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

FullSizeRender-(1)

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!

OPEN SESAME | This is a good week for openings as Fluffy Kittens ice cream parlour (tomorrow, softly), Strathcona Beer Company‘s tasting room (now open), and the highly anticipated Juke Fried Chicken (Thursday, softly) all open their doors. Get in before everybody else does!

RESTAURANT RUMBLE | The Restaurant Rumble showdown organized by the Aprons for Gloves Boxing Association pits local bussers against dishwashers and cooks against bartenders. Grab a seat and watch boxers go glove to glove starting with Undercard Fights in the afternoon (1-6pm) followed by the Title Fights in the evening (7pm). Aprons for Gloves is a high energy good time that’s committed to community. Get into it, but keep in mind that Wednesday night is also fireworks night and there is no way you’ll want to be driving a car downtown.
Wed, July 27 | 1 & 7pm | Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville St. | Various $ | DETAILS

FIREWORKS | The Celebration of Light continues this week. Wednesday sees a display of pyrotechnic amazingness put on by Australia and the USA finishes the 2016 celebration on Saturday night. There are many Vancouver beaches, hills, parks and bridges that will provide free and spectacular views of the fireworks. Best to travel by foot, bike or public transit. Whatever happens, don’t try to drive through the West End on either night.
July 27 + 30 | 10pm | English Bay | Free with some $ options | DETAILS

TALK | Looking for something more refined than an evening of restaurant industry peeps hitting each other or massive crowds on the beach for fireworks? How about a civilized panel discussion about modern art? Local artists Ian Wallace, Kimberley Phillips and Bill Jeffries will be at the Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art in North Van for Making Sense of Readymades. If you’re not familiar, a readymade is a found object turned into art by the artist, either by modifying it or giving it a new context. Is a porcelain urinal a work of art when it is removed from its natural habitat and placed at an unnatural angle? These are the things up for debate. Plus, the seabus ride back from the North Shore, timed just so, could offer a nice view of the tips of the fireworks in a “have your cake and eat it too” kind of way.
Wed, July 27 | 8pm | Gordon Smith Gallery (2121 Lonsdale Ave), North Van | DETAILS

MUSIC | Feet in the grass, sunset in the sky and live music in the air — an outdoor concert is an experience that everyone should aim to add to their summer goals list. This Thursday night,Weezer and Panic! at the Disco are playing an outdoor show at Deer Lake Park. Surprisingly, there are still a few tickets to be had, but numbers are dwindling, so jump now (and treat a friend).
Thu, July 28 | 6pm | Deer Lake Park | DETAILS

ART | Irish artist Isabel Nolan’s In The Weakened Eye of Day opens at The Contemporary Art Gallery this week. With this major new body of work the artist aims to look at and capture in material form “…the occasions of intensity that can define our encounters with the objects around us; inexplicable and unsettling moments that leave us with a heightened awareness of what is means to be alive.” Expect small to large format, sculpture, textile art, photographs and text. Head down to the CAG on Thursday night for the opening reception and take some time to reflect on our place in the universe through the prism of art. This show runs July 29-Oct 2, 2016. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 12-6pm.
Thu, July 28 | 7pm | Contemporary Art Gallery (555 Nelson St.) | Free | DETAILS

FILM | Get out of the heat and into a seat at The Rio Theatre this Friday night to enjoy an almost three hours of Al Pacino in the brilliant 1983 classic, Scarface. From The Rio: “Director Brian De Palma and star Al Pacino go full-tilt in Scarface, a violent, blood-soaked hyper-stylized gangster epic based on Howard Hughes‘ 1932 film of the same name. From its Oliver Stone‘s infinitely quotable script to a few classic scenes that have since become entrenched in the collective pop-culture lexicon, the film easily retains its status as one of the most influential films of that decade, walking a thin (white) line between cautionary moralistic drama and a celebratory, glamorous tale of rags-to-riches excess.” A little Pacino, a little blood and a lot of blow – this is a flick that will keep you highstrung until the very last minute. Luckily, cold beer is an option and the air conditioning will no doubt be cranked.
Fri, July 29 | 10pm | Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway)| $12 at the door | DETAILS

FESTIVAL | The Powell Street Festival goes down this weekend at Oppenheimer Park. The annual celebration of Japanese-Canadian arts, culture, and heritage turns 40 this year and four decades of experience means things are pretty dialled. Expect dance, music, martial arts demos, beautiful Japanese pottery and textiles, anime, and an all-out-awesome sumo tournament. Best of all, fill up on tasty treats like Osaka balls, squid teriyaki, bbq’d salmon, cold ramen, hot ramen, katsu sandwiches and matcha lattes. Note: this is a popular event so don’t drive. Parking will be a bitch. Hop on the bus. The #14 Hastings will get you there.
Sat, July 30 + Sun, July 31 | 11:30am – 7pm | 400 block of Powell Street | Free | 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. Also make a point of taking stroll through the Davie Street Party on Thursday night. 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 700,000 people, so keep that in mind. Leave the car at home and take sunscreen and lots of good, respectful energy with you.
Now-Sun, July 31| Various times | The West End | Mostly Free | DETAILS

COOL OFF | Temperatures are climbing, so cold running mountain water is where it’s at this weekend. Pack a bag with towels, sunscreen, drinks and snacks and make for the hills! Not only does Lynn Canyon Park offer lovely and partially shaded trails, but it also has some beautiful swimming holes. Check out the 30 Foot Pool (a short walk from the suspension bridge) or continue along the trails toward the Seymour Demonstration Forest and stop at Rice Lake for a dip. DETAILS

—————————————————————————–

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.

Transition Into 2024 with Some Quality Downtime

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, from now until January 8th, 2024.

Scout List, Vol. 601

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, right now.

Scout List, Vol. 600

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, from March 30th to April 5th, 2023.

Scout List, Vol. 599

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.