Wednesday cooldown — grab the sun while it lasts

Fourteen degrees this morning — a real drop from where we've been, so layer up if you're heading out early. The sun's still solid though (UV's sitting at 6, so still high), and you've got clear skies most of the day. Sunset's at 8:15, so there's light for the commute home if you're staying late at the office.

One thing on the roads: Brian Cobourn's getting widened eastbound at Tenth Line, so if that's your route, plan a couple minutes extra or find your usual bypass.

Quick reads while you're having coffee. Stabbing incidents in Ottawa are down to 96 so far this year — which sounds like good news until you hear a criminologist's take: it might just be luck rather than any real strategy working. Also circulating: a 29-year-old got charged with stunt driving and fleeing police on the 417 near Maitland yesterday. There's also been movement on a couple of robbery cases from around town.

On the development side, there's a proposal for two residential towers with 543 units going in near Hintonburg's Corsa Italia station. Worth keeping an eye on if you're watching what's happening in that part of the city.

If you're thinking about dinner, Little Italy's keeping its culinary moment alive — 16 solid restaurants doing real work over there. Arlo on Somerset just made the 50 Best Discovery guide, which is the kind of recognition that doesn't happen often in this city. Chinatown's also moving: Kozhi just opened, and Somerset as a whole is becoming one of those streets where you can actually eat your way through an evening. If farmers' market season's still calling you, Lansdowne's got surprises beyond the usual organic egg stand.

Tonght's a wind-down kind of evening — nothing major on, so treat it as a work-night. But if you've got Bonnie Raitt on your radar, she's at the NAC tomorrow night. That's the one to grab tickets for if you're thinking live music. This weekend's actually shaping up: Raitt tomorrow, then Under The Stars Festival kicks off Friday. Solid stretch ahead.

Stay warm out there. See you on the other side.