Friday in the 613: mild air, a little warmth, and the weekend starts tonight

Morning, neighbours. It's a mild start to the last Friday of October, with 8°C and partly cloudy skies over Ottawa, which feels generous after the cooler days we've been having. The UV is low at 2.0, so sunglasses are the only real sun gear you need. Sunset comes at 5:53 PM, so you've got about ten hours of daylight to work with. If you're planning anything outdoors this evening, get it sorted before the light goes, and bring a layer for when the temperature drops after dark.

What's happening around town? Erin Coffin has won the Kanata South seat, unseating incumbent Allan Hubley, so there's some fresh political talk in the west end this morning. Also worth knowing: a court has ruled that Ottawa police need to reconsider their denial of a woman's bid to destroy her fingerprints, and a judge has found that the death threats against an Ottawa councillor were motivated by hatred of francophones. Out in Kanata, a black bear was tranquilized and moved after a backyard sighting, so if you're out that way, keep your bins tidy and your pets close.

If you're hungry for something new, Zen Bowl has brought Shanghai soup dumplings and pan-fried buns to Centretown, which is a great reason to head that way for lunch or an early dinner. If you're after a bigger burger night, A&W's new Hot Honey BBQ Teen Burger goes national across Canada starting Thursday, so it should be on menus now. And if you're curious about why a sandwich at Goldie's or Bakery Burger runs $25, the owners have their reasons, so it's a good conversation starter over a meal.

Tonight's the night to get out. There's live music on all over town at 7 PM, from rock and country to folk and family pop. You can catch Tyler Braden with Steven Lee Olsen at the Bronson Centre, Big Wreck at the Hard Rock Cafe, or the Disney Descendants, ZOMBIES and Camp Rock concert at the Canadian Tire Centre. History Ottawa is hosting its Dwayne Gretzky Halloween event at 7 PM too, if you want something a little more playful. For sports fans, the Brantford Bulldogs visit the Ottawa 67s at The Arena at TD Place, also at 7 PM, and that's a solid way to kick off the weekend with a crowd. If you'd rather stay in, a moody night at home with a good series is a perfectly respectable Friday plan.

This weekend is shaping up nicely. Stretch it out with some live rock and emo nights, and keep an eye on the soccer semi-final if you're a match fan. Enjoy the mild air while it lasts, and have a good one out there.