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SCOUT LIST: 10 Things That You Should Absolutely Do Between Now & Next Week

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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…

GO BOWLING | The sun was nice and all, but it looks like our weather is back to sucking again this week. Instead of getting down about it, plan some indoor fun. Grab some friends and hit the bowling alley. Commodore Lanes on Granville Street and Grandview Lanes over on Commercial are good places to start. While Grandview offers 5-pin and 10-pin bowling with the added bonus of black light (ooh, look at it glow) bowling, Commodore Lanes boasts 21 billiard tables and a lounge. In the end, both venues have all of the elements necessary for a good (indoor) time, so hit ’em up.
Grandview Lanes | 10am-11pm (1am on weekends) | 2195 Commercial | DETAILS
Commodore Lanes | 11am-12am (1am on weekends) | 838 Granville | DETAILS

NIGHT MARKET | This is the second weekend of the 2013 Chinatown Night Market season. While the market remains in ‘soft start’ mode (the full compliment of vendors and special events will evolve over the next few weeks), this run-up to the fully fledged, revamped and super awesome night market is definitely still worth getting out of the house for. Part market, part circus, part food truck extravaganza, the block of Keefer between Main and Columbia comes alive with that magical chaos that is unique to Chinatown. Highlights include 4 bras for $10 (hells yeah), Potato Tornadoes and Winner Winner Singaporean style chicken on rice  (because “the sauce is boss”). Stay tuned for future bells and whistles like ping pong, Raincity Chronicles and movie night at the market. Like most good times, the market goes on rain or shine.
Every Fri, Sat, Sun | 6pm-11pm | Keefer St. between Main & Columbia in Chinatown | DETAILS

SOIREE | We don’t usually throw expensive ticket items on The Scout List, but we’re making an exception this week. A Better Life Foundation launches this Saturday night and things are kicking off in style with a party at The Vancouver Art Gallery. $250 buys you access to the party (fine food, drinks, and music by Vancouver musician Ryan Guldemond (Mother Mother) as well as to gallery exhibitions including Grand Hotel) but more importantly, your money goes to support the foundation’s two objectives: “to relieve poverty by providing nutritious meals to those in need […] to relieve poverty by providing job skills, training opportunities and job placement assistance for people with employment barriers.” $175 from each ticket purchase is tax deductible.
Saturday, May 25 | 7-11pm | Vancouver Art Gallery (740 Hornby St) | $250 | DETAILS

UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF CHINATOWN | If you’ve ever wandered through Chinatown curios as to the historical context of buildings and landmarks, baffled by which restaurants serve what and confused about the purposes of the many societies and organizations, there is help. Pender Keefer Georgia is the insiders guidebook to Chinatown billed as “The print equivalent of knowing a local.” Created and published by Vancouverite Jill Southern, not only is the guide useful as all-get-out, it’s beautifully designed and delightful to flip through. So make your way to The Chinatown Experiment this weekend and get in on the release of the second issue of the guidebook. Snag yourself a copy before they are sold out! Also, enjoy some tea from Jane’s Tea & Arts, food from New Town Bakery as well as a little something from the cash bar.
Sat, May 25 | 6-11:30pm | The Chinatown Experiment (434 Columbia St) | DETAILS

SUPPORT LOCAL | Portobello West is holding a Summer Market this weekend. Flip through clothing, accessories and trinkets from loads of local designers; eat well; and enjoy the gorgeous setting. Grab a coffee and a peach rosemary tart at Terra Breads and then take a stroll along the seawall afterwards.
Sat + Sun, May 25, 26 | 11am-5pm | Creekside Community Centre | $2 | DETAILS

BREAKER FAIRE | For a pancake breakfast with a serious twist, drop in to the Vancouver Community Laboratory this weekend where you can burn-off the calories from your civilized plate of pancakes with some car-wrecking swings at an old Triumph. Seriously, there will be an old Triumph that you can smash for only a few dollars per swing, so gather all of that pent-up frustration or work-related tension and take it out on a car carcass (don’t worry – the resourceful and creative Makers on site will use all the bits and pieces for art). Other highlights include Panterragaffe (a pedal-powered two-person walking machine that looks like a spider) and The Big Claw (use a joystick to operate a giant mechanical claw pick up balloons for prizes). Proceeds benefit the Vancouver Community Lab and Vancouver Mini Maker Faire (June 1st+2nd at the PNE Forum). And those are two groups that you want to support. I mean, who do you think dreams up these mammoth mechanical spiders and claw-games anyway?
Sat, May 25 | 10am-5pm | Vancouver Community Lab | Entrance by donation | DETAILS

CHEAP BOOKS | Outfit yourself with a solid assortment of spring reads at the Vancouver Public Library this weekend. This spring book sale will see the books donated to the Friends of The Library go on sale to raise funds for programs and services. The sale is located in the Promenade area of Library Square.
Thursday, May 23 – Saturday May 25 | 10am -5pm Daily | Vancouver Public Library (350 W. Georgia St.) | DETAILS

LISTEN | Musically speaking, this is a busy week in Vancouver. The XX is in town and playing The QE (tickets are going to be hard to come by, try Craiglist or scalpers) and Mumford and Sons somehow ended up playing Holland Park in Surrey, but before you go trying to figure out how to get there, you should know that tickets are all gone for that one, too, so it’s back to Craigslist for you. If that doesn’t work out and you’re still up for a gig, consider hightailing it to The W.I.S.E. Hall in Eastvan for an evening with Supersuckers, or hold on one more night and catch East Van Morrison at The Goldcorp Centre for the Arts on Saturday.

SUNSHINE COAST | If you can skip town, consider running off to the Sunshine Coast for the sixth annual Lund Shellfish Festival this weekend. A quick ferry ride and a beautiful drive down a winding road gets you fresh cooked seafood, tours, and cooking demonstrations.
May 24, 25, 26 | Lund, BC | DETAILS

FEAST TOFINO | The 3rd annual Feast Tofino wraps up at the end of May, so get on it while you still can. There are so many excellent eateries and oodles enthusiasm for high quality ingredients at the end of the Canadian road. Check it out all the boat to table cuisine before the festival ends over!
Events nightly though to May 31st |  DETAILS

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

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late-may-2009-169Michelle 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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Scout List, Vol. 601

From our calendar to yours comes this carefully considered agenda of cool things we are doing, wishing we could do, or conspiring to do in Vancouver, right now.

Scout List, Vol. 600

From our calendar to yours comes this carefully considered agenda of cool things we are doing, wishing we could do, or conspiring to do in Vancouver, from March 30th to April 5th, 2023.

Scout List, Vol. 599

From our calendar to yours comes this carefully considered agenda of cool things we are doing, wishing we could do, or conspiring to do in Vancouver over the days and weeks ahead.