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…

MUSIC

Squeezebox

I tried to take a bit of a Facebook break this week, but it’s getting so that you miss the good stuff when you don’t check your facebook account. Had I not checked in I would not have been able to report to you that Accordion Noir, the world’s only all-accordion radio show (Yes – the “worlds only”) “celebrates the renaissance of the dark, edgy accordion over the Lawrence Welk-ian ‘champagne music’ that stultified the instrument’s public image in North America for decades.” And it all goes down at the WISE Hall over in Accordion-ville  (Victoria Drive). Performances, workshops and much more.
Sept 12 | 8pm | WISE Hall | No idea how much, but I’m guessing it would be worth whatever they have seen fit to charge

Titus Andronicus

Titus Andronicus (indie rock band from New Jersey) play the Biltmore to promote their critically-acclaimed debut release The Airing of Grievances. From a Pitchfork review: “Before writing the bulk of his legendary canon of plays and sonnets, William Shakespeare penned the charmingly flawed revenge tragedy Titus Andronicus. Due to its laughable bombast and over-the-top violence, its influence on contemporary culture has emerged mainly in dark comedies like Sweeney Todd or “South Park”, and many Shakespeare scholars still balk at seriously analyzing the work. Of course, all these factors make the play a perfect moniker for an indie band as violent, overblown, and irreverent as Glen Rock, New Jersey’s Titus Andronicus.
Sept 16 | 9:30 | Biltmore | $12 try Zulu or Red Cat

Easy Star All Stars

The kickass ensemble that covered Kharma Police and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon are playing the Plaza on Granville (up at Whistler on Friday and Tofino Saturday). This is a must see show.
Sept 10 |  9pm | The Plaza Niteclub | $38

Summer Sessions at Ambleside

It sold out in, like, three minutes but if you stand on the West side of the Lions Gate bridge and tune out the traffic you might be able to hear Neil Young playing in Ambleside park this Saturday (Sheryl Crow and Sarah McLachlan too – if your in to that sort of thing). To be fair,  McLachlan will headline the show, which will also feature appearances by Neil Young, Sheryl Crow, Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland and Dustin Bentall. See what you’ll be missing here.
Sept 12 | Ambleside Park | Last time I checked you MIGHT be able to score a ticket for $200 on Craigslist.

The Gist

Local talents Ivan E. Coyote, Dan Mangan, Brendan McLeod and Damonde Tschritter perform at the Anza Club Wednesday Sept 16. Basically any show at the Anza is worth your time but this week you’ll really score.
Sept 16 | 8pm | The Anza Club | $15

ART

Stan Douglas

Canadian Art International Speaker Series presents a talk by Vancouver-based artist Stan Douglas… From Vancity Theatre: “Internationally renowned Vancouver-based artist Stan Douglas discusses his extensive practice. Douglas is one of contemporary art’s foremost practitioners and has exhibited widely since his first solo exhibition in 1981. In 2007, he was the subject of a major retrospective in Stuttgart, Germany.”
Sept 11 | 7 pm | Vancity Theatre | $30

Blim Workshop

This weekend at Blim you can sign up for a cool sounding Dishcharge Screenprint Workshop. From Blim: “This advanced silk screening method removes colour from previously dyed fabric by printing with a specially formulated Discharge paste instead of pigment. After the paste has dried, heat activation will magically burn out your designs to a white/natural colour, as though the fabric had been bleached.”
Sept 13 | 2 – 5 PM | Blim |$60

FILM

Inglorious Basterds

Inglorious Basterds is playing pretty much everywhere and word on the street is that, if you’re a Tarantino fan – you won’t be disappointed. Scout suggests a matinee over at the old-school Dunbar theatre (at only $8 this will leave you a little extra dough for a binge at Butter Bakery just down the street (kick-ass lemon squares like Grandma makes).
Sept 11 | 7pm | Dunbar Theatre | $8

Badass Wolverine

The good folks at the UBC Film Society are putting on FREE screenings of Wolverine this week. I know, Wolverine? But it’s a free movie – what do you want? From the FilmSoc “Find out the origins of one of the most memorable X-Men heroes. Hunky Hugh Jackman stars as the badass Wolverine in this summer blockbuster.”
Sept 11, 12, 13 | 7pm | The Norm – UBC SUB | FREE

SKATE

Best Trick Contest

Grab your deck and head down to the Vancouver skate plaza this Saturday for the Summer End Skate Jam (If you’re looking for some motivation – consider the $2000 prize for the best trick). More details at www.underworld-shop.com
Sept 12 | Vancouver Skate Plaza | $15 preregistration fee to skate FREE to watch

COMMUNITY

Davie Day

Davie Street will be closed from Burrard to Broughton today and each square inch of the now vacant asphalt will be crammed with exciting live entertainment and market stalls for your aimless wandering pleasure. Patios are sure to be busy, starbucks line-ups long – we suggest nipping in to Lolitas, La Brasserie or Mis Trucos for fuel. Mmmm, Lolitas.
Sept 12 | 11am – 8pm | Davie Street | FREE

Flea Market

Looking for a second hand bike, a table lamp, actions figures missing an arm or some cool new curtains? Roll over to the flea Market over at the Trout Lake Community Centre – loads of good stuff that you wouldn’t want to pay full price for Seriously – I love flea markets – if you knew me (and my decorating style) you would know I’m telling the truth.
Sept 13 | 10am-3pm | Trout Lake Community Centre | fifty cents will get you in – beat that! (yes, I know, FREE beats 50 cents – but if you are paying admission, fifty cents is pretty close to as little as it makes sense – so don’t complain)

FOOD

Chambar Block Party

From a recent press release: “Chambar owners Nico and Karri Schuermans will play host to a free public block party on the street they love. Starting at 12:00PM on Saturday September 12th, the 500 block of Beatty Street will be closed off to traffic to make way for a kids’ disco, face painting, complimentary waffles for kids, a spit pig roast complete with pulled pork sandwiches, and a live show from musician Rich Hope and His Evil Doers. The party will be open to all, and will run until 5:00PM. The afternoon will also include the very first tasting of Chambar Ale, the new in-house brew that will be available on tap at the restaurant this fall and in bottles in select stores. Café Medina will be open as usual for brunch and down the street The Dirty Apron Cooking School and Shop will be open for people to take a peek at this brand new space.”
Sept 12 | 12 noon – 5pm | 500 Block of Beatty | FREE

Yes You Can!

No – it’s not a self-help book launch – it’s so much, much cooler. Learn how to preserve and can your own food in an introductory canning course at the False Creek Community Centre this weekend.  “Learn how to safely preserve food through canning. The workshop starts with basic safety tips and then moves to the kitchen for hands-on training. All participants will take home a can of fresh local preserve”
Sept 12 | 9am – 1pm | False Creek Community Centre | $45

Feast of Field

It’s Feast of Fields time again. There is really nowhere better to be this Sunday then out at the UBC Farm for the annual Farm Folk / City Folk event. You know the drill: “With a wine glass and linen napkin in hand, you can taste the very best of BC from chefs, vintners, brewers, farmers, and food artisans from across the province.” Forecast calls for sun. Ticket info here.
Sept 13 | 1-5pm | UBC Farm | $85 – and worth every penny

FASHION

Choo Choo

What better way to spend a sunny Autumn afternoon stopping for a late morning coffee on Main Street and cruising the Garage Sale in the alley behind Eugene Choo? “Hundreds of items from previous seasons all on sale for $10 to $100. Stock from APC, Steven Alan, Pendleton, Gorman, Mercy, Comrags, Sessun, Converse, RVCA, Dace and many more.” Preview some garage sale threads here. Oh – and don’t forget to peak inside to check out this seasons newest (10% off this Saturday only).
Sept 12 | 10 am – 6pm | Eugene Choo | 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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