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…

OF A FEATHER | This is Bird Week. Being that Vancouver is a smack in the middle of the ‘Pacific Flyway’ route for migratory birds (the north-south route that flows from Alaska to Patagonia), we get to see plenty of seasonal species, and the city boasts a number of bird specialists willing to share their knowledge. So dig in, become a bird lover! There are so many great ways to get involved: peruse the bird displays mounted at The Vancouver Library Concourse Gallery, sit in on one of a series of talks (“From Herring to Gray Whales: One Bird’s Partnerships in a Changing Sea” on Wednesday night, “Society of Crows” on Saturday night) or take one of numerous guided walks at various locations around town. There’s even a Mother’s Day Tea with the Birds. The Stanley Park Ecological Society provides a comprehensive guide to bird related events. Check it out here.
All week | Various times and locations | FREE | DETAILS

ART | Vancouver artist George Vergette has some new work to show off. His latest show, Flowers and Trees, will feature a series of acrylic on canvas or resin on panel paintings. Rather than a description of content or theme, the title of the show is a reference to a 1932 Disney film shot in the Technicolor 3 strip process – a dye-transfer, colour photography method that Vergette explores in the development of his paintings. Hit the opening reception at Gallery Jones on Thursday to see for yourself.
Thur, May 9 | 5-9pm | Gallery Jones (1725 West 3rd Ave) | Free | DETAILS

HEALTH | Learn about growing and using plants as medicine this Thursday night at Growing Medicinals and Making Salves, a collaborative workshop. It’s being put on by the ladies of Victory Gardens, who will be talking about what medicinal plants are and which ones you can grow or forage for locally, and the Environmental Youth Alliance, who will be demonstrating how to make salves. It goes down at The Soap Dispensary on Main Street, and attendees all leave with knowledge AND a handmade salve.
Thur, May 9 | 7pm | The Soap Dispensary (3623 Main St.) | $25 | DETAILS

FEAST | Spot Prawns are coming to the docks of Granville Island this weekend! The official season begins on Saturday with the annual Spot Prawn Festival at False Creek’s Fisherman’s Wharf (just west of Granville Island on the south side of False Creek). The event, founded by the Chefs’ Table Society of BC, will include a huge spot prawn boil accompanied by sides and sauces, plus a wine and beer tent. All tickets for the 2013 Spot Prawn Boil will be sold in advance this year (none will be available at the door), so get yours by visiting the Chefs Table Society’s website. If the event sells out, don’t worry. You can buy the critters from the dock after noon!
Sat, May 11 | 11am-3pm | False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf | $12 | DETAILS

EAT LOCAL | Trout Lake and Kitsilano Farmers Markets open this weekend, and if that isn’t a sure sign of summer, I don’t know what is! Stock up on goodies like local salad greens and stinging nettles, fresh vegetables and herbs. There will also be artisan breads and preserves, honey, wild salmon, cookies, pies, flowers and even a food truck or two to keep you busy. Welcome back, farmers! We’ve missed you!
Trout Lake: Sat May 11 | 9am-2pm | North Parking Lot, John Hendry Park | DETAILS
Kits: Sun, May 12 | 10am-2pm | 2690 Larch @ 10th | DETAILS

COMMUNITY | The Stone Soup Festival is on this weekend celebrating food, art, the environment, and community. The festival includes growing and planting workshops for kids and for grown-ups, a talk about the economics of sustainable food systems, a bike tuning workshop, an origami workshop, live music, food and plant vendors, plus free soup! A strong and united community can do some amazing things, so get in the spirit!
Sat, May 11 | 12-5 pm | Britannia Community Centre (1661 Napier) | Free | DETAILS

SUPER SCORE | Bummed that Kurt Vile is playing a sold-out show at The Biltmore on Saturday night and you didn’t score tickets? Totally justifiable feeling! But don’t slip into a deep pit of despair. Comfort yourself with the next best thing: a Kurt Vile after-party! The cats at The Acorn are throwing a bit of an after-gig gig that will feature drink specials (how about a $4 pint or an Electric Light – lychee, prosecco, lemon thyme, gin and vanilla) and members of Kurt Vile and the Violators on DJ duty. And not for nothing, the new menu is out and it rocks, too.
Sat, May 11 | 10:30pm-2am | The Acorn (3995 Main St) | Free | DETAILS

CELEBRATE SCIENCE | Nerd out at Science Rendezvous this weekend. This is a party with something for everyone: from science-themed magic shows for young kids to short informative lectures for adults. Grab a kid (yours, preferably) to accompany you and sit in on short workshops, check out exhibit tables and listen to talks with titles like “The Future of Energy” and “Research in the Rainforest: Are Red-throated Caracaras Chemically-defended Against Wasps” (even though lectures are presented by some of SFU’s most celebrated faculty, they are designed to be accessible for those without a science background). Science Rendezvous goes down in 40 cities across Canada. Get out there and represent! Maybe you’ll come out a little smarter. If not, free popcorn and ice cream!
Sat, May 11th from 11 – 4pm | SFU, Burnaby (South Concourse, 3000 Level) | Free | DETAILS

EASTSIDE FLEA | Somewhere between a boutique vintage pop-up and a garage sale, a well executed flea market offers thrifty treasure hunters the chance to score unique goods at reasonable prices. The key components of a home-run are good selection, low prices and a mix of old and new. New York, London, Paris, LA – all the swell cities have them, and now, so do we: The Eastside Flea at the WISE Hall happens again this Saturday. Expect found, salvaged and reclaimed goods, vintage clothing and vinyl, hand made soaps, jewellery and accessories and some kick-ass apple pie (The Pie Shoppe and Panoramic Roasters will be on site, hooray!). People are saying this is the best gig going, and the only one way to know for sure is to check it out for yourself this Saturday!
Sat, May 11 | 9am-3pm | The Wise Hall (1882 Adanac St) | Free | DETAILS

FOODIE ALERT | Love good street food? Get ready for the Hawker’s Market at East Van Studios this Saturday night. This time around the Hawkers Market sees a dramatic increase in the numbers and types of food on offer. The Wonton Girl will be there, so will Holy Crepe and Looters Lemonade. Chef Keev Mah from Gastown’s soon to open Bambudda will be serving up open flame, charcoal roasted suckling pig and there are rumours of a “boozy adult inspired ice cream sunday bar”. All of that AND drinks, music, and mingling, too? That’s a solid Saturday night, right there, kids. Tickets are 10 beans when you grab them in advance and 15 at the door. Snag yours here. SADLY, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED….”Today we had a very unfortunate turn of events at our venue. Our plumbing is not up to code and thus cannot hold a safe event consciously. As a collective between our team and all of the vendors we have agreed that rather than scaling back the event, we will reschedule so we do not have to sacrifice quality in any way.”
Sat, May 11 | 7pm – Late | Eastvan Studios (870 E Cordova) | $10/$15 at the door | 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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