January 12th, 2025

Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region!

Anyone else pumped for the upcoming Winter Olympics?!

I absolutely love watching a bunch of random sports that I haven't seen in 4 years - but then get heavily invested into like I'm a family member of a participating athlete.

Hopefully they get a move on finishing the hockey rink too... we've got a couple gold medals to win there.

In today's email:

• a ton of fun events for all ages
• what a sunset on Mars looks like
• local sports updates
• a superb restaurant in Uptown Waterloo
• & more

Let's dive in 👇

-Ross at Grand River Buzz

WHAT'S HAPPENING

General

​A Distiller's Tale: The Art and Legacy of the Seagram Distillery | City of Waterloo Museum, Conestoga Mall | Tuesday-Friday's from 10am-4pm | "Discover the rich history, craftsmanship, and local impact of Waterloo’s iconic whisky industry in a fun, family-friendly environment. This engaging exhibit features hands-on interactives for all ages, making it a perfect outing for curious minds. And remember, admission is always free!"

Tuesday, January 13th

​Beginner Line Dancing Class | Firesade Haven Studio, Cambridge | 5:45pm | "Perfect for beginners—easy steps, great music, lots of laughs, and a welcoming community."

​Paint Night: "I'm Snow Happy" | Kelsey's, Kitchener | 6:30pm | "Unleash your creative side with a paintbrush in hand and a canvas in front of you. Our experienced artist will guide you in creating a beautiful masterpiece to take home as a lasting memory of your paint and sip night out."

Tuesday night is Trivia Night! Lot's of options this evening:

• Kelsey's, Cambridge | 7pm | Info​
• Scran & Dram, New Hamburg | 7pm | Info​
• Jack Astor's, Kitchener | 7:30pm | Info​
• Boston Pizza, Cambridge | 7:30pm | Info​

Wednesday, January 14th

​Cakes & Cocktails Workshop | Ernie's Roadhouse, Cambridge | 6pm | "Come on out to Ernie's and join us in making this whimsical elephant! We will also be learning how to use rice paper to create elements that can be used on a cake."

​Skate Night | Waterloo Public Square | 6pm | "Ice skating, a local DJ and food trucks. This week's theme is Hip Hop!"

​Euchre Night | TWB Brewing, Kitchener | 7pm | "Join us for an evening of fun and new friends! New to Euchre? Come learn the basics at 6:30 pm!"

​Rusty Nail Comedy: PRO AM Night | TWH Social, Kitchener | 7:30pm

​Modern Family Trivia Night | AOK Craft Beer & Arcade, Cambridge | 8pm | "It's your chance to prove you're the biggest Modern Family fan in town! 8pm start, any team size is welcome."

Thursday, January 15th

​Adult Crafternoons | Waterloo Public Library (McCormick Branch) | 2pm | "Enjoy a relaxing, creative atmosphere while trying out different projects and techniques. All adults are welcome - no experience necessary."

​Winter Wonderland Dot-Painting Workshop | Junior's Sportsbar & Grill, Cambridge | 6pm | "Create your own frosty masterpiece in a fun, relaxing atmosphere"

​Cards & Coffee | Cafe Clementina, Kitchener | 6pm | "Every 3rd Thursday of the month we play Magic: The Gathering - raffle prizes, tasty treats, yummy drinks & good times."

​KW Social Club: DIY Goal Punch Cards | Gaukel Creative Workspace, Kitchener | 6:30pm | "Join us for an evening of crafting, goal setting, and good conversation as you design your own custom goal punch cards."

​Dry Humour Comedy Event | The Boathouse, Kitchener | 7pm | "A sober comedy show featuring headlining internet sensation Andrew Barr and opener Gavin Coscarella - where laughter is the buzz."

​Musical Bingo: Classic Rock | EVO Kitchen & Bar, Cambridge | 7pm

​Trivia Night | Wave Maker Craft Brewery, Cambridge | 7pm

​Indie Music Night | Maxwell's, Waterloo | 7:30pm | "Performances by: Next Winter, Maria Gabrielle & Corduroy Blue and Eric Folino"

​The Brutal Comedy Tour | KW Little Theatre, Waterloo | 8pm | "High-energy, brutally honest, and zero boundaries - headlined by Greg Palone (YukYuks, CBS) & Ben Albert (40M+ Views on Tiktok, Kill Tony)."

​Traitors Watch Party | Whoopsie Daisy Drinks, Kitchener | 9pm ​

* none of these events are sponsored. that will always be made obvious if so.

WEATHER

☁️ Mon, Jan. 12th | HIGH -2° | NIGHT -2° | 30% POP

🌨️ Tue, Jan. 13th | HIGH 2° | NIGHT -1° | 80% POP | 1cm ❄️ | 2-4mm 💧

🌨️ Wed, Jan. 14th | HIGH 1° | NIGHT -14° | 70% POP | 2-4cm ❄️

🌨️ Thu, Jan. 15th | HIGH -11° | NIGHT -13° | 60% POP | 1-3cm ❄️

SPORTS

🥅 Kitchener Rangers | 6th overall | 2nd in Western Conference

• 1/9: Kitchener beat Oshawa 4-2 | Highlights​
• 1/10: Kitchener beat Owen Sound 7-4 | Highlights​
• Next Game: Fri, Jan. 16th | Saginaw at Kitchener | 7pm | Tickets​​

🏀 KW Titans | 1st overall

The Titans won 2 of 3 games away in Montreal over the weekend, solidifying their place at the top of the standings with 6 wins and 1 loss to start the season.

• 1/9: KW at Montreal | Titans won 111-107
• 1/10: KW at Montreal | Titans lost 110-103
• 1/11: KW at Montreal | Titans won 100-90
• Next Game: Sat, Jan. 17th | Sudbury Five at KW Titans | 4pm | Tickets | There's a 'Stuff the Hummer' event going on at this game in support of The Food Bank Of Waterloo

* what other sports would you like to see included here? reply to let me know what you'd find useful!

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT

​City of Waterloo Summer Jobs Fair | Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex | Wednesday, January 14th from 4:30-7pm

"Each summer, the city hires over 85 staff to support parks, camps, aquatics, programming, special events and more.The Summer Job Fair is a great way to meet staff, learn more about working for the city and gain a better understanding of roles and the application process."

​Waterloo Region's 2026 Plan & Budget | I shared this a month or so ago, but resurfacing for anyone that might've missed it... (plus we've got a lot of new faces lately - welcome to the Buzz!!)

FOOD & DRINK IN THE REGION

​Proof Kitchen + Lounge | 110 Erb St. W, Waterloo (inside the Delta Hotel)

"Located in Uptown Waterloo’s historic Barrel Yards, Proof Kitchen + Lounge is a restaurant that offers an upscale contemporary dining experience coupled with a menu that reflects a dedication to using thoughtfully chosen ingredients with a local and world-conscious initiative – we make good choices. From breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner to late night to weekends, our menu is complemented by expertly crafted cocktails, a renowned wine list, and a great selection of local craft beers. The setting for all this is a space that will delight the senses and create a perfect backdrop to every occasion."

We were there for dinner recently! The food was awesome and I thought the service was excellent as well. They really made sure everyone was taken care of, and happy with what they chose. They've got a variety of great dishes to choose from & there's something for everyone. Good little kids menu as well.

As always, don't just take my word. Here's a glowing, 5 star google review from James last year:

"It was a great restaurant and great food but the area that really stood out for me was the service! Kyle was our server and he was EXCEPTIONAL! He was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and was the mixologist that created some of their signature cocktails. He was engaging and funny and enhanced the whole experience!"

While I've only been for dinner (the burger was really good!), have heard great things about their brunch setup. They've also got great Happy Hour deals - Monday through Sunday from 3-6pm.

You can check out their different menus here - enjoy!

* this is not a sponsored placement, just a favourite of mine. ads will always be made obvious if so.

RANDOM FACTS OF THE DAY

Dolphins have names for each other. Research shows that dolphins use specific "signature whistles" to identify and call out to one another, much like humans use names.

Sunsets on Mars are blue. While we enjoy orange and red sunsets on Earth, the dust in the Martian atmosphere scatters blue light more effectively, creating a blue glow around the Sun.

The Great Wall of China is held together by sticky rice. While the wall was built using various materials over centuries, during the Ming dynasty, workers used a mortar made of slaked lime and sticky rice soup to bind the bricks.

THANK YOU!

Hope you have a great week and we'll see you Thursday 🐝

​

ps. I'd love your feedback. Whether it's something you like, or hate, or want to see more/less of - please let me know! My goal is to make sure you're getting value from these emails, and the important info you need. Just hit 'reply'.

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