Rain on the Drive today, so plan your night indoors

Morning, Vancity. It's a wet one out there, 10 degrees and a steady light rain, and Environment Canada has a rainfall warning up, so leave the good shoes in the closet and grab the umbrella that actually works. Sunset is 5:37 this evening, which gives you about nine and a half hours of daylight, but with the sky this heavy you'll be walking home in the dark no matter when you leave, so bring something bright to wear.

If you're heading out toward Surrey, pay attention before you go. Highway 99 is closed north of Whistler after rocks and a power pole came down on the road, so if anyone you know is planning a trip up the Sea-to-Sky, let them know it's not happening today. Closer to home, the 394 and 321 buses out of White Rock Centre are on a detour starting around 6:25 this morning, running via Highway 10, 152 Street, 32 Avenue and King George to the South Surrey Park & Ride before getting back on their regular route, because of a motor vehicle accident and a road block. Give yourself extra time on that run. On the transit side downtown, the middle escalator between the Compass Vending machine level and the concourse at Burrard Station on the Expo Line is out for maintenance, so if your knees are used to that escalator, take the stairs or the other side.

A bit of good news on the local front: Seaspan's Careen drydock is back in Burrard Inlet after a nine-month upgrade in Indonesia, so if you're on the seawall this week, you'll see her riding in the inlet again. Pacific Blue Cross members can vote every day through November 24 on a $50,000 pool that includes Richmond's autism network, so it takes about thirty seconds on your phone and it's worth doing. Meanwhile the Highland Valley Copper strike is in its third week, with 1,277 workers off the job since October 24, and the federation is calling for a product freeze. And in Surrey, Mayor McCallum has asked council to back all 15 of his campaign promises at the first meeting.

For lunch, UGM is still serving about 600 meals a day in the Downtown Eastside at $5.45 each, which is a good reminder of what a few dollars can do. If you're looking for something to plan around for dinner, the OpenTable Top 100 picks include Kavita and Sumibiyaki Arashi, both worth booking ahead on a wet night when everyone else has the same idea.

Tonight is a good one to stay in, or at least stay under a roof. Penn & Teller are at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre at 8:00, and Dax is at the Vogue at the same time. Lucy Bedroque is playing The Pearl at 7:30 and again at 8:30 if you miss the first set. If you're a hockey person, the Spokane Chiefs are in town to face the Vancouver Giants at the Langley Events Centre at 8:00. Tomorrow is Remembrance Day, so the city is a little quieter in the morning, and the weekend is stacked with Cirque, comedy and live indie acts if you want to reset after the week.

Stay dry, drive careful, and I'll see you on the seawall when the rain lets up. Cheers.