[SteelTown]

Yep it's that time of the year Doors Open is coming real soon, within a month, May 3 and May 4.

http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/F3F6BB5C-B1F1-41BE-989A-AD5F591FF87F/0/doorsOpen.jpg
Hamilton's Landmark Buildings OPEN their DOORS to the public for FREE!


Website: http://www.doorsopenhamilton.ca/

Last year we had our first Hamilton forum meet during the Doors Open event.

Feature sites for downtown Hamilton:

All Saints Church
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Central Presbyterian Church
Christ’s Church Cathedral
Church of the Ascension
Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts
Hamilton Emergency Services Fire Station #1 *NEW*
Hamilton GO Centre / T H & B Railway Museum
Hamilton HIStory + HERitage *NEW*
James Street Baptist Church
Lt. Col. John Weir Foote Armoury
Melrose United Church
Mulberry House Bed & Breakfast *NEW*
Ormond Greens *NEW*
Workers Arts and Heritage Centre

Interesting feature sites outside downtown Hamilton:

270 Sherman Avenue North - former Imperial Cotton Company complex
EcoHouse / Glen Manor
Steelcare Inc Plant #19 *NEW*
Woodward Avenue Environmental Laboratory *NEW*
West Village Student Residence *NEW*
The Hermitage Gatehouse Museum
The Carnegie Gallery
School Sisters of Notre Dame Chapel

[matt602]

Sweet, I'll definitely be checking out Fire Station 1. I'll probably be stopping into HIStory + HERitage as well.

We (urban explorers) are having a meet again, same as last year. Anybody on here is welcome to join us. I personally won't be doing any trespassing or anything, I'm just going to visit the doors open locations as a normal person. We'll probably be doing "UE-type" things after however (which you're also welcome to join us on if you're feeling adventurous)

Anyway if you wish to join we'll be at Ferguson Station at 11am on the Saturday May 3rd. We'll do downtown stuff first most likely, then go for late lunch somewhere downtown and decide where to finish the day (most likely the water treatment plant on Woodward)

[SteelTown]

It would be great if somehow we get rooftop reservation for London Tap House (should hopefully be open by then) during the same time. Just a thought.

[matt602]

That would be great indeed.

Either way I'm sure London Tap House will get an SSP Hamilton meet anyway :P

[coalminecanary]

If anyone has never been to the steam museum, I highly recommend checking it out. You can get in for free on doors open weekend I think...

[bluedressgirl]

I am SUPER excited. Last year was a great time. Hamilton has so many beautiful undiscovered buildings!

[highwater]

I might just pluck up my courage and join you lot. Do you hafta wear nametags? Should I take my twinrix?:D

[flar]

You have to make a t-shirt with your screen name on it.

I'll probably be around for doors open again this year.

[Millstone]

That would be great indeed.

Either way I'm sure London Tap House will get an SSP Hamilton meet anyway :P

Cool idea

[Jon Dalton]

I can't wait to see the upstairs of the TH&B station.

[highwater]

You have to make a t-shirt with your screen name on it.

You're not serious.

[flar]

^^We also have mesh backed baseball caps with felt lettering depicting our screen names. They are worn with pride at every SSP function.

[matt602]

Then we all pile into a clown car at the end :)

[highwater]

All right, all right. You made your point. :) Although the baseball caps sound cool. Redneck chic is all the rage these days.

[Millstone]

They were at the market today giving out pamphlets.

[miketoronto]

What day are you guys going? Saturday or Sunday?
Am I allowed to come again.

[Jon Dalton]

Pepper Jack Cafe - good choice for a meeting spot.

[matt602]

What day are you guys going? Saturday or Sunday?
Am I allowed to come again.

Anyone is allowed to come, bring whoever you want as well :) Out of town people would actually be awesome.

Saturday May 3rd - 11am, Ferguson Station.

[Border City Boy]

Perfect! I'm planning on it this year for sure, I'll also be in town for a trade show the 29th-30th-1st, if anyone is intersted in meeting up downtown for a beer in the late afternoon, early evening on the 29th of April, let me know. :)

[miketoronto]

Are you guys going to the Imperial Cotton factory during the meet, or do I need to arrive in Hamilton earlier to go see it before the meet?????

[matt602]

Probably not, as we spent quite a bit of time there last year. Although if it's a popular demand, I suppose.

[Border City Boy]

I'm going to put my trust in the Hammer-ites on here to come up with a suitable agenda.

I'm trying to drag a few Windsorites up with me, but we'll see. I suspect I'll be coming up solo. I woudn't mind checking out the Serbian (?) church on Barton too. Maybe we'll/I'll have time to scoot over before or after our meet up.

[Border City Boy]

Quick question? Where is Ferguson Station?

Also when did the H.M.P. building get knocked down? I am in Hamilton and I walked over to the Convenetion Centre this AM and noticed it was gone... It was here at this time last year, as I remember taking pictures of it...

[chris k]

Quick question? Where is Ferguson Station?


Ferguson station is located at the ferguson and king intersection in international village. Can't really miss it when your there.


Cheers

[realcity]

I'll be there... holding a sign that says "Lafonda".

[matt602]

Ferguson station is located at the ferguson and king intersection in international village. Can't really miss it when your there.


Cheers

Yep, right on the corner in the middle of all the train themed stuff. Theres a mural of a steam train accident on a wall across the street from where we'll be. The new 11 story Terraces building is also right to the East of it. Look for the crane :)

Side-note: weather is supposed to be shitty but the meet will go on anyway. We'll just spend less time at the "station" if it's actually raining.

[Border City Boy]

Sounds good. I'm looking forward to it.

I'll look for the "lafonda" sign :)

See you guys tomorrow.

[raisethehammer]

too bad the weather's gonna suck.

[Jon Dalton]

Hey, I don't know any of you dudes but I'm probably going to show up.

Shitty weather = good photo opportunities so not all is lost.

[Border City Boy]

I agree. So the weather is a little lousy... most of the photos will be indoors too.

Should make for a different view on things.

[highwater]

I'm planning on being there, but I'm bringing my son, so if it's really torrential we'll probably take a pass.

[oldcoote]

I'll be there... holding a sign that says "Lafonda".


I'll look for the "lafonda" sign :)


:haha:

[itsbryan]

It looks like it's going to be quite the turn-out.. regardless of the crappy weather.

I guess we'll throw a list together of the most wanted, and decide from there. From my understanding, there are about 10-20 other urban explorers attending, ontop of the 5-10 from SSP.. so, there might be a bit of choas when it comes to decisions.

Keep in mind, that Doors Open runs both Saturday, and Sunday.. Sunday is calling for sunny skies, and 17C. So, if you miss out on something on Saturday (due to weather, or group decisions), you can always go the next day.

[matt602]

I'll be writing up and bringing a list of the locations, then naming them off and seeing what is popular when we meet up. I've got my own suggestions (Fire Hall no. 1 and possibly the armories on James North again).

[holymoly]

Are you guys planning to do the rounds on bike, foot, car, other....? Not sure if I should drive in, with the foldy in the trunk, or GO Bus into town. (Actually, I'm not sure if I can make it at all, but just in case....)

[matt602]

We'll walk to whatever we can downtown, then either take vehicles to other locations or get on the bus. I'd like to do the latter because I think it's fun for out of towners. I doubt it'll be a popular suggestion though... it also can take awhile. Time will be precious tomorrow.

[flar]

I want to meet up with you guys but I might not be able to make it, I'm going to try though.

[Border City Boy]

I'm getting ready to roll out of Windsor. See you guys at 11:00.

[SteelTown]

Erm probably too late to say but I won't be able to attend. Sorry about that!

[LikeHamilton]

So did anyone go? Any pictures or reports.

[matt602]

Unfortunately the weather did end up being absolutely horrible. I was personally also nearly half an hour late due to some unforeseen circumstances, and when I got there I was told I had missed out on the "SSP guys". My apologies to those who couldn't wait around any longer, I don't blame you. That rain was horrid and I certainly wouldn't have wanted to stand around in it. Anyway we were still able to draw a good group from the UE side of things and we ended up touring around for a bit downtown (then heading East for Steelcare and the Steam museum).

I hope those that I didn't meet up with had a good time and returned for today's portion of Doors Open as well. Hopefully next year will yield better weather.

Pictures in a bit, still got to do a ton of editing.

[flar]

I missed out. I was downtown around 7-8am on Saturday getting a few last shots for my latest photothread, but I had too many other things to do later in the day so I couldn't stick around. I did manage to go to Auchmar, Dundurn and Imperial Cotton today.

[LikeHamilton]

From Spec.com

http://www.thespec.com/videogallery/364191

[highwater]

Sorry Matt, we waited till about 11:15, but it didn't look like anyone else would be coming. The turnout was a little underwhelming. Just me, Miketoronto, Border City Boy, and Holymoly. I can't speak for anyone else, but I enjoyed meeting everyone, and I had a good time, although I couldn't stick around and lost everyone else at the armoury. MT and BCB were very sweet and stood around in the rain while Holymoly and I shopped at Thai Memory. Sorry I didn't get a chance to say good bye. I looked around for you guys after I was done gabbing, but I guess you'd already left. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your day!

[holymoly]

Highwater, we disappeared into the bowels into the Armoury... checking out the museum (in the basement) for quite a long time. That's probably where we were when you were looking for us. Sorry about that! After the Armoury, we went to HIStory & HERitage, then I packed it in and the guys went on without me. It was great meeting you all.

[miketoronto]

Nice meeting everyone. Sorry we missed you Highwater in the Armoury. Was great chatting with all of you.

Now, you know what this means. Matt and Steeltown have to come to Doors Open Toronto :). And hey lets see Highwater and Holymoly come on down to :)

[matt602]

I will certainly be at Doors Open Toronto. I would like to make up for my tardiness in Hamilton by meeting up with you guys.

itsbryan should hopefully be with me as well.

[Jon Dalton]

Yeah, I shanked this as well. Seems I can't get up before noon on weekends. I would be very interested in meeting the urban explorers if there was another opportunity.

Any particular highlights anyone would like to share? Mine was going up to the top of the bell tower at St. Pauls.

[Border City Boy]

Sorry, I'm a little late chiming in. It rained a bit but it wasn't too bad. You've got a beautiful city Hamiltonians, but it was a bit dissapointing to only have a group of four, three of which were from out of town (2 from Toronto and 1 from Windsor).

It was still fun, and Mike Toronto and myself ended up hanging in a checking out a few sites outside of downtown.

I'll post some photos soon-ish...