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Celebrating all things Hamilton / Welcome Message
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.


City Life

CITY VIEW: Immersed in Inspiration

JOE OLLMANN is an award-winning cartoonist whose 2021 book Fictional Father was short-listed for the Governor General's Award. He is a co-editor of Hamilton anthology Bonk'd Comics and his latest graphic novel is The Woodchipper. Joe Ollmann is a cartoonist who has lived in Hamilton most of his…
Arts + Culture

MAJOR LEAP OF FAITH: How Hamilton changed The JUNOS

It took plenty of convincing of the folks at CARAS to consider a 1995 move of the national music awards out of Toronto and about 70 km west to Copps Coliseum. One board member even called our city a ‘smog-filled, crime-ridden lunchbucket town.’ But CARAS president and Hamilton…
Arts + Culture

So, what’s it like to win a JUNO?

Music writer Jamie Tennant reached out to homegrown talent about what winning Canada’s biggest music award meant to them and their careers. SEE ALL OUR JUNOS COVERAGE HERE! Since the first JUNOS in 1970 (then known as the Golden Leaf Awards),…
Arts + Culture

48 HOURS IN HAMILTON: A music lover’s curated weekend

Whether you’re a frequent visitor or taking in Hamilton for the first time during JUNO Week, musician and music writer Dylan Hudecki offers suggestions for spending a music-focused weekend in the city. SEE ALL OUR JUNOS COVERAGE HERE! Welcome to the Hammer,…
Arts + Culture

ALANIS TO ARKELLS: Hamilton’s iconic JUNO Awards moments

Hamilton has hosted Canada's Biggest Night in Music six times and has been centre stage for some historical highlights. With six previous hosting gigs, Hamilton has played a starring role in JUNOS history. From Alanis Morissette’s record-breaking sweep to unforgettable nights with Céline Dion and The Tragically Hip,…
Arts + Culture

HAMILTON IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Memories of The JUNOS

Celebrity spotting, after parties, pop-up concerts and at least two winners who missed their moments on the stage … what Hamilton musicians and musical insiders remember about the city’s previous turns hosting The JUNOS. There have been so many musical memories born in Hamilton during the six previous…
Arts + Culture

Lots of Canada, Hamilton, even a Heated Rivalry actor, in Aquarius’ next season

The 2026-2027 lineup will feature Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Roald Dahl’s Matilda, The Musical, and three new Canadian plays, two featuring Hamilton playwrights. Four female directors. Three new Canadian plays. Two Hamilton playwrights. Two blockbuster British musicals. One national bestselling novel. One actor from smash hit…
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 February. Launched & opening soon Blondies (4490 Fairview St., Burlington) Replacing the previous pizza shop in the location Pizza Boat, which closed in October last year, Blondies is a…