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. You can also check it out in the Globe &; Mail, from our calendar to yours…

CELEBRATE | It’s Diawli time. The South Asian festival of light is on all week and there are lots of cool workshops, events and performances planned throughout the city. Expect live music, fashion shows, workshops, traditional diya lamp painting, henna tattooing, and the occasional explosion of Bollywood-style dance. We recommend The West End Community Centre on Friday (there are some great workshops planned – check ’em out here) and the Indian bazaar (full of South Asian crafts and lots of food) at Yaletown’s Roundhouse Community Centre on Saturday. Activities take place at numerous locations across the city, now through November 8th. Check the Diawli Fest website for details.
Now – November 8 | Various times and Locations | DETAILS

PHOTOGRAPHY | As a city-wide photography festival aimed at showcasing all manner of ‘lens-based art’, Capture displays the work of emerging and established artists from here and around the world in over 55 exhibitions. Complimenting the visual component of the festival are a series of tours, talks and workshops open to the public. This week, we recommend taking a trip out UBC’s new Art History and Visual Art Gallery to hear local artist Chris Dikeakos speak about the current exhibit “The Photo Show: 1969/2013 – Exploring the Photo Conceptual Archive”. Shots in this show were taken by younger versions of established Vancouver artists (Illyas Pagonis, Jeff Wall, Ian Wallace, and Iain Baxter as well as Chris Dikeakos) when they were students at UBC’s Department of Fine Arts in the late 60’s.
Wed, Oct. 30 | 12:30pm | Rm 1001 Audain Art Centre (6398 University Blvd) | DETAILS

EAT | Start November off right by loading up a plate with good food, grabbing a seat seat at a communal table and making a new friends at Perogy Night. On the first Friday of each month, the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral off Main St. sorts plenty of people out by serving up an authentic Ukrainian dinner and a warm, fuzzy community glow for cheap. A “regular dinner” consists of 6 perogies, 2 cabbage rolls, sauerkraut or salad and Ukrainian sausage and costs just $12 (upgrade to a Super Dinner for $15 and pick up an extra 4 perogies and another cabbage roll). If you’re looking for something a little lighter, borscht served with rye bread is only $3.50. It’s an awesome deal that could only get better if they had $1 pie. Wait – they do?! See you there.
Fri, Nov. 1 | 5-8pm | Holy Trinity Ukrainian Cathedral | 154 E 10th | $3.50 – $15 | DETAILS

IN-STORE | Hightail it over to Zulu Records Friday evening for a special in-store appearance by Michigan ‘proto-punkers’ Death. Not familiar? Check out the trailer for the documentary about the band here (there’s a bit of a Searching for Sugarman-esque buzz about this one). Death is making a stop at Zulu before their performance at The Rickshaw, just to meet and talk to fans. Get in on it, but get there early as space is limited and standing on the street outside with your nose pressed against the window isn’t as fun as hanging out inside with punk rockers. Death takes stage at the Rickshaw Friday night (along with Tough Age and Hag Face).
Fri, Nov. 1 | 7pm | Zulu Records (1972 West 4th)| Free | DETAILS

LOST BOYS | Hot for vampires? The Rio Theatre has you covered this Friday night with The Lost Boys. Pick up a beer from the theatre bar and slide into one of those comfy velvet seats for an evening of 80’s glam-horror starring Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland, Jami Gertz, Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest. As always, extra points and a buck off of admission for film-related costume. “Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die. It’s fun to be a vampire.”
Fri, Nov. 1 | 11pm | Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway) | $8/$6 | DETAILS

EASTSIDE FLEA | It’s November – time for a new sweater, a snappy scarf, and maybe some mittens. Don’t drop top dollar on department store clothing if it isn’t necessary. Pick up something with character (and a fair price-tag) at the 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. If the key components are good selection, low prices and a mix of old and new, then The Eastside Flea at the WISE Hall is a homerun. Find out for yourself this Saturday. Expect found, salvaged and reclaimed goods, vintage clothing and vinyl, hand made soaps, jewellery and accessories as well as some kickass pakoras from Varincey Pakoras.
Sat, Nov. 2 | 10am | The Wise Hall (1882 Adanac St) | Free | DETAILS

WINTER FARMERS MARKET | You will remember, sadly, that we will lose an hour of daylight this weekend. It’s time to accept it: winter is coming. Be strong, eat well, and take your vitamins. Thank the theoretical heavens that the Winter Farmers Market is up and running this weekend. Shoot over to 30th and Ontario to load up on local fruits and veggies that will keep you healthy and happy in these dark times. Look for fresh kale, crispy apples from Klipper’s Organics, cheese from Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, as well as baked goods, preserves and local honey.
Saturday, Nov. 2 – Apr 26 | 10am – 2pm | East Parking Lot Nat Bailey Stadium | DETAILS

LEARN | The Homesteaders Emporium claims that making cheese at home can be surprisingly easy. We trust them, as Do-It-Yourself is their area of expertise. Find out how easy it can be by attending a 90 minute drop-in cheese making session designed for beginners. Learn the process and get answers to questions like “what is rennet, how does milk curdle, is a little mould on my cheese OK?”. Emporium owner and amateur cheese maker Rick Havlak will also dazzle you by making a variety of fresh and aged cheeses before your very eyes. This is a really low-key event. Walk-ins ARE welcome to this event, but seating precedence will be given to registered attendees.
Sat, Nov. 2 | 11am-12:30pm | Homesteaders Emporium (649 East Hastings) | $5 | DETAILS

DESIGN | If you’re interested in the rise of the ‘small home’ and the growing popularity of laneway homes as a viable housing solution in this city, you will want to make your way to the Museum of Vancouver for Design Sunday where interior design educator Brenda Snaith leads a talk called “Laneway Homes: Emergent Evolutions,  for compact living and sustainability.” MOV has asked Snaith to take a look at aspects of small housing design using student submissions from the 2013 IDSWest “Student Charrette” (designs that resulted after teams were allotted six short hours to create, develop and prepare presentations about their designs for laneway housing). Get in there and talk about what you think works and what doesn’t. Collaboration is a great way to realize change!
Sun, Nov. 3 | 2pm | The Museum of Vancouver (1100 Chestnut Street) | $12 | DETAILS 

FRESH AIR | This is a phenomenal time of year to head out to the George C. Reifl Bird Sanctuary on Westham Island. Reifel is a protected habitat for migratory birds located at the northern end of the island. Even if you’re not in to birds, there are few prettier places in the Lower Mainland to stretch your legs and breathe in some fresh air. Stop in at Steveston on the way home for some fish and chips and a walk on the docks.
Reifl Bird Sanctuary | Every day | 9am-4pm | 5191 Robertson Road, Delta | $5 | 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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