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…

MAKE IT! | Score one-of-a-kind items that have been handmade by local designers at the Make It! show this weekend. This is a craft fair with an edge. Not only will you find table after table of cool and imaginative clothing, accessories and jewellery, but you’ll also find a fully licensed bar and DJ. Clever.
Apr. 19-21 | Fri: 4-9pm, Sat: 11-6, Sun: 11-5 | Croatian Cultural Centre | DETAILS

GET CRACKLIN’ | Do you love meat? If the answer is yes then you may want to wrangle a group of likeminded friends together and grab some seats at Campagnolo’s family-style nose-to-tail feast of whole roasted suckling pig this Wednesday night. Yes, you read that right! And the deliciousness doesn’t end there. Chef Ted Anderson will also be preparing a whack of awesome side dishes to compliment the pig, and wine will help grease the rails. All of a sudden Wednesday night is looking a lot more interesting right?  Word to the wise: tickets are going fast.
Wed, Apr. 17 | 7pm | Campagnolo (1020 Main St) | $59 | DETAILS

SHOP HOP |  The Gastown Spring Shop Hop happens this Thursday night. The one-night-only event offers Vancouverites the opportunity to cruise forty-seven of Gastown’s best shops, check out all of the new spring wares and be treated to great deals, in-store specials and the occasional cupcake . And get this: the kind people of Gastown want to make sure that you don’t get weighed down by the trying on of clothing and the carrying of bags so, with every purchase you make, you’ll receive a food or drink voucher to one of your favourite nearby participating restaurants (think Nicli Antica Pizzeria, Salt, Peckinpah, Pourhouse, Sea Monstr). Even if you’re not looking to spend, the vibe is good and the business owners are friendly. So get hopping.
Thurs, Apr. 18 | 5pm–9pm | Various very cool locations | FREE to browse | DETAILS

BEGGARS BANQUET | It’s spring people, the perfect time for some new duds! Refresh your closet with some stylish vintage at The Beggars Banquet this Friday night. Loaded with a tight selection of cool clothing, jewellery, shoes and handbags, this one-night-only pop-up flea market is guaranteed to inspire. Citizen Grace and Duchesse Vintage will be there, as will Lauren Clark & Lynsdey Chow of Hey Jude and the Jordan River Soap crew (gotta keep squeaky clean).  The bar will be open and the music will be playing. Arrive early and you might even score some complimentary food (provided by The Bottleneck) and R&B beer.
Fri, Apr. 19 | 5-11pm | 213 E Georgia St. in Chinatown | DETAILS

FOUNDATIONS | The Emily Carr University of Art + Design Foundation Show lines the walls of the ECUAD Concourse Gallery with works by first year students. Sure, the show is an opportunity for new students to bring their family and friends down to see what’s been keeping them so busy over the past eight months, but it’s also an opportunity for the general public to size up the next wave of emerging art, design and media makers (and even place bets on their futures by purchasing pieces of their art). Pop down to Granville Island for the opening reception on Friday night. This show continues until April 27.
Fri, Apr. 19 | 7-10pm | Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Granville Island | DETAILS

LISTEN |It’s Record Store Day on Saturday and independently run record stores across the city are fixin’ to help you celebrate. Back to back in-store performances, record releases, sales and the coming together of people who love music – sounds like a fine use of a Saturday! Hit Red Cat Records, Neptoon and Dandelion Emporium on Main and Zulu Records on 4th Avenue for all sorts of record-related fun.
Sat, Apr. 20 | All Day | Various Locations Around Town | Free | DETAILS

ORO |  Klee Larson takes a great photograph, and her artistic abilities don’t stop there – they spill into everything she does. Lately she has been playing around with printing photos on vellum and adding layers of gold foil and resin (the results literally glow). Clear some space on your schedule to attend the opening reception for Klee’s first solo show on Saturday evening. Oro(Spanish and Italian for gold) is a gathering of Klee’s recent works showing at The Shack Art Collective in East Van. The majority of pieces are small and, keeping within the mandate of The Shack, priced within reach (in the $80-$110 range). Bring a little cash in your pocket for art (and a drink) and enter through the alley to check out this cool little gallery and the amazing artist exhibiting within!
Sat, Apr. 20 | 7pm | The Shack Art Collective | 4364 Prince Albert (enter through alley) | DETAILS

GROW | Head to the greenway on East 23rd between St. George and Carolina Streets on Saturday afternoon to load up on plants. A fantastic plant swap is going down that will give gardeners and food growers the chance to buy or trade plants just in time for spring planting. Bring along gardening tools that you no longer need and donate them to a new home, get gardening advice from experts, and take part in Earth Day activities while you’re there.
Sat, Apr. 20 | 1-4pm | Tupper Greenway (500 Block of East 23rd Ave)

WRITERS FESTIVAL | The 14th Annual North Shore Writers Festival is on this Friday and Saturday. Head over to Lynn Valley to sit in on readings, panels and discussions aimed at celebrating Canadian writing and literature. Super stoked for the fun that will surely ensue at Friday night’s Literary Trivia event (hosted by author and CBC Radio superstar Grant Lawrence and the astoundingly well versed ‘Quiz Mistress’ (and librarian) Julie Backer. Also looking forward to The Art of Food Writing, a panel discussion with Diana Chan (Foodology), Andrew Morrison (Scout), Mijune Pak (FollowmeFoodie) and Stephanie Yuen moderated by Barbara-jo McIntosh (Saturday, 1–2:30pm).
Fri, Apr. 19 – Sat, Apr. 20 | Various Times | 1277 Lynn Valley Rd, North Vancouver

4:20 | On the 20th day of the 4th month (that would be this Saturday), thousands of people gather in, on and around the Vancouver Art Gallery to celebrate one of BC’s strongest industries: marijuana. Pot cookies, smoking tents, bongo drums, naked people and dreadlocks…expect it all. The first reefers are lit early and the cloud of blue love gathers all day, reaching it’s zenith in a storm at 4:20pm. If you’re driving through downtown, take caution around the VAG parameter, as there may be a few slow moving pedestrians to avoid. If you are attending and get the munchies, the Scout tip of the week is that Bel Cafe at The Hotel Georgia will be selling 4:20 themed Hemp Seed Macaron ($2) all day. Between those and the fleet of food carts on site, you should be all good, man.
Sat, Apr. 20 | 4:20pm | Vancouver Art Gallery | Free (or $5 a joint)

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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