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!
PRECISION | Knifewear is in town to entice you with fine quality Japanese knives. Head down to 434 Columbia St. to handle, talk about, and drool over a line-up of hundreds of knives from the best Japanese knife makers. Also on hand: a selection of supporting artifacts like chef-curated cookbooks, cutting boards, and kitchen gadgets. This pop-up is a ‘must do’ for chefs, home cooks, food lovers, and anyone down with the appreciation of quality craftsmanship.
Now through Sun, Aug 2 | 11am – 7pm | 434 Columbia St. | DETAILS
RESTAURANT RUMBLE | The Restaurant Rumble showdown organized by the Aprons for Gloves Boxing Association pits Vancouver’s bussers against its dishwashers and its cooks against its bartenders. Undercard fights go down in the afternoon (2-6pm) followed by the Title Fights in the evening (7-10pm). At three 3-minute rounds per, Title Fights go down fast! Boxers go glove to glove without headgear and title belts are on the line. This event is sold out, but the resourceful enthusiast will be able to get hands on tickets through darker channels. Livestream is also an option. Bonus: Lululemon is putting forward a strong contingent this year, so we’ll get to see what the yoga crowd can do with their fists…
Wed, July 29 | 3:30 & 7pm | SFU Woodward | 149 W. Hastings | Various $ | DETAILS
HARMONY ARTS | West Vancouver launches its annual 10 day arts and culture festival this weekend. Scoot over the bridge for a wander through a craft market showcasing loads of one-of-a-kind pottery, jewellery, textiles, woodwork, and glass designs all made by locals. Hang around after the sun goes down for outdoor movies and concerts. The Harmony Arts Festival starts on Thursday and runs until August 9th.
Jul 31-Aug 9 | Ambleside, West Van | Free | DETAILS
LUMBERJACK LOVE | Squamish Days and the awesome Loggers Sports Festival are a solid reason to make your way up the Sea To Sky Highway this weekend. Expect bed racing, chair carving, axe throwing, tree topping and something called the Loggers Stomp Dance, as well as a full-on street party, Campfire Showdown (renamed Campfire Ban Showdown this year), pancake breakfast, picnic, and parade. Man, lumberjacks know how to party! So stoked for this!
Jul 30-Aug 3 | Various times / locations around Squamish | DETAILS
FIREWORKS | Keep in mind that the Celebration of Light brightens the skies of English Bay this weekend. Canada closes the masturabatory pyrotechnic expression of nationalist fervour on Saturday night. Viewing options range from “business class cabana” (which will run you $5,000) to an old school log on a beach (free but with partially obstructed views in an potentially oppressive crowd of strangers). For the best of both worlds grab a ticket to the August 1st viewing at the Maritime Museum (complete with BBQ, complimentary drink, and access to a cash bar, music and great view for $120 – find out more here). However you roll, plan accordingly, which is to say don’t try to drive through the West End while this craziness is going down!
Sat, Aug 1 | 10pm | English Bay | Free / $options above | DETAILS
MAKE | Indigenous Herbalist Lori Snyder, master jam maker Steve Snyder, and Burrard Marina Field House artist-in-residence Keg de Souza join forces this weekend for a free two-part workshop that involves learning about and picking/jamming wild blackberries and thinking/talking about cultural preservation and experimental hand-drawn mapping. That’s a lot of quality activity. Bring a jam jar and a basket for collecting berries. Connect with the Vancouver Contemporary Art Gallery (learning [at] contemporaryartgallery.ca) to reserve a spot.
Sat, Aug 1 (3-6pm), Sun Aug 2 (11am–2pm) | Burrard Marina Field House | Free | DETAILS
FESTIVAL | The Powell Street Festival spreads across Oppenheimer Park this weekend. The annual celebration of Japanese Canadian arts, culture, and heritage is in its 39th year and they have things pretty dialled. Expect dance, music, martial arts demos, beautiful Japanese pottery and textiles, traditional Japanese food, and an all-out-awesome sumo tournament. Note: this is a popular event so don’t drive. Parking will be a bitch. Hop on the bus. The #14 Hastings takes you right there.
Sat, Aug 1 – Sun, Aug 2 | 11:30am – 7pm | Japantown | Free | DETAILS
SCIENCE | Head out to UBC and hit the the Beaty Biodiversity Museum for their Way Cool Biodiversity series this Sunday and a lecture about what makes peacocks so cool. From the Museum: “Come find out which famous scientist wrote that peacock feathers make him sick, why feather iridescence is so important, and what it takes to get a peahen’s attention.” Picking up a little extra knowledge about the natural world is only ever going to work to your advantage — if not in practical application, at least it will amp up your conversational entertainment value at cocktail parties.
Sun, Aug 2 | 1pm | UBC Biodiversity Museum | Free with $12 admission | DETAILS
DINE | If you can’t skip town this weekend, try a restorative drive in the country. If you take to the road this Sunday, factor in a farm dinner. The Fraser Common Farm is a cooperatively owned community farm in Langley (also home to Glorious Organics Co-op which you may recognize as furnishing many of your favourite restaurants around town with top notch green bits). This Sunday they are holding a “Come Forage” dinner that promises to deliver a unique experience. Before taking a seat at the table guests are invited to get in touch with the farm and their food by rolling up their sleeves helping Chef Chris Whittaker forage items for the evening meal. Expect beer from Four Winds brewing, live music, good vibes, and the freshest food ever! By attending this fundraising dinner, you are also helping to continue the work and vision of the farm. Visit frasercommonfarm.com for more info about the host farm, and click here for tickets.
Sun, Aug 2 | 4-8pm | 1322-256 St. Langley | $100 | DETAILS
PRIDE | Pride hits Vancouver this weekend. As always, the big ticket event is the parade, which starts at noon on Sunday and travels along Robson street to Denman, down Denman to Beach Ave., ending at Sunset Beach where a proper pride party takes place. The theme for this year’s parade is Superheroes. For all the juicy bits (dance parties, beer gardens, barbecues and live entrainment) leading up to the parade as well as the full scoop on parade details – skip over to the Pride site here. This deal attracts an easy 650,000 people, so keep that in mind. Leave the car at home and take lots of good, respectful energy with you.
Sun, Aug. 2 | noon to 6pm | The West End | Free | DETAILS
To submit an event for consideration, email events [at] scoutmagazine.ca
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.