Clear, cold, and a little bit of everything on a Tuesday in Ottawa

Morning, Ottawa. It's a clear, crisp Tuesday, sitting right at zero degrees, so the coffee is doing real work today. The sky is cloudless and the UV is only a 3, which means sunglasses are enough and you don't need to slather up for the walk to the bus. You'll have 10 hours and 23 minutes of daylight, and the sun goes down at 5:58 PM, so if you're planning anything after work, it'll be dark by the time you're heading home. Dress in layers and keep the gloves handy.

If you're getting around the city this morning, there's one thing worth knowing: the commercial vehicle blitz pulled 20 trucks off the roads in the west end, so the traffic may be a little lighter there than usual, though we don't have any specific closures to report. Give yourself the usual cushion on the LRT and bus routes, and if you're driving, leave a few extra minutes on the arterials just to be safe.

On the local front, Clarke Kelly was re-elected in West Carleton–March Ward 5 with a comfortable 2,144-vote margin, which is good news for the folks out that way. Ottawa police are also asking for help identifying a man wanted in connection with an assault on an OC Transpo bus, so if you were riding a route recently and noticed something, it's worth reaching out. Over in Stittsville, the village association is marking 25 years and has elected a new board, a nice reminder of how much the community has built over time. And across Ontario, voters are heading to the polls today, with Ottawa's mayoral race among the three headliners, so if you haven't voted yet, make a plan to get it done.

For lunch, Zen Bowl has brought Shanghai soup dumplings and pan-fried buns to Centretown, which is a great way to warm up on a cold day. If you're in the mood for something different, Kat Ferries, one of the city's top chefs, has traded the grueling kitchen hours for more sustainable work at a butcher shop, so there's a chance to catch her cooking in a new setting.

Tonight there are some solid options for a weeknight out. CBC Radio's the Debaters is at The Bronson at 6:15 PM, a good pick if you like your comedy quick and smart. For something heavier, Quest Master with Blade of Kino is at Club SAW at 8:00 PM, and if you prefer French chanson, Serge Fiori's Seul Ensemble is at the Théâtre du Casino du Lac-Leamy at the same time. Since it's cold and dark by evening, all three are indoor plans, so you can take your pick based on your mood.

Have a good one, and bundle up out there.