{"id":5474,"date":"2025-01-07T20:24:52","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T20:24:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/?p=5474"},"modified":"2025-01-07T20:24:53","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T20:24:53","slug":"the-at-home-tourist-exploring-uptown-waterloo-with-new-eyes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/2025\/01\/07\/the-at-home-tourist-exploring-uptown-waterloo-with-new-eyes\/","title":{"rendered":"THE AT-HOME TOURIST:\u00a0EXPLORING UPTOWN WATERLOO WITH NEW EYES\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

THE AT-HOME TOURIST:\u00a0<\/em>EXPLORING UPTOWN WATERLOO WITH NEW EYES\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WORDS & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018I\u2019ve never seen my hometown from this perspective before,\u2019 I remark to Cai while I look out from one of the floor-to-ceiling windows of my corner suite at the Delta Hotels Waterloo onto the cityscape below. From this vantage point I can see so many iconic Uptown landmarks: the world-class Perimeter Institute (with its golden windows and futuristic design); the historic Seagram distillery buildings (which, these days, include Shopify offices, the Seagram Lofts condos, Sol\u00e9 restaurant, and more); Waterloo Park (including Silver Lake and the Abraham Erb grist mill); and the ION light rail line (which cuts through King Street before veering past Waterloo Public Square, through the park toward the universities). \u2018I can\u2019t wait to get back out there,\u2019 I add \u2013 taking a sip of the Willibald seltzer I\u2019m relishing up here in the clouds, \u2018to enjoy it all.\u2019 Not as someone who was raised in this town, mind you. But instead as a tourist \u2013 an Uptown explorer eager to venture out into this \u2018hood and see it through a new lens. Cai interjects: \u2018Well we\u2019d better get a move on, because the day isn\u2019t getting any longer.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s Thursday. Late November. Four o\u2019clock in the afternoon. Cai and I are Uptown at the invitation of the BIA, who have asked us to spend the day (and night) here on a singular mission: to revel in Uptown vibes while exploring a range of the shops, restaurants, caf\u00e9s, and bars that accept the Uptown Waterloo Dollars Gift Card. The BIA recently released the card (which functions like a prepaid credit card) as a way to support Uptown businesses. As the holiday season approaches, Cai and I are here to demonstrate how a Gift Card (a versatile and uniquely local gift) might motivate its recipient to venture Uptown \u2013 eating and shopping and having a blast along the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We arrived Uptown (from our home bases in Guelph) just after noon and \u2013 before settling in at the hotel \u2013 enjoyed some window shopping and lunch. We had an appealing array of restaurants at which we could spend our Uptown Dollars. There\u2019s Abe Erb \u2013 always a good option for pints and burgers. And Kentucky Bourbon & BBQ for pulled pork, ribs, and other smokey southern options. Seven Shores, Uptown\u2019s ethical community caf\u00e9, always seems to be packed with patrons. There\u2019s also Sol\u00e9 Restaurant and Wine Bar \u2013 my mom\u2019s favourite for doing lunch with friends. And over thirty more. Cai and I settle on The Bauer Kitchen, a welcoming up-market bistro that\u2019s owned and operated by The Charcoal Group of Restaurants \u2013 a thriving local company with deep roots in the community whose other Uptown establishments (and Uptown Dollar participating businesses) include The Bauer Bakery & Caf\u00e9, Beertown (located along King St in The Shops at Waterloo Town Square), and the aforementioned Sol\u00e9 (just across Erb St from the Delta).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time Cai and I arrive at The Bauer Kitchen, the bustling space is filling up with eager diners. Because we know that we\u2019ve got a long day of eating and drinking ahead of us, we decide to eat light \u2013 splitting an order of \u2018Confit Duck Wings\u2019 (pepperoncini sauce, parmesan, crispy shallots) and a \u2018Sweet Butcher\u2019 pie (hot italian sausage, soppressata, pepperoni, grilled onion, mozzarella, tomato sauce, drizzled honey). Cai starts things off with an Elora Borealis pale ale, while I enjoy an Old Fashioned. The food is fantastic, although I should warn you that the fiery wings are definitely not for the faint of spice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love a bit of heat, as it happens, and these wings pair perfectly with the sweetness of the honey-drizzled pizza. A wonderful, if unlikely, combination. We make quick work of our meal and keep the day moving. On our way out of the restaurant, we stop at The Bauer Bakery & Caf\u00e9 \u2013 a sweet grab \u2018n go joint attached to the restaurant (but that also has its own entrance). I eye the place\u2019s selection of fresh-baked pastries, take in the aromatics of fresh-brewed espresso-based drinks, and make a mental note to return. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We exit the Caf\u00e9 to begin our shopping along King Street \u2013 but not before making one more essential stop right next door to The Bauer Kitchen: Vincenzo\u2019s. This italian grocer is a vintage regional treasure \u2013 a marvel of high-quality products from cheeses to olives and oils to vinegars and condiments. And an enticing range of hostess or household gifts (for others or yourself), and beyond. Oh, and a resident butcher and fishmonger. And a legendary sandwich bar serving up the tastiest \u2018build-your-own\u2019 sammies you\u2019ll ever eat. When you\u2019re in for a sandwich, here\u2019s a hot tip: top your hoagie with artichoke caponata and \u2018the bomb\u2019 \u2013 a spicy hot italian spread. You\u2019ll thank me. While I peruse the aisles, Cai picks up a wedge of the best triple brie as well as a package of dried chantrelle mushrooms. \u2018For a dinner party I\u2019ve been planning for some time,\u2019 Cai tells me once we\u2019re in line to pay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around two o\u2019clock we find a spot to park the TOQUE Rav just outside Pilot Coffee Roasters (the uber-hip Toronto-based coffee roaster \u2013 and Uptown Dollars participant \u2013 that\u2019s recently migrated here) and begin our trek along King. There are a number of great local businesses along this strip that accept Gift Cards. Like Words Worth Books. And Erban Corner. Midnight Snack. Channer\u2019s Men\u2019s Apparel. The Duke of Wellington. Frank\u2019s Jewellers. Charmed Flowers and Gifts. And more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As we stroll, we stop in at a few spots we\u2019ve encountered before: Harmony (for minimalist custom jewellery or small batch pillows or sweaters with whimsical designs); King Street Cycles (always stocked with the raddest cycling kit); The Truth Beauty Company (a haven for natural and organic skincare, cosmetics, hair care and lifestyle products); and The Princess Caf\u00e9 (a one-stop shop for niche craft beer, cider, and seltzer products). \u2018Let\u2019s grab some cans to-go,\u2019 Cai suggests as we peruse the group of beer fridges that form a wall to the right of the Caf\u00e9\u2019s main counter. I choose a couple Willibald seltzers (to be enjoyed at the hotel when we check in), while Cai grabs a Rorshach \u2018Decadence: London Fog\u2019 chocolate milk stout and a Badlands \u2018I See\u2019 hazy IPA. We then hop across the street to Poppy\u2019s Bagel And Bakery for take-out bagels that we\u2019ll enjoy at the end of the night: a \u2018Ruby\u2019 (pastrami, swiss, sauerkraut, pickles, pickled onions, russian dressing, mayo) on poppy seed for Cai, and a \u2018Kyrie\u2019 (turkey, bacon, Havarti, apple slaw, mayo, secret sauce, avocado) on an everything bagel for me. I can already hardly wait for this late-night treat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At a little past three we exit Poppy\u2019s and head back to the car. We\u2019ll make one more stop before heading to the hotel: The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery \u2013 Canada\u2019s only gallery dedicated to contemporary ceramics, glass, and copper enameling. The Gallery\u2019s gift shop is an ideal destination for elevated holiday shopping. In fewer than five minutes, we\u2019ve arrived at the Gallery, parked the car in the place\u2019s accessible back lot, and submerged ourselves in a galaxy of art glass, ceramics, and jewelry that lines the shop\u2019s display cases. (For do-it-yourselfers who can\u2019t wait to get their hands dirty \u2013 or who are looking for a gift for someone eager to get their hands dirty \u2013 there are intriguing kiln-fired clay kits.) While Cai checks out a display of Darlene Martin glass sphere necklaces, I find myself especially enamored with potter Taylor Goldsbrough\u2019s deeply-textured, earthy candlesticks. I add a large candelabra to my own holiday wish list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By now I\u2019m getting really excited to check in at our hotel. After all, nothing says \u2018touristing\u2019 (especially in your hometown) like a good hotel stay. And the Delta Hotels Waterloo certainly doesn\u2019t disappoint. From its beautiful ethereal lobby to its restaurant and bar (Proof Kitchen & Lounge, which is owned and operated independently from the hotel proper) to its clean and bright basement pool area (featuring a large hot tub), the place is truly impressive. And our suites: marvelous. While I\u2019m stationed in a seventh-floor corner unit with the aforementioned glorious views, Cai settles into a large eighth-floor suite with kitchenette, including bar seating. Once we drop our bags in our respective rooms, Cai and I settle into my corner suite and enjoy a beer (Cai) and seltzer (me) from The Princess Caf\u00e9 while we debrief and begin to outline our next plan of action. It doesn\u2019t take us long to decide that we\u2019ll have cocktails downstairs at Proof before walking the short distance from the hotel to The Jane Bond (an old haunt of mine) for apps and then to Ethel\u2019s Lounge (another old hang) for dinner. Then back to the hotel for a post-dinner dip and, afterwards, sleep. Oh. And those Poppy\u2019s bagel sandwiches which, for now, we tuck into the fridge in Cai\u2019s kitchenette. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The rest of the night goes swimmingly. The bar at Proof is a sleek affair and has us feeling like we\u2019ve flown into some international metropolis. Cai and I enjoy our Proof cocktails before sauntering to The Jane Bond for the place\u2019s famous antijitos and some Pabst. While we enjoy the antijitos, I regale Cai with stories of the hundreds of late nights I spent here back in the late nineties. (Shout outs to DJ Alibi, Jay Biz and Leeroy Brown.) And then it\u2019s on to Ethel\u2019s. In my mind, this joint has always been the perfect neighbourhood bar. Cheap(ish) drinks. Good-sized portions. Daily specials. A long wooden bar. And regulars who have been coming back for decades. Ask anyone who\u2019s spent any time living in Waterloo and they\u2019ll most certainly agree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over our last pints of the evening, we peruse the menu. It\u2019s \u2018Meatloaf Thursday\u2019 (\u2018Better than your mom\u2019s, but don\u2019t tell her!\u2019) \u2013 a perfect choice for me. And, for Cai, a \u2018Funky Burger\u2019 (cheddar, shredded lettuce, pickles, onions, secret sauce). For the next hour or so, we just relax and soak in the atmosphere of this Uptown local. On the unseasonably warm walk back to our hotel, I find myself bewildered and elated by the unanticipated delight of functioning as a tourist in my hometown. It certainly offers a new perspective (or two) to \u2018visit\u2019 an urban space so familiar. I can feel myself offering this place \u2013 so recognizable and foreign at once \u2013 a sweet embrace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When we get back to the hotel, Cai and head for the pool and go for a swim \u2013 the sort of thing most tourists might enjoy. I really like this place. I think I\u2019ll travel here again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE AT-HOME TOURIST:\u00a0EXPLORING UPTOWN WATERLOO WITH NEW EYES\u00a0 WORDS & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN  \u2018I\u2019ve never seen my hometown from this perspective before,\u2019 I remark to Cai while I look out from one of the floor-to-ceiling windows of my corner suite at the Delta Hotels Waterloo onto the cityscape below. From this vantage point I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[93,2,53,142,96],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-community","category-food-drink","category-toque-25","category-waterloo"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1DSC_5535.jpg?fit=1920%2C1279&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8KDF5-1qi","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5474"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5474\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5528,"href":"https:\/\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5474\/revisions\/5528"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toquemagazine.com\/hello\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}