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!

BLOOM | The Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre in Burnaby is holding their annual Bloom art auction this week. Each year the museum sells off art produced by artists that adheres to a theme.  This year, it’s all about vessels (Iremono). From the museum: “Japan is famous for its pottery and many other craft traditions. We were inspired by some of the vases in our permanent collection and the importance of noodle bowls and tea cups to Japanese culture. We have invited local artists to donate their interpretation of a vessel or container which can be in the form of a bowl, vase, basket, box, or bag – in any medium of their choice.” Attendees are invited to enjoy food from the Lonestar Yakuza Taco Bar by Open Sesame, and there will also be wine, beer, cocktails, a little Fujiya sushi, and good conversation in between placing bids on 50 artist-designed vessels.
Wed, April 1 | 7pm | Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre in Burnaby | $25 | DETAILS

MAKE | Certified Raw Food Chef and Holistic Nutritionist Alicia Meek will be at The Eternal Abundance Cafe on Commercial Drive on Wednesday night to teach a cool workshop. Put in a couple of hours and walk away with the knowledge to make your own face creams, body creams, washes, and scrubs at home. Better for your face, better for animals, better for the planet. The good karma is just a pleasant side benefit.
Wed, Apr 1 | 7-9:30pm | Eternal Abundance Cafe (1025 Commercial Dr.) | $45 |  DETAILS

PHOTOGRAPHY | The Capture Photography Festival takes over gallery walls across the city starting this week. Focused on showcasing all manner of ‘lens-based art’ created by emerging and established artists from here and around the world, Capture 2015 boasts dozens of exhibitions. Complimenting the visual component of the festival are a series of tours, talks, and workshops that are open to the public. This week, we recommend you make a point of poking your head into the festival launch at the Satellite Gallery on Thursday night. Images That Speak (photos by by Steve McQueen, Stephen Waddell, Michele Abeles, and more) is curated by Christopher Eamon and co-produced with Presentation House Gallery. Capture is comprised of close to 50 exhibitions running April 2–29. For a full listing of exhibitions and events, take a look at the official website.
Thu, April 2 (Launch) | 7:30pm | Satellite Gallery (560 Seymour St) | DETAILS

WRITE | It’s tax time, so pretty much the worst, most stressful, and potentially punitive time of the year to use Canada Post. It doesn’t have to be this way. Write a few letters to friends. Just think of how great would it be to open the mailbox to find a beautiful, hand-written postcard or letter rather than one of those impersonal Revenue Canada jobs. This week, The Regional Assembly of Text hosts one of their famous Letter Writing Clubs and if anyone can fight the buzzkill of brown ‘send us money’ envelopes inbound from Ottawa, it’s this crew. Paper, old school typewriters, and all manner of writing utensils provided.
Thu, April 2 | 7pm | Regional Assembly of Text (3934 Main St) | Free | DETAILS

GIG | Fleetwood Mac is in town Saturday night so clear whatever you need to from your schedule and dig out your best black skinny jeans and head out for a night of magic. There isn’t a lot more to say about that except that tickets are (amazingly) still available.
April 4 | Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way) | $70-$250 | DETAILS

DINE | Start off your weekend by sharing a meal with friends. Skip the grocery shopping, prep, cooking and clean-up but keep the casual vibe and honest home cooking by hitting one of the Friday night dinners at Dock Lunch off of Main Street. Every week while Elizabeth and her crew (Gaya and Brianna) are working on serving up their amazing lunches, the trio are also brainstorming about what they will plate for their once per week dinner service. Pieces slowly fall in to place, flavour by flavour until, on Friday afternoon around 3pm the tiny Main Street joint shuts its doors to prep for dinner. At about 7pm, doors reopen for Asian / South Asian inspired hot pot dinner. Past dishes have included Malaysian Rending, Thai Green Curry, Adobo Shortribs, Goan Fish Curry and Nihari Pakistani Lamb. Desserts, refreshing drinks, and that warm ‘hanging out at a friends place’ vibe are also available. The price is right (only $20) but seats are limited!
Fri, April 3 | 7-11pm | Dock Lunch (152 East 11th Ave) | $20 | DETAILS

FILM | What better way to ease into a long weekend than with a John Hughes double bill? Head to the Rio Theatre Friday night and catch Sixteen Candles (7:30pm) followed by The Breakfast Club (9:30pm). If you end up feeling like things got a little too nostalgic-drenched and sugar-coated by the time the credits roll on Sixteen Candles, stick around a little longer for South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (starts at 11:55 pm). A solid dose of Cartman and you should come out in a pretty good place. As always, the Rio staff look favourably upon those brave enough to show up in movie themed costume so if you wear your best Molly Ringwald outfit, you just may get a few bucks off the price of admission.
Fri, April 3 | 7:30 – late | The Rio (1660 East Broadway) | $6/$8 door | DETAILS

SALE | Front & Co. is having an Easter Rummage Sale this weekend. They know what’s up when it comes to second-hand and vintage duds, so this sale is an opportunity to score some sweet new spring fashion items for cheap. As there will be a few other shoppers in the room, be sure to take lots of patience and wear something that you could feasibly try clothes on over top of because that change room line-up gets lengthy!
Apr 3-6 | 11am–6:30pm | Front and Company (3772 Main Street) | DETAILS

STARS | Take some time out this Saturday night to sink into a seat at the Planetarium and catch yourself some science. There are two shows screening: Dynamic Earth, a documentary about all the amazing ways in which earth is conducive to life (7:30pm) and The Searcher, a in which a space traveler must find a new planet to inhabit (9:30pm). Expect colliding galaxies, a supernova explosion, a black hole and more.
Sat, April 4 | 7:30pm and 9:30pm | H.R. MacMillan Space Centre (1100 Chestnut) | DETAILS

EAT LOCAL | The Winter Farmers Market takes place this Saturday. Stinging nettles are just coming into season and there are usually some kicking around the market. Pick them up and feast on them while you can. Also hook yourself up with hearty root vegetables, fresh bread, dried fruits and scores of other locally-grown goodies while you’re at it.
Sat, April 4 | 10am – 2pm | 4601 Ontario Street | DETAILS

Check the Globe & Mail every Thursday for our Special Weekend Edition of the Scout List

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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.

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Scout List, Vol. 601

From our calendar to yours comes this carefully considered agenda of cool things we are doing, wishing we could do, or conspiring to do in Vancouver, right now.

Scout List, Vol. 600

From our calendar to yours comes this carefully considered agenda of cool things we are doing, wishing we could do, or conspiring to do in Vancouver, from March 30th to April 5th, 2023.

Scout List, Vol. 599

From our calendar to yours comes this carefully considered agenda of cool things we are doing, wishing we could do, or conspiring to do in Vancouver over the days and weeks ahead.