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!

READ | Now is the perfect time to start thinking about summer reads. Get busy lining your bookshelves with possible candidates for long afternoons at the beach when you hit the Friends of the Vancouver Public Library Book Sale this weekend. Modern fiction, classics, gardening, biography, art, and history – there will be a little something for everyone. The very best part? Books will be going for less than $2.50 each. Don’t forget to bring a bag (or two)!
May 21-23 | 10am-5pm | VPL (350 W Georgia) | Free admission | DETAILS

FEAST | BC’s spot prawn season is in full swing. Take advantage by attending a southern-inspired prawn feast on the patio at Chambar this Wednesday night. Billed as a no-fuss, hands-on communal meal – this is exactly the way spot prawns are best enjoyed. Even better, you don’t have to clean up the mess and someone will arrive at your table as often as you want with freshly poured pints of cleansing ale. Grab a ticket here.
Wed, May 20 | 7pm | Chambar | $80 | DETAILS

FAMILY STYLE | The latest tasty takeover of 337 E Hastings goes down this Thursday night as local food truck Community Pizzeria and Edmonton chef Mike Scorgie (co-founder of Woodwork Restaurant) come together for one night only to offer Vancouverites a wood-fired meal from the hearth. Not only will there be generous portions of smoky-flavoured food (think chicory and roasted pear salad, endive, pickled radicchio, goat yoghurt, Dill sausage, house-made Berkshire pork links, Nomad ‘Crack n Cheese’, mac n’ cheese, pork crackling, macerated tomato salad) and lots of good cheer, but you can also expect Strange Fellows Beer and Dickie’s Ginger Moscow Mules. Tickets will go fast, so hook yourself up on the quick by contacting Sarah Fenton at rustic [at] communitypizzeria.com
Thu, May 21 | 7:30pm | 337 E. Hastings | DETAILS

ROVE | On Friday night a handful of Main Street galleries, studios and creative spaces will open their doors for Rove. Visit working studios and get a sense of process and place; attend an opening reception; or just float through an exhibition or two. We’re particularly stoked to check out Lawrence Yuxweluptun and Graeme Berglund’s studio; the one night group show at Gene featuring the works of Cameron McLellan, Rebecca Chaperon, Mira Song and Jamie Smith; and then maybe poke our heads into The Burrard Arts Foundation to see the latest from current artist-in-residence, Sean Mills. Break up your gallery viewings with a beer at Brassneck or 33 Acres (drink specials will be available for Rove goers) and stick around for a party located at the Projection Room (2321 Main St.).
Fri, May 22 | 6-10pm | Various Locations on Main Street | Free | DETAILS

DESIGN | Local designer Kate Duncan makes stunning furniture by marrying simple lines and a clean modern aesthetic with a high level of craftsmanship. Her work is of a caliber that commands the respect of other designers, so when we heard that she was pulling together an interior design and home décor pop-up shop that would showcase her furniture alongside the works of a handful of like-minded designers, we did a double take. “Address” launches this week at The Waterfall Building near Granville Island. It will showcase the works of 16 Vancouver based designer/makers. Expect art, textiles, hardware, lighting, and more – all uncomplicated and imbued with beautiful style. Opening night is Thursday, complete with refreshments from Vancouver Urban Winery, Odd Society Vodka and Red Truck Brewery.
May 20-31 | 11am – 7pm (9pm Fridays) | Waterfall Building (1540 West 2nd) | DETAILS

FOLKTALES | Visit the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden on Saturday afternoon for a spot of playful culture. Performance artist Gerardo Avila and the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble use music, sound, magic and mime to tell the story of The Monkey King. Expect traditional instruments (erhu, guzheng, suona) as well as joke telling and laughter. Those monkeys…they’re crafty little dudes.
May 23 | 3pm | Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (578 Carrall St)| $15 | DETAILS

COMMUNITY | Dr. Ocean Howell speaks on The History of Inclusion and Exclusion in the Design of Urban Public Space at the Building For Change Public Symposium this week. Hit the Vancouver Art Gallery on Saturday afternoon to listen in and give a good think to the question: ‘Who is the Public?’  Following the presentation, Vancouverites  Justin Langlois (Emily Carr University of Art and Design), Lorna Brown (Artist) and Cameron Cartiere (also ECUAD) take part in a panel discussion entitled Claiming the Commons: Art as an Agent for Change. Seating is limited and this is a first come, first served situation.
Sat, May 23 | 2-5pm (doors 1:30pm) | Courtroom 302 in the Gallery | DETAILS

RUBY &  SMITH | Vancouver ukulele players Daphne Roubini and Andrew Smith take the stage at the St. James Hall this Saturday. The duo are performing in support of debut release A Ukulele Album (congrats guys!) and we fully expect this to be a toe tapping few hours of good vibes. (What, if not uncomplicated happiness, are the sweet sounds of the ukulele?)
May 23 | 7pm | St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Ave) | $15 | DETAILS

HISTORY | May is perfect walking tour time. This week, Vancouver Heritage Foundation hosts Asian Heritage Month-themed tours with historians John Atkin, Maurice Guibord, and Bob Sung. Follow along to learn about the cultural roots and history of Railtown and Chinatown. Registration is always required for theses fast-to-fill-up walks, so get sorted here.
May 19-24 | Various locations + times | DETAILS

ART | The Equinox Gallery, located amidst a cluster of contemporary art galleries in the East Van area known as ‘The Flats’, is using its massive square footage to show off the works of local artist Takao Tanabe this month. Tanabe is known for his British Columbian landscapes of a kind that – when we are far away from home – immediately fill us with homesickness. Serene and stunning. Can’t wait!
Now-June 6 | Tue-Sat 10-5 | Equinox Gallery (525 Great Northern Way) | 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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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.