Hello Neighbours 

September always carries a bit of new year feel and back-to-school energy, even for those of us who haven't sat in a classroom in decades. But this year, the desire to learn something new is showing up somewhere a little more unexpected: at the craft table.

Crafting has quietly become one of the biggest cultural comebacks going, and not in a "granny's hobby" way. It is being driven by Gen Z and Millennials who are seeking physical community spaces and stepping away from screens. People are choosing yarn, paint, and glue guns over yet another evening scrolling.

A Mintel study found over half of all Canadians actively engaged in creative, hands-on crafting projects over the past year, and craft store Michaels' own trend research points to something deeper than nostalgia. As Amanda Shively from Michael’s puts it, ‘it's a cultural shift where people are turning to crafting and it's not just the people who've always called themselves "artistic." 

Hamilton's own maker scene is seeing the resurgence, and this week gives you plenty of ways to join in. Woolly Doodles are running a Needle Felt Paint Wool Coasters Workshop at Aquanova Brewing next Thursday offering a low-stakes way to get creative again, no experience required. There are also many other workshops and classes around the city including at Squiggle Studio, Revival Art Store, Down the Rabbit Hole, and Centre 3 (soon rebranding as Centre 4). 

From creative hands to creative thinking, this week on offer is McMaster Museum of Art’s creativity workshop on Reimagining Mindsets for the Future. In a similar innovative, cerebral theme, the Nerd Nite Talks are back at Malarkey on Monday where you can hear from locals Jonny Types, Claire Haines and Gavin Stephens or author talks and book launches at The Staircase Monday, Central Library Tuesday, Jordan’s Pub Wednesday and Merit Brewing on Thursday.. 

If you want to keep stretching your mind, the fall speaking series are starting from both Hamilton Scientific Association on Saturday and Hamilton Third Age Learning on Wednesday, both offering mind expanding programming. And there are still a few seats for the later show of The 6-Minute Memoir next Friday. All in all plenty of opportunities to satisfy that restless "time to start, learn or hear something" feeling in the fall air.

As well as activities for creative hands and minds, there are over 130 other events and 100 live music acts this week - here is the full list.

If you liked this week's issue please share it with the friend who always says "I should go to more of these.".

~ Paul - ❤️

P.S. It’s your last chance to reserve your seat at the September Vibe Dinner Club, booking closes on Monday. Discover a restaurant to enjoy and new people to meet - book your seat at the table now - presented in partnership with the Downtown Hamilton Business Improvement Area.

🗓 Want to see your Hamilton, Ontario event included here? Please complete our Event Form here.

Note: Events may be full, cancelled or have changed times. Be sure to check or reach out to the venue before going.

Open Streets Hamilton returns on Sunday, September 27 from 10 am to 4 pm, transforming 3.6 km of King Street East, from John Street to Gage Avenue, into a car free space for walking, biking, rolling, and play.

Nine hubs line the route.

Catch the Trash Bots puppet show at John Street, the 60-Second Power Gauntlet at Wellington, biodiversity and greener living at the Eco Hub, a rock climbing wall and pro wrestling at Wentworth, bird programming at Sherman, bike rodeos and skateboarding at Bernie Morelli, a maker's market and drag performances at Ferguson Station, a pop-up food court at Kitchen Collective, and Hamilton Bike Share info at Barnesdale and a whole lot more live music, games, entertainment, and local businesses.

Free and open to all ages. Learn more at Open Streets Hamilton.

Less than a week to go until The Vibe Dinner Club!

We've got some fantastic restaurants lined up across downtown Hamilton, proudly brought to you by the Downtown Hamilton BIA.

If you haven't signed up yet, now's the time, registration closes Monday, September 21.

Take the quick quiz, get matched with five other locals, and find out the morning of which restaurant you're headed to.

Past guests rated it 5/5, calling it a night of great food and lively conversation with people they'd never met before but made connections.

Don't miss your seat at the table. Register before Monday at thevibehamilton.dnnr.io

The Downtown Hamilton Business Improvement Area provides value to our members through advocacy, beautification, promotion, development and preservation of Downtown Hamilton - Learn More Here

Note: Events may be full, cancelled or have changed times. Be sure to check or reach out to the venue before going.

🔁 Looking for your favourite weekly or monthly event, like trivia, yoga, music jam, karaoke or open mic comedy show? We have them all in our Recurring Vibe.

🗓 Want to see your Hamilton, Ontario event included here? Please complete our Event Form here.

Any other questions? Get in touch [email protected]

Everything included in this newsletter is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Sometimes, the links we include pay us a referral or sponsor fee, which helps us continue to publish The Vibe at no cost to you *indicates sponsored advertising content.

©️ 2024-5 The Vibe Hamilton | All content and information set forth above was created by Paul Copcutt for The Vibe Hamilton and is the intellectual property of this publication. It is protected under copyright law, including but not limited to The Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or duplication of any material, in whole or in part, without express written authorization & consent, is strictly prohibited by law and may result in legal action. Violators will be subject to prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.