Hey all,
I'm in Waterloo for the first week of November, and hence of NaNoWriMo. My question is, where are good places to go to write here?
I can't be arsed just staying in my hotel. I like a bit of noise and confusion going on around me - I'm not the sort of person who needs to be in peace and quiet to work. So, any ideas?
Good bars, coffee shops etc - places that stay open late and wouldn't look at you strangely if you're sat in the corner typing furiously on a laptop with a look of consternation on your face. Also, frankly, places where you can possibly leave your laptop out whilst popping quickly to the washrooms after the beers begin to catch up with you....
Cheers,
Ian
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13,644 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 12 54
I've only been back in the KW area since April so don't have the low-down on the hot spots, but I have had luck at the William's Coffee Pubs. They have wireless, good coffe and good food. :)
----------2,732 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 10 30
Not too sure about leaving your laptop anywhere in K-W, but there are a couple Starbucks in the Chapters on King and Weber and one "uptown" (don't let that fool you, it would be downtown anywhere else) just up from King and William. There are loads of pubs which would be open past 11, walking north up King from that point on, you should be able to find something lively but not too loud. And, there is free parking behind the shopping areas on King towards Caroline St. This is a big uni/college/high tech company town so working away on a laptop is pretty much the norm in any place that is not a club.
34,119 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 13 50
You've got a couple of good places in Waterloo - more if you've got a car.
As already mentioned, Chapters is a reasonable place, but getting power can be an issue, William's Coffee Pub is good too, and generally easier to get power.
Whole-Lota-Gelata on King street is good, as is pretty much any of the cafe locations on King.
If you're willing to venture a little further down King, there's a few spots in Kitchener that are pretty good too. The Great Taste has good food, and apparently great coffee and latte (I don't drink either, so I can't confirm). Power is available there too. there's a William's across the street in the town hall.
If you like the availability of reference materials, any of the KPL libraries are generally open during the day, and a pretty good writing spot.
Venture out, try writing everywhere. Most places won't mind if you take up a table of theirs for a little bit. Especially if you buy something first.
28,478 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 09 30
Hey Ian,
Where is your hotel? I know a few good locations in uptown waterloo (where Whole-lotta-Gelato is).
The Princess Twin cafe (located father up the street) has amazing panini's and coffee. It's not so busy that you can't stay awhile, but it's small enough I'd feel safe leaving the laptop alone for a few minutes. There is a Coffee Culture across the street from it, also with good sandwiches and coffee. Both locations have power, and are used to the glazed look of the laptop user. If you want to grab a beer or drink, Symposium is an okay option - they're big and used to people lingering. The Lion's Den (lower level of the Huether hotel) has beer brewed on site. Other pubs uptown are McMullens, The Fox and Fiddle, and Failte's. I have no idea about their outlet availability, but they all have tables and beer.
Based on your description, I think I was sitting next to you at W-L-G. If you want to hang out one of these evenings, grab a beer and write, let me know. I work until 6, but I'm up for anything after.
Lisa
*edited - apparently my Inner Editor has really shut down.. couldn't stand the excess commas
13,937 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 11 04
Cheers for all the great replies everyone! Thus far I've been doing a single-handed, multi-day, pub crawl of Waterloo town center.... It's been fun, but not always that conducive to writing :) I've been in all the bars you've listed, but haven't tried the coffee places yet. Unfortunately I don't have a car, so I've been pretty restricted to Waterloo - I do aim to come to tonight's write-in in Kitchener though.
Lisa, I'm at the Waterloo Inn, on King near the freeway. Good call on the Princess Twin - I'll check that out. Keep meaning to catch a movie there actually (I really like indie stuff). Unfortunately I leave on Friday to go back to the UK, will be at the write-in this afternoon and I've got drinks on Thursday (a good reason why I really need to go to the write-in today :) ). If you fancy meeting up for some continued writing afterwards and can't make it to the Kitchener event absolutely feel free to PM me on here.
Ian
13,644 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 11 50
"Thus far I've been doing a single-handed, multi-day, pub crawl of Waterloo town center.... It's been fun, but not always that conducive to writing :)"
-- I totally approve. :-D
Not just because of the liquid inspiration, either (I was the one who said "I like beer" on the getting to know you game at the kick of party :-p) but because I find pubs themselves so inspirational. People get into real "story-telling" moods at the pub, and just sitting back and listening to the anecdotes of others speaks volumes to me of the human need for social story-telling. Now I'm feeling whimsical. ;-)
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