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…

Dine | The recently unveiled Vancouver Urban Winery is hosting a 5 course Vietnamese-French feast this Thursday night. An exotic meal expertly paired with wines fresh from the taps of the Winery’s tasting bar combined with a kick-ass venue…how awesome is that?
September 6 | 6pm | Vancouver Urban Winery Cellar Floor | $80 | Details

Drink Tea | The O5 Tea Bar recently opened in Kits and we think it deserves a swing-by.  This isn’t your average tea shop: O5 is seriously infatuated with tea and are on task to bring Vancouver a new level of tea appreciation.  “O” stands for their obsession with origin (they travel the world learning about the places and people who grow tea and then gather the best of the best for their shop) and 5 represents nature’s elements of “Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Void”. It’s an educational experience for sure. And a tasty one at that.
Monday-Friday | 7am-10pm (Saturday and Sunday 9am-8:30pm | W. 4th, Vancouver | Details

Skateistan | Looking to shake things up with something a little different? Hustle over to Antisocial Skateboard Shop on Thursday night for the book launch of Skateistan: The Tale of Skateboarding in Afghanistan. Things that you may leave thinking about include: “What is it like to grow up working on the streets in a warzone, spending the first 15 years of your life pretending to be a boy? How does it feel to be one of the first ever skateboarders in a country, and at the same time a girl in a conservative Muslim society? In a nation divided by ethnicity and gender, how does art, education and skateboarding create change?” Not only that, but there will be a series of cool film screenings, Afghan Refreshments and a skate demo by Skateistan Canada youths. PS. good karma! 100% of book proceeds go directly to Skateistan.
Thursday, September 6 | 7-10pm | Antisocial Skateboard Shop (2337 Main) | Details 

Broken Promises | Want a reason to get dressed up and out of the house? How about an Autumn 2012 video launch and collection party for a happening local jewelry line? Sounds pretty good to us. Vancouver designer Karen La is super talented. This will be a good gig complete with video, drinks, popcorn, and fashionable people. Get out of the house and support local peeps who strive!
Thursday, September 6 | 7:30 -9:30 | Today (158 Powell) | Details 

Get Crafty | There’s an Etsy Craft Party going down on Friday. You know Etsy, the centre of the online craft sellers universe? Its culture is all about making and doing and their party will be about just that. Jump in and get your hands dirty. Activities include letterpress printing, button-making, collaborative canvas painting, glass jar decorating, and more. It’ll be like regressing to childhood for an evening, and who wouldn’t be better off tapping in to that?
Friday, September 7 | 6-10pm | Blim (115 E Pender) | $15 | Details

A Day At The Farm | If you can’t get far out of town, you can still make it as far as Westham Island to feel like you did. This weekend, the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust throws down with a day of hay-wagon rides, wildlife-habitat displays, the chance to dig up your own potatoes from a working farm field, draft-horse ploughing demonstrations, live entertainment and generally good times.
Saturday, September 8 | 10 am–4 pm | Westham Island Herb Farm | Free admission | Details

Har Har | Jerry Seinfeld is in town. He’ll be taking the stage at the Orpheum. Nice venue. Funny guy. What’s not to love?
Friday September 7 | 7pm | The Orpheum (601 Smithe) | Details

Feast of Fields | If you’re a food-lover, there’s no question that the place to be this Sunday is GoldenEars Cheesecrafters out in Maple Ridge. Yes, it’s finally the Lower Mainland’s turn to enjoy Feast of Fields! ”Celebrate the best in sustainable, local food and satisfy your taste buds at this gourmet wandering harvest festival. Farmers, fishers, brewers, ranchers and chefs from across BC will be presenting their culinary creations, and now is your chance to sample them all.” Seriously good times. Keep in mind that there is a Shuttle Bus available from Vancouver ($15 ) so you don’t have to drive or think, just eat and drink.
Sunday, September 9 | GoldenEars Cheesecrafters ( 22270 128th Ave., Maple Ridge) | $85 | Details 

Don’t Panic | The end of summer is here. Yes, it’s supremely sad. But on’t get all pissy about it. Get busy. Take full advantage. Gather up as much of it as you can. Save it. Can it! Canning is a fun, practical, and economical way to eat local, seasonal food all year round. Fruits and vegetables taste best when they’re freshest and in season – and that means now! Take this workshop and learn the practice of canning summer fruits and learn about other methods of preservation including freezing, drying, pickling, and pressure canning.
Sunday September 9 | 1-4pm | Mount Pleasant Community Centre | $40 | Details

Get Sorted |  School is starting up this week and it’s already a little cool in the mornings. Before you know it the clock will be going back. Take advantage of the shift. Recalibrate. Start a new excercise regime, clean the closet, do a cleanse – that sort of thing. We’re thinking of doing The Juice Truck cleanse (available in 3, 5 or 7-day durations). Because our aim isn’t to lose weight (we just need to get back on track after a lazy and indulgent summer), the cold-pressed juice cleanse looks like a good fit (it’s formulated to support better functioning of your body’s systems, and not to get you skinny). Details

Have a good week!

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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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