Navigating the city’s arts scene

So you’ve just arrived in what will be your home for the
next year, what now? To help you dabble in the rich cultural
environment that is Waterloo, The Cord has compiled a list of
some of the unique venues the city has to offer

Generation X Video, 10 Regina St. N.

Feel like staying in and watching a
movie? Gen X is the movie-rental
store that will suit all your needs,
whoever you are. Offering an incredibly
diverse selection of foreign films,
indie films and almost any film you
could want to watch, Gen X is the
place to go. What’s more, students
can purchase a $20 membership and
rent movies for three dollars for the
semester.

Princess Cinemas, 46 King St. N. and 6 Princess St. W.

Featuring a variety of films that aren’t
offered at bigger cinemas, as well as
screenings of older classics and foreign
films, Princess Twin and its sister-
venue Princess Cinema will probably
be your best discovery this year.
And if you want a delicious bite to eat
or just a really good coffee, make sure
to stop by the Princess Café, right next
to Princess Twin.

The Button Factory, 25 Regina St. S.

If you’re interested in theatre and
dance performances, fine art and photography
exhibitions and a forum in
which to enjoy literature, the Waterloo
Community Arts Centre (WCAC) is
the perfect place for you. The WCAC,
a 19th century heritage site formerly
home to a button factory, is a volunteer-
run organization which strives
to promote arts in the region. Along
with its diverse events, the WCAC offers
the unique opportunity to attend a
variety of lessons and workshops centering
on the arts for fees as low as $2.

Maxwell’s Music House, 200 King St. N.

Started by Laurier business-administration
graduate Paul Maxwell, Maxwell’s
Music House provides a laid
back atmosphere for musicians and
music-lovers alike. Along with music
lessons offered for a variety of instruments
as well as six jam spaces, Maxwell’s
hosts musical performances almost
every day of the week, and is less
than five minutes from campus.

Starlight, 47 King St. N.

Starlight is an overall crowd-pleaser
for students in Waterloo. If you love
dancing the night away or seeing musicians
perform with drinks in hand,
Starlight is the place for you. Featuring
big-name musicians this semester
like Dragonette and Most Serene
Republic, Starlight also hosts theme
nights like “Retro Prom” and “80s
night” as well as weekly fixtures like
“Global Warming” on Friday nights, a
no-cover event with amazing techno
and alternative music.

The Jane Bond, 5 Princess St. W.

Starlight’s sister-venue The Jane Bond
is like the relaxed, smaller version of
Starlight. This lounge is a great place
to enjoy drinks with friends and watch
small, intimate performances of local
musicians. It also features one of the
most unique decors of any venue in
Waterloo and regularly showcases the
work of local artists.