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…

Appreciate | Venus moves across the face of the sun on Tuesday. This super cool astronomical event is one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ sort of things that you really should take a moment to appreciate. Appreciate it best by heading to the MacMillan Observatory where you will be surrounded by other space nerds who can share in your enthusiasm. Seriously, the next time that this going to go down is in 2117, so don’t just sit on the couch thinking you’ll catch it next time, because you won’t. Tuesday, June 5 | 2:45pm | Planitarium at 1100 Chestnut Street | Details

Watch | They say it’s going to rain a little over the next few days, so why not use that as a great excuse to catch a sweet ass film? This week’s pick would definitely be Apocalypse Now at the Vancity Theatre. Once a month, Vancity Theatre invites a ‘distinguished guest’ to present his/her favourite film. After the screening the audience can stick around to discuss the film over drinks in the VIFF lounge. This month it’s internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas whose works appear in private collections and public institutions the world over. Dude picked the classic Francis Ford Coppola flick starring Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, and yes, even Harrison Ford. Oh, and a tiger. Moral: never get out of the boat. Tuesday, June 5 | 7:30pm | 1181 Seymour | $13 | Details

East Van Wine Academy | At this instalment of the East Van Wine Academy, lucky attendees will taste Kurtis Kolt’s 2011 Wild-Ferment Semillon (an Okanagan Crush Pad release) along with a global tour and tasting of a half-dozen notable Semillons from France, Australia, B.C. and more. Tuesday, June 5 | 7pm | $20 | The Waldorf Hotel (1489 East Hastings) 

Learn | Legendary newscaster Connie Chung is in town and apparently she’s talking about being Connie Chung. Tuesday, June 5 | 7:30pm | Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (777 Homer) | Details

Draw Down | This weekend is Draw Down Vancouver. Essentially, that means there will be drawing-inspired gigs going on all over the place. You’ll find happy people drawing in community centres, museums, art galleries and on the street. Observe and appreciate their artistic ability or get involved by adding to a mural, scribbling a doodle or making a sketch. Get really adventurous and create your own font or draw inside a 12-foot high paper tunnel. Workshops are designed with a ‘come-and-go’ atmosphere, and participants are encouraged to move around to different events throughout the day. Saturday, June 9 | 9-5 | Various Locations | Free | Details 

Eat | UBC Farm is such a great place; home to fantastic learning gardens, programs and workshops, a Saturday Farmers Market, chickens, cob buildings and lovely grounds to explore. We should all be proud that a farm like this exists in our city. But keeping it going does cost money. Consider contributing to its strength and the impact it has on our community by kicking in with a little support. This Sunday, June 10th, sixteen home cooks from different ethnic backgrounds will gather to offer their family comfort foods at the 2nd annual international food fair and UBC Farm fundraiser. The countries, regions and ethnicities represented at this year’s event are Sierra Leone, Ghana, Hakka Chinese, Chile, Mexico, Maya (Guatemala), Pakistan, Goa (India), Egypt, Syria, Tsimshian First Nations, Vietnam, Southern Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (not to mention our very own west coast). Wander the farm grounds, taste authentic ethnic cuisine and support a kickass urban meets rural icon all at once. You can’t really go wrong. See you there. Sunday, June 10 | 1-4pm | UBC Farm | $50 (includes recipe book) Children 13 and under free | Details

Culture | The ARC Uncommon Vision Show goes down this weekend. Nearly 80 tenants of the ARC studios (located at the foot of Commercial Drive) get together to host a weekend long line-up of gallery parties, studio openings, free performances, demonstrations and participatory art installations.  For a good summary of what to expect check out this article from the Courier. June 8, 9, 10 | Various times |  1701 Powell Street @ Commercial | $5 suggested donation

Stumped | Pull on your gumboots and get yourself down to Stanley Park on Sunday to wander the forest trails and learn about the complex forest community of plants and animals that inhabit standing and fallen dead or dying trees. Definitely cool stuff you should know to impress your friends. Sunday, June 10 | 1:30-3:30 pm | Lost Lagoon Nature House ( west foot of Alberni, Stanley Park) | $10 | Details 

Eat Local | This week’s good Farmers Market news is that the mid-week market at Main Street Station at Thornton Park (across from the VIA Rail Station and near the Main St Skytrain Station) starts up. Hooray! It runs Wednesday until 7pm so that you can pick up grub on the way home from work. In addition to fresh produce from local farmers, Campagnolo usually has fresh pasta for sale and word has it that Earnest Ice Cream will be there too with a new batch of salted caramel ice cream.
June 6 | 3pm – 7pm | Thornton Park | FREE
Trout Lake Farmers Market | Saturday | 9am-2pm | Trout Lake | Free
Kitsilano Farmers Market | Sunday | 10am – 2pm | 2690 Larch @ 10th | Free
West End Farmers Market | Saturday | 9am-2pm | 1100 Block Comox | Free

Paste-Up | I’m totally looking forward to the one-night-only showcase of original gig posters on display at Little Mountain Gallery on Saturday night. “The event features artwork by 10 amazing local artists: Zach Bulick, Lindsay Chetek, Nicholas Goebel, Ariel Hitchcock, Jacob Kownacki, Carmen Leah, CHRIS-P, Kim Ridgewell, Daniel Sicolo, and Laure Stromboli. The posters will advertise concerts that occurred between 1985 and 2005 – shows that the artists either saw and loved or wish they could have attended. That’s approximately 30 unique posters for world-renowned tours and gigs!” The evening also includes live music and will be followed by an afterparty at The Biltmore. Saturday, June 9 | 7:30 | Little Mountain Gallery, 195 East 26 | $5

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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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