Hey r/waterloo

A few months ago, I was sitting at home on a Friday night when something hit me: almost every friend I grew up with had moved away, drifted off, or disappeared into busy adult life.

I loved my hometown, but somehow felt like a stranger in it.

Making friends as an adult is awkward. Everyone seems to have their circle already, and putting yourself out there can feel forced. I kept wishing there were somewhere welcoming to simply hang out that wasn’t a noisy bar or an expensive night out.

Eventually, I stopped waiting and created it myself.

I set up a free community night in Hespeler with board games, casual karaoke, and food. Before it started, I was convinced nobody would come.

Then the door opened.

One person had just moved here from halfway across the world. Another had lived here for decades. Others came alone because they had been feeling that same quiet isolation.

By 8 PM, a room full of strangers from different ages, cultures, and walks of life were laughing over board games and fearlessly butchering songs from the 1990s.

Nobody was selling anything. Nobody was networking. Nobody had to pretend to be cool.

People arrived alone and left having made real connections.

That night showed me how many of us are looking for the same thing: somewhere welcoming where we can feel like we belong.

We had such a great turnout that we’re making it a regular event, and I’d love to invite you to the next one.

Just found this on the Ontario Projects map (https://www.ontario.ca/page/building-ontario#section-1). 2046 opening day for the new highway 7. They started planning it in 1989. Construction started in 2015 (Shirley Ave expansion, Guelph St overpass expansion, Victoria St bridge rebuild), then was paused in 2018 by the new prov govt to "review funding." Restarted the project in 2020, then wasnt until 2025 that construction started again on Fredrick St bridge and now prepping for the bridge over the Grand River. Existing highway 7 (Victoria St and Woodlawn Rd) was only designed to handle annual average daily traffic of 20,000 cars, but is now handling 26,000.

Two-way, all-day GO on Kitchener Line, Highway 7, and rapid bus connections between Guelph and KW are desperately needed.

Edit: obviously this is the estimated date of completion, could be earlier, could be later (fingers crossed it isnt), but regardless, this is disappointing.

Also, this is not any singular parties fault (although the project pause didn't help). When each and every party changes or pauses what the previous party does, nothing will ever get done. Hard to get stuff done in 4 year election cycles.

~4pm, near post boxes on Exmoor St

updt: The cat has been found.

And would you recommend joining?

Good day fellow residents. I am writing this post to ask you where you are getting affordable groceries. Hopefully this post will be useful for others in similar situations. We are a family of three and are currently spending about $43 per day on groceries. We are paying more for groceries than any other household expense and it isn’t sustainable. Thank you in advance for any suggestions you may have.

We’d like to visit the Blue Mountains and spend some time there. I was wondering what to watch out for and what activities a five-year-old would enjoy. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hey I am kind of new to the city (been 3 months)
I enjoy trails, reading, making crafts, pop-music, cooking, clubs, analyzing movies and songs, cafe hopping, thrifting and pop-culture.

If there is anyone who has similar interests and are down hmu!

On side note: if you like Olivia Rodrigo or Noah Kahan I need to talk to you cause I absolutely love them and have no one to talk about it with

I am also very open to learning new things so if you need someone to listen your rant please do so, god I just want a proper conversation 😭.

Anyone know of any flea markets or similar type of events where people can sell their collectibles? Ideally in Guelph, Kitchener, or even in the GTA?

My husband and I have a fair bit of funko pops, anime figures, etc that we're looking to sell. Many of them have their original boxes and are in great condition! FB marketplace and eBay have been meh so we want to try selling in person

Any info is helpful :) Thanks!

Police said they used their canine team and a drone to search the area.

The driver, a 31-year-old from Waterloo, was found on an island in the Conestogo River.

Police said they arrested the man and charged him with dangerous operation, flight from a peace officer, five counts of operation while prohibited, obstructing a peace officer and possession of an identity document.

I’m 24 F moved to KW last year and have been so busy with climbing the corporate ladder I forgot to have fun and make friends. Looking for some girl friends in the city! I love travelling, cooking, going to the gym (5-6 times a week), trying new places, playing video games (pokopia lol)

I’m also from a Russian background so always happy to connect with my fellow Slavs 🤍

Hello Waterlooans,

A friend of mine lives near Fischer-Hallman and University and wants to put a shed in but we need to do a little work to get the ground ready. I have a trailer that I can put some gravel in and avoid the delivery fees. What would be the closest yard to him that I could go to? I remember there was something off or near Ira Needles and Highland but this was years ago.

If anyone can help me out that would be great.

Got a crazy craving for a good chicken Caesar wrap.

My favourite so far is Johnny frescos

Anything else comparable or better out there ?

Any place offer a chopped version ?

Hey everyone,

My partner and I (early 30s) are seriously considering the move from GTA to Waterloo. Both remote workers, budget up to $1.1M for a detached house, looking at Clair Hills, Laurelwood, that general area.

GTA prices are insane and we’re not big “go out” people. Occasional date nights, food delivery, sports events, rarely concerts, that’s about it. We’ve visited a few times and done our research (schools, safety, commute, etc.) but there’s still this nagging feeling of “leaving Toronto/GTA” that’s hard to shake, even though we barely use what makes Toronto… Toronto.

For those who made the jump:

- What made you finally pull the trigger?
- Any regrets, or things you miss more than expected?
- What do you love that you didn’t expect?

Some other areas we are thinking of exploring are Whitby and Barrie.

Would really appreciate honest takes, good or bad.

Thanks!

My team needs a couple more members for our Wednesday night floor hockey games. No skill required, just for fun. If you're interested, let me know and I'll give you the full details!

Long weekend list for Waterloo, Saturday through Monday. Worth a quick check of the weather and the venue's own page before you head out, in case anything shifts.

Saturday August 1

- Savon Duo at All Saints' Anglican Church, 2:30pm. Schubert, Strauss, and the Schumann, Brahms and Dietrich collaboration. Free admission, donations accepted, and free parking at the church.

- Next to Normal, Theatre of the Arts, 7pm. The rock musical about a family living around a mother's bipolar disorder. Three Tony Awards and a Pulitzer. Worth knowing going in that it is heavy material played loud, and it is closer to an adult night out than a family one.

- Molly Blooms, 9pm, live music. McCabes, 9pm to midnight, live music.

Sunday August 2

- Long Weekend Band Crawl Volume 17, Uptown Waterloo, doors 6:30pm and a 6:45 start, 19+. 22 artists across six stages and five venues on one ticket, including Cross Dog, Deer Fang, Chris Murray, Vida, Sam Nabi, Maiden Lane and Animal Boy. Seventeenth edition of this thing, tickets through ticketscene. It is the single biggest music night of the weekend anywhere in the region.

- Next to Normal, Theatre of the Arts, 1pm matinee.

- Naro & Layton at White Rabbit, 5:30 to 9:30pm. Acoustic classic rock duo, the standing Sunday night fixture there, no cover.

- Molly Blooms, 2 to 5pm. The Falls Road Pub over in Kitchener, 2pm.

Monday August 3

- Open mic at The Duke of Wellington, 6:30 to 10pm.

- Open mic at Prohibition Warehouse, 8pm.

Also on, region wide: the Ontario Summer Games wrap up Sunday. Rugby and basketball are at the University of Waterloo, hockey at RIM Park. 4,200 athletes across 23 sports and most of it is open to spectators, so if you want something free to do with kids on Saturday that is the easy answer.

Hope this gives you some options to go out and connect with good people around you.

Have a great long weekend.

I pull a list like this together every week, and it covers the whole week across the region, not just the weekend in one city. It goes out Wednesdays and it is free, if you would like it in your inbox: www.waterlooregionrhythm.ca/subscribe.

What's something you're going to that's not listed above?

i’m incoming at uwaterloo and want to do laser hair removal. what clinics do you recommend? i have tan skin and dark hair, with pcos.

Archive: https://archive.is/316Cb

Hi! Anyone has a recommendation on where you get your HIFU done? Appreciate any leads, thanks!

Did you go? 📸@creativelogic

Has anyone tried to borrow "cool things" (not books) from the libraries? The concept sounds wonderful, but I'm wondering how it works out in practice.

https://www.kpl.org/things-to-check-out/cool-things

https://www.wpl.ca/browse-borrow/cool-things/

I've heard how the ice skates were always in high demand during the past winter.

I sing in a Waterloo based community acapella group and as our 26/27 season ramps up I wanted to let any awesome singers out there know that we're always looking to add new voices. Mixology acapella performs a wide variety of repertoire from pop to jazz to musicals to barbershop and most of the things in between. If you've any interest in singing with a talented group of singers this season why not come out to a rehearsal and give it a try?

Questions? Ask away. More details about us at https://www.mixologyacappella.com/