Architecture crawl 2.0 aims to capture city in transition

With cranes stretching towards the sky across the city, there's no doubt that Hamilton is changing, and fast.

While that happens, the Hamilton/Burlington Society of Architects is hosting its second "architecture crawl," Friday, with an eye for appreciating Hamilton's history through architecture, but also looking towards new spaces, and what the city will become.

"These buildings represent our history and tell stories," said Christina Karney, one of the event's organizers.

"We're hitting that stage where things are starting to change pretty dramatically. "

The first architecture crawl was two years ago, so this second version provides an updated window into changing spaces in the city.

"We wanted to highlight transition, and things you might not get to normally see."

The event mashes up homegrown Hamilton music talent with some of the city's most interesting spaces. Bands are playing across venues in the downtown. This event will highlight 5 "architecturally unique, previously inaccessible venues."

At each location, local musicians are performing, there are exhibitions and hors d'oeuvres prepared by local restaurants. All the sites are located in and around the downtown core.

Here's who is playing where:

• 14 James St N. (former Sirloin Celllar) 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. with the Golden Horseshoe Revival and the Vaudevillian
• Empire Times rooftop patio (41 King William St.): 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. with Jennifer Budd
• Co-motion studio and rooftop patio (115 King Street East):  7 p.m. to 11 p.m. with Jacob
• Two spaces at Cannon Knitting Mills-Beasley Lofts (134 Mary St.): 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. 
  • The Boiler Room 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. with The Irish Kitchen Party and the Cowboy Quartet
  • The Foundry: 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. with Wheatfields and The Medicine Hat

Tickets are $49, and are on sale right now online. A ticket gets you access to all the venues, plus a drink ticket and food from Hamilton eateries like The Mule, Gorilla Cheese, The French, and more.