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 awesome things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week. From our calendar to yours…

SMART PEOPLE STUFF

The Northern Ireland Peace Process: Is It Working?

General John de Chastelain, former Chief of the Defence Staff of all Canadian Armed Forces, speaks to a Vancouver Institute audience about the Northern Ireland Peace Process. Here’s a little bit about the man courtesy of VI: “General de Chastelain has had a distinguished military career: as Deputy Chief of Staff of the United Nations Force in Cyprus, Commandant of the Royal Military College of Canada, Commander of the 4th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Germany, and Director General Land Doctrine and Operations at National Defence Headquarters. In 1989, he was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff, and four years later became Canada’s Ambassador to the United States. Since November 1995, General de Chastelain has been involved in the Northern Ireland peace process and has been Chairman of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, which is responsible for ensuring the decommissioning of arms by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.” And it goes on and on – the General is something of an accomplished guy. Worth a listen.
Oct 31 | 8:15 | Woodward Instructional Resources Centre, UBC | FREE

Generate: An Intergenerational Writing Workshop

This sounds really interesting, from VPL: Register for a two-part workshop (November 1st and November 8th) designed for teams of grandparents or parents and their children or grandchildren. Each team will bring in an object or photograph or event of historical importance to their family; an heirloom, a recipe, a family photo, a wedding dress or a war medal. They will generate two or more intergenerational pieces of writing based on this object. This workshop is designed to get the whole family to work together to create a collective piece of personal history (Admission is free but registration is required: email [email protected]).
More info at Vancouver Public Library

CREEPY SLIMY BLOOD COVERED STUFF

Vampyre Weekend

Vancity Theatre has a whole weekend of bloodthirsty flicks lined up for you if you’re in to that sort of thing. I haven’t seen any of the movies – but judging from the promotional images alone I can see that we aren’t talking light and fluffy Twilight sort of stuff. Skip over to the Vancity site for the whole gruesome story…
Oct 30, 31, Nov 1 | Various times | Vancity Theatre | $8/$10

All Souls Night

Artists and neighbours come together to create a sanctuary for remembrance and reflection at the Mountain View Cemetery this Friday Night.
Oct 30 | 6 – 10pm | Mountain View Cemetery

Creepy Art

Scoot over to Forsya on Main Street on Saturday night for something a little different. Owner Julie Hebb is hosting a evening of mingling and art on the dark and curious side. Ryan Heshka, Liane Varnam, Bonni Reid (macabre and fantastical paintings), Rod Filbrandt (his art is often seen on the Georgia Straight covers) Marinda Van’t-Haaff (kitschy creepy egg ornaments) will be there to show their work. Word on the street is that there may very well be door prizes, which means costumes are highly encouraged.
Oct 31 | 6:30 – 9:30 | Forsya Boutique & Gallery |FREE

Day of the Dead

The Wiki: The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos or All Souls’ Day) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 1st and 2nd in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints’ Day which occurs on November 1st and All Souls’ Day which occurs on November 2nd. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts. Consider enjoying it at Zocalo. The Main street restaurant will be hosting a mariachi band and offering a special three-course set menu with traditional dishes like pozole verde and pollo con mole negro.
Nov 1 | 7:30 pm | Zocalo | $25

FOOD

Guggenheimer Dog Gobble

Scout is proud to present the 1st annual Guggenheimer Dog Gobble, a hot dog eating competition held at Pourhouse for the Vancouver restaurant community on the afternoon of November 2nd (beginning at 3pm). Organised by Lumiere and DB Bistro sous chef Nathan Guggenheimer and Pourhouse co-owner Jay Jones, the friendly scarfdown is being held with generous sponsorship from Okanagan Spring (beer) and Windsor Meats (hot dogs). Anyone currently employed in the local food and beverage trade is welcome to register by adding their name in the comments below (please also email your contact and t-shirt size info to Nathan at [email protected]). Spectators are welcome. Check out the “How Many Wieners Can You Cram In Your Face” post here.
Nov 2 | 3pm | The Pourhouse

Vins d’Alsace Dinner

db Bistro chef Stephane Istel and Zinck Winery’s winemaker Philippe Zinck join forces for an evening of Alsatian wine and food pairing in Lumiere’s dining room on Monday night. Diners can expect Alsatian Tarte Flambee (omg), Lobster, Alsatian Choucroute Royal, delectable cheese and plum tarts all paired with wines from Zinck.
Nov 2 | 7pm | Lumiere / db Bistro | a steal at $75

C Book Launch

C Restaurant launches a new cookbook  “C Food” by Chef Robert Clark and Harry Kambolis. “C Food embodies the essence of C Restaurant–innovative, luxurious, ethical. The coffee-table worthy book is handsomely illustrated with striking photography while the step-by-step instructions inspire readers to recreate a much-coveted meal from C Restaurant at home.” Executive Chef Robert Clark and Chef de Cuisine Quang Dang of C Restaurant will be at Barbara Jo’s Books to Cooks treating guests to a menu featuring C’s acclaimed contemporary, seasonal cuisine. Guests will also take home a signed copy of inspiring and beautiful C Food.

Nov 4  | 7pm | Barbara Jo’s |  $125 (for amazing food and a signed cookbook)

Tinhorn Creek at Le Gavroche

Tinhorn Creek celebrates this harvest season with the release of new Oldfield Series wines and a winemakers dinner. Scoot over to Le Gavroche this Friday to catch Sandra Oldfield pouring glasses at a multi-course dinner designed to complement Tinhorn Creek’s 2006 Merlot, the 2006 Syrah and the 2008 2Bench (as well as other special Tinhorn Creek wines).
Nov 6 | 6:30pm | Le Gavroche | $95 | call 604-685-3924 to reserve

MUSIC

Get Antisocial

If you’re in the ‘hood, drop around to Antisocial Friday night to catch heavy metal band The Saviours (from Oakland California) and local band Bogus Tokus play – no idea as to the musical ability of either band – but it’s free music at a cool venue.
Oct 30 | 8:30pm | Antisocial | FREE

Black Mountain

Only the strongest, bravest and most resourceful among you will be able to get your hands on tickets. From this week’s Scout Zulu Report: “Black Mountain and Bison play the Rickshaw. For many reasons the Rickshaw Theatre at 254 East Hastings is quickly becoming the place to see a band in Vancouver. Kudos to developer David Duprey for taking the steps to transform the space and engaging the DTES community to add another pillar to the social fabric; kudos to the promoters for taking their productions back into this historically and culturally rich Vancouver hood; and Kudos to the bands (past, present, and future) who recognize the unique possibilities of the space to host all-ages and licensed crowds at the same time. OK, enough. Black Mountain and Bison together on Halloween…this one will be juicier than a Blair Stanley Budgie burrito!
Oct 31 | 9ish | Rickshaw | they were $15

FASHION

Vancouver Fashion Week

Now in it’s ninth year, VFW is a coming together of emerging and established designers from many categories (from street wear and eco-friendly designs to aboriginal designs and high fashion) to present their newest creations.  At this season’s fashion week Scout is most looking forward to the opening Gala at the Terminal City Club, the Eco Friendly Fashion Show, the “Night in Taipei Show” featuring established designer Angela Chen (profiled on Scout this week) as well as a street wear show, a kids wear show, and an International designer competition. Individual events are somewhere in the $25 range. Check out the full schedule here…
Nov 3-8 | various venues, times & ticket prices @ the VFW website

FLICKS

“Psycho” at Ravishing Beasts

The Museum of Vancouver will be showing Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film, Psycho, at 9pm as part of their ongoing Ravishing Beasts exhibit. The late night screening caps a “Halloween social, featuring music, cash bar, and guided tours of Ravishing Beasts.”
Oct 30 | 7pm exhibit opens,  9pm movie starts | Museum of Vancouver | $15

Made in L.A.

Yay, another flick featuring a non-blood-drenched-hockey-mask-wearing cast! Dogpile on Made in L.A. About the film: “Maria, Lupe and Maura are three Latina immigrants struggling to survive in Los Angeles sweatshops. But one day, determined to win basic labor protections, they embark on a three-year odyssey that will transform their lives forever. Compelling, humorous, deeply human, Made in L.A. is a story about immigration, the power of unity, and the courage it takes to find your voice.”
Oct 30 | 6pm |  Labatt Theatre,  SFU  Habour Centre | 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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