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!

OPENING | Andy Dixon has a show opening this week. The local painter and all around awesome human’s latest show, Canadiana, injects his trademark vibrant colours and playful style into Canadian classics. As Initial Gallery explains: “Compiling and sampling national symbols, identities from the Canadian canon, Dixon reserves equal reverence for the low and the high brow. Interpreted through the irreverent eye and loose gestural hand of the artist, Canadiana strikes a unique tone of tongue-in-cheek sincerity.” We’re excited for the opening reception. See you there.
Thu, May 14 | I 6-9pm | Initial Gallery (2339 Granville St) | DETAILS

ICE CREAM | Check it out: Brown Paper Packages Ice Cream has started Ice Cream Thursdays at Pazzo Chow. Slip into the adorable (and always delicious) Italian deli for a night of sundaes, ice cream floats, sandwiches and classic scoops. Some of our fave flavours include milk chocolate cardamom, coconut vanilla bean and lemon olive oil scoops as well as the Gingeroo Sandwich (Rhubarb, ginger and buttermilk ice cream with a ginger cookie) and the White Turtle (vanilla bean ice cream with a double chocolate, pecan, caramel and sea salt cookie).
Thu, May 14 (+ every Thursday thereafter) | 7-10pm | Pazzo Chow (620 Quebec St) DETAILS

DESIGN | Hit the Museum of Vancouver Thursday night for a “fun and brainy” few hours of examination of happiness that will propel you toward the weekend with a smile on your face. Artist Shannon Powell will be on site to talk a little about “Exchange of Charm” (a project that explores the potential power of social exchange between strangers) – that’s at 6:15. After the talk, take some time to wander through Stefan Sagmeister’s The Happy Show (the most recent exhibition to launch at MOV). Bonus: have a drink (cash bar), mingle and just celebrate being happy.
Thu, May 14 | 6-10pm | The Museum of Vancouver | $14 | DETAILS

ART | Take some time out of your schedule to boot out to The Museum of Anthropology to take in the new Heaven, Hell & Somewhere In Between exhibit of Portuguese pop art. Expect a wide range of mediums and styles from graffiti and murals to puppets and masks. From MOA: “Displays will reflect the national identity, history, and creativity of Portugal from a passing generation of great craftspeople, illustrators, and painters, as well as that of young urban graffiti artists working today.” The exhibition only just opened and if you hit the museum on Saturday afternoon (1pm) you can get in on a tour with curator/director Anthony Shelton and Portuguese anthropologist/researcher Eduardo Tomé.
Now through Oct 12 | 10 am–5 pm | MoA (6393 NW Marine Drive) | $16.75 | DETAILS

NEEDS | Local punk band Needs is having an album-release party at Fortune Sound Club on Thursday. Rescue Don is described by vocalist (and longtime Scout contributor) Sean Orr as being about “mortality, aging, resurrection, with a Joy Division reference thrown in for good measure…” Also taking the stage: Brass, Low Levels, and Flowers & Fire. Bonus: an exhibit of Orr’s photographs. Pre-gig beers and bratwurst at Bestie and an aftershow wander through Chinatown and you’ve got yourself an amazingly well rounded evening. Enjoy.
Thu, May 14 | 8 pm | Fortune Sound Club (147 E Pender St) | $10 | DETAILS

FEAST | Spot Prawns are coming to False Creek’s Fisherman’s Wharf this weekend! The annual Spot Prawn Festival, founded by the Chefs’ Table Society of BC, always sells out so snatch your $15 ticket fast. That gets you a plate of three BC spot prawns as well as sauces, salad, and baked goods. In an effort to accommodate everyone, tickets are being sold according to an hourly schedule, but don’t be fooled, this event will still sell out. And for good reason! The first spot prawns of the season are worth a celebration. Expect cooking demo’s, a children’s area, and educational displays, as as well beer, wine and a few salty fishermen.
Sun, May 17 | 11am-3pm | False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf (1505 West 1st Ave) | $17.50 | DETAILS

FILM | Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is playing at Vancity Theatre this week. In this mind-blower of a documentary, director Alex Gibney (We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, Freakonomics, Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, Taxi to the Dark Side) takes an in depth look at the belief system of Scientology. Gibney aims to explore “…Scientology’s disturbing, symbiotic relationship with Hollywood celebrities like Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and its dubious dealings with the IRS.”
May 13-20 | Various times | Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour St.) | $11 | DETAILS

CARNIVAL | This is opening weekend at Playland. Take a bit of time out to treat yourself to a wander through the fairgrounds, feast upon cotton candy, mini-doughnuts and potato tornados, throw a few balls at something and take a crazy ride. Possibly not in that order. Good idea to save the over-eating until after the rides. That ol’ Pirate Ship can really shake things up.
May 16 & & (Saturdays and Sundays only until June 21) | 10am-6pm | $35 | DETAILS

PAPUSA PARTY | If you love Latin food, there’s an awesome two-part cooking workshop going down on Sunday. A Taste Of Latin America – organized by The Grandview Woodland Neighbourhood Food Network – will not only teach participants how to make pupusas and tamales from scratch, but will also cover the fillings, salsas and pickled veggies that accompany them. Chef Elizabeth Cruz is set to share her El Salvadoran secrets, tip and tricks; all you have to do is show up with an apron. Pupusas are up this weekend, followed by tamales on May 24th. Dishes can easily be adapted to be vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, or full-on meat.
Sun, May 17 | 2-5pm | Grandview Woodland Food Connection (1661 Napier St) | $30 | DETAILS

EAT LOCAL  | What a great weekend to hit a Farmers Market and plan a meal with friends. Pick up fresh fruits, veggies and eggs as well as baked goods, cheese,  honey and sweets. 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 – again, this part is confusing so take note – Riley Park.
YALETOWN | May 14 | 2-6 pm at Yaletown | DETAILS
TROUT LAKE | May 16 | 9am–2pm | 13th and Lakewood | DETAILS
KITS | May 17 | 10am–2pm | Riley Park | 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.

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