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, from our calendar to yours!

ENGAGE | The Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood extends from Broadway to Burrard Inlet and from Clark Drive to Nanaimo. Anchored by Commercial Drive and “East Village” business districts and sprinkled with parks, schools, restaurants and community gathering places, it’s a big chunk of land. If you don’t live or work there yourself, you probably know someone who does. And big changes are coming. The COV has just released the draft Grandview-Woodland Community Plan that aims to start a course for growth and change in the community over the next 30 years (think housing, transportation, heritage, character, community facilities, parks, and open spaces). Find out first hand what’s in store for the area by reading the plan here and then follow up with a seat at one of the community open houses planned for this week.
Wed, June 29 | 5-9pm | Maritime Labour Centre (1880 Triumph St.) | Free | DETAILS
Tues, July 5 | 5-9pm | Croation Cultural Centre (3250 Commercial Dr.) | Free | DETAILS

CANADA DAY | Cruise around Granville Island, take in a parade, take the family to The Maritime Museum in Kits, chill out with some live music in Crab Park or save up your energy until the evening and join the crowds for the fireworks at Canada Place. It’s a busy day. Visit pretty much any park, beach, or community hub and you’ll find a celebration going on. Traffic is going to be thick, so if you’re going out and about, make sure to leave your car at home and take instead your most agreeable Canadian disposition.
Fri, July 1 | All Day | Everywhere | Mostly Free

MUSIC | The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden kicks off its Enchanted Evenings summer concert series this week. Inspired musical performances, reservable seats, gourmet picnic dinners (order in advance), plus wine and beer – all backdropped to the serene, swaying bamboo and lilypad-strewn ponds. The first concert of the summer is The Jessica Stuart Few. If you can’t make it, don’t panic. There will be a total of nine Enchanted Evenings this summer and each one will have a unique feel and tempo.
Thu, June 30 | Doors 7pm | 578 Carrall St. | Concert $25-$60, Picnic / Wine extra | DETAILS

EXPLORE | The Steveston Salmon Festival goes down Friday. This is the 71st year that the festival will hit the docks and it’s a fantastic excuse to explore the quaint fishing village. There’ll be a pancake breakfast ($8), a parade, a Japanese Cultural show, a craft fair, plenty of live music, and the biggest, best, most wonderful salmon BBQ you have ever seen (1,200 pounds of wild salmon grilled over open fire pits). It’s estimated that somewhere in the neighbourhood of 70,000 people will show up!
Fri, July 1 | All Day | Steveston | $15 per plate | DETAILS

BASEBALL | Nothing says summer like a bag of peanuts, a cold beer, and a baseball game on home field. The Vancouver Canadians play the Spokane Indians at Nat Bailey Stadium at 7pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Tickets are going to have to be sourced via social media or scalpers outside of the stadium – a totally feasible solution but arrive early enough to score.
July 1-3 | Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium (4601 Ontario St.) | $15 | DETAILS

CIDER | Fancy yourself a nice crisp glass of cider from time to time? Sure you do. Get your palate sorted with a visit to Vancouver’s own Sunday Cider this weekend and join in celebrating the launch of their growler fill window by tasting a few pours and mingling with some cool people. Get the backstory here. See you there!
Sat, July 2 | 1-7pm | 1575 Vernon Dr. | DETAILS

SCIENCE | Head out to UBC and hit the the Beaty Biodiversity Museum for their Way Cool Biodiversity series and a lecture about what makes fur seals so awesome. From the Museum: “How often are wild fur seals successful at catching prey, and why does it matter? Join Dr. Beth Volpov, alumni at UBC’s Marine Mammal Research Unit, for a unique look into the underwater lives of Australian fur seals. She will show you underwater video footage from the seal’s point of view captured on National Geographic Crittercameras and share how scientists use the technology inside of smartphones to predict when fur seals capture their food.” Picking up a little extra knowledge about the natural world is only ever going to work to your advantage, plus everyone loves a spot of good seal trivia, right?
Sun, July 3 | 1pm | UBC Biodiversity Museum | Free with admission | DETAILS

NIGHT MARKETS | Wandering a carnival, festival or night market on a summer evening can be magic and this weekend there are several options to choose from. Hit the Richmond Night Market (and their fancy Magical Dino Park) or the Panda Night Market, or take a sublime sunset seabus ride over to North Van for a spin around the Shipyards Night Market. What night isn’t a little bit better after a potato tornado with an ice cream chaser? Add on a new set of cheap socks FTW!
Richmond Night Market | Fri+Sat (7pm–midnight) Sun (7pm-11pm) | 8351 River Rd| $3.25 | DETAILS
Summer Night Market | Fri+Sat (6pm-11pm); Sun (6-10pm) | 12631 Vulcan Way | Free | DETAILS
Shipyards Night Market | 5-10pm | Lonsdale Quay in North Van | DETAILS

RELAX | This is a long weekend. Your primary responsibility to yourself should be to find some time to kick back. Take a hike, lounge around on a patio with a book and a beer, do some gardening – whatever it is that you’ve been meaning to get to but couldn’t manage to fit into the skimpy two day weekends of yore. If you’re drawing a blank on Vancouver best patios, we’ve got a fine list of options ranked by our readers here.

EAT LOCAL | Go slow – take the whole day to make dinner! Start with a good cup of coffee and wander your way to a farmers market; take a list or find inspiration in what you discover there.  Summer is the best – think of all the fresh sweet berries, healthy herbs and vegetables, salad greens, as well as cheese, artisan breads, preserves, honey, wild salmon, cookies and pies. Support the people who grow our food!
Downtown | Thursdays | 2-6pm | Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza | DETAILS
Trout Lake | Saturdays | 9am-2pm | North Parking Lot, John Hendry Park | DETAILS
West End | Saturdays | 9am-2pm | 1100 Block of Comox (across from Nelson Park) | DETAILS
Kits | Sundays | 10am-2pm | 2690 Larch @ 10th | DETAILS
Main Street | Wednesdays | 2-6pm | 1100 Block Main (Thornton 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.