The main objective of this website is to scout out and promote the things that make Vancouver such a sweet place to be. We do this with an emphasis on the city’s independent spirit to foster a sense of connectedness within and between our communities, and to introduce our readers to the people who grow and cook our food, play the raddest tunes in our better venues, create our most interesting art, and design everything from what we wear to the spaces we inhabit.

The Scout List is 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…

The Fraser Institute on Obama

The conservative think tank that the left likes to loathe might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but poli-wonks might still be excited to know that today at 12:15pm Jason Clemens (Director of Research, Pacific Research Institute Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute) will present “U.S President Barack Obama: A Six Month Review”, a recap of the Obama government’s performance to date, the challenges it still faces (including an upcoming budget fight, health care, etc), and the implications for Canada. Click here to register.
July 9 | Registration- 11:45am /Presentation- 12:15pm / Q&A- 1:00pm | The Fraser Institute | $35

Brazilian Film Festival

The Brazilian Film Festival hits the Vancouver International Film Centre this week with eight features (four dramas and four documentaries) six animated short films. Catch Veronica – a drama about “a disillusioned and stressed public school teacher in an underprivileged neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro whose life changes when one of her students stays behind after school hours”. Or Last Stop – a documentary that recounts the true life story of Sandro do Nascimento, (you may remember him as the bus hijacker in Rio de Janeiro back in 2000). Cinderellas, Wolves and One Enchanted Prince (July 11) is a ‘hard-hitting documentary about sex trafficking’. For full programme details go to www.vifc.org.
July 8-12 | Vancouver International Film Centre | Various times |$10

Tambura Rasa

As part of the Dr.Sun Yat Sen Chinese Gardens Enchanted Evening Concert Series Tambura Rasa takes the stage tonight with their electrifying Flamenco, Balkan and Sharqui beats. After the concert, wander the streets of the Chinatown Night Market.
July 10 | Doors 7 concert 7:30 | Chinese Gardens | $18

Vancouver Cemetery Tour

OK – so this event is a little different: Vancouver’s only cemetery (Mountain View) wants you to swing by for some live music in the courtyard, joss paper demonstrations by the good folks from the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens, and guided tours of the cemetery. They want you to “take a stroll through the newly created columbaria and water features, and experience the spectacular view from the top of the cemetery.” Event organisers suggest bringing a picnic lunch to enjoy. Sounds like a party (in a cemetery).
July 11 | 11am – 3pm | Mountain View Cemetery | FREE

North Shore Music & Burgers

Cates Park is a beautiful North Shore waterfront space worth a visit in its own right, but if it (and it’s adjoining beach) weren’t enough to get you there, it has a Wally Burger concession and – beginning this weekend – the park is hosting free public concerts. Organisers suggest that you take a picnic with so you can chow down as you listen to original, local bands and artists playing in the park for free. That’s a nice idea, but we’ll be a Chuck Wagon burger, yam fries and a chocolate milkshake. This week, look forward to Amonia Stars and Hayfa.

July 11 | Cates Park / North Van | FREE

The Caribbean Festival

The Caribbean Festival (featuring 2 stages with 10 live bands from the lower mainland Caribbean community playing Reggae, Calypso, Salsa, 50 to 60 street vendors at an open air market, food vendors offering authentic Caribbean grub and so on… Yes it’s a long way to go, but still – cheaper than a flight to caribbean and over 18000 festival goers made it out last year (a solid number of them will be heading back this year so you won’t be alone).
July 11 & 12 | Sat 9-5 Sun 12-9 | Maple Ridge (DT core and Peace Park) | Details

Mini Got Craft

Got Craft – Bite size A mini version of the popular winter event, Got Craft organisers noticed that their followers were having a difficult time making it through to winter to get their fix of locally imagined goods and came up with the idea to present mini monthly shows that feature twelve rotating vendors. Expect to see pint sized paintings from My Little Eye, nature inspired sterling silver necklaces (see photo) and earrings by District Thirty and (not local, but so cool and worth the purchase) Jabu bags. Admission by donation to the Vancouver Craft Mafia. If you’re not familiar with the Got Craft concept, or for a little background on their sweet events click here.
July 12 | 11am-4pm | Little Mountain Gallery (Main/26th)

Curiouser and Curiouser!

The magic of the 15th Annual Alice in Wonderland Festival will bring Lewis Carroll’s delightful characters to life in Trout Lake Park today. Slide down the Rabbit Hole in to an enchanted wonderland complete with an impossibly long 30 foot long table for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (complete with oversized tea pots) delicious jam tarts, the Queen of Hearts Castle and croquet. You are strongly encouraged to dust of the Alice in Wonderland character costume in the back of your closet and join in.
July 12 | 1pm | Trout Lake Park (east side) |FREE

Eat Local

Here are some good places to buy locally grown produce from really good people. In season this month are luscious salad greens, green onions, radishes, shallots, spinach, sprouts, sunchokes, tomatoes, rhubarb, fresh strawberries, raspberries and even early blueberries. You’ll also find sweet peas, bay leaves, chervil, rosemary, sage, savoury goat and cow’s milk cheeses, yogurt, eggs, beef, chicken, lamb, pork, cod, sablefish, shrimp, salmon, tuna, and a boggling array of bedding plants.
East Side: July 11| 9am – 2pm | Trout Lake | FREE
West End: July 11 | 9am – 2pm | 1100 Block of Comox | FREE
Kits: July 12 | 10am – 2pm | Parking Lot of Kits Community Centre | FREE
DTES: July 15 | 3pm – 7pm | Thornton Park | FREE
UBC: July 11| 9-1 | UBC Farm | FREE (but make a donation – they needs the support)
West Van: July 11 | 9am – 2pm | Dundarave Village | FREE
West Van: July 12 | 9am – 2pm | Ambelside – parking lot beside Police Station (off of Bellevue/13)

Belly button lint compost?

Is it too dangerous to compost if you live in a non-earthquake proof highrise? Is it OK to put dead pigeons or belly button lint in the bin? These are some excellent questions. The best way to get answers is to attend the Backyard Composting Workshop at the Kits Neighbourhood House tonight. It’s offered on a pay-what-you-can basis. Something like this usually runs about $25-$35…so give appropriately (contributions make it possible for workshop teachers to “expand and deepen the scope of the important educational work they are involved in”). To register contact Ross at [email protected] Everyone is welcome to attend, but registration is limited to 25 participants.
July 15 | 6:30 – 8:30 pm | Kits Neighbourhood House | By donation (see above)

Blueberry picking on Westham Island

Scout hit the fields of Emma Lea Farms last week for raspberries and the season’s last strawberries and took special note that the forbidding yellow rope accross the blueberry patch should come down by the end of this week / middle of next. (Note: Mid week visits are obviously the smarter move as pickings are a little slim over the weekends). Don`t miss the on-site ice cream stand at Emma Leas – amazing milkshakes and sundaes made with fresh strawberries. Westham Island Herb Farm is a great place for peas, potatoes (and promising little tomato plants)
July 15 | 10 am – 6 pm | Westham Island | Prices vary, but you know it’ll be cheaper than Whole Foods…

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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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