Hamilton City Magazine Skip to main content
Celebrating all things Hamilton / Welcome Message
Made in Hamilton

Saving the strays at Ladybird Animal Sanctuary

By Meredith MacLeod
After rescuing nearly 1,900 animals over 16 years, Hamilton-based Ladybird Animal Sanctuary is close to creating a farm that will be a refuge for animals in desperate need. It all started with three friends working together for one unforgettable cat. Sweet Oliver the cat was the first…
Made in Hamilton

Made in Hamilton: The Mabel’s Labels Story

By Julie Cole
A frustrating parenting problem, a vision to solve it, and some tenacity helped a quartet of moms create an enduring brand. Read on for co-founder Julie Cole's six business lessons learned. Over 23 years ago, my sister and two friends, all of us former students…
City Life

Wesley: Never standing still

By Meredith MacLeod
The made-in-Hamilton non-profit began its work in a church basement 71 years ago. Focused on poverty, homelessness, and the complex social challenges at the root of those issues, Wesley’s more than 300 staff lead critical social programs in 17 locations in Hamilton and beyond. Ryan S. was…
City Life

Kenadie, how do I talk to pretty girls?

By Kenadie St. James
Welcome to the monthly column from Hamilton drag queen Kenadie St. James! Read on for the best bad advice you’ve ever had! Hamilton, your problems are officially about to get WORSE. 💋 Local drag legend Kenadie St. James is serving up catastrophically bad life advice in her new HAMILTON…
Arts + Culture

Now THAT was a Festival of Friends!

By Dylan Hudecki
A huge summer storm threatened to derail an all-star 50th anniversary concert on Sunday. But resilient Canadian musicians, led by Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, refused to give in, and delivered an epic, memory-making show. That capped off three great days of music, markets, midway and food at Gage…
Arts + Culture

IN PHOTOS: Festival of Friends 2026

By HCM
The Festival of Friends – its 50th year! – is in full swing at Gage Park. Featuring dozens of musical acts, market vendors, and lots of delicious food options, the festival wraps up with an all-star concert of local and Canadian acts on Sunday night! PHOTOS BY BOB…
Arts + Culture

Festival season: Summer on parade

By Carlye Morrow-Jackson
Here is your hot 2026 summer festivals guide for Hamilton and Burlington. You’ll find everything from inaugural events to two local traditions that are turning 50 years old this year! Our summers may be short but fortunately for us, the list of local festivals is long. Spend warm-weather…
City Life

CITY VIEW: A cancer crusader

By Meredith MacLeod
Food + Drink

ON THE MENU: WHAT’S OPENED AND CLOSED ON THE LOCAL RESTAURANT SCENE

By Suzanne Zandbergen
City Life

FOR THE LOVE OF HAMILTON

By Meredith MacLeod
Food + Drink

Easy Kitchen with Marisa Mariella

By HCM

you are HAMILTON

HAMILTON CITY Magazine’s mission is to tell the stories that celebrate the city’s past, present and future by featuring stunning photography, illustrations and world-class writing. It’s your city. It’s your magazine.

Subscribe

Happening Now

THINGS TO DO IN HAMILTON, BURLINGTON

By HCM
We are spoiled for things to see and do in #HamOnt and #BurlOn. HAMILTON CITY Magazine helps you keep up with it all. Think of us as your plugged-in friend who knows all the cool stuff happening around town! Get out and enjoy – and tell them HCM sent you!
City Life

Hounds of Hamilton

By HCM
We need a big dose of dogs these days so HAMILTON CITY Magazine's new feature celebrates the city's canines. Send in your dogs (and cats)! Escape the relentless news cycle, doom scrolling and polarizing politics, and find joy and laughter in pets. Hounds of Hamilton…
HCC
Made in Hamilton

OPINION: Made in Hamilton has always meant something more

By Greg Dunnett
It’s not simply about location, but about the work ethic, resilience, creativity, and pride that have shaped this community for generations, and matters even more as Hamilton transforms. Made in Hamilton: It has never simply been about where a product was manufactured, where a business was founded, or…
City Life

Decolonizing, one book at a time

By Madeline Wilson Shaw
Decolonial Little Library started in Kirkendall and will be expanded across the city starting later this year. Late in the summer of 2023, my partner Ryan and I were in the midst of our walking craze that took hold during my pregnancy and had us in a postpartum…
Arts + Culture

THE PLAYLIST

By Dylan Hudecki
Dylan Hudecki is a Canadian indie-rock vet having played in many different bands, including By Divine Right, Cowlick, Slow Beach and The Dill. He’s a proud Hamiltonian who covers local album releases for HAMILTON CITY Magazine. Cut Flowers – Just Came Home to Come Home Cut Flowers arrive…
Food + Drink

Share your way to dinner in Hamilton

By Heather Peter
Here are some great places across the city to visit with a big group and eat your way through the menu! Sometimes when you go to a new restaurant, it can be hard to choose a dish from all the delicious-sounding options. One of the best ways to…
Food + Drink

ON THE MENU: WHAT’S OPENED AND CLOSED ON THE LOCAL RESTAURANT SCENE

By Suzanne Zandbergen
Here's a list of what has come, gone and changed in Hamilton and Burlington in July. Launched & opening soon Bar Origin (399 Elizabeth St., Burlington)Opened by renowned chef Claudio Aprile, Bar Origin is one of the area’s long anticipated openings this summer. Aprile…
Arts + Culture

Now THAT was a Festival of Friends!

By Dylan Hudecki
A huge summer storm threatened to derail an all-star 50th anniversary concert on Sunday. But resilient Canadian musicians, led by Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, refused to give in, and delivered an epic, memory-making show. That capped off three great days of music, markets, midway and food at Gage…
Food + Drink

Hamilton’s short – and tempestuous – coffee culture

By Paul Weinberg
The consolidation of a small chain of shops and the sudden closure of Democracy Café on Locke Street after employees unionized, are the latest in the city’s relatively fleeting history in specialty java. It is getting harder to find a place in Hamilton that serves a decent…
Load More Stories