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…

ECO FASHION WEEK | Catch the latest from local designers strutting their wares down runways and across stages to demonstrate how fashion and sustainability are no longer mutually exclusive. Highlights include the 68 lb challenge (contestants search the isles of Value Village to find 68 lbs of used clothing that they then rework in to a new collection) and the Hey Jude Fall ’13 collection preview. Full schedule here.
Now – April 24 | Various times | Robson Square (800 Robson St) | DETAILS

BLOOM | In order to support their endeavours to promote an appreciation for the history and culture of people of Japanese Canadian heritage, the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre in Burnaby is holding a fundraiser this week. Bloom, the museum’s annual art auction, is all about Kokeshi, wee wooden dolls – a little like the austere offspring of a matryoshka doll and a clothes peg – painted in a distinct style and adored for their good luck. Attendees are invited to enjoy canapés, a cash bar and good conversations in between placing bids on 100 artist-designed dolls (check out a gallery of the dolls here).
Thursday, April 25 | 7pm | Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre | $25 | DETAILS

BIG MOUTH | The relationship between art and real estate in Vancouver is an interesting one. Development without regard for art leaves a city bereft of character. Yet, without appropriate development, the creative class will have nowhere to live. The Big Mouth series, conceived of and organized by Polina Bachlakov, seeks to bridge the gap between the worlds of art and real estate development by engaging speakers to explore the opportunities for collaboration and overlap of these two worlds. Speakers include Michael Green (Michael Green Architecture), Mark Shieh (Director of River Market at The Quay), Ron Burnett (President and Vice Chancellor of Emily Carr University of Art + Design), Steven Cox (Principal and Creative Director of Cause+Affect, Pechakucha), Heather Redfern (Executive Director of The Cultch, Vancouver’s East Cultural Centre), Ernesto Gomez (Nuba, Arrival Productions), Donald Luxton (Heritage Vancouver). This event is sold out but the good news is that there will be a limited number of tickets released at the door!
Thursday, April 25 | 7pm | Macaulay Fine Art, 293 East 2nd Ave | Free | DETAILS

OCEAN WISE | The Vancouver Aquarium and Naramata Bench Wineries Association are joining forces this weekend to hold Wine For Waves, a fundraising event for Ocean Wise, the “Vancouver Aquarium conservation program created to educate and empower consumers about the issues surrounding sustainable seafood.” It will offer Vancouverites a first taste of Naramata Bench’s spring release wines paired with seafood prepared by some amazingly talented chefs (Chef Ned Bell of Yew, Chef Bruno Terroso of Poplar Grove, Chef Mark Ashton of Lake Breeze Winery, Chef Darin Paterson of Red Rooster Winery, and more). Good food and wine for a good cause? You can’t go wrong.
Friday, April 26 | Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, 791 West Georgia St | DETAILS

SPLURGE | Got Craft? You should. Make your way over to Templeton Secondary School, (727 Templeton Drive in East Van) this weekend to check out the spring edition of Got Craft and peruse supercool handmade wares of indie artists, designers, bakers and soap makers. This event is a Scout favourite, and definitely one of the best craft shows we have in Vancouver. Bonus: If you’re one of the first 50 people through the door, you’ll have a chance to score a free swag bag of goodies (full of handmade items from vendors at the show).
Sat, April 27 + Sun, April 28 | 10am–5pm | Templeton Secondary School, 727 Templeton Drive | $3 | DETAILS

BELLE GAME | Hannah Georgas and The Belle Game are playing the Rio Theatre on Friday night. They are also playing Saturday night, but good luck getting tickets to that, they went in a snap – prompting this second show. The Belle Game recently wowed the Pecha Kucha Night audience with a pre-show performance, then played Record Store Day at Zulu Records. With a new album out (released April 20) and a quickly growing following, tickets won’t be available for long. Try Redcat or Highlife or call The Rio’s phone service (1-888-222-6608).
Friday, April 26 | 8pm | The Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway) | $25 | DETAILS

LEARN | Cleopatra, well known for her strength and cunning, was rumoured to be besotted by pearls. The presence of these precious, naturally produced gems in her jewellery is the jumping off point for a discussion about the ancient pearl trade. The Vancouver Chapter of The Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities offers a Friday night lecture with Professor Joel Walker (History Department at the University of Washington) that will explore the power of the pearl and it’s role in antiquities of trade and commerce.
Friday, April 26 | 7pm | Alliance for Arts & Culture (938 Howe St) | $5 | DETAILS

A MOST CURIOUS EVENT | Hustle down to Gastown on Friday night for an auction and oyster tasting event at the stunning new location of The Found And The Freed, a pop-up shop teaming with cool antique artifacts. The Curious Oyster Catering Co. will be on site shucking four different types of oysters (sourced from The Outlandish Shellfish Guild), serving canapes and pouring cocktails, wines and scotches selected to perfectly pair with the bivalves. 10 unique items – gathered from back-country barns, abandoned buildings and small town garages – will be auctioned proper-like with a professional auctioneer and paddles. That – and the generally good company that oyster-loving people are famous for – will make for a good start to the weekend.
Friday, April 26 | 7:30pm | 207 Abbott St | $45 | DETAILS

SKATE | The pavement is dry, the sun is shining and the new skate park is open out at UBC (Thunderbird Blvd and Health Sciences Mall). As Canada’s first skatepark located on a university campus, this new facility deserves your attention, for historical and cultural reasons, if not just for fun. Even if you don’t skate, grab yourself a tea or coffee at the UBC Student Union Building, take a seat on the sidelines and watch for a while.

SLOW DOWN | If you’re in or headed to the Okanagan this weekend, slow down and enjoy some good food. The Slow Food Canada National Conference is going down at The Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos and the gathering of chefs, farmers, foodies and winemakers brings with it two Slow Food meals that should not be missed. The premise of Slow Food movement is to respect food and enjoy what you are eating. Know where it comes from, appreciate fully what has gone in to growing, raising, harvesting and preparing that food and do it in a way that celebrates flavour and ritual of sharing food. A pretty sound premise to be sure. Sit down at one of two dinners (Slow Fish Grazing Dinner or Taste of Thomson Okanagan) to immerse yourself in the Slow Food movement, eat some amazing food and meet some great people.
April 27 + 28 | The Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos | $75 | DETAILS

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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