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 agenda 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…

If you know of something cool going on in the city and you think we should consider adding it to our list, please send us the details.

COMMUNITY

Public Dreams will be out spreading the magic with more Lunar New Year celebrations this weekend. Get ready for a procession of “stilt walkers, illuminated hula-hoopers, an Afro-Brazillian percussion troupe, Sambata, and costumed characters in an explosion of light and performance.” Cool. Make a lantern at the LunarFest site (located at the Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza) and get in on the action yourself. The fun starts in the afternoon and runs until 8pm, corresponding with Olympic Anniversary Celebrations. Details.
February 12 | 3-8 pm |Granville & Georgia/ Vancouver Art Gallery |Free

Cedar Cottage/Kensington community will also be celebrating Lunar New Year on Saturday. Expect lion dances, martial art performances, Chinese painting and calligraphy, and children’s activities. Word is there will be tasty bits, too.
Saturday February 12 | 10am- 1:30pm | Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House (4065 Victoria)| Free

The Vancouver Institute presents a talk with Globe & Mail columnist Lawrence Martin on the “Decline and Fall of Canadian Democracy”.  More here.
February 12 | 8:15pm | Lecture Hall 2 Woodward Instructional Resources Centre (UBC) | Free

Beginning at sundown on Friday, light installations designed and developed by artists and architects will brighte, pyrotechnics, fire dancing, live music, interactive activities will show off Yaletown in a whole new light.
Feb 11 & 12 | 6:30-10:30 pm | Homer, Hamilton, Mainland and Pacific Blvd. (between Nelson and Drake) | FREE

This weekend is the first anniversary of the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and the province is feeling nostalgic. In order to rekindle some of that Olympic vibe, the government has pulled together a number of free public events that you should take full advantage of. Check it: free public skating at Robson Square (9am to 11pm); free admission to the Vancouver Art Gallery (10 a.m. to 5pm); free live musical performances; the chance to win in a random draw for four VIP tickets to the Vancouver Canucks-Calgary Flames game honouring 2010 Olympians on Feb. 12. Opportunities to meet and get autographs from Canadian 2010 Olympians in Robson Square. The works.
February 12 | Robson Square | All day | Free

On Wednesday next week there is a cool gig going down in Stanley Park, an evening beach walk at Lumberman’s Arch. “The tide will be ebbing during the evening hours, reaching a maximum low of .7 m. This will allow us to follow the receding tideline and search for some of the nocturnal tidepool animals that cannot be seen during the day. Dress for cool weather, with rubber boots or other waterproof footwear, and bring a flashlight or headlamp. Details and sign up here.
Wed, February 16 | 7:30pm | beach entrance near the children’s water park @ Lumberman’s Arch

ART

There’s an art opening going down at Antisocial this Friday night and you won’t want to miss it. Victoria tattoo artist James Lindsay (aka Jamer) is throwing some of his fine work onto the walls of the city’s finest skateboard shop. See you there.
Friday February 11 | 8pm | Antisocial | Free

Also on Friday night (and just across the street) there’s the opening reception of Brad Phillips show Seven Years in Switzerland at the CSA Space (5-2414 Main Street). This exhibition, which encompasses 7 years of output, is curated by Steven Tong and will be on display from February 11th to the 20th. Deets.
Friday, February 11 | 7pm | 5-2414 Main – check at Pulp Fiction for access | Free

Downtown, the great big VAG launches a Ken Lum show, and if you didn’t know, the VAG is free on Saturday. The $19.50 you save could buy a bottle of wine and that bottle of wine could buy a pretty good ending to a Saturday spent admiring art.

We like the look of Andrew Tong’s show ‘Modern Times’, opening at Elliott Louis this week.
February 8, 2011 to February 26 | Details

MUSIC

Don’t forget the awesome in-store event at Zulu Records on Friday night! “Merge Records/Dinosaur Jr bassist/Sebadoh and Sentridoh main man LOU BARLOW is stopping by Zulu Records for an acoustic set of solo tunes from his expansive discography of lo-fi magnificence. Barlow is considered one of the defining songwriters of the 90’s and thus is a must see – meaning this event should be packed to the rafters. Plus, you can follow him down to the Rickshaw later for his full electric set as Sebadoh!!” See you there.

Gang of Four is playing Venue on Tuesday night. Try Craigslist for tickets, cuz it’s sold out at the usual place.
Tuesday, February 15 | 8pm | Venue (881 Granville)

Opera Pro Cantanti presents Verdi’s classic about frivolity, folly, and faithful love.
Sunday January 13 | 7pm | Cambrian Hall (215 E. 17th) | Tix $18/$12.

FOOD

The Winter Farmers Market fills the Nat Bailey Stadium parking lot on Saturday. Hook yourself up with hearty root vegetables, fresh bread, dried fruits and scores of other locally-grown goodies. Get the full list of who’ll be there here.
Saturday, February 12 | 10am – 2pm | East Parking Lot of Nat Bailey Stadium

Looking for a really decadent Valentine? The Baker’s Market is on Saturday and I’d lay bets that they will have a handsome assortment of goodies with pink icing.
Saturday, February 12 | 11 am – 3pm | Creekside Community Centre

Wondering where to dine on Valentine’s Day? Check Andrew’s column in the Westender here.

FILM

They’re up to some freaky stuff out at UBC this weekend. On Friday night the brave men and women of the UBC Film Society will test the ancient theory that when you play Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” simultaneously with the “The Wizard of Oz”, they sync up in the trippiest of ways, man. It’s called the Dark Side of Oz. “After the first album’s done, we’re on to part two with a screening of the film version of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”. That’s two Floyd albums for the price of one!
Friday, February 11 | Doors 6:45pm, Movie 7pm | Norm Theatre SUB | $5 Non-members

The best of the Ottawa International Animation Festival for 2010 will be screened at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. This festival is the largest of its kind in North America, attracting film buffs, art lovers, filmmakers, and cartoon fans from around the world to the nation’s capital. And this isn’t just a plain old best of screening, there will also be guest speakers, raffle prizes and refreshments.
Saturday, February 12 | 7-9pm | Emily Carr Lecture Theatre SB Room 301 | $10 (students $5)

True Romance and Badlands are lined-up Sunday afternoon at The Waldorf.
Sunday, January 13 | Waldorf Hotel | 3pm

Wednesday is Screening Room Night at the Revel Room in Gastown. Blow the dust off of those old reels of 8mm, Super8 or 16mm film that you have kicking around and take them down to the Revel to watch them as they were meant to be watched, on old school projectors. Also look out for the footage supplied by Revel, including 1940’s cartoons, old news reels and burlesque.
Wednesday Nights | 8-11 | Revel Room | Free

Wild at Heart is the midnight movie at the Rio. David Lynch film with an IMDb plot summary that goes like this: “Young lovers Sailor and Lula run from the variety of weirdos that Lula’s mom has hired to kill Sailor.
Friday February 28 | 11:55pm | Rio Theatre | $8 ($7 with costume)

Elsewhere, Due Date is playing at the Hollywood and Barney’s Version is on at Fifth Avenue.

V-Day

Get your hands dirty and rig up a Valentine the old fashioned way – by making it yourself. Card making and other interesting bits at the family friendly Rockin’ Strathcona Valentine Party. Cookies & Tea Served.
February 12 | 1-3pm | ChalkXChange (593 E Georgia @ Princess) | Free

Sweet Heart Serenade hits the Rio Theatre on Valentines Day. Acoustic performances by Said The Whale and Jasper Sloan Yip, followed by a special screening of The Princess Bride.
Saturday February 12 | Doors 7pm, music 7:30, Film 9pm | Rio Theatre |$18 at the door (2 for $28)

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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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