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…

BAKE | Looking to round out your holiday baking dossier with an authentic Italian addition? Chef Antonietta Gesualdi will be out at the UBC Farm Centre this week to talk about traditional Italian holiday baking (specically how to make Panettone and roasted chestnut mousse). It will sell out, so book your seat now.
Thursday, Dec. 13 | 6-8:30pm | UBC Farm Centre, 6182 South Campus Rd | $40 (Materials included) | DETAILS

AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY | Peter Jackson’s latest trilogy, The Hobbit, opens on this week with its first instalment: An Unexpected Journey. You can catch it in plenty of theatres across the Lower Mainland, but we’re gunning for The Park Theatre on Cambie (even though the IMAX tempts).
Thursday, December 13 | 10pm | Park Theatre (3440 Cambie St.) | TRAILER

LEATHER | Vancouver craftsman Ken Diamond makes truly beautiful leather goods (shoes, belts, wallets) with simple design sense and quality materials. Not only does his stuff look good, it also looks like it will last forever. And given that level of quality, just imagine what much more you will appreciate it by watching the craftsman at work? Diamond will be in Chinatown at The Shop this Thursday night making custom belts and accessories. He’ll also have his entire line of shoes, journals, wallets, dog leashes, etc. with him. This is a great opportunity to get a sense of how he works and to take home something of his for yourself.
Thursday, December 13 | 6pm-10pm | The Shop (432 Columbia St.)  | DETAILS

THE POETRY OF SCIENCE | If you’re looking for a break from Jingle Bells and gingerbread, The Poetry of Science should do the trick. With artists, poets and novelists on the one side and stem cell researchers, landscape architects and chemists on the other, this is an event that breaks from the typical December fare. No Santas. No candy canes. Just scientists paired up with poets to write, read, and perform. There will be a reception to follow with a cash bar and – bonus – DJ Koalafy.
Friday, December 14 | 7:00 pm | Gallery 1965 – 1965 Main street Vancouver | Free | DETAILS

DONATE | Somewhere in your house there’s a good warm jacket or winter coat that never makes its way out of the closet. It’s time to let go. Find it, dust it off, and spirit it over to The Bottleneck this Friday night for Yo Jacket Required, a night of old school funk and all around holiday cheer. Warm clothing collected will be donated to folks less fortunate via the Downtown Eastside Women’s Shelter and the Union Gospel Mission.
Friday, Dec. 14 | 9:30pm – 2am | The Bottleneck (870 Granville) | Free, but bring a coat to donate | DETAILS

BUY | A holiday Beggars Banquet? Yes please! Pulled together by Meghan Patterson, Beggars Banquet is a pop-up flea market with a whimsical feel. This Sunday the beautiful space that used to house the original Boneta restaurant will be transformed in to a lively Bohemian market where shoppers can score quality vintage duds, handmade jewellery, artisan foods, rare vinyl, leather goods and all manner of curious trinkets. Save friends and relative from last minute gifts purchased at a drugstore and hit this!
Sunday, December 16 | 11am-8pm | The Old Boneta Space (1 West Cordova) | DETAILS

ART | Equinox is showing the works of Ben Reeves on their walls. Reeves paintings, depicting muted urban scenes as if through a foggy window sprinkled by raindrops, are beautiful in a very Vancouver way. Dissolve is showing until December 20, so there is still time left to hustle over for a little art appreciation…Get going!
Now through Dec. 20 | Tuesday – Saturday 10am-5pm | Equinox Gallery (525 Great Northern Way) | DETAILS

FRESH AIR | There’s snow up in them there mountains, folks. So think about taking an afternoon trip to do a little snowshoeing, snowboarding, skiing or tobogganing. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of hot chocolate warming your hands after a day of racing up and down some snowy hills. Get in to it, eh?
Every day | Local Mountains | Various Prices, Various times 

GIG | Vancouver band Pink Mountaintops is playing The Waldorf this weekend, along with Sex Church and The Ford Pier Vengeance Trio. Tickets are super cheap ($12) for this calibre of entertainment, so don’t wait on picking yours up.
Saturday, Dec. 15 | Doors 9pm | Waldorf Hotel (1489 East Hastings St) | $12

EL NINO | The Bach Choir, the Vancouver Bach Choir Children’s Chorus, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, all operate out of the Orpheum Theatre. That’s a lot of talent under one roof. The companies are separate entities and it would take a lot to see all three come together for a single performance, but that is exactly what is happening this weekend. All three groups, as well as six international vocal soloists, are taking the stage together to perform John Adams’ monumental magnum opus, El Nino.
Saturday, Dec. 15 | 8pm |  Orpheum Theatre (884 Granville St) | $25 | DETAILS

FILM | Two of Vancouver’s best theatres (The Cinematheque and Vancity) have joined forces to co-host a major restrospective of Studio Ghibli’s movies this week. Not familiar? Studio Ghibli is like Disney on Japanese steroids. Each film – Nausicaä, My Neighbor Totoro, Porco Rosso, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle (among others) – is stacked with so much imagination and talent that it’s not just the kids leaving the theatres with minds blown, but their parents, too. Seriously, make some time, because this is “better on the big screen” stuff. Castles in the Sky: Miyazaki, Takahata, and the Masters of Studio Ghibli is showing at both theatres at various times. Check it out here and here.
Dec. 12- Jan. 3 | Cinematheque (1131 Howe) & Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour) | $various prices

Check the Globe & Mail every Thursday for our Special Weekend Edition of the Scout List

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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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