👋🏼 Hello Hamilton

How are we feeling about that wet weather? I’d like to see some more sunny days before the summer’s out! Luckily, it looks like we’re in for a beautiful weekend ahead.

Welcome back to Hello Hamilton. I’m Ben from Hamilton East 👋🏼 and today we’re covering things to do in the Tron this week, the live music lineup over the weekend, and news headlines you can’t miss. First time reading Hello Hamilton? Join over 5,173 Hamiltonians here.

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And, as always, please send me feedback on the newsletter at [email protected]. I’d love to hear from you.

🎟️ Events on in the Tron this week

Babywearing Meet | Thursday 20th 10:00-11:30am at Jukebox Diner. Monthly babywearing meet to hire carriers and get hands on support and advice with babywearing. Info.

Woodlands Wanderer Scavenger Hunts | Thursday - Wednesday at Woodlands Estate. Head out into the scenic gardens, solving clues and learning interesting facts as you go! The unique outdoor activity will get you out exploring the gardens and enjoying nature with your teammates. Tickets.

Scottish Ceilidh Dance | Friday 21st from 7:00pm at Fairfield Community House. Lochiel Scottish Dancing Club and Hamilton Scottish Dancing Society are hosting a Ceilidh in Hamilton, open to anyone interested in social dancing. Info.

Gallagher Chiefs vs Crusaders | Friday 21st 7:05pm kickoff at FMG Stadium. Round two and the first home game of the season. Go the Chiefs! Tickets.

Hamilton Arts Festival | Friday - Wednesday at Hamilton Gardens. Soak up the festival vibes, enjoy some amazing kai and music, and mingle with friends and whaanau at the Hamilton Arts Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa Festival Hub. Info.

Malaysian Food and Cultural Day | Saturday 22nd 10:00am-3:00pm at Claudelands. Celebrate the food and cultural heritage of Malaysian diversity, with food stalls and Malaysian cultural performances. Info.

Record Fair | Saturday 22nd 11:00am-3:00pm at Glenview Community Centre. Records tapes, and CDS, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Info.

Waikato River Float | Saturday 22nd from 3:00pm from the Rowing Club. Floating to Ann Street park. Life jacket and summer fun is mandatory! Info.

Chinese Lantern Festival | Saturday 22nd 4:00-9:00pm at Garden Place. Join for an evening celebrating Chinese New Year with a Dragon & Lion Dance, a magic show, live cultural performances, and food stalls. Info.

A Gluten Free Night Out | Saturday 22nd 5:00-8:00pm at Claudelands. Enjoy delicious food from a wide range of passionate gluten free foodies and be serenaded with acoustic music - and the kids can play with the giant outdoor games! Info.

Twelfth Night Play | Saturday 22nd 6:00-8:00pm at the Hamilton Gardens. Hilarity abounds in Shakespeare’s classic tale of gender identity and sexual ambiguity. Info.

Beach Themed Disco Roller Skating Fundraiser | Saturday 22nd 7:00-9:00pm at Hamilton Roller Skating Club. Celebrate the remaining days of summer and come support our artistic skaters with this artistic fundraiser - $5 per skater entry, includes skate hire. Info.

The Mystery of the Magic Flute | Saturday 22nd at Hamilton Gardens. A new mystery game set on the winding path of the Picturesque Garden, and inspired by Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Can your party of 4-6 advisors help the Prince reach his destination? Tickets.

Origami Workshop | Sunday 23rd from 1:00pm at the Central Library. Free, open, and no registration required. Info.

The Extravaganza Fair | Saturday and Sunday at Claudelands. A unique market/festival with market stalls, arts and craft, food, musical entertainment and kids shows. Talented musicians playing sweet tunes, with kids’ shows running throughout the day where children can get involved! Info.

Mantra Meditation Evening | Tuesday 25th 6:00-7:00pm at the YWCA on Pembroke Street. Open to everyone, relax and experience refuge for the heart in transcendental sound. Info.

Waikato Photographic Society Open Night | Tuesday 25th 7:30pm at Melville Methodist Church. Celebrate your love for photography and share some creative inspiration, with special guest Ashok Kochhar. Info.

Waikato Role-Playing Guild Social Evening | Wednesday 26th from 6:30pm at Joe’s Garage. Monthly gathering to share stories about games from the past month. Info.

Always double-check event details haven’t changed since you received this email. Did I forget anything? Flick me an email.

🎶 Live music across Hamilton

Cafe Fresca | Tamsin Gurnell | Thursday 20th 5:30pm. Info.

The Factory | Peking Duk | Thursday 20th from 9:00pm. Tickets.

Biddy Mulligans | TIMbuCK8 | Thursday 20th. Info.

The Pavillion, Hamilton Gardens | Guru of Chai | Friday 21st 6:00-7:15pm. Tickets.

Rhododendron Lawn, Hamilton Gardens | Hamilton City Brass & The Festival Chorus | Friday 21st 8:00-9:15pm. Tickets.

Last Place | Stenn Francis-Deare with Rewind Fields | Friday 21st from 8:00pm. Tickets.

Nivara Lounge | Jazz Latin Funk On A Friday Night | Friday 21st from 8:00pm. Tickets.

Amuse at Skycity | Daughters of Ally | Friday 21st 8:00pm-12:00am. Info.

Biddy Mulligans | Persons of Interest | Friday 21st. Info.

Rhododendron Lawn, Hamilton Gardens | Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra | Saturday 22nd 7:20-9:30pm. Info.

Amuse at Skycity | Spop & Don | Saturday 22nd 8:30pm-12:30am. Info.

Biddy Mulligans | The JLB | Saturday 22nd. Info.

Amuse at Skycity | Jessie Matthews | Sunday 23rd 3:00-6:00pm. Info.

Last Place | The Flatliners | Tuesday 25th from 7:00pm. Info.

Missing a show? Email me so I can get my act together!

👀 Hamilton headlines you may have missed

The Gallagher Chiefs have gained revenge for last year's grand final defeat to the Blues, winning 25-14 at Eden Park. The Chiefs and Crusaders meet on Friday night at FMG Stadium for round two of the season, and have taken vastly different selection approaches: the Chiefs have changed nearly half their run-on XV, while the Crusaders will front with a near identical starting team to their round one game. Read.

Hamilton's recent run of hot days likely beats anything the city has experienced since temperature records began, says a climate scientist. "The last 10 days, actually now 11, have been the hottest continuous 10 or 11 days stretch certainly of the records that I have available." Read.

Councillor Sarah Thomson is giving “very serious consideration” to running for the Hamilton mayoralty at this year’s local government elections. If Thomson stands, her political leanings will be a contrast to those of other potential contenders so far - “fiscal conservative” councillors Tim Macindoe, Geoff Taylor and Ewan Wilson, who continue to discuss which of them could run. Read.

Hamilton City Council has plans for two new 25 million litre reservoirs to continue high-quality drinking water supply and capacity for firefighting to a growing central city and surrounds. Following technical, environmental and cultural investigations, the Ruakiwi site (next to the existing Ruakiwi Reservoir) has been identified as the reservoirs’ best location. Read.

🚧 Roadworks

• Massey Street (from Rifle Range Road to Campbell Street) will be closed Thursday 20th between 8:00pm-6:00am for road resurfacing.

• Karen Crescent will be closed in one direction at a time from Friday 21th February to Saturday 8 March, from 7:00am-6:00pm for footpath repairs.

• A series of streets around FMG stadium will be closed Friday 21th for the Super Rugby game. Abbotsford Street and Tristram Street from 2:00pm, and Seddon Road, Mill Street, Liverpool Street, and Tristram Street from 6:30pm.

• Worley Place will be closed Saturday 22 February from 4:00-11:00pm for the Chinese Lantern Festival.

• Cobham Drive (from Normandy Ave to Tristram Street) will be closed Sunday 23th to Friday 28th, between 8:00pm-6:00am for road resurfacing. Minor delays are expected along the State Highways.

• The Hunter Street and Pembroke intersection will be closed until Monday 24th, for gas maintenance work.

• Massey Street Overbridge (from Greenwood Street to Kent Street) will be closed Monday 24th between 10:00pm-5:00am for bridge repairs.

• The entire length of Pamala Place is closed until Friday 28th. Residents will continue to have access.

Thanks for reading Hello Hamilton. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who is rooting for the Gallagher Chiefs this weekend! Go the Chiefs!

Have any suggestions for what you would like to see in future editions? Reply to this email ([email protected]) and let me know! I’d love to hear from you.

See you next Thursday.

— Ben

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