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…

POP-UP | Get yourself down to 1 West Cordova (the old Boneta space) this weekend to check out the Beggars Banquet pop-up sale. Score vintage clothing and housewares, curated records and books, and a tight selection of hand-crafted goods (everything from textiles and leather goods to honey and tomato sauce). We’re particularly looking forward to sifting through the many vintage treasures at Nico and Jacqueline’s table, and not just because it has the best motto ever (“Come for the cashmere, stay for the poodle portrait”). Let the variety startle and the cash bar soothe. Bonus: DJs spinning good taste.
Fri & Sat, November 16 & 17 | 6pm-11pm Fri, 11am-6pm Sat | 1 West Cordova | $2 Admission | DETAILS

THE CRAWL | The highly anticipated East Side Culture Crawl is now upon us. This annual three day event allows art lovers to catch East Vancouver’s artists (painters, jewellers, sculptors, textile artists, furniture makers, potters, printmakers , photographers, etc) in their natural habitat – their own studios. With maps in hand (available at studios and shops in the community or online at Crawl website), the public slowly drifts from one studio to the next, taking in the art and talking to the artists about their processes. It can be quiet and introspective or engaging and social. Either way, the annual Crawl is a fantastic way to get a feel for Vancouver’s art scene.
Fri, November 16 – Sunday November 18 | Multiple locations | DETAILS

COOKERY | Vancouver’s annual Gold Medal Plates cooking competition goes down this Friday night in Coal Harbour. Chefs Quang Dang (West), Darin Paterson (Bogner’s of Penticton) David Gunawan (Wildebeest), Mark Filatow (Waterfront Wine Bar), Jeff Van Geest (Miradoro), Joe Campo (Westin Bayshore), Angus An (Maenam), Lee Humphries (“C”), Taryn Wa (Savoury Chef), and Nicholas Nutting (The Wick) will be competing for a chance to represent BC at the Canadian Culinary Championships this February. It’s a corporate/rich folks affair that fundraises for Canadian Olympians. Individual tickets sell for $350 and packages go as high as $25,000, so unless you’re wicked wealthy or planning on sneaking in dressed as a busboy (with a tuxedo or little black dress underneath), grab a bite and a drink elsewhere and stick close to our Twitter for the up-to-the-second skinny. Scout editor Andrew Morrison is on the inside (he’s the competition’s Senior Judge), so look out for his for Instagram snaps and action updates all night long. The hashtag for the festivities will be #GMP2012.
Fri, November 16 | Westin Bayshore | Tickets $350 | DETAILS

FIELD TRIP | The salmon swimming the Harrison and the Fraser are getting nervous. Why? Because this weekend they will be descended upon by North America’s largest gathering of bald eagles. Seeing one bald eagle is a pretty awesome experience, but can you even imagine hundreds of them, let alone thousands? In 2010, The Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival organizers counted 7,362 baldies over a 2 km stretch of the Harrison River. 7,362! That’s got to be an impressive sight. At the fest you can also count on expert bird and wildlife speakers, boat and walking tours, and a couple of raptor exhibits. Pack a lunch and make a day of it.
November 17 – December 15 | Various locations throughout the Fraser Valley | DETAILS

VINTAGE VAN | Did you know that the City of Vancouver Archives has a fantastic collection of historical films? Well it does, everything from news reels to donated home movie clips. While you could go online and browse the gabillion available clips for free, that would mean getting lost down a gnarly rabbit hole in your pajamas for a long, lonely time. So we suggest that you go to the Vancity Theatre this Sunday afternoon instead. There, you can watch a curated selection of some of the more compelling bits (hooray for 1950’s clips of Chinatown shot in Kodachrome) with commentary from historian Michael Kluckner and a live jazz piano soundtrack from local musician Wayne Stewart. Oh, plus popcorn!
Sun, November 18 | 2pm | Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour St) | $12 | DETAILS

CHEAP BEETHOVEN | Students from the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra and pros from the Vancouver Bach Choir are laying down some Beethoven this weekend, specifically his 9th Symphony, Triple Concerto, and Fidelio Overture. The cost? $10! The only thing better than sitting yourself down in a soft velvet theatre seat to listen to ol’ Ludwig’s rapturous Ode To Joy performed live in Autumn’s dull grip is doing so on the super cheap. We shall see you there, hmm?
Sun, November 18 | 7:30pm | The Orpheum | $10 | DETAILS

NEXT WAVE | After School Special is an exhibition curated by a handful of cool-as-hell Vancouver designers and artists wanting to showcase the work of some of their favourite emerging artists. What a brilliant concept. Chefs should do it, bartenders should do it, writers and musicians and politicians should do it, if only because giving emerging talent a platform is important. But one thing at a time. See the next wave revealed at the AlsoKnownAs studio space this Thursday night.
Thurs, November 15 | 6-10pm | 220-314 West Cordova (back alley between W. Cordova & W. Hastings) | DETAILS  

NATURE | If the idea of winter settling in leaves you feeling unhinged and you’re looking for some coping mechanisms, why not turn to nature for a few hints? Hibernation in general doesn’t go over at the office, but you never know what little tricks you pick up from plants and animals indigenous to this West Coast climate. For a solid beginning to understanding how nature adapts to the cold damp winter attend a special nature walk led by local naturalist Murray Lashmar in Stanley Park this Sunday afternoon. Lashmar knows what’s what with BC plants and wildlife and he’ll fill you in on all sorts of fascinating details. Pre-registration is recommended for this event as space is limited.
Sun, November 18 | 1:45pm | Stanley Park Nature House (Foot of Alberni St. at Chilco St.) | $10 | DETAILS

GOOD CAUSE TIMES | Protecting BC’s wild space is a big job that takes energy and money. This Thursday night at the ANZA club there is a benefit to support the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society do just that. Dig in for a night of live music and generally good times as The Moonshine Express, The Figures, and DJ Only entertain. Dance, drink, swap wilderness stories, and expect prizes from Sitka Clothing, Rip Curl, Red truck Brewing and Goorin Hat Shop.
Thurs, November 15 | 8pm | The Anza Club (W 8th at Ontario St.) | $15 | DETAILS

OYSTERS | Tofino is so inviting at this time of year. Everything is a soft grey – all sky, sand, and rain – and no one is in a rush. Making it even more attractive is the annual Clayoquot Sound Oyster Festival, a three day event showcasing local bivalves in more ways than you’ve ever had time to sit down and imagine. They’ve got oyster tastings, oyster pairings, oyster farm tours, oyster shucking and cooking, educational seminars, the Mermaid’s Ball, the legendary Oyster Gala and even some oyster theatre. Not sure what to tell you about the theatre portion of the weekend (“To kusshi or not to kusshi, that is the question…”), but we’ve done everything else and it’s all worth the drive across the Island.
Wed, November 14 – Saturday November 17 | Various locations / Tofino | Prices vary | 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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