Our carefully considered first rate list of super sweet things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week…

WEDNESDAY 22nd

Thievery Corporation

Playing tracks from their fifth studio album, Radio Retaliation at the Orpheum. Still cool tunes, but does the 7:30 start time indicate the aging demographic of TC fans? 7:30 WTF?
April 22 | 7:30pm | Orpheum Theatre | expect to shell out at least $65

Today is Earth Day

Get out there and do something about it. Plant a tree or a garden, pick up a piece of garbage, turn off your computer (after your Scout fix) and take a minute think about the planet.

John Ralston Saul at the Chan Centre

Together with a distinguished panel, well know Canadian author John Ralston Saul leads discussion on Aboriginals and New Canadians: The Missing Conversation. “In A Fair Country: Telling Truths About Canada, Saul delves into our history and argues that our ties to the Aboriginal people are far stronger than our ties to the European. He suggests that we are a nation heavily influenced and shaped by aboriginal ideas of egalitarianism, a desire to resolve conflict with negotiation over violence and a commitment to maintaining a balance between the individual and the group.” The evening is hosted by Paul Kennedy for broadcast on CBC Ideas.
April 22 |7pm | Chan Shun Concert Hall | FREE

THURSDAY 23rd

Main Street Literary Tour
BC Book and Magazine Week continues with a literary tour. From the BC Book and Magazine website: “Main Street is the home of dozens of artist-run galleries, quirky cafés, boutique shopping and local writers. Your neighbourhood tour guides, writer, filmmaker and performance artist Amber Dawn, and poet Jennica Harper, lead you to various Main Street hot spots for an evening of arts and literary exploration. Select Tour A or Tour B, or mix and match sessions from each!” For details of precisely what Tour A & Tour B entail, head over to the official site (too many juicy details to list here).
April 23| 6pm – 9pm | Various locations |

Plea for the Bees
A Plea for the Bees’ Needs: Pollinator declines and how to encourage backyard biodiversity – It’s in the news everywhere-the bees are in trouble. The European honeybee annually provides $1 billion of pollination services to agriculture in Canada, but 1/3 of our colonies are lost each year to Colony Collapse Disorder. The good news is that Canada has more than 800 species of native bees that contribute to pollination services for both wild plants and our food supply. How well are these native bees doing? Can they help to buffer our pollination systems given honeybee declines? Join Dr. Elle to learn about why bees are in trouble, the natural history and status of our native bees, and what you can do in your backyard, community garden or even on your balcony to help support pollinators.
April 23 | 7 – 9 pm | SFU Harbour Centre | FREE (To reserve a seat, email: [email protected])

FRIDAY 24th

It’s Earth Week! Get involved by attending a community forum and project launch on the proposed electric vehicle designed by Emily Carr students. From their website: “Fuse Studio is a collaborative, self-directed group of students at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design who are working on a prototype electric vehicle to debut in 2010. The project was started in fall of 2008 by a small group of Emily Carr students who were dedicated to building an electric vehicle and developing a curriculum that focuses on long-term, sustainability-oriented projects. We are learning by setting our own example. We’re not just designing a vehicle- instead, we’ve decided to design a purpose, a need, a course, a curriculum, and a new way to develop collaborative learning in University.”
www.howdowegetthere.ca
April 24 | 6-9 pm | Emily Carr University | FREE

The Killers
People seem to be perplexed by The Killers. Are they witty and talented or trite and unoriginal? We like the make-up, hate the make-up, miss the make-up. This album is good, that one sucks big time. Despite the confusion, they seem to be doing just fine with a dance card that remains full, including a foxtrot this week with us left coasters at Thunderbird Stadium.
April 24 | 8pm | Thunderbird Stadium | you’re looking at at least $50

The Secret World of Og
I generally expect Scout readers to be getting all of their family oriented activities on a family oriented sites – and blog accordingly. But sometimes there is a kid thing going on that is just too good to pass up. The Secret World of Og was one of my favourite books growing up and I still think it is one of the finest pieces of Canadian Literature out there. The classic children’s book by Pierre Berton has been adapted for stage by Kevin Kerr. Here is the synopsis from the Carousel Theatre website: Penny, Pamela, Patsy, and Peter are bewildered when they discover that their baby brother Paul has inexplicably disappeared. When Pamela notices a trap door in the playhouse floor, the four siblings descend into a murky subterranean country, searching for their baby brother. There they discover a secret comic book world inhabited by mysterious green creatures whose language of choice is…“Og!” For show times and ticket information, visit www.carouseltheatre.ca or call 604-685-6217.
April 24 | 7 pm | Waterfront Theatre | Kids $13 Grown-ups $26

SATURDAY 25th

Melissa McClelland
Lifted from the Media Club web site: “Some dream of marrying the girl next door. Others fantasize about one wild night with her in the back of daddy’s car. At first glance, Melissa is the perfect object of both desires: classically demure in a pink cashmere sweater, until a blood red bra strap suddenly leaps from her shoulder. She’s the type of girl to which you’d entrust all of your worldly possessions, giving her the keys to your house, the keys to your car, only to discover later that she tore the roof off one and disappeared for days in the other. Fairy tales are made of girls like these; or in Melissa’s case, re-written by them.” I’m a big fan of “Passenger 24” – seriously, have a listen and tell me this won’t be a good show.
April 25 | 7pm | The Media Club | $15

Eat Local
This is the last Winter Farmers’ Market of the season. Sad for so many reasons (WISE hall is a great venue) but good news because the end of the Winter market means that the Spring/Summer season is upon us. So stop by WISE Hall to pick up the last of the hearty root vegetables, home-baked bread, crafts, and plenty of other cool bits, and find out which Summer markets your favourite farmers will relocate to. Visit EatLocal.org to see the full list of vendors (Scout goes for Pasture to Plate, Little Qualicum Cheeseworks and always a visit to The Fruit Guy for died Okanagan fruits to snack on).
April 25 | 10am – 2pm | WISE Hall, 1882 Adanac Street at Victoria Drive | FREE

Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts Open House
The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts is opening its doors to the public today to show off the many wonderful reasons you might want to get a bit more familiar with what’s going on inside its doors. Sure, the culinary centre boasts professional programs in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts, but did you know that they also offer “Casual Gourmet Classes”, Wine Programs, Cake Decorating Classes, Corporate Team-Building Classes, Teen Classes and Private Classes? Pick up something at the Bakeshop & Cafe (open Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) to keep you fueled-up while you investigate services such as event planning, kitchen rentals and catering options (on-site in their Restaurant or off-site at your chosen venue). Don’t forget to enter in the draw for a 2-Hour Cooking Class for 4.
April 25 | 11pm – 3pm | Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts | FREE

Street-side Party
If your in the ‘hood, you might notice that traffic is slow. Oh wait – that’s not news. But today is a little different. It has been a long haul for the business owners and residents alike, but this weekend there is a big party to celebrate the completion of the Cambie street leg of the Canada Line. Look forward to a marimba band, a live performance by 54-40, video game tent, product sampling, giveaways and entertaining activities for the entire family. Basically, traffic will be slow in the area…what else is new?
April 25 | 11pm – 5pm | Lower Cambie (between 16th Avenue and 19th Avenue)| FREE

SUNDAY 26th

Blim Community Market
People of Main Street rejoice! Blim is hosting their second community market today. This event will include 30 vendors, live music, hot food, beverages, and entertainment. From the Blim organisers themselves: “There will be a focus on nurturing and promoting creative production in our community. We want to appeal to young, old, hip, plain, babies, animals, men, women, everyone…We are very excited about this event and what it can contribute to Main Street’s artistic vitality, and how it can help support and encourage the local creative community.” Dude – get it together and check out what your neighbours are doing! Scout List banner photo – fuzzy little dolls are part of a collection amis de montagne and can be found at www.amisdemontagne.etsy.com
April 26 | 11am -5pm | Cambrian Hall | FREE

Portobello West
If your feeling the itch to do some Spring shopping? Why not buy local? Portobello West market is the perfect venue – head down to the Rocky Mountaineer Station (1755 Cottrell Street) to see some of the hot new fashion and art created by Vacouverites. We are looking forward to checking out new duds by Floating Gold Iceberg and Love Punk as well as belts by Catalyst Creations and the serenely beautiful and almost creepy work of Poodlebreath (I love the Blue Sinking Fairy Tale pendants and the Helping Hands wall sculpture).
April 26| 12pm to 6pm | Rocky Mountaineer Station | 2 bucks

MONDAY 27th

Bloc Party at the Commodore
High energy Brit indie-rock band will have the Commodore hopping tonight. Really, their myspace page is the most succinct way to sum them up. Have a listen.
April 27 | The Commodore | $35

TUESDAY 28th

Murder Without Borders: Dying for the story in the world’s most dangerous places
“Author and journalist Terry Gould reveals the reasons why nine journalists, working in troubled hot spots, threatened with certain death, stayed on the story.”
April 28 | 7pm | Vancouver Public Library| FREE

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Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended Bond University in Australia and the University of Victoria before receiving her graduate degree in Library Sciences from The University of Toronto. She lives by the beach in Vancouver and enjoys wandering aimlessly through the city’s shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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