January 19th, 2025

Good Afternoon, Waterloo Region!

I'm on a mission to make sure this newsletter provides you with as much value as possible.

Once you're done reading today... I'd love to hear your feedback if you have a spare moment.

What more would you like to see covered in these emails? What do you enjoy? What do you not particularly like?

And always feel free to share your favourite place to eat (who has the best pizza?!), or a charitable cause you've seen doing great things around the community.

Just hit reply!

In today's email:

• some fun local events & workshops
• a great pizza spot
• what the blobs in a lava lamp are made of
• a new interactive map of the region
• & more

Let's dive in 👇

-Ross at Grand River Buzz

WHAT'S HAPPENING

General

​Cambridge Cabin Fever | January 19th to March 31st | "We've got a curated list of winter fun - classes or activities to participate in, sales on merchandise, a delicious treat or meal, anything worth braving the cold for!" A ton of great stuff in there!

Monday, January 19th

​Author Evening with Paul Langan | Cambridge Public Library, Preston | 6:30pm | "Local author Paul Langan discusses his most recent publication, Forgotten History and Stories of the Railway - Galt, Preston, Hespeler & Area. This event is free!"

​Battle of the Bands: Tech Edition | Maxwell's, Waterloo | 6:30pm | "January’s so-called “most depressing day of the year” is getting a major glow-up! Join us to flip the script — trade the blues for beats, connection, and good vibes while raising awareness for mental health."

Tuesday, January 20th

​Starting a Small Business in Cambridge | Galt Collective 2.0, Cambridge | 5:30pm | "Learn how the City of Cambridge Economic Development & the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre can help you in starting your business. More details at the link."

​Tuesday Night Trivia | Kelsey's, Cambridge | 7pm | "Join Host Liz Coppins for a fun-filled evening of brain-teasing questions and great company. Note: make sure to follow the specific reservation instructions found at the linked page"

​Trivia Tuesday | Scran & Dram Scottish Public House, New Hamburg | 7pm | "This week's theme is the 80's!"

​Jack's Tuesday Night Trivia | Jack Astor's, Kitchener | 7:30pm | "Hosted by your favourite Jack's peeps. Play solo or with a team. Prizes and all around shenanigans."

Wednesday January 21st

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

​2025: In Review Trivia Night | TWB Brewing, Kitchener | 6:30pm | "Questions cover the year’s biggest TV moments, must-see movies, chart-topping music and more. Gather your team, grab a pint, and see who was really paying attention in 2025."

​Paint Night: Night Owl! | KW Humane Society, Kitchener | 6:30pm | "Join us for a fun time painting “Night Owl”at the Kitchener Waterloo Humane Society. This is a great event and $10 from each ticket is donated to the shelter!"

​Unity of Hearts and Minds | Perimeter Institute, Waterloo | 6:45pm | "Join artist Jay Havens for a talk exploring local Haudenosaunee cultural and art history, and the theme of Ka'satsténhsera – Unity of Hearts and Minds. This event is free!"

​Rusty Nail Comedy: PRO AM Night | TWH Social, Kitchener | 7:30pm | "Only $5 bucks!"

​Brooklyn Nine-Nine Trivia Night | AOK Craft Beer & Arcade, Kitchener | 8pm | "Get your team together to prove you're the biggest B99 fans around! No reservation necessary."

Thursday, January 22nd

​Candle Making Workshop | Ernie's Roadhouse, Cambridge | 6:30pm | "Each participant will be provided with all the tools necessary to create two 8oz scented candles & a 6-pack of tea lights."

​A Quintessential Evening of Love, Song & Winter | Huether Hotel, Waterloo | 7pm | "An intimate concert of close-harmony singing, storytelling, and seasonal reflection, presented by Waterloo’s own The Quintessentials"

​Darts Night | TWB Brewing, Kitchener | 7pm | "Partners rotate after each game of '501'. All levels are welcome."

​Grand Harmony Chorus Open House | Christ Lutheran Church, Waterloo | 7pm | "Do you love the thrill of harmony and connection through music?Join us for an inspiring evening of four-part a cappella harmony, friendship, and fun! No experience necessary."

Music Bingo:

• ​Big Shiny Tunes | Scran & Dram Scottish Public House, New Hamburg | 7pm
• ​Back to the 80's | EVO Kitchen & Bar, Cambridge | 7pm
• ​Taylor Swift | The Rabbid Fox, Kitchener | 8pm​

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

WEATHER

🌨️ Mon, Jan. 19th | HIGH -9° | NIGHT -16° | 40% POP | 1cm ❄️

🌨️ Tue, Jan. 20th | HIGH -14° | NIGHT -15° | 40% POP | 1cm ❄️

🌨️ Wed, Jan. 21st | HIGH -2° | NIGHT -10° | 80% POP | 5cm ❄️

🌤️ Thu, Jan. 22nd | HIGH -9° | NIGHT -15° | 30% POP

SPORTS

🥅 Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

6th Overall | 2nd in Western Conference

• 1/16: Kitchener beat Saginaw 7-4. #24 Jack Pridham got the first star with a hat trick & an assist | [Watch Highlights]
• 1/17: Kitchener beat Guelph 4-3. #23 Sam O'Reillly was the first star - chipping in one goal & one assist | [Watch Highlights]​
• Next Game: Wed, Jan 21st | Kitchener at Windsor | 7pm
• Next Home Game: Fri, Jan 23rd | Owen Sound at Kitchener | 7pm | [Buy Tickets]

🏀 KW Titans (BSL)

2nd Overall

• 1/17: KW lost 113-107 to the Sudbury Five in a tight game. #4 Tarkus Ferguson led the way for the Titans with 24 points
• Next Game: Sat, Jan. 24th | KW Titans at Windsor Express | 4pm
• Next Home Game: Sun, Jan 25th | Windsor Express at KW Titans | 3pm | "Superhero game in support of the Children's Miracle Network" | [Buy Tickets]

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT

Interactive "One Million Neighbours" Map Launches: A new collaborative tool has been released to help residents understand how equitably services like transit, green space, and healthcare are distributed across Waterloo Region. Developed by a coalition of over 65 local non-profits, the map allows people to identify service gaps in their own neighbourhoods and use data-driven insights to advocate for community improvements.

"A vision for an inclusive, resilient, and abundant future led by non-profits and grassroots groups."

​[Find Out More]​

FOOD & DRINK IN THE REGION

​Pizzeria Motola | The Gaslight District, Cambridge

"Led by chef Giuliano Motola, Pizzeria Motola brings the authentic flavours of Italy to Galt’s Gaslight District. From hand-stretched dough to carefully sourced ingredients, every pizza is a tribute to Italian craftsmanship—simple, honest, and unforgettable. Walk up, take a bite, and experience pizza the way it was meant to be."

While pizza is their speciality, they've got a ton of other authentic Italian dishes to choose from as well.

Running alongside the 'Cabin Fever' event in Cambridge until the end of March, they've got fun 'Signature Experiences' each day to keep things fresh. The 'make your own pizza with Chef Motola' classes on Tuesdays sound fun!

Here's a raving, 5 star google review from Jean last week (she had even more great stuff to say, but here's the main part):

"Pizzeria Motolo is an absolute gem in the Gaslight District. This is truly authentic Italian pizza - from the traditional Italian oven to the ingredients and execution, everything is done properly. The service was outstanding. You can tell immediately that the staff are genuinely Italian, and their hospitality reflects it: warm, attentive, and passionate about what they do."

You can check out their menu here. And please let me know what you think if you end up going!

* this is not a sponsored placement. ads will always be made obvious if so.

RANDOM FACTS OF THE DAY

Mr. Potato Head was the first toy ever advertised on television. When it debuted in 1952, it was also the first time a toy was marketed directly to children rather than parents. (I found a link to the commercial here!)

The blobs in a Lava Lamp are actually wax. The heat from a lightbulb at the base melts the wax, making it slightly less dense than the surrounding liquid so it rises, then cools and sinks back down.

Trees communicate through an underground "Wood Wide Web." Using a complex network of soil fungi (mycorrhizae), trees can share nutrients, water, and even "chemical signals" to warn each other about incoming pests or drought. (There's a fantastic book called 'The Hidden Life of Trees' by Peter Wohlleben if you're interested in this type of stuff.)

THANK YOU!

Hope you're having a great start to the week and we'll see you again Thursday. 🐝

​

ps. As mentioned in the intro, I'd love your feedback! Good or bad - just hit 'reply' to let me know.

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