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 theirs…and yours!

LAUGH | Everyone adjusts to a new city at different rates and in different ways. Once you’ve been living in one place for a while you forget how awkward and confusing those first days, weeks and months in a new city were. You get a handle on traffic patterns, directions, customs and local slang, and once all of those local subtleties are under your belt,  it’s easier to look back and laugh at how things started out. It’s those initial growing pains that Vancouverite: A Comedy Show has a giggle at. Make your way to Main Street on Friday night where ‘Vancouverite’ organisers Amber Harper-Young and Brent Constantine have wrangled a roster of local comedians (Andrew MacLachlan, Chris Griffin, Fatima Dhowre, Heather Jordan Ross, Jordan Cohen, and Stefan MacNeil) to tell their stories. This show is as perfect for those new to this city as it is for those who have lived here forever – giving a side-splitting perspective of what it’s like to become a Vancouverite.
Fri, May 9 | 8-10pm (doors 7:30) | 2206 Main (@ 6th) | $5 advance $10 door | DETAILS

FEAST | Spot Prawns are coming to False Creek’s Fisherman’s Wharf this weekend! The official season begins on Saturday with the annual Spot Prawn Festival (just west of Granville Island on the south side of False Creek). The event, founded by the Chefs’ Table Society of BC, is always a sell out. A single ticket to the festival will run you $15. That gets you a plate of three BC spot prawns as well as sauces, salad, and baked goods. Alternatively, you can opt for the “Brine and Dine” package that gives you admission for 2 to the Spot Prawn Boil as well as a snappy looking a Chefs’ Table Society insulated tote bag (handy for taking your live spot prawns home). At last count there were 150 tickets left, so pounce today!
Sat, May 10 | 11am-3pm | False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf | $15 | DETAILS

SPLURGE | Got Craft? You should. Because “mall is a four letter word” and there are few reasons you need to visit one with Got Craft on the scene. Make your way over to The Maritime Labour Centre on this weekend to check out the supercool handmade wares of over 70 indie artists. This event is a Scout favourite — definitely one of the best craft shows in town. We’re going to check out new ceramics by Gabrielle Burke, pick up some salt from The Salt Dispensary, take a look at what jewellery Foe & Dear have for Spring, and pick up a few bags of Chai Caramels from The Candid Confectioner. Remember, if you’re one of the first fifty through the door you could score a free swag bag of goodies, which include handmade items from vendors at the show.
Sat, May 10 + Sun, May 11 | 10am–5pm | 1880 Triumph St | $3 | DETAILS

HAWKERS | The Hawkers Market goes down this weekend. Make your way to Studio East to check out the fine line-up of vendors that organizers have rallied to fill their new (larger) space at 480 Frances Street. Grab yourself a beer from 33 Acres Brewing, a plump doughnut from Electric Jelly Doughnuts, pickled preserves from Three Feet Below, a cookie shooter (a shot glass formed from cookie dough and filled with Nuez milk), Filipino food from Flip Top Truck, and tea from Oollotea. Walk-ins are ok but tickets are available in advance and arriving early is recommended. Music and good vibes continue until late.
Sat, May 10 | 6pm – Late | Studio East (480 Frances St) | $10/$15 at the door | DETAILS

FARMERS | Trout Lake and Kitsilano Farmers Markets open this weekend, and if that isn’t a sure sign of summer, I don’t know what is! Stock up on goodies like local salad greens, stinging nettles, vegetables, and herbs. There’ll also be artisan breads, preserves, honey, wild salmon, cookies, pies, flowers, and even a food truck or two to keep you busy. Welcome back, farmers. We’ve missed you!
Trout Lake: Sat May 10 | 9am-2pm | North Parking Lot, John Hendry Park | DETAILS 
Kits: Sun, May 11 | 10am-2pm | 2690 Larch @ 10th | DETAILS

SPIRITS | BC Distilled goes down this Saturday. The latest products and players from BC’s micro-distillery scene are congregating in one place at one time in order to provide spirit wonks with a snapshot of their burgeoning industry. Expect 16 of BC’s finest small-batch distilleries (along with 1 from the Yukon) sampling and showcasing their artisanal spirits and liqueurs. Think gins, vodkas, and whiskies galore. Blackbird, The Distillery, Edible Canada, Grain Tasting Bar and Forage will also be on site serving canapés to keep tipplers fuelled. You should also anticipate cocktail making demonstrations, tastings, serious conversations, and general booze-nerdery. See you there!
Sat, May 10 | 6-9pm | CBC Studios (700 Hamilton St) | $ 49 | DETAILS

COMMUNITY | The Stone Soup Festival goes down on Commercial Drive this weekend. Its a celebration of food, art, the environment, and community, and includes growing and planting workshops, a talk about “Feeding A Hungry Planet With Engaged Ecology”, a class on how to use recycled materials for painting and printmaking, live music, food and plant vendors, and free soup! A strong and united community can do some amazing things, so get in the spirit!
Sat, May 10 | 12-5 pm | Britannia Community Centre (1661 Napier) | Free | DETAILS

MOTHERS DAY | If you’re still looking for a special way to celebrate Mothers Day – here is a tip: Swallow Tail Secret Supper Club is throwing a three course Mothers Day brunch this weekend. “Eat Your Weeds” will see three thoughtful, healthy and beautifully plated courses paired with an informative wild edibles talk on identifying, harvesting and using flowering elderflower, dandelion and sorrel.
Sun, May 11 | 11-2 | Check in with Swallow Tail to find out location details | $49 | DETAILS 

WATCH | The Documentary Film Festival, DOXA, is still on, and with almost 100 screenings at various venues about town, there’s plenty to keep you entertained. This weeks highlights include a screening of Cesar’s Last Fast, which tells the story of United Farm Workers union leader Cesar Chavez and his last hunger strike protesting the treatment of farm workers and their exposure to carcinogenic pesticides. Poet and activist Raul Gatica and SFU Professor of Sociology and International Studies Gerardo Otero will lead a discussion following the film.
Now through May 11 | Various times, Various venues | DETAILS

THE SHOW | Prepare to be blown away! The annual Degree Exhibition at Emily Carr continues this week and it is absolutely worth finding a parking spot for. Better yet, walk, take a wee ferry, or bike down to Granville Island and make a day of it. Wander the galleries, hallways, foyers and classrooms of the campus to take in upwards of 300 works by the talented graduating students who have come through ECUAD via Design, Media and Visual Arts. The cumulative body of work is astounding in its breadth and sheer volume, so consider tagging along on a one-hour tour to help provide some context. The Show continues until Sunday, May 18 at 6pm.
Now – Sun, May 18 | 10am-8pm | ECUAD (1400 Johnston, Granville Island) | 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 streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy (but faithful) camera.

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