Sparkly Rose, Jazz & Dance

Happy Icy Wednesday, friends!

Can we talk about this week for a second? Yesterday, Fat Tuesday, Chinese New Year, and the start of Ramadan all landed within the same 24 hours. Three completely different traditions, three different corners of the world, all pointing toward the same thing: a fresh start, a moment of renewal, a reason to gather. Pretty hard to miss that reminder that we're all out here doing the same thing in different ways. 🤍

It is icy out there, gorgeous though. We're less than 20 days from the time change, so a little more winter left to love before we flip the switch. Make the most of it, because we've got some great things lined up this week.

IS AGE JUST A NUMBER?

You know that dusty trumpet in your parents' basement? The one you played in high school before life got in the way? Or maybe you've always secretly wanted to learn saxophone but figured that ship sailed sometime around your 30th birthday. Good news: it didn't.

Since 2006, a local musician has been bringing seniors together to make music. What started as a small group has grown into concert bands, jazz ensembles, a swing band, all filled with folks who thought their musical days were behind them.

"The seeds of music often only blossom in our later years when we have the time and opportunity to pursue our passion," he says, and he's watched it happen dozens of times. Members show up hesitant and nervous to their first beginner practice, then spend years happily playing alongside new friends. Some haven't touched an instrument in 50 years. Others are learning from scratch at 70.

The groups rehearse mornings at the KW Naval Association facility, deliberately chosen so seniors don't have to drive at night. And what happens when they play? Magic. It's the kind of thing that makes you smile without realizing it. The sound of a saxophone finding its groove. Laughter erupting mid-song when someone hits a wrong note. That moment when everything clicks and suddenly you're not just playing music, you're feeling it. The room buzzes with energy, with purpose, with joy. Friendships form over sheet music. Confidence builds with every rehearsal. Interested in joining the band? Shoot them an email.

Better yet, see them in action and experience the electric vibes yourself. The swing band is performing live at THEMUSEUM on March 6. It'll be an evening of jazz, dancing (lesson included), and drinks. Sounds perfect, right? It's the kind of night that stays with you.

Whether you wanna enjoy their performance or join them for rehearsal, one thing's clear: it's never too late to discover what makes you come alive.

DINNER CLUB

Last chance to join Feb 26 Dinner in Waterloo: closing registrations 48 hours ahead of the actual dinner, so we can match everyone & get things in order.

We have 90 folks signed up to make some new friends, meet some neighbours, and have some fun. I'll keep the logistics down below for anyone who may have missed how it all works. SIGN UPS CLOSE ON TUE, FEB 24TH AT 6:15PM.

Here’s how it works:

✦︎ Take a quick quiz about your interests, food preferences, and what types of folks you are looking to meet (you know, that kinda thing).

✦︎ Get matched with five other Waterloo Region Rhythm Members based on the quiz results.

✦︎ Receive your invite the morning of the dinner and discover which restaurant in Waterloo your group will be eating at.

✦︎ Dinner time will be on Thursday, February 26th at 6:15 PM. After dinner, all tables will be invited to a designated spot to keep the good times rolling. This after party is optional, so if you’re in a food coma, you can go home and sleep it off.

The Logistics: The booking fee is 15.99 bucks per seat, you pay for your own meal at the end of dinner, and I’ll put it all together from the quiz, to matching, to the reservations, and sending reminders. All you gotta do is show up, meet some new friends, and have some fun.

ROSE FULL OF STARS

Our neighbour Ronald Brecher from Guelph has been pointing his telescope at the night sky for years, and this image might be his most breathtaking yet.

What you’re looking at is called the Rosette Nebula, and it looks exactly like a rose. Nature is wild like that.

Here’s the part that’ll blow your mind: the light you’re seeing in this photo has been travelling through space for 5,000 years. That means it left its source long before the pyramids were built, and it’s only just now reaching us.

At the centre of the nebula, a group of incredibly bright stars are slowly blasting away the surrounding gas and dust with their energy, kind of like a hairdryer aimed at a cloud of smoke. That’s what creates the hollow, flower-like shape you see in the image. Some of those stars are 50 times bigger than our own sun. Let that sink in for a second.

Ronald took the original photos back in 2021, spending nearly 10 hours collecting light through his telescope. He recently went back and produced this stunning result. Sometimes the best things just need a little more time.

FROM YOU

Love and appreciate what you share. I’m cooking up something after hearing from many and need your input, tell me:

RAD & RAW

Recent Sighting: Beaver

Sky: On Thu, Feb 19, look west around 5:45pm: you'll spot a thin crescent moon hanging in the sky with three planets (Saturn, Mercury, and Venus) all visible at once. Bonus: the dark part of the moon will have a soft, ghostly glow, that's actually Earth's own light reflecting back at us. You've got about an hour to catch it, and binoculars make it even better!

TRIVIA

Last week’s trivia: 89% got it right!

EVENTS

Featured Events

Feature your event

Block Three Brewing, St. Jacobs (all ages) ♿️ Odd Marshall: Original songs from Sand & Glue Fri, Feb 20, 6pm–9pm

TWB Brewing, Kitchener (all ages) ♿️ Hops & High Notes: Opera pub Fri, Feb 20, 7pm–9pm

Counterpoint Brewing Co, Kitchener (all ages) ♿️ Sydney Jones**:** Live tunes with tacos Fri, Feb 20, 7pm

Thirteen Food & Beverage, Cambridge (all ages) Matt Campbell: Live music Fri, Feb 20, 8pm–11pm

Little Mushroom Lounge, Cambridge (all ages) ♿ Live Music & Tapas: Rob Dice Fri, Feb 20, 7pm

TWB Brewing, Kitchener (all ages) ♿️ Bry Webb & Cots: Back of the Brewhouse concert Sat, Feb 21, 7pm

Rabbid Fox, Kitchener (all ages) ♿️ The Drews Sat, Feb 21, 7:30pm

Counterpoint Brewing Company, Kitchener (all ages) ♿️ The Phonocators music with smoked meats Sat, Feb 21, 1pm–4pm

The Boathouse DTK, Kitchener (all ages) ♿ Ryan Coulter Sat, Feb 21, 7pm–10pm

The Boathouse DTK, Kitchener (all ages) ♿ The Tone Wheels Sun, Feb 22, 2pm–4:30pm

Ethel's Lounge, 114 King St N, Waterloo (all ages) ♿️ Wednesday Night Live Wed, Feb 25, 7:30pm–10:30pm

The Boathouse DTK, Kitchener (all ages) ♿ Willow River Trad Session: Traditional Celtic music in pub atmosphere Wed, Feb 25, 7:30pm–9:30pm

Halfway There: Canadian comedy about small-town secrets (no age listed) ♿ multiple shows from Thu, Feb 19 to Sun, Feb 22 Elmira Theatre tix

Harmony of Cultures Festival: Multicultural celebration (all ages) from Fri, Feb 20 to Sat, Feb 21 Kitchener info

Thu, Feb 19

Stormwater Impacts & Insights: Shape Kitchener's stormwater plan (all ages) ♿ 9:30am–11:30am, Stanley Park Community Centre, 505 Franklin St N, Kitchener

Matt Andersen with Mariel Buckley: Soul-stirring voice meets alt-folk (all ages) ♿️ 8pm, Centre In The Square, Kitchener tix

Fri, Feb 20

The Road Hammers with Doc Walker: Country rock powerhouses (all ages) ♿️ 7pm, Centre In The Square, Kitchener tix

Yamaha All-Stars: Star-studded jazz quintet (all ages) ♿️ 8pm–10:30pm, The Jazz Room, Waterloo tix

Jully Black: Canada's Queen of R&B Soul (all ages) ♿ 8pm, Maxwell's Concerts, Waterloo tix

Sat, Feb 21

Heritage Day: Firefighting Through the Years (all ages) ♿ 10am–2pm, NDCC New Dundee info

Ian Gordon: JFL42 and Corner Comedy comedian (19+) 8pm–10pm, Falls Road Irish Pub, Kitchener tix

Tim Shia's Worst Pop Band Ever: 20th anniversary celebration (all ages) ♿️ 8pm–10:30pm, The Jazz Room, Waterloo tix

Casey Corbin: Comedy Now special and JFL Toronto veteran (19+) ♿ 8pm–10pm, TWH Social, Kitchener tix

Sun, Feb 22

Visions of Turtle Island: First Nations powwow singing and dancing (4+) ♿ 1:30pm, Cambridge Centre for the Arts tix

Atelier Romantique: Guitar music of Schubert and Paganini (all ages) ♿️ 2pm, First United Church Waterloo tix

Mon, Feb 23

Stroller Tours: Gallery visit for babies and caregivers (all ages) ♿️ 10am–12pm, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery reserve

Punch Needle Pillows Workshop: Create a cozy heart-design pillow (no age listed) ♿ 7pm–9pm, Ernie's Roadhouse, Cambridge, tix

Tue, Feb 24

Over The Moon: Juno-nominated roots/swing duo (all ages) ♿ 7:30pm–10pm, The Registry, 122 Frederick St, Kitchener, tix

Efthimios Nasiopoulos: JFL Northwest and CBC LOL performer (19+) ♿ 8pm–9:30pm, Arabella Park Beer Bar, Kitchener tix

Wed, Feb 25

Pro Am Comedy Night: Semi-pro, amateur and pro comedians (19+) ♿ 8pm–10pm, TWH Social, Kitchener tix