A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

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

TASTE | Vancouver’s newest (and possibly coolest) wine event goes down this week. Co-founded by wine consultant Kurtis Kolt and Jeff Curry of The Wine Syndicate, Top Drop “looks to shine a brighter light on wineries who focus on producing wines with minimal intervention, paying particular attention to expressing an honest sense of time and place in the glass, the epitome of the term terroir.” The main event – a walk-around grazing-style tasting of wines from 24 wineries as well as pours from like-minded craft breweries and perfectly paired bites from food purveyors such as Curious Oyster, Les Amis du Fromage, Moccia & Urbani Salumeria, Terra Breads – takes place at Heritage Hall Tuesday night and tickets are going fast. Visit www.topdropvancouver.com for more details, but do it quickly!
Tue, Sept 16 | Heritage Hall (3102 Main St) | $49 | DETAILS

DESIGN | There are scores of design-centric events happening throughout the city this week. From VDW: “Vancouver Design Week will turn the city into a petri dish of design process, practice, and perspectives; through a wide range of independent and collaborative programming.” Expect everything from parties to pop-ups, talks and tours, exhibits and workshops. We’re particularly interested to check out P4A (Party For Architects) at Vancouver Special (3612 Main St) on Tuesday night; “Future Livability: Boast or Bust? Can Metro Vancouver Maintain its ‘Livability Credibility’ for the Next 30 Years?” – a lecture at SFU on Wednesday night; and “Why I Design: 30+ Designers Talk With You About What They Do” at The Museum of Vancouver on Friday night.
Sept. 15 – 28 | Various locations, times and prices | DETAILS

MEDIA ARTS | New Forms Festival is on. This is the 14th year for a media arts festival that explores the convergence of music, media, performance and electronic art. Expect installations, talks and screenings as well as audio-visual performances in the Omnimax Theatre and electronic music artists pretty much everywhere.
Sept. 18-21 | Science World, Western Front, Creekside Park | $35 for 3 days | DETAILS

READ | Outfit yourself with a solid assortment of Autumn reads at the Friends of The Vancouver Public Library book sale this weekend. Thousands of discarded and gently used books go on sale starting Thursday – all of them going for less than $2.50 each. The special thing about this sale is that there will be a over 800 comic books in the mix. Pro tip: Saturday sees all books and comics half price.
Thu, Sept 18 – Sat, Sept 20 | 10am–5pm | VPL | 350 Georgia St | Free | DETAILS

COLOURS OF THE COAST | 30 artists from the IDEA (Illustration and Design) program at Capilano University Capilano University have been busy painting their impressions of Vancouver. The resulting body of work is impressive in style, talent and breadth – but don’t take our word for it, have a gander here. For an even better look at what young talent in the city is producing, head to Harbour Centre on Friday night where all original works will be on display against the 360 degree backdrop of the city in the Vancouver Lookout space. Expect live painting demonstrations, refreshments, art work, and lots of inspiration.
Fri, Sept 19 | 5-9pm | Vancouver Lookout (555 W Hastings) | Free | DETAILS

ARCHITECTURE PORN | The Vancouver Heritage Foundation is holding it’s annual Midcentury Modern Residential House Tour this weekend. Participants get to tour the interiors of 5 ‘significant’ West Coast Regional Style Modernist homes in Vancouver. Architecture wonks will appreciate that this year’s tour includes homes by architects including Ned Pratt and Barry Downs, and a Duncan McNab home with landscaping by Cornelia Hahn Oberlander. There will be a post-tour reception at Vancouver Maritime Museum where participants will be invited to listen to Professor Sherry McKay talk about the history of Modernism in Vancouver over refreshments. A little bit of post-and-beam appreciation, a little bit of wine and cheese – sounds like an exceedingly civilized Saturday!
Sat, Sept 20 | 1-5pm | Various locations | $85 | DETAILS

SECRET SUPPER | The Swallow Tail Secret Supper Club is holding one of their quick-to-sell-out dinners this weekend. This time around they’re joining forces with Ignacio Arrieta of La Mezcalaria to host a dinner in support of artist Angela Fama. Fama is a local photographer who is raising funds to help her realize a project (“Wabisabi Butterfly/What is Love?“) that will see her take a pop-up Boler photo studio across North America to capture micro-expressions that appear when the subject is asked about the word love. Short story: you buy a seat at a fancy Mexican dinner (in a garden if it’s sunny and in a wine cellar should there be rain) with proceeds going to fund an amazing art project.
Sat, Sept 20 | 5:30pm/8pm seatings | Location revealed @ ticket purchase | $79 | DETAILS

ICONS | Time for some Fall duds! If you’re in the market for something a little less mainstream think about taking a pocket of cash to the magical subterranean caverns of the Biltmore Cabaret this Sunday because the Icons Vintage Market is back! Swoop in and score retro clothing, flea-market finds, fancy antiques, accessories, shoes, jewellery, records, cool household items, cameras, and all manner of other curious trinkets. This is a cabaret, so the bar will be open and you have to be 19+ to enter. Shoppin’, drinkin’, and dancin’ encouraged!
Sun, Sept 21 | 11 am–5 pm | Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward) | DETAILS

CREATE | School is still out and weather has been summery, but something in our bones tells us September is a time for settling in to do some good ol’ fashioned learning. If you’ve got that feeling but don’t have the funds or time to enrol in full-on studies, think about taking part in a one day class at Hot Art Wet City gallery. Local artist Rachael Ashe is leading an Altered Book workshop that will school you on how to transform old books into one-of-a-kind pieces of art. Not only will you walk away inspired, but you’ll also leave with one project underway and you’ll be armed with an understanding of techniques and skills necessary to keep on going. There are only ten spots available, so snap one up here mighty fast.
Sat, Sept 20 | 12:30-4:30 pm | Hot Art Wet City Gallery (2206 Main St) | $90 | DETAILS

HIKE | Fall is a perfect time for hiking in Vancouver. Temperatures are accommodating, crowds thin out and the colours, smells and sounds of the changing seasons are captivating. Take the low road out to Lighthouse Park (doable by car, bike or bus) and wander the trails for a few hours. There is nothing quite as restorative and grounding as time out to appreciate nature. Breathe deep, smell the turning leaves, pine needles, and salt air. When you’re done, hit up Savary Island Pie Co. (1533 Marine Dr, West Van) for a piece of pumpkin pie and a latte.
Any time | Free | DETAILS

MODERN DAY NOMADS |  Lloyd Khan is an author, photographer and small and hand-built home enthusiast with a passion for unique homes and structures. Khan is in town from Marin County, California next week to promote his latest book Tiny Homes On The Move. He’ll be at the main branch of the Vancouver Public Library on Monday night to present a slideshow of images of people “living and travelling in boats, trailers, pick-up trucks, vans and buses adapted with ingenious and often beautifully designed quarters.” Not only is the topic of creative housing alternative apropos to our city, but Khan strikes us as the kind of guy capable of filling an hour and a half easily. This is guaranteed to be a mind-expanding and inspiring evening, so don’t miss out.
Mon, Sept 22 | 7pm | VPL Central Branch – VPL (350 W. Georgia) | Free | DETAILS  

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 streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy (but faithful) camera.

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