JUNO Awards in the Hammer!

The 2015 JUNO Awards are only 9 days away. The awards ceremony will honour Canadian music achievements in the later part of 2013 and in 2014. This wonderful event will be taking place in our fair city of Hamilton, ON. HOW EXCITING! The ceremony takes place downtown in FirstOntario Centre over the weekend of March 14 – 15 and televised nationally on CTV March 15. GREAT NEWS is that you do not have to wait till next weekend to enjoy the festivities in the city. There are various concerts and events related to the awards taking place as soon as tonight, March 9. Actually, there have already been pop up performances in the city…..anyway, get in on the fun! Plan ahead by checking out tourismhamilton.com’s Juno Awards – TURN IT ON! section and find a complete listing of events.

I will note, one event I do plan on participating in (so long as real estate work doesn’t get in the way) is Turn It On Music Crawl. It is an enhanced Art Crawl with live performances throughout the JUNO Zone – Jackson Square, James Street North/South and King Street East/West locations. In addition to music, you will be able to snack at food trucks, enjoy local entertainment, pop into shops and galleries. James St North specifically will have 10 stages set up throughout the day and then the Art Crawl itself will begin. Don’t miss a minute on Friday March 13 from 5-9pm.

HOORAY for JUNOs in the Hammer!

The Month of Holiday Cheer

December is here! The month full of holiday cheer! As the snow starts to fall outside here in Hamilton, I decided it would be great to share the best way to kick off the month and really get into the spirit of Christmas –

Christmas in Gore Park!

CHML/Y108 Children’s Fund and the City of Hamilton to bring you Christmas in Gore.

Excitement starts December 4th at 6pm, Y108’s radio personalities will be broadcasting live from Santa’s Workshop in Gore Park for their 24 in the Gore collecting new unwrapped toys, food and cash donations for the CHML/Y108 Children’s Fund Operation Santa Claus.

On Friday December 5th at 5 pm The City of Hamilton provides free miniature train and carousel rides which will start operating daily until December 24^th.

At 5:30 pm we will officially light up Downtown Hamilton’s Christmas decorations including the 40’ tall Christmas Tree of Hope followed by a FREE concert by CRANK presented by CHML/Y108.

Also, walk down to: A Victorian Night in the Village!

Friday December 5 from 6-9pm in the International Village located at Ferguson Station in downtown Hamilton. 3 hours of carolers, Christmas music, horse & carriage rides (1^st come, 1^st served of course), and sales at shops & restaurants.
The festivities continue on Saturday, December 6th in Gore Park when the Downtown BIA hosts Santa in Gore Park for free pictures from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Start your Christmas shopping in Santa’s Village. Free refreshments will be provided by Philpott Memorial Church. The whole family will have a great time with carolling, Christmas entertainment and free crafts!

Christmas Evening Tours at Dundurn Castle

See the castle lit up for the holidays. Start in the front hall with carol-singing, then tour Sir Allan MacNab’s lavish home, and enjoy traditional Christmas treats in the historic kitchen. $27.00 admission for all ages running Dec 5-7 and Dec 19-21 from 7pm-9pm.

And that is just the start of the month folks! Check the tourismhamilton.com site for a list of other family events (The Big Sing, Model Train Weekend, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and MORE).

So embrace the joy of the holiday season, be good to you and yours, and Happy Holidays

**image is one of my favourites from Susan Houghton Debus**

Winter has COME! Time to SHOP!!

Winter has come! It seems that everyone in the Hamilton area was a bit surprised at the winter wonderful we woke up to this Monday morning. Southern Ontario is ready for winter, whether we like it or not. So, it seems the best time to start truly thinking of the holiday season that is fast approaching.

I find the best way to get in that MERRY holiday spirit is to start Christmas shopping. I like shopping in November because the shops, boutiques, and especially malls are not unbearable, yet. If you are looking for a hand-made, unique gift, shopping at the Church/Parish/Community centre Christmas Bazaars & Fairs are the best 1^st stop. It is only mid-November, but these craft events have been running since the start of the month. (Sorry I am a bit behind!) My favourite Parish craft and holiday event is at my own church, which is why I am posting now. Canadian Martyr’s is my home church and their Christmas Bazaar is THIS WEEKEND – Friday Nov 21 from 4pm-8pm & Saturday Nov 22 from 10am-2pm. Here is a sneak peak!

These hand-made children sweater, mittens, hats, scarves, slippers, AND SO MUCH MORE are exquisite, quality gems that are perfect gifts. The event also hosts some scrumptious food and activities for the little ones. Shop or just buy raffle tickets and win a gift card to a local shop or another great prize or gift. It’s a full weekend of fun.

If you can’t attend west Hamilton’s Canadian Martyr’s event, check out the Hamilton Spectator’s list via the link for other similar sales at the dozens of locations throughout the greater Hamilton area.

Happy Shopping!

Victoria Day Weekend in The Hammer

It’s Thursday night before the long weekend. It seems everyone is preparing to the escape from work as early as they can tomorrow to rush up north to some wonderful cottage retreat where they can celebrate the first long weekend of the spring/summer season. I, on the other hand, am happily staying in the city. I may not have the tranquility of a cottage location, but I do have awesome food, good friends, drinks, fireworks even, and a lake view (at the Bayfront of course). So here are a few events in the greater Hamilton everyone should attend this weekend.

Down by the Bay

Bayfront Park is the place to be this Friday May 16, 2014, from 4.30 PM – 8 PM. It will be the first of many Friday’s this summer where one and all can enjoy food, trails, shops, outdoor activity, great people and all the joy the area offers. Taste the creations from 15 different food trucks this Friday. Who wouldn’t want to start the weekend and the season off right?

Waterdown Arts & Music Streetfest

Head up to Dundas Street East (HWY 5) in the heart of Waterdown on Sunday May 18, 2014, to see and experience a street lined with vendors. From 11 AM – 11 PM you can enjoy 10 musical acts (stage located in from of the Mill Street and 5 American House), 40 street vendors, 15 food trucks, and the Niagara Inflatable’s. Family fun for everyone that has been in the works for 18 months now and will be a joy for the entire town and its’ guests.

Fireworks!

Sunday, 18 May 2014 head down to Dundas Driving Park at 71 Cross Street in Dundas Valley from 6 PM – 10PM for food trucks, snacks, soft drinks, glow sticks (available for purchase) and fun at the park all before the stunning fireworks show begins at dusk. Of course, the even is FREE but the Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club would appreciate any cash donation at the gate to help finance the club’s local and international service work. This Victoria Day Celebration is supported by the City of Hamilto

Happy Victoria Day Weekend!

Hamilton Festivals & Events

Hamilton Festivals & Events

I know the weather hasn’t been as great as we all hoped. It is May already and it truly doesn’t feel like May-like weather. But, considering it is May and there is no more snow at the very least out there, I am feeling the need to venture out into the city.

Hamilton has so many fantastic festivals that run from the beginning of June right until the end of September. I provided a list of events for my clients, family, and friends to have last year. I did not want them to miss out on an event either. I am starting to work on that list for 2014. As I browse the Tourism Hamilton calendar (which you can do easily via the link) I decided I will also provide this list to my followers. So, the list is in the works. I hope to have it up soon.

Now, my list is mostly festivals in the greater Hamilton area. But there are more fun and interesting events in this wonderful city I recommend everyone attend. So, in addition to my future list/blog post, I plan on posting some other awesome events on a monthly basis….starting Today!
Post to follow from your proud Hamiltonian!

Community Events – Christmas is in the Air….Already?

With only a week till Halloween and our Hamilton Spectator is preparing the community for the dozens of Christmas Bazaars. Advertised in the Tuesday Oct 22 paper, there is a list that is expanded further on the Spec.com site. From October 25 right until December 7, people can shop for arts, crafts, and homemade ANYTHING for the holiday season. I am all for supporting our community (I help my mother at the Canadian Martyr’s Parish sale every year **Nov. 22 & 23 – located 38 Emerson St. Friday, 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.**), but Halloween hasn’t even passed. Well, I will wait till after Halloween before I start worrying about my Christmas shopping, but for those who like to plan ahead, enjoy the Christmas Bazaar List from The Spec.Com for the list of dates, locations, and a helpful map.

Happy Halloween!! Oh, and have a Merry Christmas (early)!

Hot Market in Hamilton = Big Changes

This quote from the CBC online article says it all — In the last five years, “local attitudes — the way Hamiltonians think about the prospects for their city, especially the downtown — have changed,” he said. “There’s a lot of belief in the possibility of revival.”

The hype in Hamilton’s change is being felt not just in Hamilton, but in the surrounding areas and it is this reason, as well as low mortgage rates that we here in the Hamilton House market can feel the change. Its FANTASTIC!

I am born and raised in Hamilton’s west end. As a child, I loved the city. As I aged, I felt like there were a million other places I would rather be than in the Hammer. I have traveled the world, and now that I am back and happily settled in Hamilton, I am in love with my city once again. I have hope for this prospecting revival of my ‘Steel Town’. I believe others feel the same.

Have a read – SOLD! How a hot real estate market is changing Hamilton

This article is a couple days old now, but it is worth another read as we head into a couple outstanding festival weekends here in the city.

Locke Street Festival is tomorrow, Sept 7, in Hamilton’s most popular neighbourhood. Local vendors line the street while people eat, drink, shop, and listen to some of Hamilton’s local talents on stage. Next weekend Sept 13 & 14 is Supercrawl! This is the festival that truly displays the change in the city. James Street North shuts down and the galleries, shops, and eateries are swarmed with people from Hamilton and beyond. Last year’s attendance was incredible and I would suspect the same will occur this year, especially when you look at the line-up of artists playing the many stages down the street.

Have a read or come join the festival fun and see what Hamilton has to offer. I wouldn’t be surprised if more out-of-towners end up consider Hamilton for their next home purchase.