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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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!

4/20 | On the 20th day of the 4th month (that would be this Thursday), thousands upon thousands of people will gather at Sunset Beach to celebrate one of BC’s strongest industries: marijuana. Pot cookies, smoking tents, bongo drums, naked people and dreadlocks…expect it all. The first reefers are lit early and the cloud of blue love gathers all day, reaching a cloudy zenith at 4:20pm. If you’re driving through downtown, you’ll want to avoid Beach Ave north of the Burrard Street Bridge (near the Aquatic Centre) as there may be a few slow moving pedestrians to negotiate around.
Thu, Apr. 20 | 4:20pm (but really, all day) | 1204 Beach Ave | Free (or roughly $5 a joint) | DETAILS

FLEA | The good folks at Eastside Flea throw down with one of their terrific three-day markets this weekend, and this one is extra terrific because it’s the 1 Year Anniversary at the Ellis Building location. Not only can you cruise tables and booths of over 50 vendors offering cool-as-heck handmade wares, visit some of the on-site studios, meet makers, listen to music, eat food and drink drinks, but there will also be tattoos, Tintype Photos, a DJ, pinball, pool, an art show by Benjamin Knight and a live performance by Gang Sign. Always good times at the Ellis Building! Friday night is the party portion of the weekend. The market proper happens Sat + Sun from 11am – 5pm. See you there!
Fri, 6-10pm | Sat + Sun 11am-5pm | 1024 Main St. | DETAILS

SHOP | Get yourself sorted at the Far Out Cafe’s new vintage shop on East Cordova St. this weekend. Besides the generous offering of vintage clothing for sale, a crop of local vendors will be on hand with their fresh, seasonal and handmade goods. Items for sale will include greenery from Foliosa, edibles from Wild Apiaries and Project No 22, art prints by Head (aka Jeff Lee), jewelry by Anita Sikma, candles from East Wix AND soaps and other concoctions crafted by Erica Wijngaards. Furthermore, Todd Graham – the underground supper club chef and coordinator of Handtaste Ferments – will be transforming the alleyway into a pop-up eatery.  Collect your spring bounty – and be set for the season!
April 22nd | 12-6pm | Far Out Vintage (165 East Cordova Street) | DETAILS

GIG | The Biltmore has a few good shows this week. On Thursday night, catch indie rock band San Fermin (in town from Brooklyn in support of their recently released album Belong) play with Low Roar, and on Friday, American folk singer-songwriter Joe Purdy takes the stage. A cold beer and a subterranean hangout with live music at The Biltmore is a fine way to end the week!
Thu, Apr. 20 | 8pm | The Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward St.) | $15 | DETAILS
Fri, Apr. 21 | 8pm | The Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward St.) | $20 | DETAILS

EARTH DAY | Take some time out to show your respect for the planet. Turn off lights and appliances; hit a beach and pick up things that you know shouldn’t be there; just stand in a forest and send thanks and good vibes to the trees. You can also get social and have yourself some ice cream and a burrito at Bandidas on Commercial Drive. In addition to donating 100% of their profits from Saturday’s sales to RAVEN Trust (an organization that supports indigenous communities in their fight for environmental protection), Bandidas will also have Earnest Ice Cream on site scooping up some Earth Day love, plus a plant sale, buskers busking and a Earth Day-themed student art show. Good things, all!
Sat, Apr. 22 | All Day | Bandidas Taqueria (2781 Commercial Dr.) | DETAILS

EAT | Along with daffodil-studded sidewalks, cherry blossoms and occasionally blue skies, the annual Spring perogy lunch at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Strathcona is a sure indicator of the true arrival of the most welcome of seasons. In addition to the shining linoleum-floored basement lined with communal lunch tables ready for home-made borscht, perogies and kielbasa, there are usually tables of homemade baked goods and a bazaar to pick through upstairs. Leave with a full belly, grab a cup of tea at The Wilder Snail (the next corner down), and then park your bum in MacLean Park for a full-on hang (weather permitting).
Sun, Apr. 23 | 11am-3pm | Ukrainian Cultural Centre (805 E Pender St.) | DETAILS

MAKE | How many times have you found yourself wishing someone had brought a piñata to the party? So many, right? Well, this weekend brings with it the opportunity to learn how to hand craft your own. A three hour class will get you sorted with a super amazing custom job to take home (all supplies included). We’ve taken this class before and give it two thumbs up. Instructor Meaghan Kennedy is rad, funny, helpful and phenomenally creative. Roll your sleeves up, grab a glue gun and make something!
Sat, Apr. 22 | 2-5pm | Blim (115 E Pender St. ) | $55 grown up / $65 grown up with kid | DETAILS

RECORD STORE DAY | It’s Record Store Day on Saturday so independently run record stores across the city are fixin’ to help you celebrate. Expect exclusive record releases, sales and the coming together of people who love music. Hit Red Cat Records, Neptoon and Dandelion on Main, Zulu Records on 4th Avenue, plus Vinyl, Noize, Beat Street, and Highlife for all sorts of record-related fun. Oh, and let’s not forget the classical grooves at Sikora downtown! Tip: for a comprehensive guide of the best ways to get in to the vinyl, have a look here.
Sat, Apr. 22 | All Day | Various Locations Around Town | Free | DETAILS

ARCHITECTURE | The Vancouver Heritage Foundation is hosting their annual Vancouver Special Tour this weekend. Look inside five new and amazingly renovated Vancouver Specials homes on this one day, ticketed, self-guided event that celebrates innovation and design and asks the important question: ‘What can you do to make one of the least appealing architectural styles livable in a modern context?’ From Vancouver Heritage Foundation: “Among the homes on tour this year are a 1975 Special updated by one of the pioneers of Special revitalization, Architect Stephanie Robb. The new design artfully blends memory with modern aesthetics that suit the new owners. We also have a 1970s era Special with a dramatic new renovation that includes a shows topping built-in wrap-around wood dining area that plays off the cedar ceiling.” The tour is bike-friendly and VHF has teamed up with SideSaddle Bike Shop on Victoria Drive to make sure everyone has somewhere to fill bike tires, get a little mechanical support, fill up on fresh water or access a clean washroom while on tour.
Sat, Apr. 22 | 1-5pm | Various locations | $30 | DETAILS

RUN | The Sun Run goes down this weekend. If you’re taking part – good for you! If you’re heading out to cheer on friends and family participating in the run – we applaud you too, as you have an important role to play! Everyone else: the run starts at 9am Sunday and will involve tens of thousands of participants, so think twice before you agree to meet your pals for a casual Sunday morning coffee pretty much anywhere downtown (and a few bits of Kits or anywhere that you would need to use the Cambie Street Bridge to get to). For a list of things to do that will keep you safely away from the mayhem, check the Scout city map at the foot of our website and choose a neighbourhood to explore.
Sun, Apr. 23 | 9am | DETAILS

 

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.