Now that we've been here for more than a year and are immersed in Hamilton on a daily basis , I sometimes forget that initial feeling of shock and surprise that some people (from Toronto, mainly) have when they come to the Hammer (usually for the first time) and discover how nice some of the neighbourhoods are.
Seeing that moment where people file away their preconceived notions of what they thought Hamilton was all about and replace them with visions of how nice the houses are and how great some of the amenities we have here are is pretty gratifying for those of us who chose to move here, enjoy the city and work hard to show people how nice it really is.
Since Christmas, we have had a steady stream of visitors from various parts of Canada, including the Big Smoke, stop by to see our new place, and we always take the opportunity to show off our new city. And we try to show it all - everything from a walk down Locke Street to a drive to the waterfront, up James Street and across Barton Street.
The overwhelming consensus is that no one knew that places like Locke Street and James Street North existed here (in fact, one recent visitor who grew up in Brantford said that he wasn't aware that Hamilton had neighbourhoods like Durand and Kirkendall).
I've discussed, at length, our great Hamilton discoveries over the last few months, but in no particular order, the things that seem to most often seem to turn other people's opinions/prejudices of Hamilton on their heads are:
- how historic the homes are (and how reasonably priced), the gorgeous architecture and the community feel in many of the city's neighbourhoods.
- the calibre of Hamilton's food scene always floors people. We always make a point of taking visitors out to one of the city's unique restaurants (think Bread Bar or Wass or even Rolly Rockets), with one visitor saying she had the best sandwich she had ever had IN HER LIFE at one of these establishments. We know that they are up there with the best that other large cities have to offer.
- Hamilton's cultural scene. Yes, we have an Art Gallery and there are loads of festivals and cultural events in the Hammer all year long. You don't need to drive into Toronto to experience art, concerts, culture and festivals.
More friends from far-off places are sure to be stopping by this summer and I'm sure we will hear many more positive 'first impressions' of our city (and, of course, I'm sure we will continue to find new Hamilton gems and favourite spots ourselves!)
Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Moving from the east to the west....
This post originally appeared on OpenFile Hamilton, but I thought I'd repost it here as well - please let me know your thoughts.
This is it – this is the month that this former Torontonian officially became invested in Hamilton.
Since we arrived here in the winter, my husband and I have made it our goal to get to know our new home by becoming ingrained in the Hamilton culture in small ways. We joined the Art Gallery of Hamilton, a gym and go to as many events, festivals and restaurants as possible, trying to get a sense of what the city has to offer, and find our new favourite spots.
By invested, however, I mean that after six months or so of living, learning and experiencing Hamilton, I have now taken the plunge and become a property owner in the city.
When we moved to Hamilton from Toronto, we didn’t know much about the city, and needed to find a place to live pretty quickly. After looking at a few rental places, we settled on an apartment in the east end, not far from Gage Park, in a neighbourhood called Delta West.
Notwithstanding the fact that it was January, our first impression was that the area had a nice neighbourhood feel to it, there seemed to be a lot of pride of ownership and the neighbours were quick to say hello, and even help push our car out of a snowbank or two.
This part of town definitely has a lot going for it. Gage Park is a gorgeous green space, Ottawa Street and the new Centre Mall are not too far away and a lot of families have settled here.
Very quickly, however, the difficulties with walkability in this neighbourhood became apparent. For nearly the last decade, we had always lived in urban neighbourhoods (in Ontario and the UK) where nearly everything we needed on a daily basis – anything from the grocery store to the optometrist to the drugstore or coffee – was only a five or ten minute walk away. Until recently, we didn’t realize how essential this had become to our way of life.
As a one-car family in Hamilton, (a car which I rarely use, as I work from home), I often felt stranded in our new place, especially in the winter, with the only things to walk to being the convenience store and No Frills. Sure, the bus and taxis are readily available to take people wherever they want to go (and I did use them often), but there’s something to be said for heading out to the coffee shop for a break or taking a stroll to pick up something fresh for dinner.
With walkability at the top of our list of wants, we ended up putting down our permanent roots in the west end, with the shops and services of Locke Street or downtown now just a short walk away, and the hope that this will make all the difference to our quality of life in Hamilton.
This is not to say that a car will always be essential for those in the east end – I have every reason to think that my experience will not be the reality for much longer.
Things are constantly brewing on Ottawa Street, which seems to present the greatest potential for walkability for the neighbourhoods to the east of downtown, with new coffee shops and restaurants springing up regularly. It was also recently named one of the best streets in Canada.
Even closer to home, if the same type of amenities begin to move onto Main Street East, the residents of gorgeous south central and east neighbourhoods like Delta, St. Clair and Stinson will gain the opportunity that those in the west end have to shop local and stay out of the car more often – a concept which I’m sure is at the top of many people’s lists.
This is it – this is the month that this former Torontonian officially became invested in Hamilton.
Since we arrived here in the winter, my husband and I have made it our goal to get to know our new home by becoming ingrained in the Hamilton culture in small ways. We joined the Art Gallery of Hamilton, a gym and go to as many events, festivals and restaurants as possible, trying to get a sense of what the city has to offer, and find our new favourite spots.
By invested, however, I mean that after six months or so of living, learning and experiencing Hamilton, I have now taken the plunge and become a property owner in the city.
When we moved to Hamilton from Toronto, we didn’t know much about the city, and needed to find a place to live pretty quickly. After looking at a few rental places, we settled on an apartment in the east end, not far from Gage Park, in a neighbourhood called Delta West.
Notwithstanding the fact that it was January, our first impression was that the area had a nice neighbourhood feel to it, there seemed to be a lot of pride of ownership and the neighbours were quick to say hello, and even help push our car out of a snowbank or two.
This part of town definitely has a lot going for it. Gage Park is a gorgeous green space, Ottawa Street and the new Centre Mall are not too far away and a lot of families have settled here.
Very quickly, however, the difficulties with walkability in this neighbourhood became apparent. For nearly the last decade, we had always lived in urban neighbourhoods (in Ontario and the UK) where nearly everything we needed on a daily basis – anything from the grocery store to the optometrist to the drugstore or coffee – was only a five or ten minute walk away. Until recently, we didn’t realize how essential this had become to our way of life.
As a one-car family in Hamilton, (a car which I rarely use, as I work from home), I often felt stranded in our new place, especially in the winter, with the only things to walk to being the convenience store and No Frills. Sure, the bus and taxis are readily available to take people wherever they want to go (and I did use them often), but there’s something to be said for heading out to the coffee shop for a break or taking a stroll to pick up something fresh for dinner.
With walkability at the top of our list of wants, we ended up putting down our permanent roots in the west end, with the shops and services of Locke Street or downtown now just a short walk away, and the hope that this will make all the difference to our quality of life in Hamilton.
This is not to say that a car will always be essential for those in the east end – I have every reason to think that my experience will not be the reality for much longer.
Things are constantly brewing on Ottawa Street, which seems to present the greatest potential for walkability for the neighbourhoods to the east of downtown, with new coffee shops and restaurants springing up regularly. It was also recently named one of the best streets in Canada.
Even closer to home, if the same type of amenities begin to move onto Main Street East, the residents of gorgeous south central and east neighbourhoods like Delta, St. Clair and Stinson will gain the opportunity that those in the west end have to shop local and stay out of the car more often – a concept which I’m sure is at the top of many people’s lists.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
First impressions of the Hamilton waterfront
I originally wrote this blog post for OpenFile Hamilton - thought I'd also repost it here! Enjoy :)
My first trip to the Hamilton waterfront happened shortly after we moved to the city, last winter.
We were looking for something fun to do on Family Day, and decided to check out what the city had on offer down by the lake. I’ll admit that previous to this, my only perspective of the water’s edge in The Hammer was the view of the steel mills as you come over the Burlington Skyway bridge.
Notwithstanding the fact that this was a Canadian waterfront on an icy February day, there was a decent amount going on. A few people were trying out the skating rink, or walking the path that runs the perimeter of the waterfront area near James St. North and Guise St. East.
Where the crowds were really gathered was the Williams Fresh Café – what I would, on first impression, call the “main attraction” of this part of Hamilton’s waterfront area, (although I will admit that I haven’t yet paid a visit to Pier 4 Park, Bayfront Park, taken the trolley or a boat tour yet).
Fast forward to Victoria Day weekend, and we decided to head down to the waterfront again, for a warmer weather perspective. There were a few more people mulling around this time, the ice cream store was open, there was a lineup in the Williams Café and we managed to get a better view of the path around the site, where dog walkers, couples and families alike took in the warm spring evening. (Some people were also fishing: I assume the they were doing so for sport, rather than dinner, but I can’t confirm - there’s also a fishing derby coming up in August!)
Hamilton’s evolving waterfront area is a fascinating mesh of Hamilton old meets Hamilton new – cafes, skating rinks, picnickers and dog walkers share their space with old warehouses (which boast great murals painted by school kids), one or two huge rusting ships and views of factories in the distance.
Both times we have visited the waterfront area, we noticed the beautiful Discovery Centre building, which looks freshly built, but also slightly unused. In the winter, we chalked this up to it being the “off-season”, but in May, the closed patio and deserted feel of the place was disappointing.
Being newbies, we didn’t know the history of this building. Upon further research, it seems the six-year-old centre was closed last summer and its management transferred from Parks Canada to the Hamilton Waterfront Trust, which is reportedly exploring options and proposals for its use.
From the perspective of a new Hamiltonian, finding an innovative use for this building seems absolutely crucial to the success of the waterfront.
What the fledgling waterfront development doesn’t need right now is to start losing relevance and I have to say - a beautiful, new empty building doesn’t do much in terms of piquing people’s interest to visit the area. It also seems particularly critical when you hear that other events that previously drew people to the waterfront are also running into difficulties.
Generally, I find the transformation of Hamilton’s waterfront not unlike what is happening to the eastern part of Toronto’s shoreline, but there are a few notable differences.
Around the same time I first visited this part of Hamilton, a friend also took us on a winter “tour” of the new Toronto East Bayfront site, complete with man-made beach. Yes, this area also used to be industrial. It will soon reportedly boast condos, a college campus, corporate offices and restaurants.
I’m excited to see what else is in store for Hamilton’s waterfront - Hamiltonians are undoubtedly showing an interest in the area, and while there are several exciting things happening, I think a few more restaurants, attractions or exhibitions wouldn’t go amiss.
What are you hoping to see built at Hamilton’s waterfront?
My first trip to the Hamilton waterfront happened shortly after we moved to the city, last winter.
We were looking for something fun to do on Family Day, and decided to check out what the city had on offer down by the lake. I’ll admit that previous to this, my only perspective of the water’s edge in The Hammer was the view of the steel mills as you come over the Burlington Skyway bridge.
Notwithstanding the fact that this was a Canadian waterfront on an icy February day, there was a decent amount going on. A few people were trying out the skating rink, or walking the path that runs the perimeter of the waterfront area near James St. North and Guise St. East.
Where the crowds were really gathered was the Williams Fresh Café – what I would, on first impression, call the “main attraction” of this part of Hamilton’s waterfront area, (although I will admit that I haven’t yet paid a visit to Pier 4 Park, Bayfront Park, taken the trolley or a boat tour yet).
Fast forward to Victoria Day weekend, and we decided to head down to the waterfront again, for a warmer weather perspective. There were a few more people mulling around this time, the ice cream store was open, there was a lineup in the Williams Café and we managed to get a better view of the path around the site, where dog walkers, couples and families alike took in the warm spring evening. (Some people were also fishing: I assume the they were doing so for sport, rather than dinner, but I can’t confirm - there’s also a fishing derby coming up in August!)
Hamilton’s evolving waterfront area is a fascinating mesh of Hamilton old meets Hamilton new – cafes, skating rinks, picnickers and dog walkers share their space with old warehouses (which boast great murals painted by school kids), one or two huge rusting ships and views of factories in the distance.
Both times we have visited the waterfront area, we noticed the beautiful Discovery Centre building, which looks freshly built, but also slightly unused. In the winter, we chalked this up to it being the “off-season”, but in May, the closed patio and deserted feel of the place was disappointing.
Being newbies, we didn’t know the history of this building. Upon further research, it seems the six-year-old centre was closed last summer and its management transferred from Parks Canada to the Hamilton Waterfront Trust, which is reportedly exploring options and proposals for its use.
From the perspective of a new Hamiltonian, finding an innovative use for this building seems absolutely crucial to the success of the waterfront.
What the fledgling waterfront development doesn’t need right now is to start losing relevance and I have to say - a beautiful, new empty building doesn’t do much in terms of piquing people’s interest to visit the area. It also seems particularly critical when you hear that other events that previously drew people to the waterfront are also running into difficulties.
Generally, I find the transformation of Hamilton’s waterfront not unlike what is happening to the eastern part of Toronto’s shoreline, but there are a few notable differences.
Around the same time I first visited this part of Hamilton, a friend also took us on a winter “tour” of the new Toronto East Bayfront site, complete with man-made beach. Yes, this area also used to be industrial. It will soon reportedly boast condos, a college campus, corporate offices and restaurants.
I’m excited to see what else is in store for Hamilton’s waterfront - Hamiltonians are undoubtedly showing an interest in the area, and while there are several exciting things happening, I think a few more restaurants, attractions or exhibitions wouldn’t go amiss.
What are you hoping to see built at Hamilton’s waterfront?
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Climbing the walls
By the title of this post, I don't mean I'm going crazy in Hamilton (well, maybe occasionally) - I mean we have literally been climbing.
Back in the T-Dot, we were avid gym-goers. Nothing wrong with that, right? The problem is that workout-wise, for the last couple of years, going to the gym (and sometimes running around the neighbourhood) was all we did.
Hubby and I recently decided that we would use this move to explore our different exercise options. We tried out a gym downtown for a couple of weeks - nothing wrong with it, but the parking was actually more complicated than our Toronto gym (!) and it wasn't quite as fancy, equipment-wise.
As a result, we've started looking into more niche choices. We explored the possibility of membership in a tennis club near us, for example. A good Yoga class is something else I'm hoping to locate. And on Saturday, we made an interesting impulse decision (about 20 minutes before the class started) to sign up for an indoor rock climbing lesson at Gravity Climbing Gym (on Frid Street).
I'll admit, this was hubby's idea - he was really into rock climbing a decade or so ago, and I thought (with some hesitation) that I'd give it a go as well.
We walk in - first think I notice is that, man, those walls are higher than I thought! Second - there are hand and food holds (whatever they're called) on the CEILING and third - there are nine year old kids in here, shimmying up the wall like its no big deal.
An hour or so of learning how to harness ourselves and tie the right knots and we're off - ready to climb the mountain (okay, maybe I'm being a big baby).
I went first, with hubby as the belayer. Surprisingly, if you're focused on the rocks and where you're going to step/hold next, its not that scary (ie: don't look down, or up.) Next, it was time for me to hold the rope (belay) as hubby climbed the wall....this part was actually scarier than climbing, although in actual fact, the rope's mechanism does all the real heavy lifting.
After a few more practice runs up the wall, it was turning into a real workout and three hours later, we were pros (well, not exactly, but definitely more comfortable with the whole heights thing.)
I was feeling pretty good about my wall-scaling (making it to the top on a couple of occasions and coming up just short on others because I felt I had climbed high enough!)until the instructor mentioned that a nine-year old kid had climbed in that same spot earlier, and made it to the top no problem! lol. I also failed to mention that there was a FOUR-year old child climbing beside us. Hubby tells me that its easier for kids - they have no fear. Once you have three-plus decades under your belt, the preconceived (irrational) fears can sometimes get the better of you!
I didn't take any photos while we were there, which I'm regretting now! I know we'll be going back though - I can see this becoming a semi-regular activity for us in The Hammer.
Back in the T-Dot, we were avid gym-goers. Nothing wrong with that, right? The problem is that workout-wise, for the last couple of years, going to the gym (and sometimes running around the neighbourhood) was all we did.
Hubby and I recently decided that we would use this move to explore our different exercise options. We tried out a gym downtown for a couple of weeks - nothing wrong with it, but the parking was actually more complicated than our Toronto gym (!) and it wasn't quite as fancy, equipment-wise.
As a result, we've started looking into more niche choices. We explored the possibility of membership in a tennis club near us, for example. A good Yoga class is something else I'm hoping to locate. And on Saturday, we made an interesting impulse decision (about 20 minutes before the class started) to sign up for an indoor rock climbing lesson at Gravity Climbing Gym (on Frid Street).
I'll admit, this was hubby's idea - he was really into rock climbing a decade or so ago, and I thought (with some hesitation) that I'd give it a go as well.
We walk in - first think I notice is that, man, those walls are higher than I thought! Second - there are hand and food holds (whatever they're called) on the CEILING and third - there are nine year old kids in here, shimmying up the wall like its no big deal.
An hour or so of learning how to harness ourselves and tie the right knots and we're off - ready to climb the mountain (okay, maybe I'm being a big baby).
I went first, with hubby as the belayer. Surprisingly, if you're focused on the rocks and where you're going to step/hold next, its not that scary (ie: don't look down, or up.) Next, it was time for me to hold the rope (belay) as hubby climbed the wall....this part was actually scarier than climbing, although in actual fact, the rope's mechanism does all the real heavy lifting.
After a few more practice runs up the wall, it was turning into a real workout and three hours later, we were pros (well, not exactly, but definitely more comfortable with the whole heights thing.)
I was feeling pretty good about my wall-scaling (making it to the top on a couple of occasions and coming up just short on others because I felt I had climbed high enough!)until the instructor mentioned that a nine-year old kid had climbed in that same spot earlier, and made it to the top no problem! lol. I also failed to mention that there was a FOUR-year old child climbing beside us. Hubby tells me that its easier for kids - they have no fear. Once you have three-plus decades under your belt, the preconceived (irrational) fears can sometimes get the better of you!
I didn't take any photos while we were there, which I'm regretting now! I know we'll be going back though - I can see this becoming a semi-regular activity for us in The Hammer.
Friday, February 25, 2011
The great Hamilton BBQ search
I wouldn’t say we’re Southern BBQ connoisseurs. Well, let me rephrase that – I’M not a Southern BBQ connoisseur, but my hubby is. He grew up in the Southern United States, where biscuits, pulled pork and all that good stuff are staples - standard dinner fare.
When living in Toronto, we stumbled upon a southern BBQ place that would fast become our favourite restaurant/general hang out place – we took all our friends there, out-of-towners, family, you name it. Highway 61 on Bayview Ave. became our favourite go-to spot (especially on Monday nights) for its cheap beer, live blues and excellent BBQ.
I’ll admit, of all the things I knew I'd miss about Toronto, not being able to go to Highway 61 regularly was definitely one of them. (Call me sad!)
Needless to say, finding an equivalent (or even somewhere half as good) as 61 became a priority for us early on in our Hamilton experience.
Last week, driving up Locke Street, we stumbled upon Rolly Rockets. Not much to look at from the outside, but it had parking and a neat slogan (“We Put The South In Your Mouth”), so we decided to give it a try.
Rolly Rockets doesn’t have the “take a seat and a server will be right with you” feel of Highway 61. Instead, you order at the bar, and make yourself comfortable at one of the picnic tables while you wait.
Hubby assures me that this is what a “real” southern BBQ place should look like.
We ordered our ribs (which, incidentally came with fries, coleslaw and beans! One bonus point for Rolly Rockets.) and sat down.
The food arrived, and it was….Delicious! In actual fact, these were some of the best ribs we’ve had in awhile. (Two bonus points for Rolly Rockets).
After we had finished, the owner (or it may have been the manager...)came over and asked us how our meal was. He explained that the restaurant has been open for about a year, and told us about all of the different events held there (Karaoke Fridays for example!) and generally made us feel very at home and welcome. (Three bonus points for Rolly Rockets, and we’re sold.)
As my hubby said, I think we may have found our new 61 - but that said, we're definitely still on the lookout for more BBQ gems in the Hamilton area.
When living in Toronto, we stumbled upon a southern BBQ place that would fast become our favourite restaurant/general hang out place – we took all our friends there, out-of-towners, family, you name it. Highway 61 on Bayview Ave. became our favourite go-to spot (especially on Monday nights) for its cheap beer, live blues and excellent BBQ.
I’ll admit, of all the things I knew I'd miss about Toronto, not being able to go to Highway 61 regularly was definitely one of them. (Call me sad!)
Needless to say, finding an equivalent (or even somewhere half as good) as 61 became a priority for us early on in our Hamilton experience.
Last week, driving up Locke Street, we stumbled upon Rolly Rockets. Not much to look at from the outside, but it had parking and a neat slogan (“We Put The South In Your Mouth”), so we decided to give it a try.
Rolly Rockets doesn’t have the “take a seat and a server will be right with you” feel of Highway 61. Instead, you order at the bar, and make yourself comfortable at one of the picnic tables while you wait.
Hubby assures me that this is what a “real” southern BBQ place should look like.
We ordered our ribs (which, incidentally came with fries, coleslaw and beans! One bonus point for Rolly Rockets.) and sat down.
The food arrived, and it was….Delicious! In actual fact, these were some of the best ribs we’ve had in awhile. (Two bonus points for Rolly Rockets).
After we had finished, the owner (or it may have been the manager...)came over and asked us how our meal was. He explained that the restaurant has been open for about a year, and told us about all of the different events held there (Karaoke Fridays for example!) and generally made us feel very at home and welcome. (Three bonus points for Rolly Rockets, and we’re sold.)
As my hubby said, I think we may have found our new 61 - but that said, we're definitely still on the lookout for more BBQ gems in the Hamilton area.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Are we home yet?
Last weekend marked our first real foray back to Toronto since the big winter move to The Hammer a few weeks ago. I must confess, although I am enjoying my new city, the T-dot still has that familiar feeling of home. It’s comfortable, we know people and we know instantly where to go to get whatever food or services we need. (I’m not naïve though – I do know that it takes awhile to gain that level of comfort. Heck, it took us a year or two to really enjoy Toronto after having been overseas for a few years.)
Having said that, there are some sure-fire signs that I am slowly becoming Hamiltonian. Several things in Toronto really drove me crazy after a few weeks of being in Hamilton, namely:
a) the driving
b) the parking situation (i.e., none)
c) too many people (everywhere we went)
Another sure sign that we are slowly entering a comfort level in our new home would have to be our quick defence and promotion of Hamilton when we’re around Torontonians.
At a party on Saturday night downtown, we found ourselves in deep conversation with several urban professionals (mostly city planning types) about Hamilton, its potential, how it is probably one of the last affordable and commutable places in the GTA, and its general up-and-comingness. Surprisingly, among this group, not much coercion was needed – they were all on board with our thoughts on Hamilton, and also shared our thoughts on the fact that Toronto has really become too expensive for our generation.
The question is, will more of them actually take the plunge and move here over the next few years?
Having said that, there are some sure-fire signs that I am slowly becoming Hamiltonian. Several things in Toronto really drove me crazy after a few weeks of being in Hamilton, namely:
a) the driving
b) the parking situation (i.e., none)
c) too many people (everywhere we went)
Another sure sign that we are slowly entering a comfort level in our new home would have to be our quick defence and promotion of Hamilton when we’re around Torontonians.
At a party on Saturday night downtown, we found ourselves in deep conversation with several urban professionals (mostly city planning types) about Hamilton, its potential, how it is probably one of the last affordable and commutable places in the GTA, and its general up-and-comingness. Surprisingly, among this group, not much coercion was needed – they were all on board with our thoughts on Hamilton, and also shared our thoughts on the fact that Toronto has really become too expensive for our generation.
The question is, will more of them actually take the plunge and move here over the next few years?
Monday, February 14, 2011
Hamilton Farmer's Market, re-designed edition
So, we paid a visit to the new, re-designed Hamilton Farmer's Market on Saturday.
Keep in mind - I have no point of reference for the "re-vamped" Hamilton Farmer's Market (HFM), as I never saw the old farmer's market. In doing some research though, it seems to have a long and interesting history.
(the article calls it "a magnet and an anchor"...given its location and appeal, I can understand that!)
Things I like about the market include:
1) Brightness and openness. Now, I'm no design guru or anything, but a dark windowless farmer's market would never make sense to me. I like the bright, fresh, open look of the HFM, and the Birks Clock in the centre was wonderful to look at (we were staring at it, as were tons of other people!) FYI, for anyone not familiar with the Birks Clock, here's an informative article I found on the subject.
2)The traffic level. Nothing drives me crazier than too much hustle and bustle when you're trying to browse, select and buy food (ahem, St. Lawrence Market on a Saturday!) As I was saying to my hubby, HFM was busy enough that you're not wondering where everyone is, but not busy enough to make you lose your mind on a Saturday.
3)Samples! To me, this is one of the marks of a good farmer's market - the availability to taste-test some of the fresh wares you're interested in buying. There were enough samples on hand at the HFM (chocolate, specifically!) to make me happy.
4)Location, location location. How can you beat a farmer's market literally right in the heart of the city? Also (and this may sound funny), but I am in favour of the market being attached to the library and Jackson Square. Let me tell you - on a cold Saturday, less required walking outside is welcome!
5)Obviously, the food. We loaded up on meat & veggies for the week, and the prices were incredibly reasonable (especially for meat). Some of the veggies had seen better days, but I anticipate this is a result of it being February in Ontario. We hope to make heading to the HFM a regular event - I'm especially interested to see what comes into the market during the summer/harvest time.
We also recently heard that there's a farmer's market on Ottawa Street, which is also open year-round. We'll be checking this one out as well.
Keep in mind - I have no point of reference for the "re-vamped" Hamilton Farmer's Market (HFM), as I never saw the old farmer's market. In doing some research though, it seems to have a long and interesting history.
(the article calls it "a magnet and an anchor"...given its location and appeal, I can understand that!)
Things I like about the market include:
1) Brightness and openness. Now, I'm no design guru or anything, but a dark windowless farmer's market would never make sense to me. I like the bright, fresh, open look of the HFM, and the Birks Clock in the centre was wonderful to look at (we were staring at it, as were tons of other people!) FYI, for anyone not familiar with the Birks Clock, here's an informative article I found on the subject.
2)The traffic level. Nothing drives me crazier than too much hustle and bustle when you're trying to browse, select and buy food (ahem, St. Lawrence Market on a Saturday!) As I was saying to my hubby, HFM was busy enough that you're not wondering where everyone is, but not busy enough to make you lose your mind on a Saturday.
3)Samples! To me, this is one of the marks of a good farmer's market - the availability to taste-test some of the fresh wares you're interested in buying. There were enough samples on hand at the HFM (chocolate, specifically!) to make me happy.
4)Location, location location. How can you beat a farmer's market literally right in the heart of the city? Also (and this may sound funny), but I am in favour of the market being attached to the library and Jackson Square. Let me tell you - on a cold Saturday, less required walking outside is welcome!
5)Obviously, the food. We loaded up on meat & veggies for the week, and the prices were incredibly reasonable (especially for meat). Some of the veggies had seen better days, but I anticipate this is a result of it being February in Ontario. We hope to make heading to the HFM a regular event - I'm especially interested to see what comes into the market during the summer/harvest time.
We also recently heard that there's a farmer's market on Ottawa Street, which is also open year-round. We'll be checking this one out as well.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Food, glorious food
Its still freezing out, which means those yummy fruit + veggie stands I mentioned earlier (you know, the ones in Vineland, Beamsville, Niagara) obviously have yet to open for the season. While I chomp at the bit for that time of year to arrive, we still have to get our nice, fresh food somewhere.I'm looking forward to checking out the revamped Hamilton Farmer's Market this weekend, and will report back with my thoughts (and maybe a photo or two!). http://www.hamilton.ca/CultureandRecreation/Arts_Culture_And_Museums/HamiltonFarmersMarket/
For staples though, we've been going to No Frills over the last couple of weeks (I can confirm, its the same as the No Frills in Toronto or anywhere else for that matter....) you know - basic and cheap.
However, one welcome find (to us, anyway) was the random discovery of Lococo's on Barton Street http://www.lococos.ca/ ....we were driving around last weekend and there it was...being curious types, hubby and I decided to check it out.
I was confused at first - Lococo's seemed like a strange hybrid of Costco and Sobeys to me (ie: not quite sure what it was trying to be), and we (perhaps naively!) were fully expecting to have to take out a Costco-like membership before checking out. We were surprised to learn that it is actually a fruit/veggie wholesaler, open to the public (hence, the giant portions of meat!) and very reasonably priced. The veggie selection is also excellent (I think a lot of it is local as well.)
We've had to try out a few restaurants so far, as a result of the unfortunate breaking-down of the oven in our temporary rental place (we'll talk restaurants and Hamilton house-hunting in later posts). For now, the grocery quest continues.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on great grocery stores in Hamilton (for staples or fresh stuff!)
For staples though, we've been going to No Frills over the last couple of weeks (I can confirm, its the same as the No Frills in Toronto or anywhere else for that matter....) you know - basic and cheap.
However, one welcome find (to us, anyway) was the random discovery of Lococo's on Barton Street http://www.lococos.ca/ ....we were driving around last weekend and there it was...being curious types, hubby and I decided to check it out.
I was confused at first - Lococo's seemed like a strange hybrid of Costco and Sobeys to me (ie: not quite sure what it was trying to be), and we (perhaps naively!) were fully expecting to have to take out a Costco-like membership before checking out. We were surprised to learn that it is actually a fruit/veggie wholesaler, open to the public (hence, the giant portions of meat!) and very reasonably priced. The veggie selection is also excellent (I think a lot of it is local as well.)
We've had to try out a few restaurants so far, as a result of the unfortunate breaking-down of the oven in our temporary rental place (we'll talk restaurants and Hamilton house-hunting in later posts). For now, the grocery quest continues.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on great grocery stores in Hamilton (for staples or fresh stuff!)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Where to go, where to go....
One thing hubby and I are both pretty excited about is the opportunity for "discovery" in our new city - finding new favourites in everything from the basics (a nice grocery store, for example) to restaurants to touristy sites and places to spend our free time (especially as spring and summer approach - I can't say there's much incentive to get out and explore in -15 degrees).
In Toronto, it was easy. We were there for awhile, we knew where we liked to go and we had seasonal favourites.
Hamilton is a bit more of a challenge. Sure, we like going to wineries and the Niagara region in general, and will definitely be doing some of that. But what about Hamilton itself? Surely there are interesting things to explore here? So far, we've ventured as far as Lime Ridge Mall and the movie theatre....fun, yes - but you can visit these in any suburb/city. We're on the hunt for some Hamilton-exclusive gems.
I'll be talking about our hunt for new favourite spots in this blog - but lets start with exciting places to visit in The Hammer (tourist attractions, if you will).
So far, I've relied on my friends who spent their university years here to give me their initial recommendations. Something I was surprised to hear is that there's a castle in Hamilton - check it out: http://www.hamilton.ca/CultureandRecreation/Arts_Culture_And_Museums/HamiltonCivicMuseums/Dundurn/Dundurn_Castle.htm
An acquantaince who grew up in Dundas, ON also told us about the "Rail Trail" - a 32k hiking and biking trail, which looks fantastic: http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=21&Sub1=86&sub2=0
Also, coincidentally, the Hamilton Air Show is coming back this summer, after a 10-year absence. (Egotistically, I said to hubby that this decision was made in order to welcome us to town....he, of course, rolled his eyes :)) http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/477559--hamilton-air-show-returns-after-10-years
As a big fan of Toronto's St. Lawrence Market, the grand re-opening of Hamilton Farmer's Market also excites me. I can safely say this is something we'll be checking out - will report back later with my thoughts. http://www.hamilton.ca/CultureandRecreation/Arts_Culture_And_Museums/HamiltonFarmersMarket/
Anyway, these are the things I've found so far in our short time here - I would be interested in hearing any suggestions from other Hamiltonians on fun things to explore in the city.
So, safe to say, it will be a spring full of discovery, from the mundane to the exciting....hope you'll join me as I share my thoughts on it all.
In Toronto, it was easy. We were there for awhile, we knew where we liked to go and we had seasonal favourites.
Hamilton is a bit more of a challenge. Sure, we like going to wineries and the Niagara region in general, and will definitely be doing some of that. But what about Hamilton itself? Surely there are interesting things to explore here? So far, we've ventured as far as Lime Ridge Mall and the movie theatre....fun, yes - but you can visit these in any suburb/city. We're on the hunt for some Hamilton-exclusive gems.
I'll be talking about our hunt for new favourite spots in this blog - but lets start with exciting places to visit in The Hammer (tourist attractions, if you will).
So far, I've relied on my friends who spent their university years here to give me their initial recommendations. Something I was surprised to hear is that there's a castle in Hamilton - check it out: http://www.hamilton.ca/CultureandRecreation/Arts_Culture_And_Museums/HamiltonCivicMuseums/Dundurn/Dundurn_Castle.htm
An acquantaince who grew up in Dundas, ON also told us about the "Rail Trail" - a 32k hiking and biking trail, which looks fantastic: http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=21&Sub1=86&sub2=0
Also, coincidentally, the Hamilton Air Show is coming back this summer, after a 10-year absence. (Egotistically, I said to hubby that this decision was made in order to welcome us to town....he, of course, rolled his eyes :)) http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/477559--hamilton-air-show-returns-after-10-years
As a big fan of Toronto's St. Lawrence Market, the grand re-opening of Hamilton Farmer's Market also excites me. I can safely say this is something we'll be checking out - will report back later with my thoughts. http://www.hamilton.ca/CultureandRecreation/Arts_Culture_And_Museums/HamiltonFarmersMarket/
Anyway, these are the things I've found so far in our short time here - I would be interested in hearing any suggestions from other Hamiltonians on fun things to explore in the city.
So, safe to say, it will be a spring full of discovery, from the mundane to the exciting....hope you'll join me as I share my thoughts on it all.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
It's Hamilton, not Siberia
So a typical reaction to us telling someone we're moving to Hamilton
MY new reaction to this is to tell people that I Google-mapped the journey from T.O. to Hamilton Toronto Oshawa Newmarket Whitby Hamilton
In the interests of education (and generally proving to friends and family that we’re still close by!) here are some interesting facts I’ve recently learned (via Wikipedia) about my new home city:
- Hamilton’s metropolitan area is the ninth largest in Canada and the third largest in Ontario
- There are an insane amount of waterfalls here, apparently
- Hamilton is the mid-point between Toronto and Buffalo
- We’re not alone in wanting to move here: Environics Analytics apparently sees a future Hamilton with younger upscale Hamiltonians choosing to live in the downtown and surrounding areas rather than just visiting.
- Hamilton is expected to grow by more than 28,000 people by next year.
The moral of this story: We’re not that far. Public transit can and will get you here, and you can come to Hamilton to eat/drink/generally hang out, just as we will (occasionally) come to Toronto to do the same J Can’t wait to acquaint more people with this town!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Hamilton, population 505,000 + 2
“Toronto HAMILTON
True, it’s not a typical move, as a Toronto Toronto Hamilton
I know for most people, Toronto Toronto
Something donned on us last summer when we were driving back from a weekend in Niagara on the backroads. The houses were lovely. The fruit stands were tasty. The wineries were nearby. We thought, these people have it figured out. Later, looking up houses on the internet, we were blown away by how reasonable everything was. The plan was originally to look into moving to St. Catharines
Won’t bore you with the details, but here we are, half a year later – hubby has a new job in Hamilton
I hope you’ll follow me as we explore all that Hamilton
H.
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