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Arts + Culture

Hamilton stars at the Hamilton Film Festival

The 21-year-old film event features 100 shorts, documentaries and features, from established and new filmmakers, shown over 10 days. Here we talk with festival director Nathan Fleet and Hamilton filmmakers Rita Chiarelli, Liv Ellis, Maddy Foley, and Jeff Robinson. The Hamilton Film Festival works every year to…
Arts + Culture

Solo show shares stories from frontline shelters during the pandemic

Hamilton playwright Tommy Taylor will debut You Should Have Stayed Home Too at Theatre Aquarius. The show drawn from his decade working in emergency shelters and overdose prevention sites features lost music from his late aunt, who was best friend, roommate and collaborator of Joni Mitchell. A…
Arts + Culture

Staats shines at folk awards in Hamilton

The Ontario Folk Music Awards kicked off the five-day Folk Canada conference taking place in downtown Hamilton. Six Nations of the Grand River singer-songwriter Logan Staats won big, along with Tanika Charles and Aysanabee at the awards show hosted by Terra Lightfoot. Six Nations of the Grand River…
City Life

CANDIDATE SURVEY: HAMILTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION 2026

The Hamilton Arts Council, Hamilton Phil, and HAMILTON CITY Magazine have teamed up to produce a four-question survey of mayoral and ward candidates vying for seats at City council in the Oct. 26 municipal election. Read on to for the candidates' thoughts about arts and culture in Hamilton.
Food + Drink

Buzz worthy: 5 restaurants in Hamilton, Burlington generating social media love

When you can’t make a decision about what restaurant to go to or order from, you simply can’t go wrong with any of these choices. These are eateries that consistently generate glowing reviews from patrons. Visit while they’re hot! Cowabunga 4.5-star average on Google Reviews Cowabunga…
Food + Drink

Your ultimate Hamilton fun & food guide

Are you looking to play with your food? From bowling, escape rooms, and axe throwing to open mics, batting cages, karaoke bars, and board game cafés, you'll never have to choose between a great meal and a great time. We’ve all been there. You and your besties are…
Arts + Culture

A winding musical road

James Bryan has had a long and varied career as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, mentor, and concert producer who has worked with huge names in music in a variety of genres, and fronted two successful Canadian bands. His animated pop duo Prozzak will play FirstOntario Concert…
Arts + Culture

PREVIEW: Crown Point Players presenting unique companion plays

Lone Star and Laundry and Bourbon features two one-act plays set in 1970s Texas, one with an all-female cast and the other with an all male cast. It will run at Crown & Press from Oct. 16 to 24. New theatre company Crown Point Players is presenting…
Arts + Culture

REVIEW: Sisters of ’78 is triumphant and powerful

The season opener at Theatre Aquarius offers an inspiring tale of ordinary women who challenged power and authority, fighting for themselves, their families, and each other in a five-month labour strike that changed workplaces in Ontario. It runs until Oct. 18. Rights and privileges are won…
Food + Drink

Jerk, done right

We are spoiled for local restaurants bringing big, bold Caribbean flavour to the table – just in time for the arrival of cooler weather. There is something heart-warming about the bold delicious flavours of a jerk chicken dish – some spice, some sweetness, and a…

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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.


Made in Hamilton

Tej Sandhu: Guided by a North Star

Tej Sandhu returned to Hamilton to pursue his dream of building community through entrepreneurship – just like his grandparents did. Now he’s sharing the lessons he’s learned with the next generation. Getting the attention of Gen Z isn’t easy. But Tej Sandhu knows how to stop people in their…
Food + Drink

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

Here's a list of what has come, gone and changed in Hamilton and Burlington in May. Launched & opening soon Chubby Tiger (2016 Victoria Ave., Burlington) Early reviewers have described the cuisine at Chubby Tiger as reminiscent of food court Canadian Chinese fare, with…
City Life

Mixed Signals: CBC Radio and Hamilton

Canada’s national broadcaster is finally addressing a glaring inconsistency by investing in a radio station in this city. BY PAUL SHAKER AND SONJA MACDONALD City building involves many things, from physical infrastructure like streets, buildings, and watermains, to policy choices on how we decide to grow or…
Arts + Culture

The Better Days Club Summer Kickback back for second year

Musician and fashion designer James Favron's music and community event kicks off the summer music festival circuit on June 6 at The Cotton Factory. How does a summer music festival without the bugs, the heat, or the threat of rain sound? The second annual Better Days Club Summer…
Arts + Culture

Burlington sculpture trail about to close for 2026

Waterfront exhibit features more than 60 works from artists from across Canada and around the world. You have only a few days left to take in the 2026 Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail. It is scheduled to close Sunday after weeks of showcasing sculptures for the public. This is…
Arts + Culture

From Hamilton, With Art: Dope Chief

This is part of a digital Q&A series by HAMILTON CITY Magazine contributor Sarah Jessica Rintjema in conversation with Hamilton’s visual artists. Dope Chief, or Richard Magarin, was born and raised in Hamilton. The artist grew up downtown and describes being an artistic and overstimulated child, finding peace…
Arts + Culture

Cadence Weapon wants you to stop scrolling and start listening

Rollie Pemberton, aka Cadence Weapon, is done with treating music as background filler. In his new book Ways of Listening, the Hamilton rapper explores the transition from record bins to algorithms and reimagines how we can reclaim a deep connection with music in the age of streaming. When…
Arts + Culture

Festival season: Summer on parade

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…