Sunday in the 514: grey, cold, and a soccer playoff to chase

Bonjour-hi, and happy Sunday. It's a grey one out there. We're sitting at 4°C with a light drizzle, and the UV is barely there at 2.0, so the sun isn't going to do you any favours today. Sunset is at 4:32 PM, which gives you about nine hours and fifty minutes of daylight to work with. If you're planning to be out past dinner, plan the walk home in the dark, and pack an umbrella for the drizzle. This is a day for a proper toque and a waterproof layer, not the light jacket you wore on Friday. It's notably colder than the last few days, so don't let the mild week fool you.

If you're heading out, the good news is that the day has a bit of everything. The big one for sports fans is Roses de Montréal FC hosting the Rise de Vancouver FC in the séries éliminatoires at Stade Boréale, kicking off at 4:00 PM. Get there early if you want a good seat, and dress for the cold, because that stadium is no place to be underdressed on a November afternoon.

For something quieter, Alexandra Streliski plays Place des Arts at 2:00 PM, which makes for a lovely indoor afternoon when the drizzle is doing its thing outside. Nina Kraviz is at Le Studio TD at 3:00 PM if you want something with more bass.

Tonight the city is busy. Alan Cavé is at Place Bell at 7:00 PM, Headache is at the Society for Arts and Technology at 8:00 PM, and Protomartyr with J.R.C.G is at Le Foufounes Electriques at 8:00 PM. Note that the ROCK THIS TOWN event at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal has been cancelled, so cross that one off your list.

On the news side, the Canadiens beat the Maple Leafs 4-2 in Toronto last night, with Newhook scoring twice and Fowler making 26 saves, so if you're a hockey person, you're in a good mood this morning. The Alouettes also beat the Blue Bombers 33-23 to reach the Grey Cup in Calgary, which is a big deal for the football crowd. Premiers from Quebec and Ontario called their first meeting productive, which at least means the conversation is happening.

For food, a heads-up: Les 3 Galo'Pains is recalling hamburger buns over an undeclared egg, so if you have an egg allergy, check your packages. Boulangerie Richard has also recalled pâtés across Quebec for undeclared wheat and fish allergens. A Montreal-North bakery has pulled all its products over possible wood contamination, and Néo Chips has recalled its freeze-dried fruit sticks for possible stem fragments. If you've got something from one of those in the fridge or the cupboard, check the lot numbers before you eat it. Six Amir locations were also fined $12,500 for food safety violations over the past year, so maybe skip the Amir for now.

Whether you go out to the stadium, the theatre, or stay in with a dark crime thriller and a blanket, the weekend is yours. Take care of each other out there, and stay warm.

À bientôt, friend.