Thursday's got live music, basketball, and a few restaurant goodbyes.

Morning. It's a regular Thursday, so your commute's the usual—nothing major tied up the roads right now. Keep an eye on downtown parking if you're heading in; we've lost nearly 3,000 spots over the last nine years, so if you're driving, give yourself a bit of extra time to find a spot or think transit.

Couple of things on the local radar: Ottawa police are looking for a man connected to two indecent acts in Heron Park, so stay alert if you're in that area. Also, a Barrhaven physiotherapist has been charged with two counts of sexual assault—cases like this hit different when they're someone who's supposed to be trusted with your care.

On the brighter side, if you've been meaning to try somewhere new, Chainsmoker Urban BBQ just opened in Kanata with halal slow-smoked meats and loaded sides—worth the trip if you're craving that style. On the flip side, Ek Bar, the only Ottawa location of a Toronto restaurateur, is closing by month-end, so if you've had it on your list, get there soon. Ruby's is brand new in the ByWard Market doing elegant small plates with serious wine focus, and Arlo on Somerset—started as a pandemic wine bar six years ago—has grown into a real restaurant if you want to check in on how far they've come.

Tonight's got options depending on your mood. World-class wheelchair basketball is on at Carleton (IWBF World Championships, men's 9th to 12th place bracket) starting at 10 AM if you want to catch something genuinely high-level sport. CityFolk Festival kicks off at the RA Centre at 5 PM, so live music's there if that's your thing. Cirque du Soleil's Luzia is at St Laurent Shopping Centre at 7 PM—acrobatics and spectacle, indoor and dry. The Chef's Table at the National Arts Centre is sold out at 6 PM, but if you didn't grab tickets, no use looking now. There's also live music at The 27 Club at 7 PM (Opal In Sky, Filth, Feels Like Home) if you want something smaller and scrappier.

Weather's holding at 14°C and mostly cloudy, UV's running high at 6.0, so sunscreen if you're outside for a stretch. Sunset's 7:10 PM, so plan indoor stuff after that if you want to stay warm.

Get sorted. See you around.