can stay in the drawer, but don't be fooled by the mild number: pack a warm layer for later, because the light goes early. Sunset is at 4:33 PM, so anything you're planning for the evening should be sorted before the sky turns dark.

If you're heading across the water or out toward the South Shore, know that the Réfection du tunnel Louis-H.-La Fontaine is still on, and the Réfection des structures work is also in play. Give yourself extra time on either route, especially if you're driving with a kid in the back or a long brunch reservation waiting on the other side. The métro is always the easy call when the roads get clogged.

For the bigger local conversation, Hydro-Québec is looking to reclaim Northvolt's vacant land in Montérégie for South Shore use, which is a story worth keeping an eye on if you follow the region's future. Over at the MUHC, emergency rooms are overwhelmed, and the hospital is asking non-urgent patients to seek care elsewhere, so if you're not in real need of the ER today, please consider a clinic or pharmacy first. And in Philadelphia, an arrest has brought the 2017 Montreal North murder back before the courts, a reminder that some cases stay with a neighbourhood for years.

On the food side, be careful with a few recalls before you shop. Les 3 Galo'Pains is recalling hamburger buns over undeclared egg, which matters if you or someone at your table has an allergy. Boulangerie Richard has pulled its pâtés across Quebec for undeclared wheat and fish, and Atwater Market's honey garlic sauce has undeclared soy, anchovy, and barley, so read labels carefully if you're grabbing takeout for a crowd. If you have a Six Amir on your list, know that the chain's Quebec locations were collectively fined $12,500 for food safety violations this past year.

A happier note for the foodies: a reader who grew up in Iran wrote about how fresh pistachio season was one of the best moments of her year, and how she missed it terribly after moving here. She'd just come back from Pays des Pistaches and was thrilled to find them in MTL. It's the sort of small find that makes a Saturday feel a bit special, so if you're hunting for something sweet to bring home, it might be worth a look.

For the evening, there's plenty on. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers face the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL Eastern Final, which is the big ticket of the weekend if you want to feel the city's energy. If you're in the mood for something earlier in the day, Guy Nantel is at Salle Pierre-Mercure at 3:00 PM. Tonight, Charles Brunet is at Théâtre Manuvie at 4:00 PM, Matteo Lane is at Theatre St. Denis at 7:00 PM, and MIDWINTER is at Newspeak at 6:00 PM. Hockey fans can catch the Cleveland Monsters at the Laval Rocket at Place Bell at 3:00 PM.

So: dress warm, plan around that early sunset, and pick your vibe, whether that's sport, laughs, or live music. Take care of each other out there, and enjoy the weekend, mon ami.