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!

ADVENTURE | Fewer hours of daylight shouldn’t translate to less exposure to nature. Night hiking can be super fun. Head out to Campbell Valley Regional Park in Langley this Friday night for an Owl Prowl and take a wander thought the dark forest with a naturalist who will bring you up to speed on where owls like to hang out, what they like to eat and why they excel at night hunting. This event is free and suitable for grown-ups and kids over the age of 8, but registration is required. Scoot over to the Metro Vancouver website and sign yourself up here.
Fri, Jan. 27, | 7-9pm | Campbell Valley Regional Park | DETAILS

FETISH | If you have a thing for ramen (and really, who doesn’t?) consider taking your fetish to the next level with a screening of Tampopo at The Cinematheque this week. As Scout contributor Ken Tsui (Cinema Usher) explains: “The Ramen Western (Japan’s take on the Spaghetti Western genre) about a widower cluelessly running her deceased husband’s struggling ramen joint. When encountering two cowboy truckers, she sets off on a quest to master the perfect bowl of noodles with the help of her new friends. Tampopo is an irreverent romp full of googly-eyed moments that foretold some of our most fetishistic modern relationships with food.” Make sure to give yourself extra time after the movie, you’ll obviously be needing a bowl of ramen. Not sure where you want to go, check out our Best Ramen poll here.
Jan. 26-Feb. 2 | Various times | The Cinematheque, 1311 Howe Street | DETAILS

CULTURE | A spin around the exhibitions at the Vancouver Art Gallery is always a mind-expanding and inspiring use of some of your weekend hours. This weekend, poet Janet Rogers (Mohawk/Tuscarora writer from the Six Nations band in southern Ontario) amps up the experience by offering an on-site reading from her new book, Totem Poles and Railroads, surrounded by the work of Sonny Assu (Assu’s exhibit We Come to Witness uses digital tags on a body of Emily Carr paintings selected from the Vancouver Art Gallery’s collection).
Sat, Jan. 28 | 3pm | Vancouver Art Gallery — 4th Floor | DETAILS

YEAR OF THE ROOSTER | Find a way (that doesn’t include driving) to get yourself to Chinatown for the Chinese New Year parade on Sunday. The crowds are always huge (we’re talking in the 100,000+ range) but don’t let that stop you – this is a Vancouver tradition! The parade starts at 11am at the Millennium Gate on Pender and travels east along Pender to Gore. It then turns south onto Gore and west onto Keefer before ending at Carrall. We suggest you take along a hot drink to keep your hands warm and wear a nice thick red (a lucky colour) sweater.
Sun, Jan. 29 | 11am | Chinatown | Parade – Free | DETAILS

CELEBRATE | It’s time for Lunar Fest. Enjoy colourful lanterns, stunning visual art installations, storytelling, drumming, lantern-making workshops, games, lion dancers, dumplings and tea. Admission to the festival is free. For event details and schedule, visit the LunarFest website.
Jan. 27-29 | 12-6 pm | Queen Elizabeth Plaza | Free | DETAILS

FLEA | The good folks at Eastside Flea throw down with another one of their fantastic three-day markets this weekend. Cruise tables and booths of over 50 vendors offering cool-as-heck handmade wares. Visit some of the on-site studios. meet the makers, listen to some music, enjoy some food and put your feet up in the outdoor courtyard for a little while. Always good times in the Ellis Building! Friday night is the Shop ‘n Bop portion of the weekend. The market proper happens Sat + Sun from 11am – 5pm.
Fri, 6-10pm | Sat & Sun 11am-5pm | 1024 Main St. | DETAILS

DESIGN | Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel is always a lovely place to slip into for a cocktail. Its sleek decor and international clientele make it easy to pretend you’re somewhere far away. Starting this week, that international feel is intensified with the launch of Japan Unlayered, an exhibition celebrating contemporary Japanese architecture, design and culture. As the hotel explains: “Japan Unlayered is designed to be a sensory experience that invites one to experience Japanese culture through touch, taste, sight, sound and smell. Curated by master Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, Westbank and Peterson, the exhibition will present Japanese traditions alongside contemporary design to illustrate that the defining principles of Japanese design remain the same despite the evolution of technology.” Pair that with a Tokyo Drift (Junmai Gingo sake, Bombay Sapphire, cucumber, green tea and Absinthe) and an hour at the Fairmont will feel like a mini vacation.
Jan. 27 – Feb. 28 | Fairmont Pacific Rim (1038 Canada Pl) | DETAILS

EAT | Dine Out continues this week. With over 280 restaurants on board to offer everything from discounted, multi-course and prix fixe meals ($20, $30, $40 per person) to pop-ups, special events and the always fun Street Food City (this year located along the South Plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery on the weekend). Dine Out ends February 5th, so develop a plan of attack here and get eating.
Jan. 20 – Feb. 5 | Various Locations | Various Prices | DETAILS

TRADE | Clear out the closets, search through the cupboards and skim the garage! Gather together household items and clothing in good condition and make for the Toast Collective this coming Monday night for Bartertown. From event organisers: “Bring anything and everything you’d like to share with others. This could be old records, some items of clothing you don’t want (butts cool), artwork or jewelry, seeds from your garden, some soup or baked goods, spare forks and spoons that are cluttering up ya house, it’s all welcome. No money needed this is community bartering! It’s all about giving what you got and getting what you need.” Beautiful concept! If you know what you plan to bring ahead of time, there’s a Facebook page that you can post to (and check out what others are carting along with them). Connect!
Mon, Jan. 30 | 7-10pm | The Toast Collective (648 Kingsway) | DETAILS

BEER | Reserve a little bit of your weekend energy and carry it over to Tuesday night. The Tankfarm series at The Settlement Building is a dinner and education series that sees four 10oz seasonal Postmark Brewing ales paired with a tasting menu from Belgard Kitchen, served in the tank and barrel room of the brewery, and further enriched by an educational seminar and tour with Brewmaster Dominic Giraldes and Chef Andrew Hounslow. That’s the full experience folks, and only $40! Done deal.
Tue, Jan. 31 | 7-9pm | The Settlement Building (55 Dunlevy Ave.) | $40 | DETAILS

—————————————————————————–

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.