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

Stuart McLean is in town, and there was much rejoicing…

So is Karen Howbolt – but she lives here. Still, she sounds like a pretty cool woman. “She has been farming for about 10 years…has been involved in market growing, running CSAs, growing and distributing seed for both Saltspring Seeds and Stellar Seeds, and participating in the organic movement as both a farmer and an activist. Howbolt recently moved back to the mainland and is farming out at the Richmond Sharing Farm which grows food for the Richmond Food Bank and other community meals.” She’s going to be at the Museum of Vancouver on Thursday night to talk about the politics of seeds and our local food system as seen with a global view. Details.
October 7 | 7pm | The Museum of Vancouver | Free with admission.

Buschlen Mowatt Galleries is showing the work Yehouda Chaki.  This miniature retrospective features 13 new paintings in his Toba River Valley series as well as several pieces dating as far back as 1979. Stunning stuff and well worth making time for.

On your way to Buschlen Mowatt you can take in an eyeful of the new VAG off-site exhibition, it’s up and it’s pretty. Heather and Ivan Morison explore architecture as it relates to ideas of fantasy, escape, shelter and refuge. Details.

The Audain Gallery also has an interesting sounding show: The Making of New Territories and Communities, an exhibition of works by Slovenian artist and architect Marjetica Potr. Show runs October 7 – December 18. Cool stuff.

And if you want to see a movie, this is a swell week to do so…

Out at UBC you can catch “The Girl Who Played With Fire” (based on the novel by Stieg Larsson). Cheap.
October | pm | Norm Theatre, UBC | $5 for nonmembers.

And this week’s (Friday) midnight movie at the Rio is The Human Centipede, in which “two pretty American girls are on a road trip through Europe. In Germany they end up alone at night with a broken car in the woods…” Yikes.

And VIFF continues..

Check out the Paperny Films Love Shines on Friday night. “Love Shines follows Canadian songwriter Ron Sexsmith as he lays everything on the line to make a hit album.”  All-star cast and all that, et cetera.
Friday, October 8 |  9:30 | Empire Granville 7 Cinemas

I also like the sound of City on Speed: “Mumbai is rapidly becoming one of the world’s biggest megacities, despite an infrastructure on the verge of complete collapse. Through three interwoven stories, Camilla Nielsson and Frederik Jacobi introduce us to the people on the frontlines of Mumbai’s infrastructural battles.” Also playing Friday night.

The list goes on and on and it’s really best if you sink the time into figuring out which ones are best for your cinemaesthetic. Visit the Vancouver Film Festival website here (be prepared to get lost on this site but don’t worry, it’s the rather enjoyable sort).

Nerd-o-rama! There is a talent show and art exhibition at SFU on Friday night. Guest performers include the SFU Choir, SFU Improv Club, and the Student Magic Club. Sounds interesting as all get out.

Speaking of interesting, “Interesting Vancouver” boasts “informal, short talks on a variety of topics by speakers from diverse backgrounds.” Looks like they have JJ Lee on the hook for this week. Possibly others, too, but the website is a bit unclear. I’ll leave it to you to sleuth out the details…
October 8 | doors 6 pm, event 7 pm | Vancouver Rowing Club | $25

The Stanley Park Halloween train starts up Friday night and runs daily (until October 31st) between 6pm and 10pm. So there’s that. Spooky.

But wait! The good folks out at UBC Botanical Gardens totally know how to roll. This weekend they bring you Brian Campbell, who is going to hook you up with an introduction to Mason Bees – what they are and how to attract and keep them in the home garden. “Learn why and how to wash the cocoons to keep your Mason Bees happy and productive. Find out what kind of nest they prefer and how to make one for your garden. The focus will be on hands-on demonstrations and practical, useful information that can be applied immediately in your backyard. All participants will leave with their own Mason Bee house and cocoons to get started in their own gardens (value $40).” Seriously, if I weren’t planning to spend my weekend in a BC Ferries line-up, I’d be hanging with Brian, cuz bees are the knees.
Saturday October 9 | 10 am- noon | UBC Botanical Garden Pavilion | $70

There is also a little thing called OKTOBERFEST going on. The Alpen Club does it right with “Real Oktoberfest by Real Germans…live music by Al Pichler & The Alpiners.” Enough said, except that if you can’t make it this week, the whole thing is going on again next week. Germans…
Saturday, October 9 | 8 pm | The Vancouver Alpen Club | $25

This is also a good week for music…

The Salteens play the Biltmore Saturday night.

The Japandroids team up with Ladyhawk to play a sold out gig at the Rickshaw.  That’s also Saturday. Not that it matters ’cause it’s sold out.

On Tuesday night, Die Antwoord puts on a show at the Commodore. They aren’t yet sold out, and that’s almost as crazy as this band’s rise was meteoric.

Also, Angus and Julia Stone set up at Venue. Check them out on Last FM. Zulu will have tickets.

And on Wednesday, Merge Recording artists and legendary Chapel Hill rockers Superchunk stop by Zulu Records for an exclusive acoustic instore performance. It’s not going to get any cooler than this. Head over to the shop at 3 pm on October 13 and be prepared to be blown away (afterwards, the group heads over to the Biltmore for a longer set).

The Sustenance Festival begins this week.  Don’t miss the opening reception. What could be better than a festival that celebrates food and the art it inspires, eating locally and celebrating the artistry of food? Find out all about it here.
October 8 | 6:30 pm | Roundhouse | by donation

Another Sustenance Festival highlight is The Real Beer Walking Tour – a delightful concoction of local history, local beer and, well, local pavement. Here’s how it works: At 1 pm on Saturday you meet inside the Roundhouse Engine Pavilion where you hook up with tour guide and beer dude Steve Woodall. Steve then takes you on an informative and delicious tour of some of Vancouver’s most infamous watering holes where you’ll be treated to some kick-ass beer and a little historical schooling. Stops will be made at four pubs, each with their own character and selection of craft brews to try. Call 604-713-1800, and hurry up in doing so.
Saturday October 9 | 1 – 5 pm | Meet @ Roundhouse Engine Pavilion | $25

LuLuLemon Kitsilano is offering a free flow yoga every Monday night in October (yes, even on Thanksgiving).  Not a bad deal, cause it’s free and all. Info.
Every Monday night in October | 7-8pm | LuLu – Kits location | Free

Commercial Drive restaurants and cafes continue to dim the lights on Wednesday nights. Dine by candlelight and live acoustic music. October 13, 20, 27. Mmmm.

Head down to Granville Island to explore the ECUAD ceramics program during their open studio info night and reception. Also join Assistant Professor Julie York’s Lecture: Conflation of Object and Image.
Wednesday, October 13 |  6 pm – 8 pm | Emily Carr University of Art + Design

A quick round-up of good places to buy locally grown produce from good people this week:

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
UBC Farm Market: Saturday | 9-1 | UBC Farm

And don’t forget the bakers market. I’m sure they’ll be bursting with tasty pumpkin-flavoured goodies this weekend.

Next Week Heads Up

More Oktoberfest, if you take handle it.

IDSWest

Vans sample sale at Antisocial (Make it on Friday night and grab a FREE BEER!) October 15, 16, 17.

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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 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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