Stories

Centuries ago, Genghis Khan’s warriors cooked their meals over fire on their shields as they journeyed to conquer the world.

Fast forward nearly a thousand years, and Hamiltonians are hooked on the sizzling flavours of Mongolian cuisine - minus the battle gear.

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Love the Centre are proud to be a sponsor of the iconic @boonartshamilton Street Art Festival and yesterday we took a group along for a tour with Boon guide Anne Marie!

We visited two artists in action where our group had the opportunity to view their murals and talk with the artists to find out more about the inspiration behind their artworks. After the tour we headed to Waikato Society of Arts @artwaikato for refreshments and to view more amazing art!

Congratulations to Boon Street Art Festival who are celebrating 10 years and 100 murals in our city!

Artists we visited on our tour.

Flox & Sweats

320-324 Victoria Street (SkyCity car park wall opposite Garden Place).

Flox aka Hayley Kings distinct vibrant murals and art celebrate Aotearoa’s unique flora and fauna. In this collab she is painting with SWEATS aka Pierre Hadlow, an Auckland-based multidisciplinary artist. Their unique creative fusion is on a ‘Hero’ wall in Kirikiriroa.

@floxnz

@sweats___

Alison Mooney

Behind ArtsPost - 100 Victoria Street

Alison Mooney is an Australian artist “exploring colour, movement and curiosity” from her studio on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

@alison__mooney . Alison is creating a playful and colourful mural on a large grey wall below ArtsPost.

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Festival runs 13-16 March

Get amongst it! To find out more about the fantastic line up of events, mural locations and artist's.

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The Festival of Weird has, since Wednesday, enlivened the usually not-too-lively environs of central Hamilton with a cavalcade of quirky characters and activities.

While the lunchtime crowds may not have been huge, those who have passed through will have been entertained and intrigued by the part-man-part-fish happily chilling out on the park benches, watching the passers-by passing by; or, perhaps, the pair of extendible eyeballs of possible extraterrestrial origin moving about of their own free will.

The Alma Street restaurant has built a loyal following, including a couple of original diners who keep coming back for the same dish, the owners say.

Since taking over in 2007, owner Marco Scarpa has preserved the essence of traditional Italian cuisine, sending out dozens of the top-selling dishes each week.

Those behind the restaurant put its success down to quality ingredients and time-honoured recipes.

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With a line-up that boasts acts named Ukulele Death Squad, DeeJay Handbrake and the Black Sheep Circus it’s clear that the Festival of Weird is no ordinary series of events.

Beginning on Wednesday, March 5 - just three days after the conclusion of the Hamilton Arts Festival - the Hamilton/Kirikiriroa Festival of Weird promises more off-beat fare than its better-known cousin.

A good portion of the week’s worth of envelope-pushing entertainment will be a series of free daily shows in Garden Place, including street theatre, acrobatics, and live music.

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A white Mazda has pulled up at lights on Hamilton’s Victoria St, and Abba’s Dancing Queen is blaring. There’s a young man driving and a group of young women swaying to the music and waving drinks on their way to town for Friday night. It’s O Week, the Chiefs have just beaten the Crusaders at FMG Stadium Waikato, and Hamilton student bar The Outback Inn is hosting a beerfest. One guess where the party girls are heading.

If it’s the Outback they’ll be in a line of succession stretching back 30 years, after the Outback opened for its first O Week in 1995.

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There were a few beaming faces and one big beam that was the centre of attention at the Waikato Regional Theatre on Wednesday.

The beam in question was a 600kg steel strut that was lifted into place atop the theatre’s flying tower, shortly after midday - but not before it was decorated with about 30 signatures of those who have had central roles in the project.

There were also speeches by Foster Construction project manager Ben Royfee and Waikato Regional Property Trust chairman Ross Hargood and a sausage sizzle for the workers.

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Music floated through the air, mixing with the gentle hum of laptops and casual conversations.

Some people tapped away at emails under the shade of umbrellas, while others took in a massage, stretched out with breathwork exercises, or soaked up the scorching sun with a coffee in hand.

Instead of rigid schedules and deadlines, attendees were free to take the day at their own pace.

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The newly restored neoclassical façade of the 102-year-old Hamilton Hotel building - now the frontage of the Waikato Regional Theatre - has been unveiled with the removal of the first section of a scaffolding shelter surrounding the building.

The long-awaited appearance of the pristine plaster of the old hotel frontage is another visible milestone in the ongoing construction of the 1300-seat theatre that promises to revolutionise entertainment in the city.

Hamilton's Rocket Coffee Roasters has been listed in the top 100 coffee shops around the world, ranking at 62nd on the list.

The Hamilton coffee shop is the only one in New Zealand to make the prestigious list.

The store has been around for 30 years and has been a key player in New Zealand's coffee culture through its crafted beverages, friendly atmosphere and strong community ties.

The list is complied by a panel of coffee experts, enthusiasts and industry leaders who rank a variety of factors including dedication to experience, bean sourcing and roasting.

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Wooden Spoon, 169 London St, Hamilton

It was a seven-year-old coeliac’s dream to open a cafe where she could eat everything.

Less than two decades later, Hannah Alley opened a 100% gluten-free cafe - Wooden Spoon, in Hamilton. Possibly the first of it’s kind in the Tron.

And since opening in November 2023, it has attracted coeliacs from across the country.

Why? Because it is a pretty big deal getting a full gluten-free menu, says Alley.

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A partnership between FMG Stadium Waikato and the One New Zealand Warriors has opened the way for the club to play three stand-alone NRLW matches in Hamilton this season.

The deal follows another landmark rugby league+ occasion at the stadium on Saturday when a crowd 23,344 – a record for a Warriors trial match – attended the club’s final Preseason Challenge clash against the Melbourne Storm.

In their return to the competition after a five-year absence the Warriors will make FMG Stadium Waikato their base for the last three of their five regular season home games.

The first is their round seven fixture against the Canberra Raiders on Saturday, August 16 followed a week later by their eighth-round contest against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks on Sunday, August 24, and the round 10 encounter with the powerful Brisbane Broncos on Sunday, September 7.

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Come and enjoy art, culture, sport or a ‘weird’ mix of all three! Here are some Love the Centre highlight events.

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‍Circus in the Centre

‍Garden Place, until April 5, noon-2.30pm

Turn your summer afternoons into a circus extravaganza! Garden Place green space transforms into a lively circus zone where kids and whānau can explore juggling, hula hooping, spinning plates, and more. All equipment is provided, so just bring your enthusiasm and get ready for some free, family-friendly fun.

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Live Music

Garden Place, until March 28, 12.30-1.30pm

Enjoy an electrifying mix of DJs, singers, and saxophonists bringing vibrant tunes to the heart of the city.

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Stories in the Garden

Garden Place, until March 29, 10am-11am

Join us under the trees for a magical hour of storytelling and games with characters from Enchanted Entertainment. Dress up in the story theme and spend a delightful hour under the trees taking your mind to a faraway land.

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Chinese Lantern Festival

Garden Place, February 22, 6pm-9pm

Experience the magic of the Chinese Lantern Festival in the Year of the Snake with a Dragon & Lion Dance, a mesmerising magic show, live cultural performances, and delicious food stalls. The festivities start at 6pm but come early to enjoy the food from 4pm.

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Children’s Day

Garden Place and beyond, March 1-2, 10am-3pm

Let’s come together to celebrate our children and whānau. This event is packed with activities and fun for the whole family with entertainment across the central city public spaces.

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Festival of Weird

Garden Place, March 5-12 10am-5pm

Embrace the wacky and weird at the Festival of Weird. This week-long celebration is more cringe than fringe, with a lineup of bizarre and entertaining activities that will leave you laughing and amazed.

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Boon Street Art Festival

Central City, March 13-16

Watch the city come alive with stunning murals and cultural events during the Boon Street Art Festival. Enjoy four days of art, culture, and community with an incredible artist lineup and an interactive community mural.

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Love the Centre Walk Thru Balloon

Garden Place, March 15, 1pm-4pm & March 20, 4pm-7pm

Experience the thrill of walking inside a real hot air balloon. For a koha, you can enjoy this unique adventure along with fun, music, and entertainment to kick off the Balloons Over Waikato event week.

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