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…

MONDAY | December 12

SKATE | That’s dry pavement out there, kids. Grab your skateboards or throw on some walking shoes and take advantage. Vancouver doesn’t always land such lovely December weather, so to only experience it from your desk would be bleedin’ shame. Skip out now, as the sunset is at the startlingly early hour of 4:14pm.

DIM-SUM | Don’t forget about that dim-sum making class at the newly opened Wild Rice in New Westminster’s River Market! If you live in Vancouver, it’s just a short ride on the skytrain and the $30 charge includes a four-course dinner. There’s still time! Contact caroline [at] wildricebc.com | DETAILS

WATCH | This year’s feel-good magical animation film is in theatres. Hugo is about an orphan boy living in the walls of a Paris train station who “meets a girl who possesses the key to a machine left behind by the father he recently lost.” It’s a 3D gig, but it’s Martin Scorsese and I hear he can slap together a film. Catch it at the Park on Cambie. | DETAILS

ART | This is the last week of the Charles van Sandwyk exhibition out at UBC Library’s Rare Books and Special Collections. There’s something about Van Sandwyk’s work that fits well with the magic of the holiday season. The exhibition explores some of the connections between him and the artists, writers and teachers who inspired his career. If you’re not familiar with his work, google him. A trip out to UBC to see his work will be well worth it. Runs until December 17. | DETAILS

TUESDAY | December 13

ART | The Vancouver Art Gallery is open late tonight and after 5pm admission by donation. It’s a good time to scoot in and check out The Distance Between You and Me 3 Artists from Vancouver, Los Angeles and Guadalajara. | DETAILS

MUSIC |  Hit up The Waldorf for good times. Get this: live interview with Becky and Maya from The Pack A.D. followed by a listening session. Super extra double plus mega bonus: it’s free | DETAILS

DJ’S | Starting tonight, 18 national champion DJs converge in Vancouver to compete in the Thre3Style World Finals. There’s no denying that they’ve wrangled some pretty serious talent to compete this week. It starts with DJ Nedu Lopes (Brazil) vs. DJ FMC (Norway) vs. DJ Javier (Bolivia) vs. DJ Perplex (Australia). Each night sees a fresh line-up of DJ’s and headliners. On Saturday, the big guns play for winning title at the Commodore | DETAILS

CHEER | The Vancouver Canucks play the Columbus Blue Jackets. See you at Pats Pub on East Hastings for poutine and hollers. | DETAILS

WEDNESDAY | December 14

CULTURE | There’s a curators’ talk at the VAG this afternoon. At 4pm, Grant Arnold, the Gallery’s Audain Curator, is planning to chat a bit about Mexican Modernists Masters (Rivera, Tamayo, Siqueiros and Orozco). It’s going down in the Audain Collection; a solid reason to sneak out of work early if you ask me. | DETAILS

STORY TIME | Oh! Oh! Oh! I love it when the Dunlevy Snackbar has a special event! Tonight at 7pm there’s a little gig that sounds supercool: “As part of the City’s 125 celebrations, the Vancouver Park Board has selected a team of digital media artists to work within the Vancouver community to capture the oral histories, stories and memories of local residents.” Presumably rad. | DETAILS

HOPE | Holiday chaos getting a bit much? Today is a good day to make your way to Chinatown and check out the Hope in Shadows exhibition at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Chill out and regain some perspective with a glance at photographs selected from the Hope in Shadows archive: “the images in this exhibition are perspectives on garden spaces, and artistic and scholarly pursuits in the Downtown Eastside.” While you’re at it, pick up a few calendars for Christmas gifts. | DETAILS

THURSDAY | December 15

NUTCRACKER | This is opening night for The Nutcracker. The Goh Ballet is performing Tchaikovsky’s Christmas-themed ballet during a short window, December 15 – 18, at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts. Expect elaborate sets and gorgeous costumes, over 200 local dancers taking the stage, live music performed by members of the Vancouver Orchestra, and much more (ooh, even an illusionist). Sugarplum Fairy it up, yo. Put on some fancy duds and meet us there. | DETAILS

FESTIVE | If you live in the West End, tonight’s a great night to hit the VanDusen Botanical Gardens Festival of Lights. Catch a free shuttle (WinterPRIDE bus leaves The Fountainhead Pub every hour from 4:15-7:30pm) up to VanDusen and walk the pathways through millions of twinkling lights. A portion of proceeds go to the Vancouver Pride Society. | DETAILS

WIMP | Not a cold-weather lover? Hit the Bloedel Conservatory for a tropical walk amongst twinkling lights and over 1,000 poinsettias. Get your special holiday buzz on without the frostbite! | DETAILS

TRIP OUT | The Werner Herzog flick Encounters at the End of the World is playing at Vancity Theatre tonight. It’s about “a glaciologist who hears the cries of the ice; a marine biologist who likes to show his researchers doomsday sci-fi movies like Them; a philosopher-fork lift driver; a linguist on a continent without languages; and a British volcanologist who wears a tweed suit in temperatures well below freezing in honour of Ernest Shackleton. Welcome to Antarctica, Werner Herzog style.” | DETAILS

FRIDAY | December 16

DO IT | Grab your skates (or rent them once you’re there) and hit Robson Square for a lap or twelve around the ice rink. There might be one or two other people out there thinking the holidays would be a lovely time for a twirl, too, so plan ahead – bring your thermal mug, some nice thick gloves and your happy holiday attitude. In the evenings there will be carollers, so…yeah. | DETAILS

TRADITION | Russell Roberts (Bard on the Beach) reads A Child’s Christmas in Wales up in Kerrisdale. I have a soft spot for Dylan Thomas, and sometimes Kerrisdale. | DETAILS

IRONY | Value village time! The Beaumont Studios is holding a Twisted Christmas Ugly Sweater and Costume Party tonight and you know you want to be there. Do your thrifting early, a serious advance washing of that xmas acrylic is a good idea. | DETAILS

FLICKAGE | The Nightmare Before Christmas is the midnight movie at the Rio. Nothing like a little Tim Burton to get that holiday cheer flowing. | DETAILS

RETRO | Prince plays Rogers Arena tonight. Let’s go crazy. | DETAILS

SATURDAY | December 17

EAT LOCAL | The Holiday Farmers Market is on. People don’t need more scented candles and acrylic scarves, so spread the love with some local food. There will be tonnes of good grub available, so hit the Nat Bailey parking lot to load up on those fresh, locally produced goodies that will keep you and your loved ones healthy and happy. | DETAILS

BUY LOCAL | Line your pockets with cash and head to Kits for a studio sale that will finish (or start) your Christmas shopping on a good note. Beautifully handcrafted gifts from ‘Little Red Caboose’ and ‘One of a Handful’ will be perfect for the kids on your list (and appreciated by their parents). | DETAILS

TRAIN RIDE | Bite the bullet. Endure the parking nightmare and the crowds. Get yourself into the holiday spirit by grabbing a bag of freshly roasted chestnuts and taking a ride on the Stanley Park Christmas Train. Cuddle up as the tiny train chugs its way through a heavily decked out forest while Christmas carols are cranked through speakers dotting the surrounds. Buying tickets in advance is highly recommended. | DETAILS

SUNDAY 18

LONG TABLE | The Irish Heather is throwing down with Roast Beef, Yorkshire Pudding, Roasting Jus and a nice pint of Driftwood Ale tonight. There aren’t too many Long Table Series dinners this month, so don’t miss out. Veg options always available. | DETAILS

CRAFTINESS | Blim is holding one of their famous Community Markets today. This time around they are setting up at the Chinese Cultural Center at Pender and Carrall. Solid line-up of vendors including food, fashion and fine art producers as well as a few people flogging vintage and vinyl. All local. All good. | DETAILS

HOLY SHIT YES! | I don’t know what you thought you had planned for tonight, but it’s time you reworked those plans. Dinosaur Jr. is at the Commodore tonight and Henry Rollins is interviewing the band. This will be an AWESOME gig. | DETAILS

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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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