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Scout List: Get Your Autumn On In A Week’s Worth of Awesome

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by Michelle Sproule | 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…

The Scout List

Lets start off by acknowledging the Fall Equinox. No point in trying to ignore it. Summer is over.  But don’t fret, Fall has a lot to offer.

A few short shots to begin with…

It’s Word on the Street time. Check it.

And Olio throws down with a seriously fine line-up of talent this weekend. I’m particularly psyched for Piper Davis.

SFU hosts a bash to celebrate Contemporary Arts.

And Pecha Kucha is back! Volume 13 promises to be a good one. Scout will be there. Check out the line up of presenters here and get your tickets fast because it’s always a sell out. We do have a pair of tickets to give away… keep your eye out this week!

There are two events out at UBC that, particularly when combined in the same night, can leave you feeling as if you have relived your entire university career in one gulp. First, there’s the Drivers of Environmental Change lecture that promises to be sobering and thought provoking. Then there’s Shad with Isis of Thunderheist, Radio Radio, and Jedi Nemesis at the Pit, which is – if you aren’t intimately familiar with it – a dark room full of newly found freedom, student loan money and draught beer.

Critical Mass takes over your Friday afternoon commute.

As far as movies go this week, I’d suggest the tripped out midnight showings at the Rio (E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind!). Get the Scoop here.

There’s also Cyrus, a John C. Riley & Jonah Hill flick, playing out at the Norm. Hey, funny movie, popcorn and a drink for under $10! Beat that! Also, later in the week, they’re showing Micmacs (catch the trailer here – looks like another solid reason to make the trek to UBC).

You can also hit the Cultch for a screening of Paprika: “Following its own brand of logic, Paprika is an eye-opening mind trip that never fails to dazzle. The film weaves in and out of dream worlds seamlessly and presents an offbeat puzzle of a fantasy.” Watch the trailer. It’s a mind trip alright. If you’re up for it, RSVP by Monday, September 27th to [email protected] and include your first and last name and the number of tickets required (up to 4 tickets).
Sept 28th | 7pm | The Cultch (1895 Venables ) | Admission by donation but don’t be cheap

Even if you aren’t planning a redevelopment project for Chinatown, my guess is that the Essential Strategies for Chinatown Redevelopment Projects lecture going on at SFU could be a pretty interesting hour and a half.
Friday | Sept 24 | 5:30-7pm | SFU Harbour Centre | Free | Find out more…

There are a few Harvest Festivals going on. Swing by the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House and Dunbar Community Centre to get your autumnal fix.

An there is also the Renfrew Ravine Moon Fest – can’t miss it? “Led by the giant moon the community lights their own lanterns and, accompanied by live music, walks the trail along the ravine as darkness falls. They come upon the outdoor river-stone labyrinth where they are invited to a walking meditation surrounded by music and candles. The parade continues past other lantern installations such as the Watershed lanterns and surprise performances until it reaches Renfrew Park where night has fallen and a world of magic has arisen”. Freakin’ stoked. Details here.
September 25 | Moon Festival Harvest Fair, 4 – 7pm | Lantern Parade: 6:45 – 7:30pm


The Autumn Shift Festival on Main is a street fest celebrating the change in seasons as well as the shift in attitude towards sustainability, local eating and an increased interest in urban gardening. Main will be car-free from Broadway to 12th Avenue. Live music, improv and comedy acts, a merchant’s market, a farmer’s market – that sort of thing.
Saturday | Sept 25 | Noon – 6pm | Main Street – Broadway to 12th

Autumn Shift left out all the cool kids below Broadway and the cool kids are striking back! Actually, it sort of sounds more like they’re collaborating with Autumn Shift by rigging up a hopping little sideshow called Livable Laneways. There’ll be a farmer’s market, garage sale, clothing, cool bands playing cool tunes, the lot. We’re talking about cool kids like Antisocial & Lark. Can you get any cooler than that?

Also on Saturday, take yourself on the Vancouver Special self-guided tour. This is a one-day, self-guided tour of 4 privately owned, inspiring interpretations of the unique Vancouver Special. Visitors use a numbered brochure to make their way from house to house in any order they prefer. The brochure contains a description of the social history, interior design and architectural features of each participating home. Find out everything here.
Saturday | Sept 25 | 12-5 pm | $25

Author Gail Anderson-Dargatz reads at the Oppenheimer Park Field House (488 Powell ). It’s free and I’m willing to wager, a pretty interesting crowd will turn up.
Saturday | Sept 25 | 1 pm | Details here

On Sunday, Opera Pro Cantanti brings you Verdi’s La Traviata. Details here.
Sunday | Sept 26 | 7 pm | $12

Swallow some Local Food & Libations on Sunday night in an event put on by Vancouver Farmer’s Markets, an organisation looking to grow and improve services at your local farmer’s market (and maybe even create new ones). It takes a lot of energy to keep these things rolling, so show your support! Think  BBQ, corn on the cob, fresh salads, local beer and wine. Good people, good times. Tell everyone you know, for chrissakes, and show up yourself, too!
Sunday | Sept 26 | 5pm-8pm | Creekside Community Centre ( #1 Athletes Way) | More info.

Also at Creekside Community Centre (and slough of other locations about town) is Eco Fashion Week. The word on that: “A selection of the best eco-designers from around the world comes together to showcase their latest collections of environmentally friendly, trend-setting fashion. With collaboration from designers, buyers, models, agencies, fashion directors, trend setters and media, the message is global.” Most events go down Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. More info…

Blim is offering a soap making workshop.

UBC Farm brings us another cool sounding way to while away the time – An Evening With A Lunatic Farmer. Here is the scoop: American farmer, author, and proponent of sustainable agriculture Joel Salatin shares stores and insights based on his forthcoming book The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Lunatic Farmer.
Monday | Sept 27 | 7 pm | H.R. MacMillan Space Centre | $45

Or – you can grab dinner with the very same Lunatic Farmer… the meal will be at UBC Farm (outdoors if the weather allows or in the greenhouse otherwise). Guests will enjoy an up close and personal meal with this dynamic, revolutionary farmer and a fine meal prepared by Andrea Carlson from Bishop’s. Barbara-Jo can give you the skinny.

Next Tuesday night author and educator Anita Clair Fellman will give a talk entitled “Little House, Long Shadow” a look at the impact of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s writing on American culture. Just be sure you do your chores first half-pint. Find out more…
Tuesday | Sept 28 | 7-8:30 pm | Sylvia Hotel

Song Dong’s monumental installation Waste Not is being prepped to open at the VAG.
But while that is underway, Singer Vanessa Richards performs songs inspired by the Kerry James Marshall exhibition. Free with Gallery admission.
Tuesday | Sept 28 | 8pm

Sustainability 3.0: Redefining GreenThe Strathcona BIA is proud to present its third sustainability expo. This is an annual event targeted at local business and property owners, employees, community members, and residents. It showcases the sustainability efforts of Strathcona businesses, provides networking opportunities, and inspires the community to move toward the BIA’s vision of Strathcona as Vancouver’s Green Zone. Sustainability 3.0 will feature a special keynote address from Bob Willard, author of The Sustainability Advantage and The Next Sustainability Wave, and leading Canadian sustainability expert. Attendees will find resources on programs for waste/recycling management, the Strathcona Resource Exchange, energy conservation and much more!
Tuesday | Sept 28 | 3-7pm | Japanese Language Hall (475 Alexander)

Don’t miss the Smart Energy on an Urban Scale lecture. It’s free, and here is what it’s all about: “Dr. Nancy Olewiler of SFU and Dr. John Robinson of UBC will speak about smart or integrated energy systems with the aim of shedding light [no pun intended?] on how such systems offer sustainable solutions at the urban scale to reduce GHGs and promote a more livable region. Details.
Wednesday | Sept 29 | 7-9 pm | UBC Robson Square | Free

Keep going with the Are Streetcars The Missing Link? lecture. If you can swing it, this sounds like a good conversation to listen in on. The School of Environmental Health at UBC is hosting a talk aimed at exploring potential role of streetcars as a critical link within the transportation system and the idea of bring streetcars back to Vancouver.
Wednesday | Sept 29 | 8:30am–5:15 pm | Reception: 5:30–6:30pm | Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside | Click here for more details

Neil Campbell, Jeremy Hof, Robert Kleyn, Sylvain Sailly and Mark Soo kick off a two week show at Blanket (560 Seymour Street). Make your way to the opening reception.
Wednesday | Sept 29 | 6-9 pm.

Grace Gallery brings us Water & Light. Long story: “Malcolm’s practice focuses on the realms of photography and video not normally exposed on camera. His work is heavily influenced by abstract and experimental photography, video and art. His work often focuses on using light, motion and focus to identity places the natural eye cannot. The viewer encounters a meditative experience when encountering the pieces, with multiple perceptions and permutations growing out of the work.
Short story: beautiful stuff. Hit the opening.
Thursday | Sept 30 | 7-11pm

Artspeak and Fillip invite you to a book launch for Judgment and Contemporary Art Criticism.

Or you can head to Emily Carr for show + tech – a chance to hear about the latest, greatest and craziest digital art and design projects at Emily Carr and around Vancouver. This month’s theme is: What I did on my summer vacation. Rumor has it there will be juice and cookies.
Thursday | Sept 30 | 5:30 to 7pm | Room 247A | Emily Carr University of Art + Design

Wooden Sky plays the Biltmore, with Yukon Blonde Saturday night. Good gig for sure.

Flaming Lips play Malkin Bowl. THE FLAMING LIPS!  MALKIN BOWL. Score tickets at Zulu.

Speaking of Zulu, they are holding a Vinyl Appreciation Night next week. Here is what they have to say about that: “Hang out in our vinyl den as we relax and spin the old school wax. We plan to use the vintage gear and dig out some dusty gems from the vaults. Bring some friends, bring the kids, bring anyone who has yet been bitten by the ‘back to black’ wax renewal. As we listen to amazing tunes on the original format we encourage you to debate – what is it about vinyl that makes it so good? Does it actually sound better? Hang out and check out our vinyl art wall. Our pals at Nixon will be bringing their big guns headphones to demo for any unbelievers out there who need a closer listen! Free drinks. We will say it again… Free Drinks. Also, all wax in the store will be on sale for this special two hours of fun with friends and fellow music lovers. Mark your calendars now and watch the website and store for more details.” Nic say’s he’s pulling pints. Done deal.
Thursday | Sept 30 | 7-9pm | Free and basically the coolest gig on the books this week

And as always, get your weekly shopping done at a farmers market this week. Remember, they won’t be around forever. For example, this Wednesday is your LAST CHANCE to grab mid week provisions from the Main Street Market. Honey crisp apples are really good right now. Don’t miss it.

East Side: Saturday | 9am – 2pm | Trout Lake | FREE
West End: Saturday | 9am – 2pm | 1100 Block of Comox | FREE
Dundarave (West Van) Saturday | 9am – 2pm | Between 24 & 25 on Marine
Kits: Sunday | 10am – 2pm | Parking Lot of Kits Community Centre | FREE
DTES: Wednesday | 3pm – 7pm | Thornton Park | FREE
UBC Farm Market: Saturday | 9-1 | UBC Farm

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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 in beautiful Strathcona 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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