This week in the newsletter: Rusty Nail heads to Cambridge for a Thursday night show, the Panthers have their home opener at Jack Couch Park, and Bright Side Skate Supply dropped a new video.

What to do.

Tuesday, May 12

Florida-based, folk-driven storyteller, Nick Shrubsole - aka Snow Bird - brings the grit of his Canadian punk roots (Broadcast Zero) back to TWB Brewing Co-Op. Joining him for this acoustic show is Anthony Damiao - aka The Song Man. Playing banjo and guitar, he blends elements from country, punk and ragtime. $10 or PWYC at the door.

"Because I said so" isn't an effective way to argue. Check out Debate 101: Communicate and Argue Effectively at KPL's central library at 7 pm. Participants will explore how to organize their thoughts, support their opinions with clear reasoning, and communicate effectively in group discussions. 

Wednesday, May 13

Are you a Disney kid at heart? Put your knowledge to the test at TWB Brewing's Disney Trivia Night! Gather your crew and get ready for a magical evening filled with fun facts, friendly competition, and a sprinkle of pixie dust. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 on trivia day and include a 12-oz beer or non-alcoholic beverage.

Emmanuel Concerts presents Lily Frost with the York Street Thought Process at 7:30 pm. With a career spanning over 30 years, Lily Frost is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, recording artist, performer, and mentor whose music seamlessly blends indie pop, jazz, folk, and vintage influences. 

KPL has Lit and Wit: A Novel Trivia Night at the central library at 7:30 pm.

Canadian cyclist and speed skater Clara Hughes is bringing her Open Heart, Open Mind talk to the Humanities Theatre at the University of Waterloo. In her talk, Clara shares a powerful and personal story beyond her athletic success. After early Olympic experiences, she faced severe depression — hidden beneath the pressures of elite sport. Her journey toward healing became central to her return to competition and her life’s purpose. 

Thursday, May 14

Seeds Canada and Little Mushroom Catering are hosting Tapas & Trivia at 6 pm. Every ticket helps support women in Seeds Canada residential program as they step into freedom, healing, and a new future.

Rusty Nail Comedy heads to Pops & Rubys in Cambridge for a special Thursday night show featuring headliner Drew Behm (Just for Laughs, the Halifax Comedy Festival, Seattle Comedy Competition) at 7:30 pm.

Maxwell's presents the Underground Live Music Performance Vol.1, a night of raw, high-energy underground sounds. The local lineup is set to take over the stage, featuring Yungkiddxiety, MYSTXCC, H3SO, KIZZZMO, and XIM, five emerging artists each bringing their own unique style and presence.

The Rabbid Fox has 80s Workout Music Bingo from 8 to 10 pm.

Wave Maker Craft Brewery has Music Bingo at 7:30 pm.

Friday, May 15

Garlic Breath is an interdisciplinary theatre experiment from classical cellist Miriam Stewart-Kroeker (KW Symphony), storyteller Ben Gorodetsky (Pinch), and director Lianna Makuch (Stratford Festival). These three powerhouse artists bring their distinct styles to a piece that explores memories, melodies, and smells of grandmaternal love and trauma. 7 pm at the KW Little Theatre.

Kick off the long weekend with DJ Midlife Crisis - Freestyling Through the Decades at TWB Brewing Co-Op. Plus, The Lord of the Tacos is hosting a food pop-up on the patio from 4:30-8:30 pm.

Midnight Run has an acoustic country night showcase featuring Joel Betts & Charlie Weston at 7:30 pm.

Maxwell's has the Boogie Down Broadway: A Singalong Dance Party at 6 pm. From Wicked and Les Mis to Hamilton and beyond, expect wall-to-wall Broadway favorites played loud and proud. With a live DJ and singing host keeping the energy high, this isn’t a sit-down show — it’s a full-on singalong dance party where the crowd becomes the cast.

Get ready for an immersive prohibition-era train experience! For the night, Waterloo Central Railway becomes a rolling speakeasy, and you become part of the operation. The booze is hot. The cops are watching. And somebody’s going to crack! This isn’t a show you watch. It’s a show you get to be in. Make sure you dress the part for the chance at a special prize!

Mandy and Chris are playing live at the Rabbid Fox starting at 7:30 pm.

The Boathouse has Kat Steeves live starting at 7 pm. With a unique blend of folk, jazz, and pop influences ranging from Noah Kahan and Donovan Woods to Fleetwood Mac and Norah Jones, Kat’s sound can only be described as welcoming and warm.

Saturday, May 16

Chris Quigley headlines Rusty Nail Comedy at TWH Social at 7:30 pm.

Get ready for an unforgettable night of laughter at Forbes Hall at RIM Park in Waterloo at Waterloo Must Laugh. The night features a powerhouse lineup featuringAcapella, Slk, Forever, Rich White, and Seye Sax. From razor-sharp impressions to gut-busting observations and smooth musical wit, this crew is bringing everything and then some. 

Sunday, May 17

The Princess Cinemas has The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: 25th Anniversary Marathon starting at noon.

Join Nat Vuong at Dirty Work Studio for an introduction to all things riso! In this workshop you'll get to learn how riso printing works, get familiar with the riso printer and hands-on experience printing. Attending this workshop will also allow you to participate in open print hours at DWS (coming soon!).

Your Kitchener Panthers are back at Jack Couch Park for their first home game of the season against the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers. It’s a big year for the Panthers with the move from semi-pro to professional and the league changing names to become the Canadian Baseball League. Be a part of history, grab your tickets today! 

Back at TWB, they have Tarot Reading with Vestika's Oddities and Wellness. Choose a 10-minute personalized tarot session, or lean into the unknown with a 15-minute Turkish coffee, bean, or tea leaf reading. Sign up at the door—first come, first served.

Fat Scheid & Pink Lemonade Records are back with another reason to stay in town this Victoria Day long weekend — The Long Weekend Band Crawl vol. 16. Seven venues, 25 bands, one awesome weekend. Acts include, The Creepshow, The Abruptors, Broadcast Zero, Kingfisher, KROKA and more.  

Monday, May 18

Cool Aunt Creative has a Lily of the Valley Felt Wreath Making workshop at Ernie's Cookhouse at 7 pm. In this delightful felt wreath workshop, you'll craft beautiful blooms like peonies, roses, lavender, lily of the valley, and eucalyptus.

Ways to get involved.

Empty Bowls is back on May 27 at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Lazaridis Hall. It's a meaningful lunch or dinner in support of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

Enjoy a cozy meal featuring a variety of gourmet soups and bowl dishes, prepared by local chefs and restaurants generously donating their time and talent. You’ll also get to take home a one-of-a-kind bowl of your choosing, handcrafted and donated by the talented artisans of the Waterloo Potters’ Workshop.

Organized by Laurier’s Robert Langen Art Gallery and the Waterloo Potters’ Workshop, Empty Bowls is not just a delicious meal—it’s also a chance to help fill empty bowls in our community.

For every $60 ticket sold, The Food Bank can provide 120 nutritious meals for the nearly 73,000 individuals in Waterloo region struggling to afford food. Since it began 28 years ago, Empty Bowls has raised enough funds to provide over 1.6 million meals—and with your support, we can make an even bigger impact this year.

Don’t miss this un-bowl-lievable opportunity to make a difference! Tickets always sell fast—get yours today and help stir up change. 

What to watch.

What’s the scoop? Homie Cam: Bright Side Skate Supply (Misprint Zine)

Pushing Back Against Privitization (Adrian Quijano, Community Edition)

Student-run robotics competition shoots down financial barriers (Heather Senoran, CTV Kitchener)