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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, from our calendar to yours!

GASTOWN GRAND PRIX | Wednesday evening is the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix. Riders from clear across North America are here to participate in the short course through the streets of this historic neighbourhood. Secure a good spot (Chill Winston, Six Acres, Pourhouse, and The Diamond all look like nice options) and settle in to watch spandex blurs zoom lap after cobblestoned lap (35 for women, 50 for men). There will be a few other people in the crowd, so pack light and walk to avoid the parking/traffic nightmare).
Wed, July 13 | 5:30 -9:30 | Gastown | Free | DETAILS

FOLK FEST | The Vancouver Folk Fest spreads across the grasses of Jericho Park this weekend, and everything points to it being a pretty amazing gig. The three day event is a local tradition that speaks to our hippy roots. Expect the best. M. Ward will be there; so will the The New Pornographers, Shane Koyczan, The Weather Station, Lord Huron and a whole whack of fantastic musicians and bands. Flat out awesome.
July 15-17 | Jericho Beach | $60 –$170 depending on your commitment | DETAILS

FABLE DINER | Chef Trevor Bird’s long awaited Fable Diner (a more casual, diner-centric sibling of Fable in Kitsilano) is now open and well worth a look on the ground floor of the historic Lee Building at Main & Broadway. The “official” opening isn’t until July 21st, but you can get in now before the crowds do from 4pm until 10pm. I’ve had my first bites and they were awesome.
7 Days | 4–10pm | 151e E Broadway | DETAILS

CINEMA | Make your way to the Rio Theatre this Friday night and settle in for the long haul with a screening of Lawrence of Arabia. From The Rio: “The epic of all epics, British director David Lean‘s triumphant masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia nobly retains its status in the pantheon of cinema as one of, if not the greatest films ever made – and for good reason. Based on the life of English archaeologist, military officer and diplomat T.E. Lawrence, this historical drama holds a firm grasp on its audience with nearly four hours of grand scope, brilliant performances, and the kind of beautiful cinematography that can only truly be enjoyed and appreciated on the big screen.” There is a 15 minute intermission in this film, just enough time to hit the bar for a beer and a grilled cheese sandwich.
Fri, July 15 | 6:45pm | Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway)| $12 at the door | DETAILS

EASTSIDE FLEA | Somewhere between a boutique vintage pop-up and a garage sale, a well executed flea market offers thrifty treasure hunters the chance to score unique goods at reasonable prices. If the key components are good selection, low prices and a mix of old and new, then The Eastside Flea is a home run. Find out for yourself this weekend when over 55 vendors and makers arrange their goods on tables at the cool new ESF location on Main Street. We suggest making a point of Friday night when, in addition to heavily curated group of vendors, you’ll also find pinball, pool, cocktails and DJ’s, but Saturday and Sunday will also boast food trucks and drink specials.
Fri, July 15, 6-10pm, Sat+Sun 11am-5pm | 1024 Main St. | Free | DETAILS

ART | Fuse is back at the VAG. Head down to the gallery on Friday night to wander your way through the one-night party palace and leave feeling like the cultured city dweller you are. This incarnation is all about “Private Lives and Public Dreams”; it looks at the relationships between “the personal, the political, the fantastic and the mythical with a local and international roster of artists”. Dig the decidedly different evening vibe blending live music, performance art and adult beverage options with an evening of art.
Fri, July 15 | 8pm–12am | Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby St.) | $24 | DETAILS

BOOK ARTS | Head down to the Vancouver Public Library this Saturday to check out the 2016 Book Arts Fair. If you’re curious about the book as an object of art then this is the perfect venue to see some interesting stuff. Bookbinders and artists will be on site to show you altered books, bookbinding techniques and styles, the process of letterpress printing, and a variety of paper arts. This isn’t a stuffy, old school museum-ish exhibit; you can touch and buy and ask questions. It’s put on by the B.C. Lower Mainland chapter of the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild, so there’ll be some serious book smarts in the room.
Sat, July 16 | 10am-1pm | VPL Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. | DETAILS

EXPLORE | If you’re in need of a summer vacation but can’t manage to slip away from work for a long weekend, consider heading to Bowen Island for the day. If you catch the 11am boat from Horseshoe Bay as a walk-on passenger you will arrive at the Marina Pier just in time for lunch (we always recommend visiting Shika – just to your right as you disembark the ferry – for a rice bowl and a cold drink). This weekend is Bowen’s annual People, Plants, and Places Tour, a self-guided, go-at-your-own pace tour that exposes adventurers to a sampling of historic and heritage sites, art, gardens, and architecturally interesting homes around the island.
July 16-17 | 10am–4pm | Bowen Island | DETAILS

SHAKESPEARE | Bard On The Beach throws down with performances of The Merry Wives of Windsor, Romeo and Juliet, Pericles and Othello this week. We are particularly curious to see Othello, as this version is set against the backdrop of the American Civil War. Arrive early for some time in Bard Village where you can take advantage of the full concession and bar services, poke around the Bard boutique or just chat with other theatre-goers. Shakespeare on a Vancouver beach is a pretty rad use of a July evening. But don’t think about it too long, as performances do sell out.
Now through September | Various times | Vanier Park, Kits Point | $20-$67 | DETAILS

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. 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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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.

There are 2 comments

  1. Bowen Island is a great idea…however it may be easier to take the water taxi from Granville Island or Coal Harbour. $35 return…with more sailings as the summer kicks in. Lots of fun.

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