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Scout List: Chambar Savagery & Outdoor Movie Awesomeness

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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. From our calendar to yours…

Birthday Splash In Kits

bathingsuit1920sKitsilano Pool turned thirty this month and today (Thursday) staff are marking the occasion with a birthday cake, coffee and lemonade. Admission charges will be on as usual but cake will be just outside the fence so folks can come by and join in the celebration without having to pay admission. A clever ploy…what better way to work off the cake calories than a couple of laps in the pool? Word has it that there will be door prizes as well, presumably this means passing through the door (thus paying admission). Fair enough. A little background from a recent press release: “Vancouver’s largest draw and fill salt water pool first opened at the water’s edge in 1936 and became an instant success. It was replaced in 1979 by a state of the art oceanside tank (about 150 meters at its outer most edge). When the new pool opened, it was the largest saltwater pool in North America and cost $2.2 million to build. It is still the only salt water pool in Vancouver.” And we love it.
July 16 | Noon | $5 – but FREE birthday cake!

Food & Flicks & Grace

grace-galleryThere’s a Food and Flicks marathon over at the Grace Gallery this weekend. What the heck is that you might reasonably ask? Well, from Friday at noon straight through until noon Sunday, the imaginative crew over at Grace offer 24 back to back (two hour) seatings during which guests will (for only $20) indulge in a 3 course meal, sip a complimentary glass of wine and be treated to original local art and film. Each seating takes a maximum of 20 people. Reservations required (for details visit the website). The gallery thought ahead and has provided answers to FAQ: YES there is a 4am, 6am…etc seating!; YES there will be wine, beer and lovely cocktails made by some of Vancouver’s favorite bartenders; YES it will be amazing; YES you should come.
July 17, 18, 19 | Every two hours | Grace Gallery | $20

Yaletown Summer Shopathon

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Heads up that parking in Yaletown might be even more frustrating than usual today. Yes, the girls over at StyleSpy have organised a shopathon (teeheehee). Bargain hunters will descend on the swishy hood to score discounts and specials from over 40 stores. One lucky shopper will win a grand prize package that includes a night in a deluxe suite at the Opus Hotel, dinner for two and wine at Capones Restaurant and Live Jazz Club, makeovers at BeautyMark, blowouts at is.Salon and two $100 Gift Certificates from Boudoir. All you have to do is drop by the Yaletown Summer Shopathon booth in front of EQ3.
July 17 | 3pm-9pm | To grab a swag bag shoppers must RSVP to [email protected]

Death Cab & New Pornographers

The New Pornographers and Ra Ra Riot hook up with Bellingham cool kids Death Cab For Cutie tonight and it will be hard to justify any better use of your time. Seriously sweet lineup.
July 16 | Pacific Coliseum | Roughly $50

Destroyer

If big (read Pacific Coliseum) concerts aren’t your deal and your into the intimate vibe that a smaller venue offers – you are going to love me when I tell you that one of Vancouvers best bands is playing at one of Vancouver’s best venues tonight. They don’t play all that often, so it’s a really good month when you can say you’ve been to a Destroyer gig. Destroyer plays the Biltmore tonight It’s going to be a great show and no one with any taste should miss it. It will make your weekend. head to Zulu for a tickets.
July 17 | 9pm | Biltmore | $15

Outstanding In The Field

outstandingThere are few events in the year that I look forward to more than Outstanding In The Field – the mid summer feast, complete with linen table cloths and wine pairings, that magically materializes (with the help of a troop of culinary gypsies) in a field or meadow close to the city for only one night and vanishes without trace by the next morning. Read all about it on a previous Scout post here. This month James Walt of Araxi feeds guests at Pemberton’s North Arm Farm (July 18) and Andrea Carlson of Bishop’s takes care of the crowd at Vancouver’s UBC Farm (July 19). We might see you at both…
July 18 | 4pm ’til dark | North Arm Farm | $200
July 19 | 4pm ’til dark | UBC Farm | $200

FolkFest

There is something quintessentially Vancouver about Folk Fest. Even if you’re not in to folk music, a summer evening in Jericho Park with music flowing, patchouli in the air, and a little sand between your toes gets pretty awesome fast. It’s as close to Woodstock as we’re going to get – and a little Woodstock is good for everyone. The 32nd annual Vancouver Folk Festival runs July 17, 18, 19 and will include 60 artists from 14 countries. Whet your palate with the lineup for the evening of Friday July 17th: a few sets by Canadian “Punk-inflected folk rock” band The Weakerthans followed by Texan folk/alternative band Iron and Wine with Arrested Development to finish. Dude. Other acts that promise a good show: Ontario’s Great Lake Swimmers (Catcher Song is a good slow-summer-evening-with-a-bourbon kinda song – see above); local band The Breakmen and their toe-tappin’ country twang; Mark Berube & the Patriotic Few, from Quebec (but a regular on the Vancouver scene) and known for “sophisticated folk, savvy writing, stirring vocals and impeccable delivery”; and Vancouver Alt/Latin band Pacifika. For the complete lineup and ticket info visit the Folk Fest website.

Last Gigs at Dicks on Dicks

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Dicks on Dicks is closing. Pay your respects at one of the last three events: On Friday night you can make it to the “Last Call: Richards on Richards Official Farewell Party’ or, i your feeling really bold, there is the Sin City Glitz & Glam 8 Year Anniversary Fetish Sextravaganza on Saturday and finally the last show ever: Five Alarm Funk on Sunday night. For details on all of these events check out Richards website. Word has it that the wrecking ball comes in before the end of the month.
July 17,18,19 | Richards on Richards | $15

Savagery At Chambar

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I think I am safe in saying that if you are looking for a Medieval Feast to attend in celebration of National Belgian Day – Chambar is the only place in the city that is going to be able to accommodate you. But move on it, because many other Belgian enthusiasts will be racing you to your seat. From Chambar: “For one night only, banquet-style tables will feature a four-course feast loaded with platters of meat, seafood and of course, Belgian beers. Please note that due to the Medieval theme of the celebration, eating will be a hands-on experience. Costumes and furs are deemed festive, but not required. Vegetarian options will not be available. Due to the Medieval nature of this feast, no cutlery will be provided (but plenty of napkins). Points for best use of imagination! Scout plans to attend.
July 21 | 7pm | Chambar | $50

Salt+Elephant Island=Awesome

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Del and Miranda Halladay of Elephant Island Orchard Wines swing by Salt tonight for a tasting of 6 of their wines (paired with a tasting plates of locally produced charcuterie and artisan cheeses). This delightful event will go down in Salt Cellar’s 1000-bottle wine cooler and will include ‘hand-crafted charcuterie from local producers such as J, N & Z Deli, Moccia’s, and Oyama Sausage Company, along with artisan cheeses from Neal’s Yard (UK), Italy, Spain, and British Columbia’. It was Salt’s description their favourite Elephant Island wines that won me over:”…beautiful Crab Apple wine, a rich and succulent Port made from Stella Cherries, lovely crafted bubbles, and expressive wines made from pears, black currents, cherries and apricots.” Scout will be there. You should be, too.
July 21 | 7pm | Salt Cellar | $50 includes all food, wines, taxes and gratuity. | Call 604-633-1912

Outdoor Films

What could be cooler than an outdoor movie? This week there are five great open air flicks scattered throughout city. On Thursday night (July 16) you can catch Shrek at Trout Lake Park (head to the concession stand at the beach, you’ll figure it out from there. Or, (also Thursday) Chicken Run is playing in Stanley Park over by Second Beach Pool. Saturday night brings a screening of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (alas, not the Jonny Depp version) at the Killarney Community Centre and Ghostbusters slimes things up at he David Lam Park in Yaletown on Sunday (July 19). On Tuesday night (like there weren’t already enough cool things to do this Tuesday?) you can spread out a blanket at second beach pool for a mid summer screening of the Princess Bride. Movies start at dusk. For the finer details (of which there are few), head over to the Facebook group.
July 16, 18 , 19 &21 | Dusk – sort of 9ish |Various locations (see above) | FREE

Farmer’s Markets

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Here are some good places to buy locally grown produce from really good people this week.
East Side: July 18| 9am – 2pm | Trout Lake – can’t miss it | FREE
West End: July 18 | 9am – 2pm | 1100 Block of Comox | FREE
Kits: July 19 | 10am – 2pm | Parking Lot of Kits Community Centre | FREE
DTES: July 22 | 3pm – 7pm | Thornton Park (in front of the Bus Station)| FREE
UBC: July 18| 9-1 | UBC Farm | FREE (but make a donation – they needs the support)
West Van: July 18 | 9am – 2pm | Dundarave Village | FREE
West Van: July 19 | 9am – 2pm | Ambelside – parking lot beside Police Station (off of Bellevue/13)

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late-may-2009-169Michelle 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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There are 3 comments

  1. K, you are wrong… The show was moved to Venue (the old Plaza) a couple of weeks ago.

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