Remembrance Day in the Rain: Slow Down and Stay Put

Morning, Vancity. It's Remembrance Day, so most of us have the day off, and after two days of rain it's a relief to see it's a bit milder out there. It's 15 degrees with a light rainshower hanging around, so bring a jacket you don't mind getting damp rather than something you'll be precious about. UV is basically nothing today, so sunscreen can stay in the bag. Sunset comes at 5:36, which gives you about nine and a bit hours of daylight, plenty of time for a walk, a long brunch or a wander down to the seawall between showers.

If you're heading out to the suburbs, know that the up escalator from the south bus loop to the mezzanine at Surrey Central Station is out of service for now, so give yourself a few extra minutes if you're relying on it. The same goes for King George Station, where the up escalator from the Compass vending machine level to the Waterfront-bound platform is down, and for Nanaimo Station, where that same escalator is out until Thursday at 4 PM for maintenance. Take the stairs or build in some buffer time. Also worth noting: the 325 Newton Exchange out of Surrey Central now leaves at 2:45 PM instead of 2:44.

On the wider front, the Capilano River Salmon Hatchery is closed to visitors while it gets a $49-million rebuild, so if you had a plan to go see the fish up North Van way, that one's on hold. Down in Surrey, SkyTrain work has Fraser Highway closed to through traffic for about a month. And there's a storm coming that could bring heavy rain and possible flooding to South Coast highways through the end of the week, so if you're driving anywhere, leave room and keep an eye on conditions before you go. The police also out in the Interior are still handing out tickets for dangerous driving in bad conditions, including one unlucky driver clocked at 166 km/h in fog on Highway 97C near Merritt. Please don't be that person.

For lunch or dinner, UGM is still serving around 600 meals a day in the Downtown Eastside at $5.45 a plate, a good reminder that community kitchens keep the city fed. If you're looking for something special, Kavita and Sumibiyaki Arashi both made Vancouver's OpenTable Top 100, so either is a solid bet for a cosy night in.

Tonight there's plenty on. Brett Goldstein is at the Orpheum at 8 PM, Cirque du Soleil's Luzia is under the big top, Suzy Sheer is at Fortune Sound Club, and the Taste of Iceland's Airwaves Off show is at The Pearl, all starting at 8. Indoors suits the weather best, so pick one and enjoy it. If you're more into hockey, the Delta Ice Hawks are at the Langley Trappers at George Preston Recreation Centre tonight at 8 as well.

Have a good one, and take a moment today to remember the folks who gave so much. Look after yourselves out there. Cheers.