Friday hits 17°C—heat, fog, and Bluesfest to kick off the weekend.

Morning's sitting at 17°C under fog, which means you'll want to shed layers as the day climbs. UV's running high at 8.0, so if you're heading outside for lunch or catching the Titans game this afternoon, sunscreen isn't negotiable—especially with that fog clearing out by midday. You've got a long daylight window to play with; sunset doesn't hit until 8:51 PM, so evening plans have room to breathe.

A heads-up on the construction front: if you're navigating the city today, keep in mind that Ottawa's got no single office coordinating all the ongoing projects, which means you might hit conflicting work zones depending on where you're headed. Worth checking your route before you commit.

On the local beat this week, DND just dropped $59 million on two Ottawa properties to ease a space crunch and handle staffing growth—a sign of how much the federal workforce footprint keeps expanding here. And if you've been using one of the federal co-working sites around the National Capital Region, heads up: five are closing this fall. Worth figuring out your backup workspace sooner rather than later.

For lunch or dinner, you've got some solid options. New Yangtze Restaurant is back in Chinatown after nearly two years away, so if you've been craving that spot, today's a good day to swing by. Chiqui Bakery over in Vanier is bringing Mexico City–style pan dulce to the neighbourhood, which is worth exploring if you're in the area. And if you're hunting lunch spots near Parliament Hill, there's a solid list of hidden gems floating around that most people miss.

Tonight's the real draw though. Bluesfest kicks off at LeBreton Flats at 5:00 PM—if you can slip out of work early or just head straight there, the first Friday pass should get you in with the whole weekend ahead. The weather's mild enough that you won't be fighting a crowd for cover, and with sunset not until 8:51 PM, you've got hours of good light for outdoor music. If that's not your speed, the NAC is running Disney's *Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl* live in concert at 8:00 PM—full orchestra, full adventure, indoor comfort. Across the river in Gatineau, there's an ABBA Celebration dinner show at Theatre du Casino du Lac Leamy if you're in the mood for something a little more theatrical.

It's a proper Friday kick-off. Get out there and enjoy the light.