Bundle up, MTL: cold Thursday, full evening ahead
Cold and grey at 1°C, sunset at 4:27, and a busy night from boxing to the symphony. Here's your day.
Morning, neighbours. It's a cold one out there today, just 1°C under mostly cloudy skies, and it's been noticeably chillier than the last few days. Grab the warm toque and the good gloves before you head out, because that wind off the river will find every gap in your jacket. The UV is basically nothing this time of year, so sunscreen can stay in the drawer, but the early dark is worth planning around: the sun goes down at 4:27 this afternoon, so anything you want to do outside after work should be wrapped up or moved indoors before the streetlights come on.
For getting around, nothing in today's material flags a major closure, so the usual commute rules apply. Give yourself a few extra minutes on the métro platforms and the bridges if you're heading into the core, since cold mornings always seem to slow everyone down.
On the news front, Quebec's politics are running hot. Milliard's stance on Bill 96 is putting the Quebec Liberals on the spot, and Bérubé is framing the notwithstanding clause as a straight yes-or-no test for them. Meanwhile the premier and the Bloc leader sat down together on federal homelessness money and U.S. tariffs, while Ottawa stayed quiet, and Carney has been clear that Ottawa negotiates the tariffs alone. Those are the kinds of conversations that will keep the coffee shops busy this week.
In sports business, CF Montréal's owner Saputo has put the club up for sale and says relocation is on the table. Not what fans want to hear, so keep an eye on that one.
For food, a few recalls are worth knowing before you shop. Boulangerie Richard has pulled its pâtés across Quebec over undeclared wheat and fish allergens, which matters if you or someone at the table has an allergy. A Montreal-North bakery has recalled all its products over possible wood contamination, and Néo Chips freeze-dried fruit sticks are being recalled for possible dried stem fragments. Check your pantry before you eat. On the restaurant side, six Amir locations across Quebec were fined $12,500 in total for food safety violations over the past year, so if you're a regular, maybe try a different spot this week.
Tonight is a real mixed bag. The big one is the gala de boxe EOTTM, L'avenement d'El Tigre, at the Cabaret du Casino starting at 6:30, and if you want something more classical, the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal is at Place des Arts at 7:30. Kain plays Le Club Dix30 at 8, and ILYKIMCHI is at Bar Le Ritz PDB at 7. If you're after hockey, the Baie-Comeau Drakkar visit the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada at the Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau at 7:00. Since it's cold and dark out, all of this is indoor entertainment, so pick your vibe and dress warm for the walk there.
For something a bit different, there's a glow-in-the-dark mini-putt downtown with 18 holes, arcade games and a full bar, which sounds like a good antidote to a grey November evening.
Stay warm out there, and see you on the métro.
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