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, from our calendar to yours!

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU, ALWAYS | We don’t typically tap major motion picture debuts, but this is the first Star Wars standalone, and we’re excited as a one armed wampa about it. Rogue One opens this week and the first reviews from the nerdiverse have been super positive (the first private screenings went down in LA last weekend). This is skip-out-of-work material for sure. The premise? Things get super dicey for a ragtag rabble of rebel spies on a seat-of-the-pants mission to get their grubby hands on the Death Star’s telling schematics. A prequel without Jar Jar! Bonus: Darth Vader being a badass.
Fri, Dec. 16 | Various times & locations | DETAILS

COMMUNITY | If you’re downtown this Friday consider taking a break from the hustle of holiday crowds to hang out in Cathedral Square for a quick nature fix. The Vancouver Park Board is working with Hives for Humanity and the Downtown Vancouver BIA to bring honeybees and a pollinator garden to Cathedral Square. On Friday between 3pm and 6pm visitors are invited to check out the honeybee plan, taste some honey and get involved. The big picture is to reactivate this public space and make it a vibrant and inspiring oasis in the city (sounds like good move to us!)
Fri, Dec. 16 | 3-6pm | Cathedral Square (Dunsmuir/Richards) | Free | DETAILS

CHILL | The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performs Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons at the Chan Centre this Friday night. There will also be a bit of Bach and a smattering of Biber. That’s a serious Christmas threesome and a fine start to the weekend if you ask us! But tickets are going fast so be sure to get sorted now!
Fri, Dec. 16 | 8pm | Chan Centre (6265 Crescent Rd., UBC) | $25-65-ish | DETAILS

LAST MINUTE | If you’ve been procrastinating on the whole holiday shopping thing because the idea of inserting yourself into the chaos of malls and big box stores one week before Christmas sounds like your idea of hell, well…you’re not alone. The good news is that Gastown’s Last Minute Pop-Up has you covered. Scoot down to 8. E Cordova (Cordova & Carrall) and score yourself all kinds of great products made by Vancouver’s artists, designers, and craftspeople. From jewellery (Iza Jewelry), cards (Sarita Mann Design Studio) and kid’s clothing (Late Slip) to candles (Woodlot), ceramics (Objects With Personality) and Turkish towels and blankets (Plaj Towels) organizers have assembled top notch makers in one place that’s a long way from any mall. Don’t miss out! Last Minute opens on Saturday, December 17th and runs through to Wednesday, December 21st.
Sat, Dec. 17 – Wed, Dec. 21 | 11am-7pm | 8. E. Cordova St., Gastown | DETAILS

CIOPPINO’S | With all the crazy running around that the holiday season brings, it’s important to sit down and eat a restorative meal. Go big and treat yourself. Yaletown’s award-winning Cioppino’s only opens for lunch service once per year (now until Dec. 23rd). Checking out for a long lunch is a luxury that you’ve got to give yourself from time to time. Imagine Linguini ai Porcini (wild mushrooms, garlic confit, savoury herbs) or free run chicken marinated with herbs and lemon from the rotisserie. Add a glass of wine and a tiramisu and you’ve got time well spent. Get in there!
1133 Hamilton St. | Reserve by calling 604-688-7466 | DETAILS

SHOP | Film industry peeps tend to be a multi-talented and creative lot so we’re excited to see what happens when a bunch of them get together to throw a holiday pop-up shop this weekend. Film Crew Artisans Christmas Craft Shop is a one-day only event being held in the Dock Lunch space on Saturday. Word has it there will be everything from leather bowls and fancy fascinators to ornaments and bikinis on offer. That’s some seriously diverse shopping in a tiny space like Dock Lunch!
Sat, Dec. 17 | 10am–7pm | Dock Lunch (152 east 11th) | DETAILS

BONFIRE | This Saturday is a good night to head over to Dundarave Pier in West Vancouver. Take a stroll through the local shops and then bundle up tight and make your way down to the beach where there will be a giant bonfire roaring (lit at sundown). Live music, hot chocolate and a forest of decorated Christmas trees make this a solidly festive Saturday night. Plus there’s a beach. Remember those?
Sat, Dec. 17 | 3pm to 9:30pm | Dundarave Beach | West Van | Free | DETAILS

TRIP OUT | Take a break from mistletoe and Jingle Bells and hit the BCIT Planetarium for a healthy dose of Laser Floyd this Saturday night. If that doesn’t clear out the canned Christmas carol soundtrack that has infiltrated your head by way of elevator speakers and mall sound systems (and you feel you need an extra strength head shake), stick around for Laser Radiohead immediately afterward. A double hit of full dome 360 video projection, multiple RGB lasers, and 360 sound should sort you out!
Sat, Dec. 17 | 8pm | BCIT Planetarium (3700 Willingdon Ave, Burnaby) | DETAILS

NATURE | Put on your warmest hat because this Sunday is a good time to go to Stanley Park for fresh air and a walk. Grab a hot chocolate, do a lap around Lost Lagoon, and then stop in at the Stanley Park Nature House where a representative from The Stanley Park Ecology Society will give an informative and fascinating talk about the history and customs of mid-winter festivals in time for Winter Solstice. Get acquainted with the significance of the plants (holly, mistletoe, chestnuts, evergreens) that we associate with holidays and discover which ones grow in the park.
Sun, Dec. 18 | 1:30pm – 3:30pm | Stanley Park Nature House (foot of Aberni St.) | $10 | DETAILS

GREASY SPOON | Save On Meats owner Mark Brand is taking his turn to cook the next Greasy Spoon dinner this coming Monday night. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, the Greasy Spoon Supper Series invites BC’s best chefs to plate four courses of old school diner fare in their own way in support of A Better Life Foundation. The menu for this old school, diner fare meal is looking predictably rad. Think strawberry, rosemary, white balsamic and almond milkshake; shishito poppers stuffed with duck confit; a clubhouse quiche; pulled pork and buffalo waffles and a plantain split. Snag a ticket before they sell out!
Mon, Dec. 19 | 43 West Hastings St. | $95 | 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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