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…

LASER CUTTER CAFE | There’s a new pop-up scheduled for The Chinatown Experiment this week. Laser Cutter Cafe owner Derek Gaw is moving in his Full Spectrum Laser Cutter. It can etch – with laser perfection – images and text onto everything from business cards printed on wood veneer to etched glass, puzzles, sculpture and signage. You can book it and experiment. Bring him a jpeg, word document or vector file and he can teach you how to have it burned onto just about anything (I have personally seen this done on nori, potato chips, bread, wood, and glass). Once you see what’s possible, you won’t be able to stop yourself from imagining the different things that you could do if you could get your hands on such a contraption. Start with a Safety and Basic Usage Tutorial ($25 includes a 30 minute booking).
Wed, June 26 – August 6 | Noon – 9pm | 434 Columbia Street | 30 Min/ $15 | 120 min $50 | DETAILS

CULT CLASSIC | Slip into a plush theatre seat with a drink and chill through the classic 1967 flick The Graduate at The Rio Theatre this Friday night. You can’t go wrong with Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock, Anne Bancroft as the sultry Mrs. Robinson, and a soundtrack by Simon & Garfunkel. This ‘Midnight Movie’ will be hosted by Vancouver comic and ping pong promoter, Michael Unger. Dress up in a movie-inspired costume to receive $1 off the $8 cover (that dollar could go toward your first beer!).
Fri, June 28 | 11pm | The Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway) | $8 | DETAILS

ROCKS RESERVOIRS AND RAINFOREST | Take a guided walk around Little Mountain to learn about the natural history of this landmark green space. Celia Brauer (False Creek Watershed Society) will lead the rain or shine walk and discuss the human history of the area (before and after European settlement) as well as many of the unique features and tree and plant specimens found in the park.
Sunday, June 30 | 10:30am | Queen Elizabeth Park (4600 Cambie St) DETAILS 

WAKE OWL | Perfectly suited to play a small venue on a Saturday night at the beginning of summer are indie folk band Wake Owl. Darryl Wright (Popmatters.com) recently wrote a review about the bands latest 6-track EP that starts out: “Sometimes, the finest things are right under your nose. I was given a link to a Wake Owl track with a casual, ‘Hey—you might dig this.’ I checked it out and moments after I heard the first maple-sweet refrain of, ‘If I wanna leave I will / Stand on my feet, I do / Only takes these words, you / Never believe are true’ I pressed stop and went and paid cash for the EP. I know you’re probably thinking that’s how it should work, but let’s be honest—in 2013 it’s a bigger statement than it used to be.” Read the rest of the review here. Tickets are cheap and summer is waiting.
Saturday, June 29 | 8pm | The Electric Owl (926 Main Street) | $13.50 | DETAILS 

POSTER ART | Design firm Knauf and Brown are throwing one of their poster parties this weekend. Make your way to Fortune Sound Club on East Pender where there will be a fancy printer pumping out 2 foot by 3 foot, black and white artist’s posters for $15. Check it out!
Friday, June 28 | 9pm | Fortune Sound Club Project Space (147 E Pender St) | DETAILS 

THE PAPER HOUND | There’s a new independent bookstore in town.  The Paper Hound – which deals in fairly priced used and rare books and a limited selection of new books from local presses like Anvil and Arsenal Pulp Press – opened it’s doors at 344 W Pender this past week and it’s shelves are teeming with fantastic choices for weekend reading. Owned by Kim Koch and Rod Clarke (two bibliophiles who met while working down the block at MacLeods Books), The Paper Hound is the newest edition to a cluster of really awesome bookshops in the area. Grab a coffee or tea at nearby Finch’s and lose yourself in the stacks for a little while! DETAILS

EAST SIDE PRIDE | Celebrate gay pride over at Grandview Park this coming weekend. Count on hundreds of other people perusing the Pride Market (made up of wares of local artisans) and enjoy an eclectic mix of live music and (fingers crossed for sun) chilling on the grass. This free event is all-ages and appropriate for the whole family.
Saturday June 29 | 12pm | Grandview Park, Commercial Drive | Free | DETAILS

FEAST | UBC Farm is such a great place; home to fantastic learning gardens, programs and workshops, a Saturday Farmers Market, chickens, cob buildings and lovely grounds to explore. We should all be proud that a farm like this exists in our city. It’s also important to remember that to keep it going costs money. Consider contributing to its strength and the impact it has on our communities by kicking in with a little support. Clear your schedule for June 30th, when 16 home cooks from different ethnic backgrounds gather to offer their family comfort foods at the 3rd annual international food fair and UBC Farm fundraiser. The countries and ethnicities represented at this year’s event are: Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Scotland, Colombia, French Canadian, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Fiji, Malaysia, Salish (BC Interior), Caribbean, Mexico, Sudan, and Serbia (not to mention our very own west coast). Wander the farm grounds, taste authentic ethnic cuisine and support a kick-ass urban-meets-rural icon all at once! See you there.
Sunday, June 30 | 1-4pm | UBC Farm | $50 | DETAILS

EAT LOCAL | As always, make sure you grab locally grown produce from good people at your neighbourhood farmer’s market. This week We’re going for local garlic scapes, snap peas, Pure Bread, strawberries and lots of greens.
Trout Lake Farmers Market | Saturday | 9am-2pm | Trout Lake | Free
Kitsilano Farmers Market | Sunday | 10am – 2pm | 2690 Larch @ 10th | Free
West End Farmers Market | Saturday | 9am-2pm | 1100 Block Comox | Free
Thornton Park | Wednesday | 3pm – 7pm | Main Street Station at Terminal | Free
Dundarave (West Van) Saturday | 9am – 3pm | Between 24 & 25 on Marine
UBC Farm Market: Saturday | 9-1 | UBC Farm
Oak Street Market | Wednesday | 3-7pm | Oak @ 49th (Unitarian Church) | Free | DETAILS

GAME PLAN | Canada Day is a happy day with glowing hearts, true patriot love, and a party on nearly every corner. Head downtown for all day holiday celebrations at Canada Place. These will include music, entertainment, and activities. The Canada Day parade kicks off at 7pm (beginning at Georgia & Broughton Streets, the parade heads east to Burrard, flowing north until it’s end at West Hastings Street). Stick around Canada Place after the parade for fireworks that will light up the sky over Burrard Inlet after 10:30pm. The show will be visible from numerous locations (Coal Harbour, Stanley Park, West Vancouver and North Vancouver) for free, but it’ll be crowded. Save a spot in the reserved area at Canada Place and score yourself some unobstructed views (and easy access to washrooms) for $10 (details). Oh, plus we’re 146 years this year! Looking good!
Mon, July 1 | All Day, parade starts at 7:30, fireworks at 10:30 | Canada Place | DETAILS

BBQ | Steveston Salmon Festival is on in…well, Steveston. This is the 67th year that Salmon Festival hits the docks. There will be a parade, a Japanese Cultural Show, a craft fair, live music and the biggest, best, most wonderful salmon barbecue you have ever seen ($15 per plate). It’s estimated that somewhere in the neighbourhood of 70,000 people will show up. Take transportation and parking into consideration (this is a great day bike trip).
July 1 | All Day | Steveston | 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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