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I don't live in Hamilton, but yes, it is a nice city. It has an overall blue collar vibe. Check out the views up on the escarpment (Hamilton Mountain). Lots of waterfalls nearby. Downtown has an authenticity to it, but also has some run down areas. Overall the city seems very safe however. The best part of the city is the area around McMaster University. Very nice. For quiet suburban living nearby, try Dundas, Ancaster, or Stoney Creek.
The arts scene in Hamilton is definitely thriving. The unofficial motto making the rounds is "Art is the new Steel". About 6-7 years ago you started hearing more about people buying up buildings on James Street North and fixing them up one at a time. I've heard quite a few stories where the buildings were bought for $110,000 and the person lives upstairs with their store/gallery below. Every month on the second(?) Friday there is an arts crawl where they shut down the street and people open their galleries up all night. I grew up in Hamilton and James Street North was no great shakes at all, despite it being one of the major streets downtown. It really is amazing and goes to show how governments can have big visions but really James, Ottawa and Locke are three streets where individual people came in and did it slowly over time and actually changed the street and fabric of that neighbourhood.
I've got a few posts on Hamilton in here, if you are interested let me know and I can answer other questions. I moved back to Hamilton after 8 years in Toronto and am so happy to have moved back. It really truly feels like a city on the cusp.
The arts scene in Hamilton is definitely thriving. The unofficial motto making the rounds is "Art is the new Steel". About 6-7 years ago you started hearing more about people buying up buildings on James Street North and fixing them up one at a time. I've heard quite a few stories where the buildings were bought for $110,000 and the person lives upstairs with their store/gallery below. Every month on the second(?) Friday there is an arts crawl where they shut down the street and people open their galleries up all night. I grew up in Hamilton and James Street North was no great shakes at all, despite it being one of the major streets downtown. It really is amazing and goes to show how governments can have big visions but really James, Ottawa and Locke are three streets where individual people came in and did it slowly over time and actually changed the street and fabric of that neighbourhood.
I've got a few posts on Hamilton in here, if you are interested let me know and I can answer other questions. I moved back to Hamilton after 8 years in Toronto and am so happy to have moved back. It really truly feels like a city on the cusp.
That sounds so cool! Thanks for the great info.
How about the music scene? Are there places for young bands to play? Are there a lot of good bands/artists around?
My brother is in the music scene here but I am not as familiar with it. I do know that there are a few places like This Ain't Hollywood (on James North), the Casbah, Stonewalls, and the good old Corktown Tavern. I am sure there are tonnes more but like I said I am not as familiar with it.
On top of the arts scene there is a burgeoning food movement here. Slow food, local, organic, cool food trucks, grow your own etc. There is a guy who will harvest your backyard for half the take which he sells locally. Some friends are trying to get a food co-op off the ground here too and strike deals with local farmers.
I think the biggest issue with Hamilton seems to be that the municipal government is more interested in red tape than anything which frustrates many movers and shakers here. If things are succeeding, it is mostly despite government and totally due to individuals just pushing on. It has a tonne of possibility and it is great to see things moving forward here.
Sounds great! I think we'll be looking there. Thanks for all the fantastic info.
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