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!

IMAGINE | The Rio Theatre is having a Studio Ghibli Night this Wednesday. Scoot in for a screening of Hayao Miyazaki’s excellent My Neighbour Totoro at 6:30pm and stick around for Isao Takahata’s Grave of the Firelflies at 8:30pm. Both movies are seriously magical and will run in Japanese with English subtitles.
Wed, May 6 | 6:30 & 8:30pm | Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway) | DETAILS

WRITE | This Thursday is Letter Writing Club at The Regional Assembly of Text. This is good for many reasons, chief among them being that Mother’s Day is imminent and if you haven’t done anything about letting your Ma know just how much you love and appreciate her, this is the perfect opportunity to get moving on it. If you’ve never heard of it before, the wonderful Main Street store sports a brilliant collection of books, paper, cards, stamps, chalkboards, boxes, and – yes – even clothing. On the first Thursday of every month they host an evening of letter writing that’s free and open to everyone with supplies provided. Just imagine your mother’s face when she opens the mail to see a hand-penned letter from you waiting for her. Good move, genius.
Thu, May 7 | 7:30pm | Regional Assembly of Text (3934 Main) | Free | DETAILS

GIG | There’s a special kind of energy that happens at a hometown gig. It’s just one of those things you have to experience for yourself. Such an opportunity presents itself this week. Vancouver rock band The Gay Nineties kick off their cross Canada Liberal Guilt Tour at The Venue this Thursday night with a free concert. Also performing: Oceanographers and Dan Moxon of Bend Sinister. It’s gonna be good – see you there!
Thu, May 7 | Venue Nightclub (881 Granville St) | DETAILS

OF A FEATHER | This is Bird Week, folks. Being that Vancouver is a smack in the middle of the ‘Pacific Flyway’ route for migratory birds (the north-south route that flows from Alaska to Patagonia), we get to see plenty of seasonal species, and the city boasts a number of bird specialists willing to share their knowledge. There are so many great ways to get involved: tag along with an expert on a bird walk at one of many Vancouver area parks, attend a bird-related lecture or workshop, get creative with bird related projects, and so on. Dig in, become a bird lover!
Now through May 9 | Various times and locations | Free | DETAILS

SCIENCE | Dig yourself a bit of science and astronomy? This is a good weekend to hit SFU (the Burnaby campus) for Science Rendezvous. Get in on a full day of free interactive and family friendly science-centric activities. Researchers, engineers, innovators and scientists will be on site to lead the curious through crafts, science shows, talks, and moments of woah. The theme is the International Year of Light. Expect a talk about the Apollo missions and the Northern Lights as well as an Amazing Race-style science challenge. Good, clean, clever fun!
Sat, May 9 | 11-4 pm | Academic Quadrangle, South and East Concourse, 3000 level | Free | DETAILS 

PHOTOGRAPHY | Eraser Street continues at the Grunt Gallery, featuring a collection of photos by Henri Robideau that chronicle “moments, milestones, and monuments in Vancouver history.” This Saturday between 1 & 4pm there will be a roundtable discussion about Housing and Photography in Vancouver facilitated by Clint Burnham with Audrey Siegl, Wendy Pedersen, Lorna Brown, Eugene McCann, Jeff Derksen, Henri Robideau, Clint Burnham.
Sat, May 9 | 1-4pm | Grunt Gallery (350 E 2nd Ave) | DETAILS

EXPLORE | The Jericho Sailing Centre opens its doors for the curious this weekend. If that isn’t a sign that warmer weather is near, I don’t know what is! Find out about upcoming programs and learn about what the centre can offer you and your dinghy, windsurfer, stand-up paddle, sailboat, or kayak. Best of all, it’s a great excuse to get yourself up and on to the deck at The Galley where you can grab a burger and a beer and take in the incredible view.
Sat, May 9, | 12-4 pm | Jericho Sailing Centre | Free | DETAILS

COMMUNITY | The Stone Soup Festival goes down on Commercial Drive this weekend. The celebration of food, art, environment, and community will include growing, planting, spice blending and bee behaviour workshops, storytelling, card making (it is Mother’s Day on Sunday, after all), live music, food and plant vendors, and free soup! A strong and united community can do some amazing things (note: this is the 20th anniversary of this free community festival, so wooohooo!).
Sat, May 9 | 12-5 pm | Britannia Community Centre (1661 Napier) | Free | DETAILS

WILD EDIBLES | Looking for a different sort of Mother’s Day activity? How about taking a trek through local forests with the well-informed culinary peeps at Swallow Tail Tours? Not only will your wildcraft guide take you on a two hour plant-identifying hike that will cover where to find and how to identify edible plants (eg. wild mushrooms, fiddleheads, licorice, stinging nettles) and how to prepare them, but you’ll also get to feast upon wild ingredient sandwiches and wild herb tisane (sun tea).
Sun, May 10 | 11am | Lynn Headwaters, North Vancouver | $39 | DETAILS

HOORAY  | It’s happening! Farmers are starting to trickle back into town with their fresh fruits, veggies and eggs. Joining them are bakers, cheesemakers, beekeepers and even the occasional pickle purveyor. Yaletown Farmers Market kicks off this Thursday afternoon, followed by Trout Lake Farmers Market on Saturday (9am–2pm at 13th and Lakewood), and Kitsilano Farmers Market on Sunday in – this part is confusing so take note – Riley Park. Welcome back farmers! Oh, how we’ve missed you so!
YALETOWN | May 7 | 2-6 pm at Yaletown | DETAILS
TROUT LAKE | May 9 | 9am–2pm | 13th and Lakewood | DETAILS
KITS | May 10 | 10am–2pm | Riley Park | 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.

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