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…

Lightening Dust

From The Biltmore: Lightning Dust is a side project of Amber Webber and Joshua Wells, both members of Black Mountain. Wells has described the band, whose sound is softer and more melodic than Black Mountain’s hard rock, as arising from the desire to “do something that was sparse and minimal, and with a lot of space around it.”, while Webber has described the band as an opportunity to “explore her goth side.” Have a listen, its really the only way to make an informed decision. Lightening Dust play with guests the Lost Lovers, Brigade, and Sipreano.
Aug 27 | Doors @ 8 | Biltmore | $10

Kerrisdale Days

Kerrisdale marks the end of Summer with a three day festival that includes everything from horse and carriage rides and live entertainment to sidewalk sales, free cake and a probable abomination called the “Kerrisdale Idol Contest”. Check out all the gory details at www.kerrisdalevillage.com
Aug 27 – 29 | Republic of Kerrisdale | FREE

Gastown Cask Crawl

If you’re in town this weekend and looking for a good way to fill your Saturday afternoon you should definitely consider heading down to Gastown for the first ever Cask Crawl. $30 gets you a pint at four fantastic watering holes. The Irish Heather will pour Red Devil Pale ale, Steamworks is passing out Raven Cream ale, Six Acres is serving Raspberry Sungod Wheat ale, and The Alibi Room is offering Hoppelganger IPA. Beer is paired with a something tasty at each stop. Thirsty souls are to meet in Gastown where Alexander, Water & Carall Streets merge (in the laneway beside Chill Winston and Koolhaus) at 12:30pm.
Aug 29 | 12:30 – 5pm | Gastown (see above) | $30

Wild BC Salmon Fest

Take yourself out to Steveston today for the Wild BC Salmon Fest (because goodness know how much longer we’ll have wild salmon). From the Steveston Village website: ” Join members of BC’s commercial fishing industry and some of BC’s most acclaimed chefs and seafood experts as they demonstrate a variety of amazing wild BC seafood recipes and provide tips on buying, storing, preparing and even eating some of our favorite wild BC seafood. Plus, sample their amazing creations and receive copies of the featured recipes to savour them at home.” There will be activities, live entertainment, and cooking demonstrations by chefs Quang Dang of C Restaurant, and Jean Francis Quaglia and Alessandra Quaglia of Provence Marinaside and Provence Mediterranean Grill. Not that you’ll be hungry – but sine you’re out there, this may be a good time to check out Gudrin.
Aug 29 | 11 am–4 pm | Steveston Harbour Authority Fisherman’s Park |

Punk Bowlers Ball

prb084-hutchens-1 — Image courtesy of PunkBowlersBall.com

“What do punk rock and bowling have in common you ask? Who in their right mind would ever combine these two communities together?” Find out this weekend at the Punk Bowlers Ball. There will be an afterparty at the Cobalt (possibly one of the last as the door of the Colbalt is rumoured to be sporting an eviction notice) Jolts, Fattooth, The Banned, Impeders Of Progress.
Aug 29 | The Cobalt | $10

Taking Woodstock

Ang Lee’s ‘Taking Woodstock’, a happy dramatisation of the famous 1969 music festival, opens this week. Think of it as “Finding Nemo” for your parents…

CNIS African Market

African Market featuring jewelry, food, crafts, reggae, rock, Afro-beat performances and a drum circle. Proceeds go to support Canadian Network for International Surgery. Click here for more details.
Aug 29 | 12-6pm | 1985 West Broadway Vancouver | FREE

Deep Cove Daze

Deep Cove Daze go down this weekend. If you haven’t been to Deep Cove in a while, here is a good reason to visit. There will be a carnival, local artisans, a main stage for live entertainment, kid’s stuff, beer gardens and who could overlook the chance to pick up a dougnut from Honey’s?
Not to be overshadowed by Kerrisdale Days – Deep Cove also has a Deep Cove Idol contest. (A trend I find slightly creepy)
Aug 30 | 11am – 8pm | Deep Cove / Panorama Park | Admission by donation http://www.musart.ca/

Jay Reatard

Matador Records recording artist Jay Reatard stops by Zulu as part of his record store tour this weekend. This is his only Vancouver appearance so don’t miss your opportunity to see this garage punk musician from Memphis that Noel Gardner at Quietus claims “carries a banner for the enduring powers of rock’n’roll.” Currently in heavy rotation in our household.
Aug 28 | 7pm | Zulu Records | FREE

Farmer’s Markets

Two Girlfriends Are Better Than One

Pacific Cinémathèque has a special double feature to catch this week. Local and independent filmmaker Ileana Pietrobruno will be in attendance for a screening of her most recent film, “a stylish drama exploring the “hidden world of the john.” As the film shares a title (save for the definite article) with Steven Soderbergh’s recent The Girlfriend Experience, the theatre (at Pietrobruno’s suggestion) will also be showing Soderbergh’s film as a double-bill.
September 2 | Pacific Cinémathèque | $11.50

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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.