First frost warning, new spots to eat, live music tonight

Morning. We've dipped from mild to properly autumnal overnight. You're looking at 6°C today under mostly cloudy skies, but the real story is what happens after sunset at 7:01 PM — temperatures are sliding down to 3°C, and there's a frost advisory in effect. If you've got plants or a garden still going, now's the time to think about covering anything tender. The UV's high enough that if the sun breaks through you'll burn, so the usual SPF logic applies even on a grey day like this.

On the commute side, things are running normal. Nothing blocking the usual routes into the Hill or across to Gatineau this morning.

There's been some movement on the hospital front: Ottawa Hospital capped involuntary layoffs at 17 after offering early retirement packages and freezing positions instead. Separate from that, the federal property manager still hasn't added new office space despite the four-days-a-week return-to-office push — worth tracking if you're in the public service wrestling with desk space. Police have also increased presence at synagogues and Jewish community sites across the city following the Belleville shooting.

On the food front, there's been turnover. Nutty Greek Bake Shop on Preston is closing after 15 years, and Ek Bar — the only Ottawa location of the Toronto restaurateur's operation — is shutting by month-end. If you haven't been, now's the moment. On the flip side, Ruby's just opened in the ByWard Market with elegant small plates and an ambitious wine program if you're looking to try something new. Arlo on Somerset, which started as a pandemic wine bar six years ago, has quietly become a serious restaurant worth a reservation.

Tonight you've got two solid live shows if you're feeling it. ERRA plays the Bronson Centre at 7:00 PM, and the Dune Rats are at the 27 Club at 7:30 PM — both indoor, so the cold won't bite. Heavy or alt-rock, depending on your mood. The Sens are in preseason prep heading into the final stretch, and they dropped one to Montreal in overtime recently.

This is the first day of autumn, officially. The Canal will be calling again soon enough, but for now, grab the heavier jacket and remember the frost warning overnight. Mittens aren't silly yet.

Stay warm out there.