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 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…

LISTEN | The Great Lake Swimmers are making an in-store appearance at Zulu Records on Tuesday at 6pm and that’s pretty much all you need to know about what to do with your Tuesday night. Start your week out well with some quality music amongst quality people.
Tuesday, March 27 | 6pm | Zulu Record Store (1972 W 4) | Free | Details 

WATCH | The forecast is for rain, so why not grab popcorn and settle into a theatre seat? The Hunger Games is out (playing at the Park on Cambie); Norwegian Wood is playing at the Vancity Theatre (Friday and Saturday), and the trailer looks awesome. Plus it’s Indie Week (Wednesday 28th – Sunday 1st ) out at UBC’s Norm Theatre. (Details)

LAUGH | Raincity Chronicles throws down with another one of their storytelling evenings this week. The theme this time around is Crossing Borders. Head to The Western Front (just off of Main @ 8th) for an evening of stories about limits, travel, boundaries and crossing the line. Musical guests The Ruffled Feathers and Christopher Smith shake things up on the side.
Thursday, March 29 | 6:30-9:30pm | The Western Front (303 E 8 Ave) | $15 | Details 

CHILL | A few good gigs to catch this weekend. Ladyhawk is playing at the Biltmore on Friday night. Can’t go wrong with that (details). Over at the St. James Hall, Treasa Levasseur & Corin Raymond take the stage (details), and down on East Hastings, local bands The Shilohs, Hallow Moon and The High Drops (as well as DJ’s Elliot Way and J.P. Doucet) will be playing live at the Interurban Gallery, all while attendees also take in the artwork of Dan Williams (details).

DESIGN | Thursday is a great night to head down to Emily Carr. Reason #1: Educator, researcher and designer Cameron Tonkinwise is giving a talk entitled Redesigning Freedom for Sustainability. His past research has focused on “enhancing societal sustainability by facilitating less materials-intense lifestyles through design.” I like the idea of ‘dematerialization design’.
Thursday, March 29 | 7pm | ECUAD | Free | Details

CULTURE | Reason #2 : Thursday is opening night for Emily Carr’s first year masters’ exhibition Inventory of Language. The group show will showcase painting and drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, performance, sound art, interactive installation, video and design. The public is invited to meet the artists, see the work and enjoy refreshments.
Opening | March 29 | 6-9pm | Concourse Gallery | North Building | Details

WALK | It’s always a good idea to brush up on your familiarity with the city with a walking tour. It’s an even better idea when that walking tour involves beer. The good folks at Heritage Vancouver and the City of Vancouver Archives will do just that this Saturday with a stroll detailing the Industrial History of South East False Creek. Historian Isaac Vanderhorst will lead participants on an informative walk through the Olympic Village neighbourhood whilst “explaining unique stories about momentous events from the area’s forgotten past”. Best part? Absorb all that you have learned over a beer tasting at Legacy Liquor Store.
Saturday, March 31 | Tour 1pm; Beer tasting 3pm | Meet at SE Corner of West 1st Ave. and Crowe St. | $40

EAT LOCAL | The Winter Farmers Market is happening Saturday. Support your local farmers by scooting down to load up on fresh fruits and veggies (nettles are in season). You can also pick up bread, dried fruit, preserves and cheeses. Always worth the wait: the yam tacos at Off The Truck and lemon + sugar crepes at the purple La Boheme Creperie truck.
Saturday, March 31 | 30th and Ontario / East Parking lot and Plaza of Nat Bailey Stadium | DETAILS

THINK | The Vancouver Institute is ending its Spring lecture season with a talk by Professor Stephen Ward (Director, Center for Journalism Ethics, University of Wisconsin-Madison). This dude – who will be speaking on Media Ethics on the Digital Frontier – has some serious street cred. He serves on many editorial and advisory boards for ethics organizations and for journals on media ethics and science. He is the media ethics columnist for several leading publications, including the PBS web site, Media Shift, the Canadian portal j-source.ca and Media magazine. He was a reporter, war correspondent, and newsroom manager for 14 years. He covered conflicts in Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Northern Ireland. So…yeah, we’ll see you there.
Saturday, March 31 | 8:15pm | Lecture Hall No. 2 | Woodward Instructional Resources Centre, UBC | Details

REJOICE | Finally, word on the street is that The Penthouse Nightclub reopens this week! The infamous strip joint and gentlemen’s club was hit by a fire in late November of last year and has been undergoing renovations. Opening has been put off a few times, but the Penthouse claims it’s business as usual starting March 29th (Grand re-opening Party April 5). Lot of history in that building! Big guns like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Sammy Davis Jr have played there, plus Nina Hartley knows the poles! Many stories behind those walls! | Details

——————————————————————————————-

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.

——————————————————————————————–