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!

RESOLVE | If your New Year’s resolutions involved getting healthy for 2015 but you aren’t yet sure where you want to start, think about dropping into the Pop Up Health and Wellness Cafe in Chinatown. This is a low commitment gig; less ‘clinic’ and more of a enjoy-a-cup-of-tea-and-have-a-chat situation that intends to inspire. To that end, Dr. Thara Vayali has arranged for information sessions and mini-workshops about cleansing, sleep, nutrition, money, sex and skin care. There are also a few meditation and yoga sessions to take advantage of. No appointment necessary; just wander in and see what’s up.
Now through Sun, Jan 11 | 11am-7pm daily | 434 Columbia St. | DETAILS

GROW | Scoring fresh local vegetables in winter can be a challenge. “One of the easiest, quickest ways to get some fresh veg in your diet in the cold months is to sprout seeds at home.” For a quick primer on how to get sorted, head to the Homesteader’s Emporium on Wednesday at 6pm for a live demo that’ll school you on the basics and point you in the direction of how to execute a productive little sprout garden at home.
Wed, Jan 7 | 6pm | Homesteader’s Emporium (649 E Hastings St.) | DETAILS

CULTURE | The Heian Period (794 to 1185) was a fascinating point in Japanese History – a cultural heyday of sorts. Jennifer Guest, has come all the way from the University of Oxford to talk about it at UBC this week. Head out to The Centre for Japanese Research to hear her discuss Sei Shonagon’s fascinating and illustrative Pillow Book (Shonagon was a lady at court during 990s and her diary observes the nature of everyday life court life in poetic detail).
Thu, Jan 8 | 4pm | Centre for Japanese Research (Room 120) 1855 West Mall, UBC | DETAILS

READ | The UBC Writing Centre is having a Book Sale this week, and it’s not a 10% off sort of thing but a worth-the-drive kind of deal. To wit, thousands of books – fiction and non-fiction, academic and non – priced at a mere 50¢ per. Yes, please!
Jan 8-9 | 10am–4 pm | Ponderosa Annex C, 2021 West Mall, UBC | DETAILS

STAY HOME |  January is a month of recalibration. If you’ve started a new exercise or diet regime, good for you. If you’re resolved to make bigger changes and are slowly putting those plans in to action, even better. But if you’re still trying to figure where December went and need some time to decompress, think about leaving a day open to stay home in PJ’s and do nothing. Make a warm cup of something, turn on the CBC and chill. This week, Paul Kennedy and the Ideas team have some superb programming lined up: More details here.

FREAK OUT | Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is playing at the Rio on Friday night. There’s nothing like big screen Jack to start your weekend off on the right foot. Seal the deal by sticking around for the midnight movie, John Carpenter’s The Thing.
Fri, Jan 9 | Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway) | Double bill $12/$15 at door | DETAILS

EAT | Tacofino opens its latest project – Tacobar – in Blood Alley this weekend. You can learn more about it here, but if you can’t wait you can get a whiff and taste of what’s to come at the umbilically attached take-out Burrito Bar (pictured above). It just opened at 15 West Cordova off Carrall and it’s already kicking ass. Those crispy chicken burritos are just the thing…
Fri, Jan 9 | Blood Alley (take-out via 15 West Cordova) | Gastown | DETAILS

LISTEN | Skip out of work early and go to the symphony. The VSO has a pleasant Thursday afternoon planned that would be quite a lovely alternative to sitting at your desk. Not only will a $40 ticket get you a seat in a beautiful theatre and a few hours of expertly played music, but you’ll get cookies and tea as well. This edition of Trumpets & Tea is Shakespeare themed with bard-inspired music by composers like Verdi, Berlioz, and Tchaikovsky.
Thu, Jan 8 | 2 pm | Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe) | DETAILS

NATURE | An eagle plucking a salmon from a river is one of those National Geographic moments that you’re able to experience with your own eyes in British Columbia. Take a drive up the Sea-To-Sky highway this weekend and go for a walk along the river bank between Squamish and Brackendale. There you’ll find a raised “Eagle Viewing Dyke” that offers a walk with breathtaking views, ample opportunity for eagle, spawning salmon, and seal sightings. The mighty birds are in their highest numbers in this area right now, so go say hi. DETAILS

DESIGN | Hustle to Robson Square on Monday night for a lecture by architect Amale Andraos. In addition to being a co-founder of Work Architecture Company in New York, she’s also the Dean of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. Not too shabby! She’s probably got a thing or two to say, and we think it’ll be worth listening to. Bonus: this lecture is free and open to the public.
Mon, Jan 12 | 6:30pm | UBC Robson Square (800 Robson St) | DETAILS

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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.