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 November 29 to December 5, 2017. Please note that you can now get the Scout List – with a few extra pieces of intel included – sent to your inbox every Thursday. Sign up for your subscription in the sidebar.

HURRY!  | The Empty Bowls Project is holding their annual ceramics sale tonight (Wed)! The annual fundraiser sees a whack of super talented local pottery artists donating their work to the by-donation sale so money can be raised for Backpack Buddies, a great program that ensures over 1,400 inner city school kids (who rely on school meal programs during the week) have healthy food to eat over the weekend. Expect to see over 70 pieces, everything from funky to functional. This is a great opportunity to pick up a present or two — maybe even a bowl for yourself. Keep in mind that this is a popular event and bowls will sell out, so get there as soon as you are able! Wed, Nov. 29 | 4-7pm | Cartems (2190 Main St.) | DETAILS

GIG | Tennis is back in town. On tour in support of their latest album, Yours Conditionally, the slick Denver indie pop outfit takes the stage at The Cobalt on Saturday night. Factor in an opening set by Wild Ones, a pre-show cocktail at Boxcar and a post-event pizza at Farina and you have all the ingredients for a fine Saturday night. Grab tickets online here. Sat, Dec. 2 | 7pm | Cobalt (917 Main St) | $22.50 | DETAILS

HANDMADE | Tis the season! Hit The Aviary for Object + Handmade this weekend to score finely curated goods from makers who do seriously cool stuff, everything from ceramics and jewellery to textiles and potions. The Aviary is a beautiful space located conveniently near good coffee, great food and good shopping in the Fraserhood. Make an afternoon of it.  Fri, Dec. 1 (7-10pm); Sat, Dec 2 (10am-6pm); Sun, Dec 3 (11am-5pm) | The Aviary (637 E 15th Ave) | DETAILS

OPEN STUDIO | A talented crew of creatives (jewellery designers Ali Munn and Foe & Dear together with artists Dana Mooney and Johnny Taylor) open their studio space for friends and friends of friends and people who will be friends on Saturday. Hustle down to Gastown for a hang out at Revolver Coffee or a cocktail at Pourhouse before hitting the Dominion Building to meet some lovely local artists making beautiful stuff in a cool space. Sat, Dec. 2 | 12pm-8pm | The Dominion Building (207 W. Hastings St.) | DETAILS

BAZAAR | The Russian Community Centre Christmas Bazaar goes down in Kits this weekend. Score yourself a day of Russian food, baking, music, dance and crafts. And what respectable bazaar wouldn’t include a raffle? Not this one! Raffle tickets are $2 and prizes will be awesome. Do some early holiday shopping, fill your belly with Knish and Bliny and enjoy some folk dancing.  Sat, Dec. 2 | 11am–5:30pm | Russian Community Centre (2114 W. 4th) | DETAILS

TOQUE | It’s time to get moving on your holiday shopping! For the most efficient and home-grown effort at knocking a few names off your list with quality items you can be proud to give, we suggest you hit Toque at The Western Front. The curation standard is high at this annual fundraiser and craft fair – expect to find candles, jewellery, ceramics, textiles, scents, books, socks, cards and much more. Seriously, don’t miss this one. Make a run for opening night. Dec. 1-3 | Fri, 6-10pm, Sat/Sun 11am-5pm | Western Front (303 East 8th Ave.) | DETAILS

LECTURE | Interested in community development, connectedness and urban planning? David Hulchanski (Professor of Housing and Community Development at the University of Toronto) is in town for the Simon Fraser University’s City Program Warren Gill Lecture What is happening to my neighbourhood? The socio-spatial restructuring of Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montréal, 1970 to 2015. Scoot down to the SFU Woodwards to hear what Hulchanski has to say about economic inequality, socio-spatial order, changes in the housing and labour markets in order to better understand, effectively challenge and (ultimately) change a system that currently strengthens inequality to one that favours connectedness. This lecture is free, but as seating is limited, reservations are required. Reserve on Eventbrite here. Also available via webcast. Fri, Dec. 1 | 7pm | Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema, Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (at SFU Woodward’s), 149 W. Hastings St. | Free | DETAILS

SCIENCE | Head out to UBC and hit the Beaty Biodiversity Museum for their Way Cool Biodiversity series this Sunday and a lecture about what makes microscopic sand creatures so cool (unless you already know). From the Museum: “Sand creatures do exist, though most of them are invisible to the naked eye. By examining grains of sand under the microscope, one enters a world of squirming and scurrying wonders, from the bizarre to the beautiful.Teeming with single-celled protists as well as multi-cellular animals, beach sand is considered one of the most diverse habitats on the planet. Join Sam Huang, former UBC research student, as he takes us through the microscope to explore the amazing diversity and evolutionary adaptations of these tiny sand-dwelling creatures.” Picking up a little extra knowledge about the natural world is only ever going to work to your advantage — if not in practical application, at least it will amp up your arsenal of talking points as we move in to holiday cocktail party season. Sun, Dec. 3 | 1pm | UBC Biodiversity Museum | Free with $12 admission | DETAILS

SUPERMOON | It’s a good thing that clouds are expected to lift over the weekend because crisp weather and clear skies will make moon viewing much more rewarding. As far as moons go, The Cold Moon (rising Sunday at about 5pm) will be big and bright and worthy of slowing down for. Source yourself the key ingredients (a travel mug full of something warm, good friends and a view) and soak up the moonlight. Pro tip: winter beaches are delightfully empty this time of year if you feel like a quiet and contemplative moon viewing, but if you like the idea of walking and viewing, you can take in the moon as walk east along the False Creek seawall from Granville Island.  Sun, Dec. 3 | Moonrise will begin at 4:57pm | DETAILS

KRAMPUS | Santa not your thing? Give Krampus a go. Strange Fellows Brewery has him visiting this coming Tuesday night and there’s nothing like a visit with a big hairy Christmas monster to inspire the holiday spirit. From event organizers: “December brings excitement for many children around the world as they eagerly await a visit from St Nicholas. In some European alpine villages, this anticipation is tainted with fear, as there St Nick is accompanied by the frightful Krampus. While St Nick brings gifts for the nice children, Krampus – with his horns, cloven hooves and long devilish tongue – comes for the naughty. Instead of bringing treats, Krampus whips the naughty children with a switch, and takes the very bad away in his sack.” Although horns, cloven hooves and a long, devilish tongue sounds a bit intimidating, Strange Fellows has a handy way of diffusing tension with cold pours of their fine beer and they are adamant that this is a family friendly event (but you might want to prep young children because nobody wants baby tears to slow down what will surely be a massive line of beer-loving enthusiasts looking for their turn on the monsters knee). Tue, Dec. 5 | 6-8pm | 1345 Clark Dr. | DETAILS

FURTHER AFIELD….

OUT IN LANGLEY | Shopping this time of year can be incredibly stressful, which is why we’re so grateful for the influx of awesome holiday pop-ups and craft fairs across BC. On Friday, December 8th Langley brewery, Trading Post, is hosting their 2nd annual ‘December Sip & Shop’ event – a special evening of drinking and shopping from a curated selection of local vendors and producers. The combination of beer, good people and unique gifts in a low-key and beautiful setting seems like just the thing to get us in the holiday shopping mood! Fri, Dec. 8th | 6-9pm | Trading Post Brewing (Unit 107-20120 64th Avenue, Langley) | DETAILS