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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…

FEEDBACK | If you’re curious about the new Vancouver Public Library and YWCA housing project to be built at 720 East Hastings over the next few years, you might want to attend an Open House hosted by the City of Vancouver this Thursday night. Take a look at building plans, meet with Library, City and YWCA staff, and generally get a feel for the size and scope of the collaborative project and how it will serve/impact the surrounding area. Decisions are made by those who show up. Now is the time to get involved.
Thursday, June 20 | 4:30-7:30pm | Strathcona Community Centre (601 Keefer St) | Free | DETAILS

BESTIE | Sausage lovers have been patiently waiting for Bestie to open their doors and that day has finally come. The 25 seat German-themed sausage and beer joint offers a straightforward menu of pork bratwurst and currywurst, as well as a rotating poultry sausage and a special or two (all made by Oyama Sausage on Granville Island) and sides such as sauerkraut, fresh baked pretzels and hand-cut, double cooked fries. Not ready to be pulled quite yet (the liquor license is coming down the pipes) but available soon will be German-inspired but locally brewed beer (4 on tap with several others in bottle format). Bestie will be open Monday to Wednesday, 11:30pm to 10pm and until midnight on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The tiny takeout window will operate late nights on weekends. Check out our first pass (with photos) here.
105 East Pender St. in Chinatown | Hooray | DETAILS

ART, EH? | Canada Day is coming up. Stoke your national pride with a Canadian-themed art show that goes beyond maple leafs and beavers. From Bob and Doug McKenzie, Mr. Dressup and David Suzuki to The Beachcombers, Expo 86 and Degrassi Jr. High, Hot Wet City Art Gallery is putting on an exhibit that celebrates quintessentially Canadian pop-culture from the 1980s. “Great White North” is a group show featuring the art of local talents such as Andrea Hooge, Brent Clowater, DEDOS, Edward Juan, Sharon Piekarski, Alice Vogelaar and many others. Opening night is Friday. Show continues until July 13.
Friday June 21 | 7-11pm | Hot Wet City Art Gallery (2206 Main St) | DETAILS

SUMMERTIME WIFE-CARRYING | Good news. Summer officially begins this week. It may look a little soggy out there, but the sun will actually be at the highest point in our west coast sky on Friday evening. The “highest point” means more sun rays and more sun rays mean warmer weather and slower evenings in the parks and beaches across the city. We just have to wait a bit to experience said sunshine. Still, gathering summer memories will keep you sane through the cold nights of winter, so chin up! Plan for the rain to relent, and the moment it does, grab a blanket, a picnic, some good friends and welcome the season by taking some time outdoors. Or, for something really grand and more immediate: ignore the rain and head to the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. Highlights will include the Viking Village, a bonfire and beer garden, a midsummer pole, carnival games, all manner of cultural displays and Scandinavian foods like Danish smørrebrød and tiny, extra super addictive Swedish meatballs (note that Ikea is a shrewd festival sponsor), as well as the only (we think) Wife Carrying Contest in the city. For the full program – have a peek here.
Solstice: Friday, June 21 | 7pm | Everywhere
Midsummer Festival: June 22,23 | Scandinavian Community Centre | DETAILS

BEGGARS BANQUET | Refresh your closet with some stylish summer duds at The Beggars Banquet this Friday night. BB is always loaded with a tight selection of cool clothing, jewellery, shoes and handbags. This edition of the one-night-only pop-up flea market will take place at a special venue: on the rooftop of a Chinatown parkade.  Fresh air flea on the Summer Solstice? Yeah! Even a few raindrops couldn’t hurt that kind of magic!
June 21 + 22 | 5-dark Friday, 11am-7pm Sat | Level 6 of 211 E Georgia St. | DETAILS

CHOW | Need another reason to be stoked for this summer’s imminence? How about the fact that the awesome outdoor extravaganza so deliciously seared into our memories as Food Cart Fest is set to make its tasty return every Sunday – starting this week. It’s true! A flock of some 20 food trucks will be parked around communal tables at a site located between Olympic Village and The Cambie Street Bridge. Expect Soho Road, Mom’s Grilled Cheese, Mogu, Roaming Dragon, Vij’s, Yolks, and Tacofino– maybe even The Juice Truck. And the fun doesn’t stop there. There will also be live music, a community market, and all manner of ancillary vendors making it the raddest bit of undeveloped real estate in the city for one day of each week
Sundays, June 23 – September 22 | 12-5pm | 215 West 1st Avenue $2 entry charge | DETAILS

GOOD KARMA |  In an effort to keep our coastlines free of garbage and debris, Surfride Foundation regularly holds ‘clean-up’ days at local beaches and this weekend they move to the mountains. Mount Seymour is such a phenomenal place to go for a summer hike, so enjoy the forest, get some exercise and do some good all at the same time. Pack garden gloves, bring water and enlist a few friends. There will be a post clean-up BBQ at the top of the hill.
Saturday, June 22 | 11am | Mount Seymour | DETAILS

GO GREEK | Walk, take the bus or ride a bike to Greek Days this weekend. I mention modes of transportation because you won’t be the only one there and you’ll want to focus on having fun, not parking. A day of roaming entertainers, Greek goddesses, warriors and heroes to mingle with! There will be a talent show, cooking demonstrations, kids activities and more. This event is free (until you start ordering souvlaki, Greek salad, gyros, roast lamb, filo pastries).
Sunday, June 23 | 11am to 9pm | Broadway, from McDonald to Blenheim | Free | DETAILS

TROUT LAKE DAY | Sure, there will be face painting, live music and food at Trout Lake Day, but one of the most creative, inclusive and determined neighbourhoods in the city won’t stop with standard fair. Trout Lake Day will also include a synchronized swimming performance, theatrical bird watching tours, art workshops at the mobile Tin Can Studio, a bluegrass jam, an attempt to set a world record for the largest number of people to surround a lake holding hands (stoked!) AND cake. Organizers are encouraging festival goers to come in animal costume, so dust off your old honey badger suit and head to East Van, folks, because it’s time to party.
Sunday June 23 | 2-6pm | Trout Lake Park | Free | DETAILS

DIG IT | The Vancouver International Jazz Festival is still on and with 400 concerts planned, we suggest you get busy making plans. A fair number of the concerts are free and with so many performances going on at over 35 venues all over the city, there’s likely something going on in your neighbourhood. Narrow things down with a game plan by flipping through the long list of what’s going on here. Scout picks include Michael Kaeshammer and Alex Cuba at The Vogue on Friday night ($35) Pugs and Crows at The Electric Owl on Saturday night ($10) and The Patricia Hotel 100th Anniversary Jazz Jam Hosted by Mike Allen on Sunday night (only $5).
Now – July 1 | Various times and venues | Various Prices | DETAILS

BOOKS | Gather the books you’ve been meaning to read – the ones you’ve heard about, read about, wanted to get to and compile your summer reading list. Warm evenings at the park, days at the beach and cottage getaways – perfect reading times. Make sure to have a few classics in the mix. Pick up gently used titles (think The Great Gatsby, Slaughterhouse Five, The Sun Also Rises, Lady Chatterly’s Lover) at the Sons & Lovers pop-up book sale this Sunday. Also on offer: cool children’s lit like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Harriet the Spy, and Swallows and Amazons. Oh, and get this: there will be ice cream (Sunday Morning Ice Cream). Need some pre-sale inspiration? Check out their Scout column here.
Sunday June 23 | 1-4pm | Revolver Coffee (325 Cambie) | 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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There are 4 comments

  1. The open house for the VPL and YWCA proyect was June 20, 2012 (a year ago).
    This is the info from their website:
    Open Houses

    Wednesday, June 20, 2012 Saturday, June 23, 2012
    4:00 – 7:00pm 11:00am – 2:00pm
    Dunlevy Snack Bar Dunlevy Snack Bar
    433 Dunlevy Avenue (between Hastings and Pender streets) 433 Dunlevy Avenue

    Visit the Project Website

    http://www.vpl-ywca-project.ca

  2. Hi Fiorella, just re-confirmed with the VPL and the Community Centre. They’re doing it again this year, coincidentally on the same day as in 2012. Hope to see you there.

  3. Hi Fiorella,

    Last year’s open houses were just part of the community consultation around this exciting project.

    Tomorrow’s open house is part of the City of Vancouver’s rezoning and development permit application process. Plus, we’re much further along in the design process, so this is an opportunity to give us feedback on the library plans!

    Hope to see you there,

    Beth

    Beth Davies, Neighbourhood Services Manager, Vancouver Public Library

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