“Can you believe it’s June already?”
“I know, I so owe you a visit.”
I board the express bus from Union and shoot off to spend a glorious afternoon with my writer friend, Marnie Woodrow.
I’ve not spent a whole lot of time in “The Hammer,” and Marnie is keen on sharing her favourite haunts.
I love that @MarnieWoo ‘s initials are on every lamppost! Welcome to #thehammer pic.twitter.com/g0lDMdpBqM
— KIRBY (@itsakirby) June 22, 2016
First, there’s the Hamilton GO Centre, itself a thing of beauty. I could spend the day there taking photographs, hang at the deli lunch counter.
There’s Marnie. Looking fabulous. How I love this woman.
We make our way to James Street North as I share my horror story having just passed a kidney stone.
Historic James St.N. has shades of Queen St.W. in the Driftwood Music days before “progress,” with its own distinct character/place.
Our first storefront of interest, STORE.
“We bought our wedding gifts in here,” says Marnie.
The sign reads “PLEASE TOUCH.”
Then and there, I knew I was not in Toronto.
STORE sells local pottery, art, and used books. Marnie and I peruse both, point out titles read and unread, of interest. She recommends, then buys a copy of Seth Morgan‘s Homeboy, hands it to me. Sneak.
And we meet one of the Jelly Bros minding the shop.
We discuss lunch options. There are many. I mention my penchant for smoked meats.
“I don’t know if The Salt Lick is open for lunch, let’s see.”
We stop into another gallery space, the proprietor offers a sample of some health drink, we inquire about the street, business. Art Crawl. Talk about my new boyfriend. (Now ex.)
The Salt Lick is open! And, yes, that is a BBB sandwich! Beef Belly Bacon. On a local Portugese bun. Beans. Slaw. With a drumstick on the side. Heaven.
We talk shop. Family. Share stories. Relish the ease of each other’s company. It feels like a hoilday. Marnie Day.
On our return, we stop at the Mulberry for a coffee. I could spend a lot of time here. I failed to mention, men also look noticeably good in Hamilton.
I spy jars full of dark coffee lovingly called Cafe Fem. I buy a jar for Marnie to take home to Janette.
We do a final poke-about at Mixed Media, and Chaises Musicales. Both trouble.
Next time, we’ll hit the library and the AGH.
Yes, I’m invited back.
Author MARNIE WOODROW is currently adapting a screeenplay for her latest novel, Heyday, from Tightrope Books.
Photos/story: KIRBY
