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!

GREASY SPOON | One of Canada’s best chefs, Scott Jaeger of The Pear Tree, will be cooking a special “Greasy Spoon” dinner at Save On Meats on the evening of Monday, March 9th. The menu has just been revealed, and it includes a Canadian Split Pea Soup with smoked ham hock and shallot froth; pastrami-cured duck confit inside rosti potato with poached hen’s egg; seasoned venison wrapped in double smoked bacon with fried brioche crouton, pickled tomato and trumpet mushroom gravy; and spiced caramel pear with hazelnut crumble and aged cheddar. Each course is paired with beer from Deep Cove Brewers. It promises to be a night to remember, and I hope to see you there. Snag one of the last remaining $95 tickets before they’re all gone! All proceeds go to help feed inner city kids in need and teach them about local food systems.
Mon, March 9 | Two seatings: 5:30pm & 8pm | 43 West Hastings St. | DETAILS

GIG | Toronto-based artist and “sequencing genius” Dan Snaith is in town. His electronic project, Caribou, is what Nic Bragg calls “one of the most in demand ‘live-electronic’ outfits going…” When fans discovered that this gig was going down at The Commodore rather than a larger venue, it sold out within minutes. To make everyone happy, Caribou is now slated to play two shows on Thursday night. Tickets are still going to be hard to come by!
Thu, March 5 | 7&10:30pm | The Commodore (868 Granville St) | $25 | DETAILS 

OPERA | Die Fledermaus continues on the stage at The QE Theatre. Set in the ballrooms and studies of high society Vienna, this performance has it all: romance, prison, trickery and comedy. From Vancouver Opera: “Strauss’s melody-filled music, especially his famous waltzes, is effervescent and intoxicating. Be prepared to laugh!” Featuring soprano Joyce El-Khoury as Rosalinde, tenor Roger Honeywell as Gabriel von Eisenstein, and Christopher Gaze as the tipsy jailer, Frosch. Put on your best duds and head out for a night at the Opera!
Now through March 8 | Queen Elizabeth Theatre (649 Cambie St) | Various $ | DETAILS

PHOTOGRAPHY |  The Remington Gallery launches the first solo exhibition of works by Vancouver photographer David Crompton this Friday night. The Emily Carr alumni’s exhibition showcases a selection of images from his second book, Common, which is described as a being a record of  “the passage of a season captured through light, weather, texture and the movement of strangers within it’s frames.” The show then runs March 7-28. Pop your head in to the Gam Gallery (just next door) to catch an exhibition featuring Crompton’s wife, Tristesse Seeliger (more below).
Fri, March 6 | 7-11pm | The Remington Gallery (108 E. Hastings) | DETAILS

MAPS | Tristesse Seeliger uses a variety of methods – painting, photocopy transfers, collage, printmaking – to transform historical Geological Survey of Canada maps into objects. As the Gam explains: “Seeliger fuses cartography and geometry to create new places and spaces that coax the brain to drift from the analytical to the sensory, and to delight in what is sensual, familiar, and universal.” Hit the gallery on Friday night to check out The Map Is Not The Territory. If you can’t make it, rest easy: this show runs until March 28th.
Fri, March 6 | 7-11pm | Gam Gallery (110 E Hastings St at Columbia) | DETAILS

UKULELE FESTIVAL | The Vancouver Ukulele Festival has a habit of selling out. Know why? Because ukuleles are rad. This year’s festival is bigger than ever and includes a multi-performance concert at St. James Hall that will see a fine line-up of ‘Ukesters’ (Sarah Maisel & Craig Chee from San Diego, California, Victoria Vox from Baltimore, Aaron & Nicole Keim of Portland, Oakland’s John Nash and hosts Daphne Roubini & Andrew Smith, from Vancouver). Also expect a weekend of workshops for every level of ukulele enthusiast as well as demonstrations, talks and the sweet sound of ukulele strings floating through the air.
March 6-8 | 7pm | Various Venues | $18 advance, $25 door | DETAILS

NATURE | Head to Iona Beach in Richmond for a biologist-led walk to learn about owls on Friday evening. Iona is known as raptor-friendly habitat (Short-eared Owls particularly dig it out there) and the knowledgeable biologists from Wild Research will be on site to explain what owls like about the setting, what they eat, where they hide and how to spot one. It’s easy to get to Iona Beach; you cross the Arthur Laing Bridge on your way to the airport but turn right at the first traffic light (Grauer Road). Grauer then becomes Ferguson Road which will then become the Iona Island Causeway. This event has a $5 price tag and registration is requested. Visit www.metrovancouveronline.org or call 604-432-6359 to get your name on the list.
Fri, March 6 | 6-8pm | Iona Beach Regional Park | $5 | DETAILS

PAPER | Cityscape Community Art Space in North Van has a cool paper-centric exhibition opening this week. Purely Paper is a group show featuring artists who create paper-based works. Think stunning and intricate cuttings by Rachael Ashe, sculptures by Anyuta Gusakova, Mehran Modarres-Sadeghi’s drawings, installation art by Connie Sabo, and amazing origami by Joseph Wu.
Fri, March 6 | Cityscape Community Art Space (335 Lonsdale Ave) | DETAILS

INDIE LOVE | Make your way to Main Street this Sunday for a spring tradition: Blim Market. Expect 50 local vendors selling everything from handmade jewellery and vintage clothing to pottery, plants and baked goods. As always, the good folks from Open Sesame will be there with some tasty hot food to keep your belly full as you wander. Good stuff made by local peeps!
Sun, March 8| 12-6pm | Heritage Hall (3102 Main St.) | DETAILS

SPRING FORWARD | March is that turning point on the calendar when we can begin to remember longer days and hold on tight to the knowledge that the warmth of summer is on its way. Thankfully, that momentous point (Daylight Savings Time) comes this week. Late on Saturday night – or more accurately, at about 2am on Sunday morning – our clocks will spring forward, making room for the extra daylight that will help put down the doldrums.
Sun, March 8 | 2am

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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