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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…
City Life

State of the City: Hamilton needs 50 ideas to turn around the downtown

Business leaders, urban planners, and police officials call for well-executed small wins, stronger partnerships with other levels of government, and coordinated community action to restore confidence in the city’s core. Hamilton’s downtown revival will depend as much on fixing everyday problems as it does on major infrastructure…
Arts + Culture

Learning to Breathe: Clara Hughes discovers life beyond the finish line

After a lifetime of pushing her body to extraordinary limits, the six-time Olympic medallist found herself facing an unfamiliar opponent: stillness. In her new memoir, the cyclist and speed skater explores a devastating injury, menopausal upheaval, and buried trauma that forced her to rethink everything she thought she…
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

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…
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

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.


Arts + Culture

REVIEW: Family story is powerful and relatable

Dundas Little Theatre’s Things I Know to Be True delivers impactful and nuanced performances from its cast of six family drama sure to strike a chord with audiences. The U.K.’s Radio Times once described Things I Know to Be True as an “understated gem.” It’s a…
Arts + Culture

REVIEW: Sequence is a clever, challenging piece of theatre

Village Theatre Waterdown’s closing production of the season merges two parallel narratives in a fast-paced, well-acted production. The closing production of Village Theatre Waterdown’s season is Sequence, a cerebral and mysterious show that will have synapses firing as big ideas and barbs fly. Sequence is an award-winning play…
Food + Drink

Henry’s on James, a 1920s-inspired jazz supper club opens downtown

James Street North live music venue by The Other Bird will be open Thursday to Sunday, featuring twice daily performances, a simple dinner and light-night menu, a jazz brunch on Sunday, and classic cocktails with a twist. It’s fair to say Hamilton hasn’t seen anything quite like Henry’s…
Arts + Culture

REVIEW: Waitress is a sweet slice of musical theatre

Theatre Aquarius’s season close-out production takes place in Joe’s Pie Diner where Jenna, played by Hamilton native Julia McLellan, escapes her loveless marriage by creating and baking desserts and dreaming of a new start. It runs until May 18. Waitress serves strong performances, great music, a…
Arts + Culture

PREVIEW: It’s Showtime for Beetlejuice Jr.

20 Performing Arts Academy presents show in three performances at The Polish Hall in Brantford on May 2 and 3. As local theatre lovers will be aware, Beetlejuice The Musical is part of Mirvish’s 2024-2025 season, running June 3 to July 19 at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre…
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 April. Launched Coffee Bunny (1216 Upper Wentworth, Hamilton)Hamilton Mountain has been graced by another indie coffee shop, focused on a large menu of coffee and signature coffee drinks. Alongside craft beverages, you’ll also…
Arts + Culture

PREVIEW: Comedy with a heart coming to The Staircase

Jack Goes to Therapy: A (Somewhat) Romantic Comedy is a one-man play by Caledonia native and McMaster University graduate Zac Williams. The Staircase Theatre in Hamilton marks a stop of Zac Williams' 2025 Canadian tour with his comedic one-man show Jack Goes to Therapy: A (Somewhat) Romantic Comedy.
Food + Drink

Sweet success at WÜD Chocolates and Gifts

Nesreen Abusultan is a Palestinian woman who has made a journey from refugee to chocolatier and Burlington entrepreneur. In Middle Eastern culture, chocolate is more than an indulgence to satiate a sweet tooth or satisfy a craving. Rather, it’s a special treat to share with loved ones to…