Vancouver's had a busy week, and it all feeds into what the city will look and feel like for visitors in the months ahead.

First, the politics. Pete Fry has become Vancouver's first-ever Green Party mayor, unseating incumbent Ken Sim of ABC with what's described as a significant lead. He's joined at city hall by four new Green councillors: Annette Reilly, Stephanie Smith, Camil Dumont, and Bridget Burns. For travellers, that shift could shape everything from cycling infrastructure to park policy over the coming term.

Right now, though, the best reason to be in Vancouver has nothing to do with politics. A run of sunny, calm days has pushed the city's fall foliage to peak colour, with the reds and golds in full display across town. The classics — Stanley Park and Nitobe Memorial Garden — are worth the trip, but locals are swapping quieter corners too: East 7th and Lakewood, West 15th and Highbury, the stretch of Blenheim Street around West 20th to 24th, Carnarvon Street between West 27th and 30th, and Wycliffe Road at Queensland Road among them. These residential streets cost nothing and beat any queue for a paid attraction.

Winter travellers should temper expectations for the slopes. The Weather Network is calling for a complex season driven by a strong El Niño and a weaker-than-usual polar vortex — translation: a warmer-than-normal start to winter in Western Canada, broken up by short, sharp blasts of cold. Alpine areas like Whistler could still score serious snowfall later in the season if high elevations stay cold enough, and a quick fade of El Niño could mean a strong finish. Book late-season trips accordingly.

On the food and drink front, keep an eye on The Moon, a hybrid restaurant and martini bar opening Friday, Oct. 23 in a two-room contemporary space. Early reservations will go fast.

If you're already in town, the week is packed with free, low-key events: a spooky drag-burlesque night at Please Beverage Co, free library screenings including the 1976 Carrie, pumpkin carving at a flower shop, free ice skating at Kerrisdale Arena on Oct. 25, and a scary art exhibit at Slice of Life Gallery. It's a good reminder that Vancouver on a budget can still be genuinely fun.

For a visitor planning a trip, the practical takeaway is this: go now for the foliage and the events calendar, go late for the snow. Either way, you'll get a city in transition — politically and seasonally — with plenty of new spots opening to keep things fresh.