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…

LEARN | Looking to take up a new hobby? How about embroidery? I’m totally serious. There are not one but two embroidery classes going on this week and neither of them comes anywhere close to resembling anything approaching granny-style. Option 1 is a vintage tattoo-inspired class brought to you by the creative and enthusiastic folks behind Tin Can Studio. Hang out curb side in Vancouver’s coolest roving studio and learn how to create art using a needle and thread from local gal Hilary Webb. This class comes with a fun embroidery kit that includes “everything you need to get stitching with ease and style” and, because the whole thing is going down at The Dunlvey Snackbar, records will be playing and cocktails will be served. Option 2 doesn’t come with booze, but it’s significantly less expensive and does come with materials, use of tools and super-star guest-host Leanne Prain (author of Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery, co-author of Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti). This workshop is a day-time event and takes place at Bird On A Wire on Main Street. Either way, you’re guaranteed to walk out of the afternoon with a new skill that will impress your friends. No “Home-Sweet-Home” stuff – this is embroidery for badasses.
Option 1 | Wed, Dec 4 | Tin Can Studio (Parked at 433 Dunlevy) | $75 | DETAILS
Option 2 | Sat, Dec 7 | 1-3pm | Bird On A Wire (2535 Main) | $45 | DETAILS

READ | Slow down and take some time out with a good book. If you’re in need of new reading material, you’re in luck because this weekend is the Vancouver Public Library’s Winter Book Sale. Cruise through table upon table of titles in the promenade area of Library Square and leave loaded up with a solid assortment of winter reads (get some affordable holiday shopping done, too).
Thurs–Sat Dec 5, 6, 7 | 10am-5pm | Vancouver Public Library (350 W. Georgia) | DETAILS

WRITE | If there’s one month of the year that the Regional Assembly of Text Letter Writing Club is a must – it’s got to be this one. If you’ve never heard of it before, the wonderful Main St. store sports a brilliant collection of books, paper, cards, stamps, chalkboards, boxes, and yes, even clothing, and on the first Thursday of every month they host a Letter Writing Club. It’s free, open to everyone, and supplies are provided. So don’t leave Christmas Cards until the last minute. Get ‘em done and in the mail! Such a move is highly recommended by Santa.
Thurs, Dec 5 | 7:30 pm | Regional Assembly of Text (3934 Main) | Free | DETAILS

GET UP | Friday is Creative Mornings, the monthly AM gathering for creative types at SFU Woodwards. Each event includes a 20 minute lecture, followed by a 20 minute group discussion. It begins at 8:30am and ends with everyone splitting for their respective offices at 10am. This month, CM adopts the topic “Make”. Local paper artist, photographer, thinker and all-around creator Rachael Ashe will be taking the stage to talk. Ashe has been part of Mini Maker Faire and the indie craft fair Got Craft? She participates in the Eastside Culture Crawl and also curates Hot Talks, a speaker series at Hot Art Wet City gallery up on Main Street, so we’re betting she’ll have some interesting things to share. Sign-up here ASAP as tickets go FAST.
Fri, Dec 6 | 8:30-10am | Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 W Hastings) | DETAILS

TOQUE | Not all craft fairs are created equal. Right near the very top of the mountain of holiday craft fairs is Toque at the Western Front. The curation standards are high; everything is amazing. Expect to find work by fine Vancouver artists and designers like superstar handbag designer Erin Templeton, sublimely gifted potter Gailan Ngan, always ahead-of-the-curve Henderson Dry Goods and truly beautiful books from booksellers Simply Read. Quietly one of the best craft fairs on the scene. Skip over to the Toque tumblr for examples of what you might see.
Fri, Dec 6 /Sat, Dec 7 | 6-10pm Fri, 11am-7pm Sat | Western Front (303 E. 8th) | DETAILS

YORK THEATRE | The York Theatre opens this weekend. The 100-year-old icon on Commercial Drive was recently saved from demolition to be restored as a community rental venue operated by the good and knowledgeable folks at The Cultch. Be there on opening night and be among the first to take a behind-the-scenes tour, catch a performance (An East Van Panto is premiering, written by local funny dude Charles Demers with music by Veda Hille). Stick around afterwards for an on-stage post-performance party. We see more cultural institutions close than open, so this event is definitely worthy of celebration. Pro tip: Nick’s Spaghetti House is located just next door. Arrive early for some pasta and wine!
Fri, Dec 6 | 7pm | The York Theatre (639 Commercial Dr) | DETAILS

CHEER | The Carol Ships have been dusted off, decorated and outfitted with teams of cheerful people. Their beautiful voices will be making their seasonal debut on the waters of the Vancouver inner harbour this Friday night. Ships will be at Canada Place at 7:30pm for the annual ‘lighting of the sails’, after which they will head out for a tour. Boats will pass by the South Shore between 7:45pm and 8:15pm and visiting the North Shore between 8:30pm and 9:20pm. Expect them to pass under the Lions Gate Bridge at 9:30pm and move on to English Bay to finish at 10:00pm. So throw on some gloves and a scarf and take a winter walk on the seawall on Friday night. There’s no rain scheduled, so make the plan!
Fri, Dec 6 | 7:30-10pm | Vancouver Inner Harbour | DETAILS

PARTY | Chinatown’s Blim has been making Vancouver a little more interesting through workshops, art shows and craft markets for ten years now. That’s a big deal – and something to celebrate, so hustle over to Main Street’s media arts access centre, VIVO, to get in on a party planned to mark the auspicious occasion of Blim’s 10-year anniversary. There will be a slough of special guests (DJ’s, musicians, performers) to make the evening exciting and ‘Blimmy’, not to mention a crowd of generally cool human beings giving support and props to founder Yuriko Iga. An evening of good vibes punctuated by neon coloured tights and animal print t-shirts! You know you love it.
Sat, Dec 7 | 9pm | VIVO (1965 Main St.)| $ By donation | DETAILS

EAT LOCAL | The Farmers Market takes place this Saturday out at Nat Bailey. With only one per week during the winter months, it’s really important that you hit the parking lot to load up on all the locally produced goodies that will keep you healthy and happy during these cold and wet winter months. Right now you can expect to see oodles of fresh kale, beets, fennel, artisan breads, dried fruits, preserves, cheeses, and much, much more.
Sat, Dec 8 | 10am–2pm | East Parking Lot, Nat Bailey Stadium (30th @ Ontario) | DETAILS

BUY | Pick up some new duds at the Tunic clothing and accessory sale this weekend. Organizers (Mira Campbell + Kathy Hamagami) have assembled a quality selection of clothing (‘better garments’ is the term they use). It’ll be a little like rifling through your stylish friends closet and making off with a new outfit. Expect jewelry, locally designed knitwear, lightly used and vintage clothing, cool accessories, and – because the whole thing is going down at The Dunlvey Snackbar – records will be playing and cocktails served.
Sun, Dec 8 | Noon-6pm | The Dunlevy Snackbar (433 Dunlevy Ave) | Cash only | 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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