For the past 20+ years art galleries across North America have been creating annual art walks, First (or Last or Second) Thursday (or Friday) events as a means of encouraging the public to come out and experience the local visual art scene. I have experienced dozens of them across North America, but nothing had prepared me for what I would experience on Friday May 13.

May 13, 2016 was a lucky day for me - I got to experience Hamilton’s Art Crawl and event that takes place the second Friday of every month along James Street North (JSN). I have visited JSN for several years, watching it evolve from a street stuck in the ‘40s and’50s to a quirky street of quirky, cool street of eclectic galleries, restaurants and boutiques, void of the usual revitalization gentrification.

**It is indeed a crawl along the James Street South's sidewalks during Art Crawl.**

James Street North's Art Crawl Maker's Market is located in front yard of Christ's Church Cathedral.  I was surprised that there was a service going on during the Art Crawl. — **James Street North's Art Crawl Maker's Market is located in front yard of Christ's Church Cathedral. I was surprised that there was a service going on during the Art Crawl.**

**Jane Jacobs would love James Street North with all of its tiny shops offering a diversity of things to see and do.**

No Gentrification

There is no Starbucks, no Tim Hortons, no Shoppers Drug Mart, no boutique hotel or new condos. Instead, the former “Little Portugal” is being repopulated by new “mom and pop” businesses.

The tipping point for JSN’s comeback was in 2005 or 2006 (nobody is quite sure the exact date), when a couple of the new art galleries that had opened up decided to stay open late on the second Friday of every month. The experiment was popular and it has just built from there.

Facebook: James Street South Art Crawl

**Hamilton Jewellers has been on James Street South for over 70 years.**

**Colourful storefronts and street adornment create a funky hip pedestrian experience along James Street North.**

**Morgenstern's department store is a walk back in time to the '40s and '50s.**

**Mulberry's Coffeehouse is JSS's signature cafe and patio.**

Ghost town to Extravaganza

Earlier that day, my Mom and I wandered JSN, which was pretty much deserted, but as we left late in the afternoon, we could saw people starting to arrive with tables and artwork. My Mom said, “Oh, I forgot. Tonight is Art Crawl.” Lucky my Mom lives just a few blocks away so later that evening (9 pm to be exact), I headed down to check it out.

As soon as I crossed Main Street (two blocks away) I heard the urban buzz of people chattering and street music. Quickly, I was engulfed in one of the best sidewalk ballets I have experienced anywhere. I estimate 15,000+ people were wandering up and down the sidewalks, checking out the street vendors, going in and out of shops and stopping to listen to some of the busker music and dancing. It was like I was back on the streets of Mexico City. There was a fun festival spirit that isn’t usually associated with art walks which usually attracts the reserved, wine-sipping sophisticates.

I couldn’t believe how the sleepy street had been transformed from an afternoon ghost town to evening extravaganza.

**This fun chair created a fun urban playground during Art Crawl.**

**One of the many art galleries along James Street South.**

**The art ranges from contemporary to decorative.**

SuperCrawl

In September, JSN is closed to traffic for the annual SuperCrawl which attracts over 100,000 people to a weekend festival of visual art and music that is a smash-up of local and international artists.

The transformation of JSS from Little Portugal to a hip arts district has not gone unnoticed. It has captured the attention of New York City-based Projects For Public Spaces (founded in 1975 by William Whyte, author of the seminal public spaces book “The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces”) as one of best examples of how artists and art can transform a neglected space into something special.

**These ladies just had to dance to the music.**

**The proud owner of a new painting just had to have his picture taken with his new acquisition.**

Last Word

If you are in the Hamilton area on a second Friday, I strongly encourage you to take in JSN Art Crawl. And if you are into the visual arts, music and fun festivals, mark your calendar to be in Hamilton September 9 to 11, 2016.

Indeed, Hamilton is more than Tim Hortons and the Ti-cats!