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

Ten Things That You Should Absolutely Do Between Now And 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!

MURDER | Crows are dark, mischievous and calculating. They travel in flocks known as ‘murders’ and have a slightly sinister bent when you let your imagination fly. The notoriously clever birds live in complex social networks with highly developed forms of communication and a progressive approach to chick raising (it’s a community thing). If you’re interested in adding some depth to your understanding of what makes them tick, make your way to the West End Community Centre on Thursday night where wildlife biologist Rob Butler will present a talk about the many ways of the crow. Admission is by donation and space is limited, so do yourself a favour and register early by calling the Community Center at 604-257-8333.
Thu, Nov 20 | 7-8pm | West End Community Centre (870 Denman)| DETAILS

PLANTS | Not only are the grounds of the VanDusen Botanical Gardens a stunning place for a wander, but it also makes for a fantastic place for learning. This Thursday, VanDusen offers an informative talk on the history of perfume. The official word: “Perfumes begin with plants, and the earliest of perfumes were incense – burnt resins and fragrant woods – whose smoke was believed to carry one’s prayers to the gods. Take a journey beginning with the incense and perfumes created in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, India and Arabia, then over to Europe to the alcohol-based eau de colognes concocted by European monks and nuns that doubled as liqueurs, medicine and bathing liquid.” This lecture will include a Q&A session and tons of intel on local plants.
Thu, Nov 20, 6:30-8:30pm | VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak St) | DETAILS 

DESIGN | The Lighting Architecture Movement Project (LAMP) is part art installation, part design competition, and part performance. Using light and form as canvas, LAMP organizers challenged participants to design an indoor light in any format (floor, pendant, table, etc) that incorporated the theme of ‘fibre’. A panel comprised of architects, designers and media then chose their favourite entries and the winners will be premiering at a public opening this Thursday night. Visit The Independent pop-up space on Kingsway to check out the inspiring and creative series of design sketches along with the top 10 jury-picked finished products. Lighting is everything!
Thu, Nov 20 6-11pm | The Independent (188 Kingsway) |  $10-$50 |  DETAILS

EASTSIDE CULTURE CRAWL | In our books, the East Side Culture Crawl is the greatest thing about November in Vancouver. We look forward to this event all year long. The annual three day crawl sees over 414 East Side artists (painters, jewelers, sculptors, textile artists, furniture makers, musicians, weavers, potters, printmakers, photographers, etc) open their studios to the public. There’s no schedule per se; only the one you choose to structure for yourself. There’s no pressure to buy, either, as it’s treated as a chance to float from one studio to the next, talking to artists about their processes and enjoying the diversity of creativity that the East Side has to offer. Grab a map and get crawling (available at studios and shops in the community or online at the Crawl website here).
Nov. 20-23 | East Side, baby | Free | DETAILS

PEROGIES | There’s a Perogy Lunch at the Strathcona Ukrainian Hall this weekend. Dig into generous helpings of homemade perogies, sliced sausage, cabbage rolls and bowls of borscht. Don’t be put off by the line-up at the door. It moves fast and you might make friends, as perogy eaters are generally a jolly bunch. Also expect a bake sale and Pysanky (Ukrainian Easter Egg) making. Bonus: This event takes place smack in the middle of Eastside Culture Crawl territory (Pender at Hawks) and fits nicely between studio visits.
Sat, Nov 22 + Sun, Nov 23 | 11-3:30 | 805 E. Pender | DETAILS

POP-UP | Eastvan will be hopping this weekend. If you’re in the neighbourhood checking out artists studios during the Crawl and you’re feeling in need of a little sustenance, consider hitting up the Les Amis Du Formage-hosted pop-up at 843 E. Hastings. Les Amis have invited East Van Jam (we hear that the Duchess of Strawberry tastes just like summer), The Salty Cookie Co. (famous for their Salty Brown Sugar cookies) and The Lemon Square (individually wrapped and made with loads of fresh lemons, BC butter and and finished with a dusting of coconut) to set up shop for the weekend. Treat yourself and support local. Bonus: cheese!
Sat, Nov 22 + Sun, Nov 23 | Noon-4pm | 843 E. Hastings St. | DETAILS 

HOPSCOTCH | November brings with it the start of prime scotch drinking weather. The clever organizers behind Hopscotch (Vancouver’s week long celebration of premium whisky) know this and have lined up a litany of tasting events and dinners that will replace that near winter chill with a warm amber glow. But this isn’t just a party, Hopscotch is also an opportunity to catapult yourself from consumer to connoisseur when you sign up for  whisky-centric talks and workshops. Events sell out quickly (most tasting dinners are already full), but if you hurry – and I mean click here RIGHT NOW – you may still score a ticket to the Hopscotch Annual Grand Tasting Hall, with over 100 exhibitors.
Now through Nov 23 | Various Locations | Various prices | DETAILS

BAZAAR | The Russian Community Centre Christmas Bazaar goes down in Kits this weekend. Score yourself a day of Russian food, baking, music, dance and crafts. And what respectable bazaar wouldn’t include a raffle? Not this one! Raffle tickets are $2 and prizes will be awesome. Do some early holiday shopping, fill your belly with Knish and Bliny’s and enjoy some folk dancing.
Sat, Nov 22 | 11am–5pm | Russian Community Centre (2114 W. 4th) | DETAILS

LISTEN | The Vancouver Academy of Music and the Vancouver Bach Choir join forces this Sunday to present an affordable concert perfectly suited to a November afternoon: Schubert’s ‘Unfinished’ Symphony No. 8 and Mozart’s Requiem. Purchase tickets online 5pm on Saturday, November 22nd (in-person at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office). 10 beans for a comfortable seat in a beautiful room full of genius music – not a bad deal at all!
Sun, Nov 23 | 2pm | Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe St) | $10 | DETAILS 

EAT LOCAL | There are two Winter Farmers Market to choose from this weekend. Head to the Nat Bailey Stadium parking lot on Saturday or skip over to the skatepark at the PNE on Sunday and load up on locally grown fruits and veggies as well as fresh bread, honey, dried fruits and scores of other goodies. Bonus: farmers are awesome people and awesome people will only make your weekend better.
Sat, Nov 22| 10am – 2pm | Nat Bailey Stadium (4601 Ontario St) | DETAILS
Sun, Nov 23 | 10am-2pm | Hastings Skatepark, PNE (Renfrew and Hastings) | DETAILS

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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.

There is 1 comment

  1. If you have a “sweet tooth”, the Baker’s Market in Vancouver is the place for you.
    The Baker’s Market is a gathering of professional, amateur, student & Mommy bakers who get together to buy and sell their baked goods to the community.

    Inspired by farmers markets (no veggies please), just lots of sweet & savoury baked goodies.

    You’ll find freshly baked gourmet cookies, French macarons, croissants, breads,

    brownies, cupcakes, cake pops, scones, muffins, gluten-free, organic, vegan baked goods, pies, tarts, birthday cakes, wedding cakes and much more!

    WHERE: Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre, 7646 Prince Albert Street, (2 blocks east of Fraser St. at East 60th), Vancouver, BC V5X 3Z4.
    The Baker’s Market takes place indoors with lots of free parking too.

    WHEN: Saturdays, Nov. 22, 29, Dec. 6, 2014. 11 am – 3 pm.

    WHY: Support your local, talented & creative bakers, who love to bake for customers like you!

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