TL;WR

Nov 21, 2016

Eating and drinking and working.

This Thursday is Waterloo Public Library's signature event of the year. After Hours @ The Library is an inspirational evening celebrating local speakers who will share anecdotes and stories from their extraordinary experiences. There willl be delicious canapés from local restaurants and caterers, cocktails and draw prizes. Friday, November 25 from 7pm to 9:30pm at the Main Library, 35 Albert St, Waterloo.

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In new things I learned this week news, Waterloo Region Eats has a podcast and the latest episode features Nick Benninger of Taco Farm Co.

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Looking to get into homebrewing. Are you an accomplished homebrewer who wants to meet other homebrewers? This sounds like a missed connection. ANYWAY, Short Finger Brewing Co has their Homebrew Hangout this Saturday, November 26 from 4pm to 7pm. (20 Hurst Ave. Kitchener)

The annual Christmas in the Village in Belmont Village is this Saturday, November 26 from 11am to 4pm. There are horse-drawn carriage rides, chances to win Belmont Village gift cards and drop by Belmont Village Financial Group to write a letter to Santa while enjoying a hot chocolate! Plus, Arabella Park may be open and even if it's not, you can just stand outside and wait with me. Belmont restaurants are also collecting food and monetary donations for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region for Giving Tuesday.

Where to shop local.

Arts and crafts are better with beer. Join Living Fresh Flower Studio and School on Wednesday, November 23 as they take you through the steps of making your own seasonal wreath to decorate your home with (or gift to a friend!). Each ticket includes materials for one holiday wreath, 1 pint from Creemore Springs, and access to THEMUSEUM's exhibitions before the event begins. (10 King St W, Kitchener)

Can art make meaningful social change? The Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery (101 Queen St N, Kitchener) is hosting a discussion with artists Carole Condé and Karl Beveridge, curator Wanda Nanibush, and writer Clive Robertson. Thursday, November 24 from 7pm to 9pm.

Over in Midtown, head over to open mic night at the Berlin Bicycle Cafe on Friday, November 25 from 7pm to 11pm. Friday night features musician Richard Garvey. (701 Belmont Ave West, Kitchener)

Have you kept the stories you wrote as a kid? You're not alone if you did and if you want to hear what others saved, Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids at The Registry Theatre (122 Frederick St., Kitchener) is where you'll want to be on Sunday, November 27 from 8pm to 10:30pm. It's an open-mic evening of book reports, poetry, diary entries, letters from camp, etc. — all read out loud by adults to a room full of strangers.

What to do.

Over the next weeks, we'll be bringing local holdiay shopping ideas to you. Today's tip is if you're looking for something to make your special someone smell great. Cocoon Apothecary (72 St. Leger Unit 2B, Kitchener) has a pop-up holiday market this Saturday, November 26 from 11am to 5pm.

Waterloo's hottest holiday market is The Etsy Waterloo Region Holiday Market. Etsy Waterloo Region has gone all out with a group of vendors that will make you say "Amazon what?" This market has everything. Banjo Puppets, Collar Ballers, Paint by Munzy, Rawkett Jewelry, and a bear. Wait, that's Bearface Johnson. The market runs this Saturday, November 26 from 10am to 5pm at RIM Park (2001 University Ave E, Waterloo)

Downtown's Open Sesame has a storewide 20% sale on now until November 30th. You can get Stay Home Club merch for the cat lover in your crew. (220 King St W, Kitchener).