#uptown — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #uptown, aggregated by home.social.
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Fusion burrito shop aims to transform Uptown Dallas cornr
An innovative new restaurant spotlighting burritos has opened in Uptown Dallas: Called Burrito Bellas, it’s serving Mexican-Italian fusion burritos, and it’s open at 2523 …
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Italianrestaurants #fooddelivery #Italia #Italian #Italianfooddelivery #ItalianRestaurants #italiano #italy #openings #Restaurants #uptown
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2641106/fusion-burrito-shop-aims-to-transform-uptown-dallas-cornr/ -
Fusion burrito shop aims to transform Uptown Dallas cornr
An innovative new restaurant spotlighting burritos has opened in Uptown Dallas: Called Burrito Bellas, it’s serving Mexican-Italian fusion burritos, and it’s open at 2523 …
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Italianrestaurants #fooddelivery #Italia #Italian #Italianfooddelivery #ItalianRestaurants #italiano #italy #openings #Restaurants #uptown
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2641106/fusion-burrito-shop-aims-to-transform-uptown-dallas-cornr/ -
Fusion burrito shop aims to transform Uptown Dallas cornr https://www.diningandcooking.com/2641106/fusion-burrito-shop-aims-to-transform-uptown-dallas-cornr/ #FoodDelivery #Italia #Italian #ItalianFoodDelivery #ItalianRestaurants #italiano #italy #openings #Restaurants #uptown
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Fusion burrito shop aims to transform Uptown Dallas cornr https://www.diningandcooking.com/2641106/fusion-burrito-shop-aims-to-transform-uptown-dallas-cornr/ #FoodDelivery #Italia #Italian #ItalianFoodDelivery #ItalianRestaurants #italiano #italy #openings #Restaurants #uptown
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Entdecken Sie den Text des Liedes “Uptown” von Drake
#Drake #Uptown
https://daletra.top/drake/liedtexte/uptown.html -
Confira a letra da música “Uptown” de Drake
#Drake #Uptown
https://daletra.com.br/drake/letra/uptown.html -
Hornets Legend Dell Curry reflects on career and pride for his sons ahead of jersey retirement – WSOC TV https://www.rawchili.com/nba/665139/ #baltimore_colts #baltimore_oil #Basketball #bell_concourse #big_brothers #business_journal #channel_9 #Charlotte #charlotte_hornets #donna_julian #hanna #Hornets #julian #lifetime_achievement_award #Local #madonna_julian #maryland #Miami #miami_heat #NBA #News #Obama #oprah #spectrum_center #uptown #Video
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LaMelo Ball deposition set in lawsuit over foot injury incident – WSOC TV https://www.rawchili.com/nba/661269/ #9_vo #Basketball #channel_9_eyewitness_news #channel_nine #Charlotte #CharlotteHornets #CharlotteHornets #chopper #east_trade_street #erica_bryant #Evan #evan_donovan #eyewitness_news #Hornets #Kia #lamborghini #LaMelo #lamelo_ball #Local #Melo #NBA #News #scott_wickersham #trade #trade_street #tryon #tryon_street #Uber #uptown #uptown_charlotte #Video
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WATERLOO GAMING LOUNGE BRINGS HIGH-POWERED PLAY TO UPTOWN
On the second floor of 1 King St. N., lit by multicoloured RGB strips, over a dozen high-end gaming PCs whir to life, each loaded with over 70 games. The Waterloo Gaming Lounge has become a hub for community and competition since it opened in October 2025. Fitting right into the middle of uptown Waterloo’s nightlife, the space provides a unique experience for folks looking for something to do during a night out or space for teams to practice their skills together.
Tony Shiff, owner of the space, is a veteran of the video game development industry but does not consider himself a core PC gamer. His inspiration to open the Waterloo Gaming Lounge instead comes from observing current social gaming habits in his own home.
“My son is [a gamer], and the idea started because I saw him in the basement a lot of the time gaming with a whole group of friends. And I was like, why don’t you ever get together? He said, ‘I have my PC and they have their PC, where are we going to meet each other?’” Shiff said.
Modern PC gaming at a high level requires expensive and bulky hardware. If someone is even able to afford a powerful rig, disassembling their whole setup and transporting it to a friend’s home is far from convenient. The Waterloo Gaming Lounge instead charges an hourly rate to access their top-of-the-line machines and an inviting, if sometimes chaotic, gaming environment.
“PC gaming is often a solitary experience, and I wanted to do something that made it more social,” Shiff said.
Some of the most popular games the Waterloo Gaming Lounge offers are Valorant, a first-person hero shooter; League of Legends, a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game; and Counterstrike 2, a traditional first-person shooter. While these titles take up a lot of the playtime for gamers, Shiff was particularly encouraged by the impact offering less popular games has had on customers.
“There is a whole community of people who play Counterstrike 1.6, a 25-year-old game. They were going to Hamilton before we opened because that was the closest place,” Shiff said.
The Counterstrike 1.6 community at the Waterloo Gaming Lounge highlights the unique experience the space provides. One team of five gamers sets up in one room, another in the room next door.
No headsets, just two teams calling out strategies and laughing together. They turn to pat each other on the back after a big win and run into the next room to playfully tease their opponents after a defeat.
“They’re weekly regulars. It’s like a modern bowling league,” Shiff said.
Directly across from the Counterstrike 1.6 crew sits another group of players grinding through ranked matches of League of Legends, a game that rewards consistent communication between players. Although League of Legends does not require the latest high-end graphic cards or other equipment to run, groups make the effort to get together to play the game in person.
For Ian Zhang, a University of Waterloo student ranked platinum in League of Legends, Shiff’s goal of building a social gaming space resonates.
“It’s more fun to play with other people physically together. As a kid, you’re on the couch playing with your friends on a console, and as you get older, it’s hard to do that. So, it’s just a nice place to get together with friends,” Zhang said.
Waterloo Gaming Lounge is also hosting a series of tournaments for their most popular games. Previous tournaments have been held in Valorant, League of Legends and Counterstrike 2. All have been free to play and come with a gift card prize for the winners. While these events were well attended, Shiff was particularly happy to see the success of bringing together smaller gaming communities.
“One of the most interesting tournaments for me was DOTA 2, which is not a big community in Canada…as it is in Europe and Asia,” Shiff said.
Making gaming accessible and communal for everyone has become a guiding principle of the Waterloo Gaming Lounge. Players can log in to their own accounts for each game to rank up and maintain use of items or characters they may have. The lounge also provides a limited number of house accounts for new players to use, depending on the game. Gamers of all skill levels and group sizes are welcome.
#counterstrike #counterstrike2 #dota #dota2 #Games #Gaming #ianZhang #jacksonWells #leagueOfLegends #modernPc #nightlife #PC #rgb #rgbStrips #tonyShiff #uptown #valorani #videoGameDevelopment #waterloo #waterlooGamingLounge -
WATERLOO GAMING LOUNGE BRINGS HIGH-POWERED PLAY TO UPTOWN
On the second floor of 1 King St. N., lit by multicoloured RGB strips, over a dozen high-end gaming PCs whir to life, each loaded with over 70 games. The Waterloo Gaming Lounge has become a hub for community and competition since it opened in October 2025. Fitting right into the middle of uptown Waterloo’s nightlife, the space provides a unique experience for folks looking for something to do during a night out or space for teams to practice their skills together.
Tony Shiff, owner of the space, is a veteran of the video game development industry but does not consider himself a core PC gamer. His inspiration to open the Waterloo Gaming Lounge instead comes from observing current social gaming habits in his own home.
“My son is [a gamer], and the idea started because I saw him in the basement a lot of the time gaming with a whole group of friends. And I was like, why don’t you ever get together? He said, ‘I have my PC and they have their PC, where are we going to meet each other?’” Shiff said.
Modern PC gaming at a high level requires expensive and bulky hardware. If someone is even able to afford a powerful rig, disassembling their whole setup and transporting it to a friend’s home is far from convenient. The Waterloo Gaming Lounge instead charges an hourly rate to access their top-of-the-line machines and an inviting, if sometimes chaotic, gaming environment.
“PC gaming is often a solitary experience, and I wanted to do something that made it more social,” Shiff said.
Some of the most popular games the Waterloo Gaming Lounge offers are Valorant, a first-person hero shooter; League of Legends, a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game; and Counterstrike 2, a traditional first-person shooter. While these titles take up a lot of the playtime for gamers, Shiff was particularly encouraged by the impact offering less popular games has had on customers.
“There is a whole community of people who play Counterstrike 1.6, a 25-year-old game. They were going to Hamilton before we opened because that was the closest place,” Shiff said.
The Counterstrike 1.6 community at the Waterloo Gaming Lounge highlights the unique experience the space provides. One team of five gamers sets up in one room, another in the room next door.
No headsets, just two teams calling out strategies and laughing together. They turn to pat each other on the back after a big win and run into the next room to playfully tease their opponents after a defeat.
“They’re weekly regulars. It’s like a modern bowling league,” Shiff said.
Directly across from the Counterstrike 1.6 crew sits another group of players grinding through ranked matches of League of Legends, a game that rewards consistent communication between players. Although League of Legends does not require the latest high-end graphic cards or other equipment to run, groups make the effort to get together to play the game in person.
For Ian Zhang, a University of Waterloo student ranked platinum in League of Legends, Shiff’s goal of building a social gaming space resonates.
“It’s more fun to play with other people physically together. As a kid, you’re on the couch playing with your friends on a console, and as you get older, it’s hard to do that. So, it’s just a nice place to get together with friends,” Zhang said.
Waterloo Gaming Lounge is also hosting a series of tournaments for their most popular games. Previous tournaments have been held in Valorant, League of Legends and Counterstrike 2. All have been free to play and come with a gift card prize for the winners. While these events were well attended, Shiff was particularly happy to see the success of bringing together smaller gaming communities.
“One of the most interesting tournaments for me was DOTA 2, which is not a big community in Canada…as it is in Europe and Asia,” Shiff said.
Making gaming accessible and communal for everyone has become a guiding principle of the Waterloo Gaming Lounge. Players can log in to their own accounts for each game to rank up and maintain use of items or characters they may have. The lounge also provides a limited number of house accounts for new players to use, depending on the game. Gamers of all skill levels and group sizes are welcome.
#counterstrike #counterstrike2 #dota #dota2 #Games #Gaming #ianZhang #jacksonWells #leagueOfLegends #modernPc #nightlife #PC #rgb #rgbStrips #tonyShiff #uptown #valorani #videoGameDevelopment #waterloo #waterlooGamingLounge -
Lyrics for the song “Uptown” by Drake
#Drake #Uptown
https://daletra.com/drake/lyrics/uptown.html -
R & B and #Soul --
R&B, #Rhythmandblues, #neosoul, #reggae, #funk, and #disco jointshttps://tidal.com/playlist/81a5458c-b4a7-4451-8d27-17c86c696fd6
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R & B and #Soul --
R&B, #Rhythmandblues, #neosoul, #reggae, #funk, and #disco jointshttps://tidal.com/playlist/81a5458c-b4a7-4451-8d27-17c86c696fd6
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Charming Victorian home in New Orleans Garden District | Home/Garden https://www.allforgardening.com/1585708/charming-victorian-home-in-new-orleans-garden-district-home-garden/ #garden #hardwall #MidcenturyModern #MILLIONS #pool #RealEstate #uptown
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Charming Victorian home in New Orleans Garden District | Home/Garden https://www.allforgardening.com/1585708/charming-victorian-home-in-new-orleans-garden-district-home-garden/ #garden #hardwall #MidcenturyModern #MILLIONS #pool #RealEstate #uptown
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Letra de la canción “Uptown” de Drake
#Drake #Uptown
https://daletra.net/drake/letras/uptown.html -
Découvrez les paroles de la chanson “Uptown” de Drake
#Drake #Uptown
https://daletra.art/drake/paroles/uptown.html -
Ver la letra de la canción “Uptown” de Drake
#Drake #Uptown
https://daletra.net/drake/letras/uptown.html -
Gotdamn Uptown Flats OR what i finished of it before I got on the bus
#Chicago #chicago-architecture #city-drawing #reportage #live-drawing #art #Uptown #ough -
Buzzy Toronto Middle Eastern restaurant announces closure in intriguing statement
A Toronto Middle Eastern restaurant that was once among the neighbourhood’s hottest spots has closed permanent…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #mediterranean #MediterraneanDiet #MediterraneanFood #MediterraneanRestaurants #byblos #closed #Mediterranean #mediterraneanrestaurants #toronto #uptown
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2346697/buzzy-toronto-middle-eastern-restaurant-announces-closure-in-intriguing-statement/ -
Buzzy Toronto Middle Eastern restaurant announces closure in intriguing statement
A Toronto Middle Eastern restaurant that was once among the neighbourhood’s hottest spots has closed permanently, but its announcement alludes that the story isn’t…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #MediterraneanRestaurants #byblos #closed #Mediterranean #mediterraneanrestaurants #toronto #uptown
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2346697/buzzy-toronto-middle-eastern-restaurant-announces-closure-in-intriguing-statement/ -
Buzzy Toronto Middle Eastern restaurant announces closure in intriguing statement
A Toronto Middle Eastern restaurant that was once among the neighbourhood’s hottest spots has closed permanently, but its announcement alludes that the story isn’t…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #MediterraneanRestaurants #byblos #closed #Mediterranean #mediterraneanrestaurants #toronto #uptown
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2346697/buzzy-toronto-middle-eastern-restaurant-announces-closure-in-intriguing-statement/ -
Buzzy Toronto Middle Eastern restaurant announces closure in intriguing statement https://www.diningandcooking.com/2346697/buzzy-toronto-middle-eastern-restaurant-announces-closure-in-intriguing-statement/ #byblos #closed #Mediterranean #MediterraneanRestaurants #toronto #uptown
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Buzzy Toronto Middle Eastern restaurant announces closure in intriguing statement https://www.diningandcooking.com/2346697/buzzy-toronto-middle-eastern-restaurant-announces-closure-in-intriguing-statement/ #byblos #closed #Mediterranean #MediterraneanRestaurants #toronto #uptown
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Panthers QB Bryce Young considered day to day after ankle sprain – WSOC TV https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/463621/ #bryce #Carolina #CarolinaPanthers #CarolinaPanthers #charlotte #Dave #fahrenheit_restaurant #Football #Local #news #NFL #Panthers #uptown #video #young_nine_foundation
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Charlotte’s $137M Uptown library delayed to 2027 – Axios Charlotte
Oct 10, 2025 – News
Sneak peek: Uptown’s $137M, five-story delayed library
GIF: Alexandria Sands/AxiosConstruction is progressing, though behind schedule, on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s five-story Uptown branch at 6th and North Tryon streets. The $137 million flagship location is now slated to open in spring 2027, later than the 2026 target.
Why it matters: The main library — a free, critical community resource — has been closed for four years now. Once reopened, leaders expect a million visitors in the first year, making the 115,000-square-foot branch a major Uptown destination.
Driving the news: Project leadersgave reporters a tour Friday of construction progress on the first two floors. Caitlin Moen, library director, attributed the delay to meticulous work necessary to ensure the building’s longevity.
- “This iconic building is something that’s not been built before,” Moen said. “As we try to bring this vision to life, but also ensure that 50-year lifespan, we are doing our due diligence.”
Zoom in: Moen said the features reflect what community members said they wanted in their modern library, including:
- 15 meeting rooms for two to 40 people
- A 225-person, top-floor event space
- A reading room with views
- A courtyard and two outdoor terraces
- Lowe’s Technology Lab with public computers and two laptop dispensing stations with 12 laptops each
- The Bank of America Opportunity Center, offering resume assistance, digital skills training and job support
- A parking deck, built and financed by Mecklenburg County, at the corner of 7th and College streets
Between the lines: The main library is geared more toward adults, since ImaginOn, the flagship children’s and teen library, is two blocks away.
Catch up quick: Mecklenburg County provided $72.33 million for the project. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation still has $8 million to raise in private support to cover the remaining $65 million.
- The construction is on the same site as the original 1903 Carnegie Library. Mecklenburg County’s first free library was rebuilt in 1956, renovated and expanded in 1989, and torn down in 2023 to make way for this modernized version.
Zoom out: The library is expected to accelerate this corner of Uptown’s metamorphosis. It’s right next to the newly renovated Carolina Theatre, which is now hosting movie nights and large speaker events.
- Mecklenburg County had planned a major overhaul of the land surrounding the library, but the master developer for the public-private redevelopment, called Seventh and Tryon, backed out.
- The county isn’t seeking a new master developer anytime soon due to “development market volatility and uncertainty,” a spokesperson told Axios.
Take a look around the construction site: Tryon Plaza
Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.
Continue/Read Original Article Here: Charlotte’s $137M Uptown library delayed to 2027 – Axios Charlotte
#137Million #2025 #2025Update #2027Delay #America #Axios #AxiosCharlotte #Books #Charlotte #Construction #Education #History #Libraries #Library #MainLibrary #NorthCarolina #PublicLibrary #Reading #Technology #TryonPlaza #UnitedStates #Uptown
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Charlotte’s $137M Uptown library delayed to 2027 – Axios Charlotte
Oct 10, 2025 – News
Sneak peek: Uptown’s $137M, five-story delayed library
GIF: Alexandria Sands/AxiosConstruction is progressing, though behind schedule, on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s five-story Uptown branch at 6th and North Tryon streets. The $137 million flagship location is now slated to open in spring 2027, later than the 2026 target.
Why it matters: The main library — a free, critical community resource — has been closed for four years now. Once reopened, leaders expect a million visitors in the first year, making the 115,000-square-foot branch a major Uptown destination.
Driving the news: Project leadersgave reporters a tour Friday of construction progress on the first two floors. Caitlin Moen, library director, attributed the delay to meticulous work necessary to ensure the building’s longevity.
- “This iconic building is something that’s not been built before,” Moen said. “As we try to bring this vision to life, but also ensure that 50-year lifespan, we are doing our due diligence.”
Zoom in: Moen said the features reflect what community members said they wanted in their modern library, including:
- 15 meeting rooms for two to 40 people
- A 225-person, top-floor event space
- A reading room with views
- A courtyard and two outdoor terraces
- Lowe’s Technology Lab with public computers and two laptop dispensing stations with 12 laptops each
- The Bank of America Opportunity Center, offering resume assistance, digital skills training and job support
- A parking deck, built and financed by Mecklenburg County, at the corner of 7th and College streets
Between the lines: The main library is geared more toward adults, since ImaginOn, the flagship children’s and teen library, is two blocks away.
Catch up quick: Mecklenburg County provided $72.33 million for the project. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation still has $8 million to raise in private support to cover the remaining $65 million.
- The construction is on the same site as the original 1903 Carnegie Library. Mecklenburg County’s first free library was rebuilt in 1956, renovated and expanded in 1989, and torn down in 2023 to make way for this modernized version.
Zoom out: The library is expected to accelerate this corner of Uptown’s metamorphosis. It’s right next to the newly renovated Carolina Theatre, which is now hosting movie nights and large speaker events.
- Mecklenburg County had planned a major overhaul of the land surrounding the library, but the master developer for the public-private redevelopment, called Seventh and Tryon, backed out.
- The county isn’t seeking a new master developer anytime soon due to “development market volatility and uncertainty,” a spokesperson told Axios.
Take a look around the construction site: Tryon Plaza
Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.
Continue/Read Original Article Here: Charlotte’s $137M Uptown library delayed to 2027 – Axios Charlotte
#137Million #2025 #2025Update #2027Delay #America #Axios #AxiosCharlotte #Books #Charlotte #Construction #Education #History #Libraries #Library #MainLibrary #NorthCarolina #PublicLibrary #Reading #Technology #TryonPlaza #UnitedStates #Uptown
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Sehen Sie den Text des Liedes “Uptown” von Drake
#Drake #Uptown
https://daletra.top/drake/liedtexte/uptown.html -
Charlotte Hornets unveil Black Excellence Jersey to honor community impact – WSOC TV https://www.rawchili.com/nba/210233/ #Basketball #Bucks #channel_9 #channel_nine #channel_nine_eyewitness_news #Charlotte #CharlotteHornets #charlotte_hornets #CharlotteHornets #Clippers #Dallas #dayshawn_brown #deshawn #deshawn_brown #hornet #Hornets #Lakers #Local #los_angeles_lakers #NBA #News #shelly_kayat_weston #spectrum_center #tv_64 #uptown #Utah #Video #Warriors
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Italian restaurant closes Uptown location after 14 years: ‘It’s been our pleasure’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – An Itali…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Italianfood #14years #bellaciao #charlotte #closed #economicconitionsinuptown #it'sbeenourpleasure #Italia #Italian #ItalianFood #italiano #italy #mecklenburgcounty #news #northcarolina #note #pinned #restaurant #uptown #wbtv
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2209203/italian-restaurant-closes-uptown-location-after-14-years-its-been-our-pleasure/ -
Italian restaurant closes Uptown location after 14 years: ‘It’s been our pleasure’ https://www.diningandcooking.com/2209203/italian-restaurant-closes-uptown-location-after-14-years-its-been-our-pleasure/ #14Years #BellaCiao #charlotte #closed #EconomicConitionsInUptown #food #It'sBeenOurPleasure #Italia #Italian #ItalianFood #italiano #italy #MecklenburgCounty #news #NorthCarolina #note #pinned #restaurant #uptown #wbtv
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Italian restaurant closes Uptown location after 14 years: ‘It’s been our pleasure’ https://www.diningandcooking.com/2209203/italian-restaurant-closes-uptown-location-after-14-years-its-been-our-pleasure/ #14Years #BellaCiao #charlotte #closed #EconomicConitionsInUptown #food #It'sBeenOurPleasure #Italia #Italian #ItalianFood #italiano #italy #MecklenburgCounty #news #NorthCarolina #note #pinned #restaurant #uptown #wbtv
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Entdecken Sie den Text des Liedes “Uptown” von Drake
#Drake #Uptown
https://daletra.top/drake/liedtexte/uptown.html -
B_01947 by John F. Roberts
https://tmblr.co/Z7VXvxhfZvRS0m00
#hasselblad #cfv #100c #907x #25v #25mm #uptown #charlotte #north #carolina #flickr #thingsdavidlikes
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NOWHERE TO GO: THE PUBLIC WASHROOM SHORTAGE IN KITCHENER WATERLOO
In a region known for innovation and growth, one necessity remains elusive: a place to go when nature calls. For residents, tourists and the city’s most vulnerable, the search for a public washroom in Kitchener-Waterloo can feel like a scavenger hunt—one with no prize at the end.
Despite being home to over half a million people, Kitchener-Waterloo has very few public washrooms. In 2024, the City of Waterloo unveiled a stand-alone public toilet: the Uptown Loo. Installed on a traffic island at the south end of Uptown Waterloo, the facility has all the bells and whistles— it is self-cleaning, accessible and secure. But it is also a stark reminder of how far the region still must go.
The Uptown Loo was a step forward, but it remains the only one of its kind. According to municipal records, there are no public bathrooms in the region that are open 24 hours a day, year-round. Even the Uptown Loo closes at night. The few round-the-clock options are seasonal porta-potties at sports fields—hardly a solution for a growing urban population. And while private businesses once filled the gap, many have now locked their doors to non-customers, citing safety and maintenance concerns.
This shortage is more than civic oversight—it is a public health and human rights issue: for people experiencing homelessness, those with medical conditions, parents with young children and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The lack of accessible washrooms can mean indignity, discomfort and danger. For those with disabilities or chronic illnesses, the lack of accessible facilities can be a barrier to participating in public life altogether.
Historically, public bathrooms have been fraught with social tension. In Canada, moral panics around gay sex led to the closure of many public facilities. These closures were often justified under the guise of public safety, but they disproportionately targeted marginalized communities. The legacy of that era still lingers in how cities design and manage public spaces today.
“Public spaces reflect our values,” Troy Glover, a professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo, said. “If we truly want public spaces to work for all people, we have to start by asking who they’re currently designed to exclude.”
In Kitchener-Waterloo, the answer is clear. The people arguably most in need of public facilities—those experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community—are often the ones left out of the conversation. And when they are included, it is usually in the context of risk management rather than rights.
One of the most contentious issues surrounding public bathrooms today is their association with drug use. There is a widespread perception that public washrooms will become hotspots for drug consumption, leading to overdoses and safety concerns. While this fear is not entirely unfounded, it is often exaggerated and used to justify inaction.
According to the Region of Waterloo’s Drug Overdose and Poisoning Dashboard, approximately 12 per cent of paramedic calls for overdoses or poisonings occur in public indoor spaces. However, the data lacks specificity—there is no breakdown of what types of spaces these are, and the Region has declined to provide further clarification despite multiple requests.
Geoff Bardwell, a faculty member at the School of Public Health Sciences at University of Waterloo and a member of the Waterloo Region Drug Action Team, notes that he is unaware of any research on the frequency of drug usage in public washrooms vs. other locations in the Region.
This lack of data makes it difficult to have an informed public debate. It also reinforces harmful stereotypes about who uses public bathrooms and why. The need for accessible, safe washrooms is universal. Everyone, at some point needs to go.
“I think, in short, people need to be able to use washrooms,” Bardwell said.
“[W]e should not be making decisions about washroom access under assumptions that bad things will happen in them,” he said.
There are solutions. Cities around the world have implemented innovative bathroom strategies, from Portland’s “Portland Loo” to Tokyo’s transparent public toilets that turn opaque when occupied. These designs prioritize safety, cleanliness and accessibility—proving that public bathrooms don’t have to be dirty, dangerous or stigmatized.
In Waterloo, the Uptown Loo is a promising start. It features a braille map, an adult change table, grab bars and a system that alerts an attendant if the door remains locked for more than 20 minutes. Its walls are coated with graffiti-proof material, and it includes an emergency button for users in distress.
But officials with the City of Waterloo have confirmed that they have no plans to provide any more facilities like the Uptown Loo, citing costs and security as the primary factors in that decision.
The City of Kitchener has also confirmed that they have no plans to create any more public washrooms.
As Kitchener-Waterloo continues to grow, the need for inclusive infrastructure becomes more urgent. Public bathrooms are not a luxury—they are a cornerstone of a functional, compassionate city. Without them, we send a clear message about who is welcome and who is not.
So the next time you’re out in Kitchener-Waterloo and nature calls, ask yourself: where can you go? And more importantly, who can’t?
#2SLGBTQIA_ #bathrooms #drugConsumptions #Drugs #FionaMcAlister #GeoffBardwell #kitchenerWaterloo #poisoningDashboard #publicDebate #publicWashroomShortage #Region #uptown #uptownLoo #uptownWaterloo #washrooms #WaterlooRegionDrugAction #waterloosDrugOverdose
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Veja a letra da música “Uptown” de Drake
#Drake #Uptown
https://daletra.com.br/drake/letra/uptown.html
