City of Hamilton General Discussion Thread

[LRTfan]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

So I have a question for you guys.

Say you have someone from out of town come to stay with you. They ask you what there is to do in the city that's unique to the city. You offer to go for a drink. They say they don't drink. You offer to take them out to a restaurant downtown - you do this for a bit but they quickly bore of just eating and want to know where else they can go. They want to be entertained, but they don't want to, say, have to go hiking everywhere to see say waterfalls.

Where would you take that person in hamilton? Let's also assume they don't want to go to the outskirts of hamilton, they want to stay in the core or just generally in the city.

Personally, I'd take them down to the harbour, maybe see a car show, maybe go see some art it if was an art crawl, but really I'm generally at a loss. In the past 10 years like 5 bars have closed down in hamilton, I just don't really know where to go for actual entertainment. I could go to the movies but you can go to the movies anywhere. I bowl, but that's up on the escarpment. I find I crave some sort of unique form of entertainment.

Hate to say it, but your answer is 45 minutes away.....

[TheRitsman]

Toronto isn't always great for various types of entertainment either. Where is there a cool bowling alley in Toronto's core?

[Chronamut]

But that's the thing, I shouldn't HAVE to go to toronto. Also torontos transportation stops at 1 am - bars close at 2 or 3 - there have been many times I have been stranded in toronto - so if that WERE to be the only option - transportation that runs farther into the night would be very much appreciated.

I'd personally love to see more ferries come out of hamiltons harbour - maybe re-introduce one that goes straight to toronto - would cut down a ton of time for sure. We have all this natural beauty.

I think we should also focus more on what to do with the old eatons center - with all this intensification going on along james st and the student residents its just the perfect place to set up some sorta massive entertainment complex in there - you'd make a KILLING. Also open more of that opressive exterior of it up to the public - more glass , more entrances etc.

I know some offers have floated by in the past, but seeing this building largely deserted, right in the CORE of the city, is always troubling and sad to witness.

[davidcappi]

Toronto has The Ballroom Bowl which is open till 2am at John and Richmond if you want to go bowling.

[thistleclub]

I'd personally love to see more ferries come out of hamiltons harbour - maybe re-introduce one that goes straight to toronto - would cut down a ton of time for sure. .

AFAIK, that service was popular in the 1915-1925 period, before the popular adoption of cars (as is true of funiculars). Almost all of the ferries of the day were build in the 1800s. Canada Steamship Lines mothballed the last of the passenger steamers that gave the company its name over 80 years ago.

I don’t know how much faster such a service would be compared to road or rail, however.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

AFAIK, that service was popular in the 1915-1925 period, before the popular adoption of cars (as is true of funiculars). Almost all of the ferries of the day were build in the 1800s. Canada Steamship Lines mothballed the last of the passenger steamers that gave the company its name over 80 years ago.

I don’t know how much faster such a service would be compared to road or rail, however.

Well the simple fact that you are going in a straight line as opposed to an arc around the water mathematically would lean to the ferry being faster, but that all depends on how fast the ferry goes I suppose..

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

So I have a question for you guys.

Say you have someone from out of town come to stay with you. They ask you what there is to do in the city that's unique to the city. You offer to go for a drink. They say they don't drink. You offer to take them out to a restaurant downtown - you do this for a bit but they quickly bore of just eating and want to know where else they can go. They want to be entertained, but they don't want to, say, have to go hiking everywhere to see say waterfalls.

Where would you take that person in hamilton? Let's also assume they don't want to go to the outskirts of hamilton, they want to stay in the core or just generally in the city.

Personally, I'd take them down to the harbour, maybe see a car show, maybe go see some art it if was an art crawl, but really I'm generally at a loss. In the past 10 years like 5 bars have closed down in hamilton, I just don't really know where to go for actual entertainment. I could go to the movies but you can go to the movies anywhere. I bowl, but that's up on the escarpment. I find I crave some sort of unique form of entertainment.

What is "entertainment" to you?

Overall, what to do here is a good question. Hamilton has a lot going for it, for residents.

For tourists it's not chock full of stuff many people know about, but there are some things I'd show visitors:
- Dundurn Castle (a bit hokey but I've enjoyed visiting as an adult) or other historic sites like Battlefield or Whitehern, or the museums (yeah, some are small, but if you like that kind of thing they can be fun)
- AGH (an under-rated gallery; as are McMaster's and Burlington's)
- RBG is a winner, with choices to suit various interests
- HMCS Haida (I'm biased... I'm a bit of a navy buff and my grandpa served on her for a short time during WWII)
- Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
- Harbour Queen cruise
- walk Locke St., Ottawa St., downtown Dundas, Waterdown...
- ghost tour
- a play or musical performance at Hamilton Place, the Dofasco Centre, smaller theatre, etc.; sporting event at Copps or THF
- African Lion Safari
- catch some harness racing and maybe place some bets at Flamboro Downs

I think it just takes a bit more research and creativity to find touristy things to do in Hamilton. But they're there, and many are quite accessible. But it also depends on what someone means by "entertainment" per your comment.

One thing I wish the city did was embrace its manufacturing heritage and offer tours that reflect the heritage. I'm not sure if those are available, perhaps I'm wrong. I'd really enjoy a tour through a working steel plant, or along the industrial harbourfront. Might be a limited market for that.

We can think of Hamilton's proximity to Toronto and Niagara as reflecting poorly on the city, but it's also a plus -- a good home base for exploring further, to those places but other day trips too (take a drive out to Goderich, or down to Port Dover or Long Point, St. Jacobs, etc.). The city is central to a lot of interesting places.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

What is "entertainment" to you?

Overall, what to do here is a good question. Hamilton has a lot going for it, for residents.

For tourists it's not chock full of stuff many people know about, but there are some things I'd show visitors:
- Dundurn Castle (a bit hokey but I've enjoyed visiting as an adult) or other historic sites like Battlefield or Whitehern, or the museums (yeah, some are small, but if you like that kind of thing they can be fun)
- AGH (an under-rated gallery; as are McMaster's and Burlington's)
- RBG is a winner, with choices to suit various interests
- HMCS Haida (I'm biased... I'm a bit of a navy buff and my grandpa served on her for a short time during WWII)
- Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
- Harbour Queen cruise
- walk Locke St., Ottawa St., downtown Dundas, Waterdown...
- ghost tour
- a play or musical performance at Hamilton Place, the Dofasco Centre, smaller theatre, etc.; sporting event at Copps or THF
- African Lion Safari
- catch some harness racing and maybe place some bets at Flamboro Downs

I think it just takes a bit more research and creativity to find touristy things to do in Hamilton. But they're there, and many are quite accessible. But it also depends on what someone means by "entertainment" per your comment.

One thing I wish the city did was embrace its manufacturing heritage and offer tours that reflect the heritage. I'm not sure if those are available, perhaps I'm wrong. I'd really enjoy a tour through a working steel plant, or along the industrial harbourfront. Might be a limited market for that.

We can think of Hamilton's proximity to Toronto and Niagara as reflecting poorly on the city, but it's also a plus -- a good home base for exploring further, to those places but other day trips too (take a drive out to Goderich, or down to Port Dover or Long Point, St. Jacobs, etc.). The city is central to a lot of interesting places.

Hmm RBG is a good one - but i always consider it more a burlington thing, even though I guess technically that area is still hamilton.. still.. I have been there.. and it is pretty awesome

I've never actually been inside dundurn castle, or whitehern, def. on my bucket list of things to do. Same with the ghost tours - always wanted to do that. I've been to AGH, it's pretty interesting. Seen the haida as well.. that's an awesome ship

Dunno if I've ever been to the warplane heritage museum, it is kinda out of the way though. As for plays and musical performances I never think of just going to one and seeing what's playing - always feels like you have to set that up in advance. Flamborough downs is the same - quite out of the way - but it was entertaining when I did go.

African lion safari is also great but is quite out of the ways. As is the drive-in - that's more stoney creek area - I don't drive so I prefer to be able to explore things I can either bus or hike to.

I'm thinking more - you're downtown - you've had some dinner, and now you want to go out on the town. What is there to do in downtown hamilton after you've eaten and you want to experience some entertainment? Besides drinking. Almost all the bars that used to be open are now closed - there is no playdium type entertainment downtown - closest is the tiny one in the splitsville up on the escarpment. Sure I can go see a movie downtown, but you can do that in any city. I just wish there was some sorta entertainment
that was actually in the CORE of the city. Let's face it - hamilton acquired all those entertainment places by amalgamating the cities around it - but what does hamilton ITSELF actually have?

Basically I want to know - why should I go downtown late at night - what is there for me to do there.

I'll give it the museums, but museums are only so fun - it's one reason I'd love to see some sorta multi entertainment thing go into the eatons center. I mean when people are boasting they have ping-pong tables as entertainment you know you're kinda scraping the bottom of the barrel.

We do have miniputt at least and the wavepool in the summer, although that's more stoney creek area.

I kinda wish we still had the old fancy opera houses- that's one experience I always wanted to have - get super gussied up and go to a show or opera.

What kinda entertainment would you guys like to see built in the core of the downtown area? You guys state the city needs an injection of more people in the core, what will those people do in said core once they are all there?

[atnor]

There’s not much to do downtown. When me and my friends really want to party Augusta doesn’t cut it and we end up going to Toronto. As a single mid 20 straight male, I wish we had more of a nightlife and clubs. Hess is trash, Augusta is low key, and Sous Bas or Club 77 doesn’t have the best crowd for me. YMMV though.

[thistleclub]

Well the simple fact that you are going in a straight line as opposed to an arc around the water mathematically would lean to the ferry being faster, but that all depends on how fast the ferry goes I suppose..

A little digging...

Retired in 2000, the UK’s Dover/Calais passenger hovercrafts travelled at nearly 100 km/h. Parent company Hoverspeed replaced them with SeaCats, which have about twice the capacity and are cheaper to operate since they don’t run on aircraft fuel. Slower, though. 70km/h tops.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

A little digging...

Retired in 2000, the UK’s Dover/Calais passenger hovercrafts travelled at nearly 100 km/h. Parent company Hoverspeed replaced them with SeaCats, which have about twice the capacity and are cheaper to operate since they don’t run on aircraft fuel. Slower, though. 70km/h tops.

I think the weather is also a factor, which is why there aren't anything of that sort really left. Choppy waves etc.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by atnor

There’s not much to do downtown. When me and my friends really want to party Augusta doesn’t cut it and we end up going to Toronto. As a single mid 20 straight male, I wish we had more of a nightlife and clubs. Hess is trash, Augusta is low key, and Sous Bas or Club 77 doesn’t have the best crowd for me. YMMV though.

There isn't anything for male gay people left either - all those bars are closed now too. The werx, steel lounge, the embassy (good riddance to that one though, it was a shithole.)

[king10]

Originally Posted by atnor

There’s not much to do downtown. When me and my friends really want to party Augusta doesn’t cut it and we end up going to Toronto. As a single mid 20 straight male, I wish we had more of a nightlife and clubs. Hess is trash, Augusta is low key, and Sous Bas or Club 77 doesn’t have the best crowd for me. YMMV though.

Black rabbit

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

There isn't anything for male gay people left either - all those bars are closed now too. The werx, steel lounge, the embassy (good riddance to that one though, it was a shithole.)

As a straight dude this pissed me off. I went to Sous Bas with some friends for the drag night and had a blast! Just because I'm not gay doesn't mean I don't want to embrace some gay culture sometimes. What's worse is my friend said he's likely to settle into Toronto rather than Hamilton because of the solid gay scene there.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by TheRitsman

As a straight dude this pissed me off. I went to Sous Bas with some friends for the drag night and had a blast! Just because I'm not gay doesn't mean I don't want to embrace some gay culture sometimes. What's worse is my friend said he's likely to settle into Toronto rather than Hamilton because of the solid gay scene there.

The problem with embassy is it was dirty - they did NOTHING to upkeep it, and the bathrooms were a nightmare. Also drag shows are not "the gay scene" - it may be something that happens in the gay world, but drag is not iconic of being gay. It's why the rest of us avoided that place, because the rest of us don't like to be stereotyped.

Toronto has its own issues - we call it "S&M" - stand & model - everyone has their own little cliques and they just basically ignore you. Also super campy. The only place I ever remotely even enjoyed in toronto was the black eagle, and even there I was initially ignored because I wasn't from toronto, and in toronto, if you're not from toronto, or know people in toronto, they don't want to know you, or talk to you. It's one reason I hate it when torontonians move to hamilton and bring their cold snootiness with them. They then expect hamilton to have all the amenities toronto does, and then leave in a huff when hamilton doens't "do it" for them.

There is a joke we say about torontonians - how many torontonians does it take to screw in a lightbulb - one - he just stands there and the world revolves around him.

[king10]

Saw this in the globe and mail. Some nice publicity for Hamilton and Thorne.

City planner has big visions for the future of Hamilton

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art...-big-visions-for-the-future-of-hamilton/

[thistleclub]

For example: efforts to amplify Hamilton’s status as a music city. “Building on that is a big part of our culture strategy,” Mr. Thorne said.

City of Hamilton’s music strategy ‘imploding’ (Hamilton Spectator, Sept 14, 2017)

Hamilton's strategy to promote and nurture the local music scene has been left in disarray with the resignation of several members of its industry advisory committee, including the co-chairs, citing frustration with what they see as lack of support from the city…

"The city is still very strongly behind the music strategy," said Hamilton's planning and economic development manager Jason Thorne, who is attending a Canadian Urbanism conference in Winnipeg. "It is a key part of our economic development strategy. That commitment remains very strong …

"What we're doing as a department is putting what resources we have behind it. Unfortunately, we don't have the resources for a full-time dedicated staff person just on this sector."

'It's a fiasco': Hamilton shuts down 'City of Music' website as criticism mounts (CBC Hamilton, Aug 24, 2018)

Just one year after its creation, the city is shutting down its "City of Music" website — marking the latest setback for Hamilton's beleaguered music strategy.

That strategy has been widely criticized for focusing on branding over actually helping Hamilton's musicians in any tangible way.

The city's music advisory team says it is working on a new approach and wants to improve resources for Hamilton's music community — but new revelations about how money linked to the project has been spent shows how branding has been the city's primary focus.

"This has been a disaster from the beginning," said Jeffrey Martin, former music industry working committee co-chair. "There has been very little effort from [the city]."

[thistleclub]

City planner has big visions for the future of Hamilton

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art...-big-visions-for-the-future-of-hamilton/

…if land developers bring forward a proposal in the right place, they can move ahead through a quick and straightforward process. This is how planning should work, but it usually doesn’t…

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

...It's one reason I hate it when torontonians move to hamilton and bring their cold snootiness with them. They then expect hamilton to have all the amenities toronto does, and then leave in a huff when hamilton doens't "do it" for them.

There is a joke we say about torontonians - how many torontonians does it take to screw in a lightbulb - one - he just stands there and the world revolves around him.

And this: "...because the rest of us don't like to be stereotyped."

Hey Mr Stereotyping, look in the mirror and dial it back. Sheesh.

[LRTfan]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

…if land developers bring forward a proposal in the right place, they can move ahead through a quick and straightforward process. This is how planning should work, but it usually doesn’t…

'in the right place' is code for 'nowhere near the spoiled rich yuppies in Durand'.