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Food + Drink

Business friends are Pinch hitters

By Stephen Near
The astonishing rise of Hamilton’s most out-of-the-box eatery is a story of a community rallying – twice – around owners Stefani Dubbeldam and Amanda Wright. Sitting with small business owners Stefani Dubbeldam and Amanda Wright, surrounded by greenery and the scent of fresh-baked cookies, it’s easy to be…
Arts + Culture

gritLIT opens a new chapter

By Stephen Near
Launch party at Theatre Aquarius marks an exciting new page for Hamilton's literary festival. It was a chilly evening, but the vibe was warm Tuesday as gritLIT, Hamilton’s premiere literary festival, celebrated the launch of its April 2025 event in the lobby of Theatre Aquarius. Hosted by Lishai…
HCC
Hamilton music Collective
Arts + Culture

Hamilton Literary Awards reward standout books and storytelling

By Stephen Near
The 31st annual ceremony, now co-hosted by the Hamilton Arts Council and the gritLIT Readers and Writers Festival, will happen Dec. 12 at the Central Library. Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the winners in each category. Over 30 years of stories is something Hamilton…
Arts + Culture

A place for weird dreams

By Stephen Near
The Staircase Theatre and Café has been both a critical indie arts venue and a home for artists across Hamilton for 28 years. It’s a place where creatives of all kinds can take risks. “There’s a weirdness here.” I’m nestled inside the brownstone interior of Hamilton’s Staircase…
Arts + Culture

The Master Plan is crackling and compelling theatre about Toronto scandal

By Stephen Near
The award-winning Canadian hit about a waterfront boondoggle comes to Hamilton in a landmark production at Theatre Aquarius, running Oct. 30 to Nov. 16. It’s fair to say The Master Plan made an impression on Theatre Aquarius artistic director Mary Francis Moore. “My jaw was on…
City Life

Shaking Up Shakespeare

By Stephen Near
Trevor Copp and Alma Sarai are the dynamic duo behind Tottering Biped Theatre (TBT) and the company’s annual summer Shakespeare by the Castle festival that takes place in August at Dundurn Castle. TREVOR COPP and ALMA SARAI have worked together for nine years with a mission to…
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