re: "Mars is unusually bright tonight"
Np, Tom, it isn't all in your head. Other observers have commented that it appears pale - more of a yellow-orange, than red.
Sometimes dust storms will lighten up the surface, but there aren't any storms on it currently.
Mars is rapidly approaching its closest opposition in over 50,000 years, on Aug 27. The disk is getting bigger.
My guess (& this is just a guess) is that the larger disk is reflecting back more sunlight