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…

Spring Wines | Busy schedule? Don’t think you can swing a very long weekend away to taste your way through the Naramata Bench’s many vineyards and their coveted wines? Get this: a slough of the Bench’s wineries are coming to town for a Spring Release party, saving us city-slickers the travel time. All you need to do is hop on the skytrain (zippy 25 minute ride right to the River Market in New Westminster) and quadruple the number of wineries that would be comfortable to see in one day by gathering under one roof. Pretty sweet, right? Do it.
Tuesday, April 24 | 6.30-9pm | The River Market at Westminster Quay (SO easy to get there) | $85

Making Some Cheese | The UBC Farm’s Growing Season Workshop Series presents one of its popular cheesemaking workshops this week. Intro to Cheesemaking with David Rotsztain is a quick 3.5 hour crash course in which David will demonstrate and explain the techniques for making three basic styles of cheese (paneer, yogourt cheese and camembert) and leave participants with a solid foundation for making cheese at home. The emphasis is on simple, hands-on techniques that can be easily reproduced. This workshop will sell out VERY quickly, so get up on it.
Tuesday, April 24 | 6pm to 9:30pm | UBC Farm | $40 | Details 

Catch |  Lights Out! Canadian Painting from the 1960s is showing at the Vancouver Art Gallery. This show closes at the end of this week but if you get yourself organized you can still catch a glimpse of the impressive collection. Our recommendation would be to cruise to the VAG on Tuesday night when admission is by donation.
Tuesday, April 24 | Vancouver Art Gallery | $By Donation | Details

Art Hop | Clear your schedule and get ready for a day of walking, art, talks and tours:  The Contemporary Art Society and Canadian Art Foundation are putting on their annual Gallery Hop this weekend.  Take in free tours guided by art-world experts who will explore and illuminate a broad selection of exhibitions throughout the city. To plan your afternoon, choose a tour, several talks or a combination here.
Saturday, April 28 |  Various Locations and Times | Free | Details 

Picked & Sprout | There’s a pop-up dinner going on at Nelson The Seagull this coming weekend and it sounds amazing. The super great thing about this meal is that every plate served will feature a hand-foraged or home-grown ingredient. It celebrates the freshest and greenest flavours of Spring. Imagine wild mushrooms, the seasons first wild flowers, real cultured butter, hand gathered ramps, and fresh spring nettles and fiddleheads. Picked & Sprout will be long table meal, so you might end the evening with a few new friends. Cocktails and wine pairings will be available. Email pickedandscrumped [at] gmail.com for booking or call 778-318-6406.
Friday & Saturday April 27 & 28 | 7pm | Nelson The Seagull (315 Carrall) | $69 | Details 

Books | Outfit yourself with a solid assortment of spring reads at the Vancouver Public Library this weekend. Their famous spring book sale will see thousands of discarded and gently used books on sale. Thousands! And all of them going for less than $2.50 each. Don’t forget to bring a bag (or two).
Thursday, April 26 (10 am–9 pm) April 27 (10 am–6 pm) April 28 (10 am–6 pm) April 29 (12-5 pm) | VPL (Alice MacKay Room) | Free 

Volume 21 | It’s Pecha Kucha Night! If you don’t have a ticket to the (once again) sold out show, we’re sorry for you. You’re going to miss an impressive line-up of Vancouverites taking the stage to share their cool. Volume 21 boasts the venerable Alex Usow (Sharks & Hammers), Brian Hendricks (Hobo Magazine), Marianne Amodio (Architect and designer), Andy Dixon (Artist), Craig Stanghetta (designer), Liz Bell (Lizbell Agency), and the list goes on. Have a sneak peek here for deets.
Thursday, April 26 | 7:30pm | Vogue Theatre (918 Granville) | $15 | Details 

Score | Denver band Tennis is in town on Friday night. The ‘smart pop outfit’ will stop by the iconic Zulu Records in Kits for a quick stripped down set of songs before heading to the Biltmore. One great band, two great venues. If you can’t make one, make the other. If you can make both, you’re laughing.
In Store: Friday, April 27 | 6pm | Zulu Records | Free | Details 
Gig: Friday, April 27 | 8pm | Biltmore Cabaret | $15 | Details 

Darkroom Party | Spring’s here! It’s time dust of the manual camera and make use of all this fantastic natural light. Exposing all that celluloid is only half of the fun. Think about getting your hands dirty and learn how to develop that film on your own. Local photographers Virginie and Bastien of VNB Fineartphoto Workshops are throwing a bit of a party/get re-acquainted with film event on Friday night. The idea is pretty low-key: head to the Cineworks studio in Railtown to meet Virginie and Bastien, have a glass of wine, fiddle around with a few photography stations (shoot a paper negative and make 19th Century photographic portraiture using a Sténopé or Create a Photogram), have another glass of wine, talk to some cool people, chill the hell out. Basically, check out what sort of skills you can pick up at a vVNB workshop and see if you’re interested in digging a little deeper. Scout will be there. We hope you will be too.
Friday, April 27 | 6-9pm | Cineworks Annex, 235 Alexander in the Ironworks building (side entrance@left) | Free

Toe Tappin’ | The Hummingbird Brigade is playing at Pats Pub on Saturday night and it’s going to be a good time. The 11-piece band (inspired by the music of contemporary New Orleans brass bands) is led by local clarinetist/composer James Danderfer and will perform a mix of James’ original music, traditional New Orleans songs, and covers. Great pub food and cheap beers, Cash only.
Saturday, April 28 | Doors 7:30, sets at 9 and 10:30pm | Pat’s Pub (in the Patricia Hotel) 403 E. Hastings | $10

Heads-Up

Pop-Up | Butter on the Endive is getting ready for a pop-up at Le Marché St. George. Chef Owen Lightly will hold 3 consecutive 5-course dinners and one casual Sunday brunch in the beautiful Marche space. On each of the dinners, Owen will be collaborating with another local chef. All dinners (excluding the Sunday brunch) are $65 and require a ticket, which can be pre-purchased by pay pal. Alcohol is BYOB for each event. Get all the details here.
May 3-6 | 5:30 and 8:30pm seatings | $65 | Details

Learn | Fusion Kitchen is a start-up social enterprise that helps recent immigrant women develop their transferable skills, work experience, and self-confidence to gain employment in the Canadian workforce. Even though many of the women that come to Canada are well educated and have years of professional experience, it is often difficult for them to find a good job that makes use of their skill sets. Fusion Kitchen got the idea to tap in to some of this skill to offer Vancouverites unique cooking classes with a seriously authentic vibe. Each 3-hour class features a tutorial and hands-on cooking of “mom’s cooking” dishes. “When you enter the kitchen and learn to cook with our teachers, you are taught about the ingredients used, the secrets to making the perfect dish, and details about the culture.  We provide a community where knowledge, skills, and culture are exchanged.” This week you can drop in to learn how to cook Pakistani food (think Mint and Lentil Kebabs and Strawberry Lassi!).
May 4th | 6-9pm | Woodlands Smokehouse (485 Commercial) | $65 | Details 

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Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended 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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