Bonjour, Quebec!

No Bonhomme in sight here.
Oh, sure, there's a bit of a nip in the air on this crisp, gorgeous autumn day. But Carnaval — and the accompanying snow and winter's bite — are still many months away in this historic Quebecois city.
(insert requisite sigh of relief here).
A carnival of patinage artistique (as the French-speaking majority here would put it), though ... well, that awaits us all this weekend during HomeSense Skate Canada, which has chosen to visit Le Colisee (where the NHL's Quebec Nordiques once ruled the ice) for the annual fall event which offers the obvious reminder that a new season has indeed begun.
You are greeted by history everywhere you turn in this city (and not just the old pipes hanging over our heads in the media centre). A friendly volunteer (who, I must confess, wisely cheers for the World Series champion Boston Red Sox like moi), points out the famed Plains of Abraham on the drive in from Jean Lesage Airport.
We see the oldest active fort in North America.
Then, the narrow streets of Old Quebec that wind their way toward the majestic Chateau Frontenac, which is home base for us all this weekend.
The fun on the ice begins in a few hours with the dance compulsories. And while the two-time world silver medallists from Montreal, the elegant and charming Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, have been spotted at the hotel, they're not in the field here (actually, they won't be seen anywhere but on the tour circuit this season).
So who to watch?
Most of the top Canadians are here, including reigning national champions Jeffrey Buttle, Joannie Rochette and Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, fresh off a breakthrough triumph at Skate America in Reading, Pa.
The event also gives skating fans here a glimpse of some of the best from the rest of the world. Start with the current king of the men, France's Brian Joubert. Throw in Japan's Mao Asada (she of the effortless triple Axels) and Emily Hughes of the U.S., to name two.
We'll get to the rest as the weekend progresses (check the entry list off to the right if you can't wait).
If you followed our Halifax Chronicles at Canadians last January, you know what you'll find here. A little less of the hard-news descriptive stuff, a bit more of the human touch.
With the odd touch of whimsy thrown in here and there.
Stop by often during the weekend.
We'll do our best to make it worth your time.