DINER: First Look Inside The New Kitsilano Digs Of 49th Parallel & Lucky’s Doughnuts

The new 1400 sqft combo/location of 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters and Lucky’s Doughnuts is opening – fingers crossed – this Saturday in the old Kits Coffee Company spot (2198 West 4th). In other words, the staff at the original 49th Parallel cafe down the block will lock up for good tomorrow evening and then unlock the new doors the following morning (again, fingers crossed). The new high quality coffee and doughnut joint will offer 45 indoor seats – that’s bench seating along the windows with tables and chairs – plus another 45 on the expansive patio that should open later this summer (hopefully within a month). Like the popular Main St. location that opened a year ago this week (see our shots of it here), all of the doughnuts will be made fresh on site, and we all know the coffee as some of the very best in town.

Bonus: there will be a kitchen window looking out onto the street. “When it’s open you just know this stretch of Kitsilano is going to smell terrible,” said nobody at all.

ALL ANTICIPATED RESTAURANTS

AWESOME THING WE ATE #894: Big Spread Of Peruvian Eats At East Van’s New Chicha

Following a series of successful “soft” opening nights, the Peruvian-themed Chicha restaurant opened up to the public this week at 136 East Broadway Street. They’re plating a substantial and rather diverse menu, so there were plenty of tasty things to take in. Specific wins included the so-simple-but-so-good frites with Peruvian tartar sauce (1), the quinoa salad tower (2), the brightly flavoured – and coloured! – cold mashed potato “Causa Cangre Jo Trio” (3), the skewered “Anticucho Caprese” salad (4), the chicken stew-stuffed empanadas (5), and the chorizo and octopus salad (6). Also of note were the Pisco Sour cocktails and lúcuma fruit cheesecake (they aren’t pictured here because they were gone too fast). The 45 seater – with its emphasis on sharing – comes to us courtesy of Kumiko Umeno and chefs Shelome Bouvette (interview) and Allison Flook. It’s open every day except Monday from 5pm until 1am, and until 2am on weekends. You can read our anticipatory coverage of Chicha here.

ALL ANTICIPATED OPENINGS

SCOUT LIST: 10 Things That You Should Absolutely Do Between Now & Next Week

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…

GO BOWLING | The sun was nice and all, but it looks like our weather is back to sucking again this week. Instead of getting down about it, plan some indoor fun. Grab some friends and hit the bowling alley. Commodore Lanes on Granville Street and Grandview Lanes over on Commercial are good places to start. While Grandview offers 5-pin and 10-pin bowling with the added bonus of black light (ooh, look at it glow) bowling, Commodore Lanes boasts 21 billiard tables and a lounge. In the end, both venues have all of the elements necessary for a good (indoor) time, so hit ‘em up.
Grandview Lanes | 10am-11pm (1am on weekends) | 2195 Commercial | DETAILS
Commodore Lanes | 11am-12am (1am on weekends) | 838 Granville | DETAILS

NIGHT MARKET | This is the second weekend of the 2013 Chinatown Night Market season. While the market remains in ‘soft start’ mode (the full compliment of vendors and special events will evolve over the next few weeks), this run-up to the fully fledged, revamped and super awesome night market is definitely still worth getting out of the house for. Part market, part circus, part food truck extravaganza, the block of Keefer between Main and Columbia comes alive with that magical chaos that is unique to Chinatown. Highlights include 4 bras for $10 (hells yeah), Potato Tornadoes and Winner Winner Singaporean style chicken on rice  (because “the sauce is boss”). Stay tuned for future bells and whistles like ping pong, Raincity Chronicles and movie night at the market. Like most good times, the market goes on rain or shine.
Every Fri, Sat, Sun | 6pm-11pm | Keefer St. between Main & Columbia in Chinatown | DETAILS

SOIREE | We don’t usually throw expensive ticket items on The Scout List, but we’re making an exception this week. A Better Life Foundation launches this Saturday night and things are kicking off in style with a party at The Vancouver Art Gallery. $250 buys you access to the party (fine food, drinks, and music by Vancouver musician Ryan Guldemond (Mother Mother) as well as to gallery exhibitions including Grand Hotel) but more importantly, your money goes to support the foundation’s two objectives: “to relieve poverty by providing nutritious meals to those in need [...] to relieve poverty by providing job skills, training opportunities and job placement assistance for people with employment barriers.” $175 from each ticket purchase is tax deductible.
Saturday, May 25 | 7-11pm | Vancouver Art Gallery (740 Hornby St) | $250 | DETAILS

UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF CHINATOWN | If you’ve ever wandered through Chinatown curios as to the historical context of buildings and landmarks, baffled by which restaurants serve what and confused about the purposes of the many societies and organizations, there is help. Pender Keefer Georgia is the insiders guidebook to Chinatown billed as “The print equivalent of knowing a local.” Created and published by Vancouverite Jill Southern, not only is the guide useful as all-get-out, it’s beautifully designed and delightful to flip through. So make your way to The Chinatown Experiment this weekend and get in on the release of the second issue of the guidebook. Snag yourself a copy before they are sold out! Also, enjoy some tea from Jane’s Tea & Arts, food from New Town Bakery as well as a little something from the cash bar.
Sat, May 25 | 6-11:30pm | The Chinatown Experiment (434 Columbia St) | DETAILS

SUPPORT LOCAL | Portobello West is holding a Summer Market this weekend. Flip through clothing, accessories and trinkets from loads of local designers; eat well; and enjoy the gorgeous setting. Grab a coffee and a peach rosemary tart at Terra Breads and then take a stroll along the seawall afterwards.
Sat + Sun, May 25, 26 | 11am-5pm | Creekside Community Centre | $2 | DETAILS

BREAKER FAIRE | For a pancake breakfast with a serious twist, drop in to the Vancouver Community Laboratory this weekend where you can burn-off the calories from your civilized plate of pancakes with some car-wrecking swings at an old Triumph. Seriously, there will be an old Triumph that you can smash for only a few dollars per swing, so gather all of that pent-up frustration or work-related tension and take it out on a car carcass (don’t worry – the resourceful and creative Makers on site will use all the bits and pieces for art). Other highlights include Panterragaffe (a pedal-powered two-person walking machine that looks like a spider) and The Big Claw (use a joystick to operate a giant mechanical claw pick up balloons for prizes). Proceeds benefit the Vancouver Community Lab and Vancouver Mini Maker Faire (June 1st+2nd at the PNE Forum). And those are two groups that you want to support. I mean, who do you think dreams up these mammoth mechanical spiders and claw-games anyway?
Sat, May 25 | 10am-5pm | Vancouver Community Lab | Entrance by donation | DETAILS

CHEAP BOOKS | Outfit yourself with a solid assortment of spring reads at the Vancouver Public Library this weekend. This spring book sale will see the books donated to the Friends of The Library go on sale to raise funds for programs and services. The sale is located in the Promenade area of Library Square.
Thursday, May 23 – Saturday May 25 | 10am -5pm Daily | Vancouver Public Library (350 W. Georgia St.) | DETAILS

LISTEN | Musically speaking, this is a busy week in Vancouver. The XX is in town and playing The QE (tickets are going to be hard to come by, try Craiglist or scalpers) and Mumford and Sons somehow ended up playing Holland Park in Surrey, but before you go trying to figure out how to get there, you should know that tickets are all gone for that one, too, so it’s back to Craigslist for you. If that doesn’t work out and you’re still up for a gig, consider hightailing it to The W.I.S.E. Hall in Eastvan for an evening with Supersuckers, or hold on one more night and catch East Van Morrison at The Goldcorp Centre for the Arts on Saturday.

SUNSHINE COAST | If you can skip town, consider running off to the Sunshine Coast for the sixth annual Lund Shellfish Festival this weekend. A quick ferry ride and a beautiful drive down a winding road gets you fresh cooked seafood, tours, and cooking demonstrations.
May 24, 25, 26 | Lund, BC | DETAILS

FEAST TOFINO | The 3rd annual Feast Tofino wraps up at the end of May, so get on it while you still can. There are so many excellent eateries and oodles enthusiasm for high quality ingredients at the end of the Canadian road. Check it out all the boat to table cuisine before the festival ends over!
Events nightly though to May 31st |  DETAILS

Check the Globe & Mail every Thursday for our Special Weekend Edition of the Scout List

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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 shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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AWESOME THING WE ATE #893: New Night Market Gets Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Winner Winner debuted at the soft start of the new Chinatown Night Market over the weekend. The new street food vendor serves up just one dish, a pile of delicious Singaporean-style chicken over rice with a ginger chili dipping sauce for just $6 a box. The fun operation was launched by Stanley Yung and Bao Bei’s Chen-Wei Lee (center and right in top photo). Once you get close enough to it, you’ll hear Jonathan Grand Pierre (bottom photo) calling out things like “The sauce is the boss!”, “Winner winner chicken dinner!”, “The rice is the main event!”, among other things (he’s a funny guy). The “official” opening of the Night Market isn’t until June 1st, but Winner Winner will be rolling “soft” again this weekend, so check them out!

Every Fri, Sat, Sun until September 8th | 6pm-11pm | Keefer St. between Main & Columbia.

MORE AWESOME THINGS WE ATE

SCOUT LIST: 10 Things That You Should Absolutely Do Between Now & Next Week

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…

CINEMA SALON | Every month, Vancity Theatre’s Cinema Salon producer Melanie Friesen asks a prominent Vancouverite to present their favourite film and speak to its greatness. This month, Dr. Ron Burnett, President and Vice-Chancellor of Emily Carr University of Art + Design presents director Jean Renoir’s La Règle du Jeu (The Rules of the Game). Often named as one of the greatest films in the history of cinema, The Rules of the Game is a film about class, politics and romance set on the eve of World War II. Stay after the screening for a drink and movie related conversation.
Tues, May 14 | 7:30pm | Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour) | $13 | DETAILS

ART | The Positive Negative Gallery is gearing up for a polaroid photography show. “Beautiful Decay” launches this Thursday night and showcases the work of 30 artists from around the world (Germany, Sweden, England, Italy, Czech Republic, Australia, Brazil as well as the USA and Canada). As the gallery explains, this is a show that “sharpens its gaze on disorder and desolation, where memories are forgotten and left behind, and the laws of entropy take hold: the cracks and blood and decay of modern life. Everything grows older, yet is beautiful in its release.” If you can’t make it down on opening night, don’t worry. This show runs until June 1.
Thurs, May 16 | 7pm | Positive Negative Gallery (436 Columbia St) | Free | DETAILS

MORE ART | Don’t be sad that the Emily Carr Grad Show comes to an end this week. Cram as much in as you can before the show comes down on Sunday and then move on to some of the lovely off-shoot exhibitions like the photography show You Came Here By Chance at 221a Gallery. A group exhibition featuring a band of talented 2013 photography graduates from Emily Carr, You Came Here By Chance explores the idea of space in relation to environment and is intended to move the viewer to consider their relationships with the spaces they occupy. I caught quick glimpse of some of these works at The ECUAD Grad Show, and know that making the trip down to Chinatown for the opening reception will be worthwhile. Participating artists include Shannon McCubbin, Andy Jenkins, Avalon Mott, Jeff Downer, Caelan Warnock, Adria Leduc, Olivia Lowe, Sewari Campillo, Caroline Halley and David Peters.
May 16 – May 21 | 221a Artist Run Centre (221 E Georgia) | Free and inspiring | DETAILS

GIG | American indie rock band Yo La Tengo is in town. On the scene since the mid eighties and still blowing away critics and fans, these talented musicians are touring in support of their latest release “Fade”. They’ll be playing a few sets, one electric an one acoustic, at The Commodore on Saturday night.
Sat, May 18 | Doors 8pm | The Commodore Ballroom ( 868 Granville St) | $25 | DETAILS

CHOCOLATE | The newly opened East Van Roasters offers tastings of house-roasted coffee, drinking chocolate and flights of single origin chocolates. Slip into the beautiful Carrall Street shop (wooden tables and benches, original tile floors, brick walls and overhead windows) to sip and taste your fill while watching staffers winnow cacao beans and roast coffee.
East Van Roasters | 319 Carrall St. (next to Nelson The Seagull, across from Pidgin).

NATURE | Mosses and lichens are everywhere – part of the west coast landscape that we take for granted. Why are they so prevalent here? What are they all about? What do they do for us? Hook up with botanist Terry Taylor this Sunday to get the full story on what those fuzzy mosses and soft lichens can tell us about things like air quality, the history of a forest, and more. Any Sunday afternoon activity that can leave you better informed about your city and environment is a good one in our books! To pre-register, email programs@stanleyparkecology.ca.
Sun, May 19 | 1:30-3:30 | Stanley Park Nature House on Lost Lagoon | $10 | DETAILS

VINYL | Hustle over to the Cambrian Hall (just off of Main at 17th) on Saturday and Sunday to pick through box upon box of records at the Main Street Vinyl Record Fair! Talk old school stereo equipment, wear your old concert t-shirts, and marvel at the fact that there are still people out there who collect cassette tapes.
Sat, May 18 + Sun, May, 19 | 11am-4pm | Cambrian Hall (215 E 17th) | $2 at the door | DETAILS

FOOD FIGHT | Some of this city’s best chefs and bartenders will congregate at Vancouver Urban Winery this Sunday night to participate in Food Fight, a fundraising smörgasbord that will raise money for highly respected and much loved local chef, Owen Lightly. Owen is fighting cancer right now and he could use a little help by way of positive energy and relief from worrying about how his bills are going to be paid. All participating parties have donated time, energy and product to the evening, as have a seriously impressive collection of suppliers and artisan producers. Although tickets are now sold-out, more will likely be released at the door. Tickets for Food Fight are only $60, with the bar operating by donation, so be sure to bring cash. 100% of the ticket sales and proceeds of this fundraiser will go directly to Owen. If you can’t make it, you can donate by clicking next to the ticket sales box.
Sun, May 19 | 7pm | Vancouver Urban Winery (55 Dunlevy Ave) | $60 DETAILS
UPDATE: FOOD FIGHT IS NOW SOLD OUT. The venue is at capacity and no additional tickets can be sold. 

SCRUB UP | Learn how to make your own soap at The Homesteaders Emporium this week. There’s something very satisfying about making a product from scratch using your own hands. Get into it! Instructors will teach you how to blend oils and mix lye to produce handmade moisturizing, chemical-free bars of soap. (this Sunday’s class will focus on making vegan soap but the process and technique that you pick up can be easily applied to tallow soaps as well).
Sun, May 19 | 11am – 1pm | Homesteader’s Emporium (649 East Hastings St)

PLAN AHEAD | There is always something great going on that I’d like to write about but can’t because it has sold out. In an effort to get ahead of the game on this, The Scout List will occasionally include details of an event to plan ahead for. Case in point: Buying and Shooting Vintage Cameras with Trade School Vancouver. TSV is a barter-for-knowledge learning community wherein Vancouverites can sign up to take classes and pay their teachers in goods or services rather than cash. There are a few great sounding events on the horizon that you should look in to now, before they fill up. Buying and Shooting Vintage/Film Cameras goes down next Thursday, instructor Stephanie Fayewill lead a class focused (pun intended) on how to go analog. The self-confessed camera-obsessed Faye will talk about where to find quality equipment, how to tell good from bad, and what to do with your old school camera once you’ve got it.
Thursday, May 23 | The Hive (128 West Hastings St.) | Barter | Get on it

Check the Globe & Mail every Thursday for our Special Weekend Edition of the Scout List

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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 shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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SCOUT LIST: 10 Things That You Should Absolutely Do Between Now & Next Week

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…

OF A FEATHER | This is Bird Week. Being that Vancouver is a smack in the middle of the ‘Pacific Flyway’ route for migratory birds (the north-south route that flows from Alaska to Patagonia), we get to see plenty of seasonal species, and the city boasts a number of bird specialists willing to share their knowledge. So dig in, become a bird lover! There are so many great ways to get involved: peruse the bird displays mounted at The Vancouver Library Concourse Gallery, sit in on one of a series of talks (“From Herring to Gray Whales: One Bird’s Partnerships in a Changing Sea” on Wednesday night, “Society of Crows” on Saturday night) or take one of numerous guided walks at various locations around town. There’s even a Mother’s Day Tea with the Birds. The Stanley Park Ecological Society provides a comprehensive guide to bird related events. Check it out here.
All week | Various times and locations | FREE | DETAILS

ART | Vancouver artist George Vergette has some new work to show off. His latest show, Flowers and Trees, will feature a series of acrylic on canvas or resin on panel paintings. Rather than a description of content or theme, the title of the show is a reference to a 1932 Disney film shot in the Technicolor 3 strip process – a dye-transfer, colour photography method that Vergette explores in the development of his paintings. Hit the opening reception at Gallery Jones on Thursday to see for yourself.
Thur, May 9 | 5-9pm | Gallery Jones (1725 West 3rd Ave) | Free | DETAILS

HEALTH | Learn about growing and using plants as medicine this Thursday night at Growing Medicinals and Making Salves, a collaborative workshop. It’s being put on by the ladies of Victory Gardens, who will be talking about what medicinal plants are and which ones you can grow or forage for locally, and the Environmental Youth Alliance, who will be demonstrating how to make salves. It goes down at The Soap Dispensary on Main Street, and attendees all leave with knowledge AND a handmade salve.
Thur, May 9 | 7pm | The Soap Dispensary (3623 Main St.) | $25 | DETAILS

FEAST | Spot Prawns are coming to the docks of Granville Island this weekend! The official season begins on Saturday with the annual Spot Prawn Festival at False Creek’s Fisherman’s Wharf (just west of Granville Island on the south side of False Creek). The event, founded by the Chefs’ Table Society of BC, will include a huge spot prawn boil accompanied by sides and sauces, plus a wine and beer tent. All tickets for the 2013 Spot Prawn Boil will be sold in advance this year (none will be available at the door), so get yours by visiting the Chefs Table Society’s website. If the event sells out, don’t worry. You can buy the critters from the dock after noon!
Sat, May 11 | 11am-3pm | False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf | $12 | DETAILS

EAT LOCAL | Trout Lake and Kitsilano Farmers Markets open this weekend, and if that isn’t a sure sign of summer, I don’t know what is! Stock up on goodies like local salad greens and stinging nettles, fresh vegetables and herbs. There will also be artisan breads and preserves, honey, wild salmon, cookies, pies, flowers and even a food truck or two to keep you busy. Welcome back, farmers! We’ve missed you!
Trout Lake: Sat May 11 | 9am-2pm | North Parking Lot, John Hendry Park | DETAILS
Kits: Sun, May 12 | 10am-2pm | 2690 Larch @ 10th | DETAILS

COMMUNITY | The Stone Soup Festival is on this weekend celebrating food, art, the environment, and community. The festival includes growing and planting workshops for kids and for grown-ups, a talk about the economics of sustainable food systems, a bike tuning workshop, an origami workshop, live music, food and plant vendors, plus free soup! A strong and united community can do some amazing things, so get in the spirit!
Sat, May 11 | 12-5 pm | Britannia Community Centre (1661 Napier) | Free | DETAILS

SUPER SCORE | Bummed that Kurt Vile is playing a sold-out show at The Biltmore on Saturday night and you didn’t score tickets? Totally justifiable feeling! But don’t slip into a deep pit of despair. Comfort yourself with the next best thing: a Kurt Vile after-party! The cats at The Acorn are throwing a bit of an after-gig gig that will feature drink specials (how about a $4 pint or an Electric Light – lychee, prosecco, lemon thyme, gin and vanilla) and members of Kurt Vile and the Violators on DJ duty. And not for nothing, the new menu is out and it rocks, too.
Sat, May 11 | 10:30pm-2am | The Acorn (3995 Main St) | Free | DETAILS

CELEBRATE SCIENCE | Nerd out at Science Rendezvous this weekend. This is a party with something for everyone: from science-themed magic shows for young kids to short informative lectures for adults. Grab a kid (yours, preferably) to accompany you and sit in on short workshops, check out exhibit tables and listen to talks with titles like “The Future of Energy” and “Research in the Rainforest: Are Red-throated Caracaras Chemically-defended Against Wasps” (even though lectures are presented by some of SFU’s most celebrated faculty, they are designed to be accessible for those without a science background). Science Rendezvous goes down in 40 cities across Canada. Get out there and represent! Maybe you’ll come out a little smarter. If not, free popcorn and ice cream!
Sat, May 11th from 11 – 4pm | SFU, Burnaby (South Concourse, 3000 Level) | Free | DETAILS

EASTSIDE FLEA | Somewhere between a boutique vintage pop-up and a garage sale, a well executed flea market offers thrifty treasure hunters the chance to score unique goods at reasonable prices. The key components of a home-run are good selection, low prices and a mix of old and new. New York, London, Paris, LA – all the swell cities have them, and now, so do we: The Eastside Flea at the WISE Hall happens again this Saturday. Expect found, salvaged and reclaimed goods, vintage clothing and vinyl, hand made soaps, jewellery and accessories and some kick-ass apple pie (The Pie Shoppe and Panoramic Roasters will be on site, hooray!). People are saying this is the best gig going, and the only one way to know for sure is to check it out for yourself this Saturday!
Sat, May 11 | 9am-3pm | The Wise Hall (1882 Adanac St) | Free | DETAILS

FOODIE ALERT | Love good street food? Get ready for the Hawker’s Market at East Van Studios this Saturday night. This time around the Hawkers Market sees a dramatic increase in the numbers and types of food on offer. The Wonton Girl will be there, so will Holy Crepe and Looters Lemonade. Chef Keev Mah from Gastown’s soon to open Bambudda will be serving up open flame, charcoal roasted suckling pig and there are rumours of a “boozy adult inspired ice cream sunday bar”. All of that AND drinks, music, and mingling, too? That’s a solid Saturday night, right there, kids. Tickets are 10 beans when you grab them in advance and 15 at the door. Snag yours here. SADLY, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED….”Today we had a very unfortunate turn of events at our venue. Our plumbing is not up to code and thus cannot hold a safe event consciously. As a collective between our team and all of the vendors we have agreed that rather than scaling back the event, we will reschedule so we do not have to sacrifice quality in any way.”
Sat, May 11 | 7pm – Late | Eastvan Studios (870 E Cordova) | $10/$15 at the door | DETAILS

Check the Globe & Mail every Thursday for our Special Weekend Edition of the Scout List

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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 shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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SEEN IN VANCOUVER #443: The Emily Carr Grad Show On Granville Island Until May 19

by Michelle Sproule | We hustled down to Granville Island over the weekend to catch the preview of the 2013 Emily Carr University of Art and Design Grad show. The annual degree exhibition invites the public to wander the galleries, hallways, foyers and classrooms of the campus to take in upwards of 300 works by talented graduating students every day (10am – 6pm) until May 19th. There’s plenty of awesome work to check out. If you want a guided tour for a more in-depth take on the show, get on it today!

EVERYTHING SEEN IN VANCOUVER

SCOUT LIST: 10 Things That You Should Absolutely Do Between Now & Next Week

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…

LEARN | The Internet is a massive part of our social, political, economic and creative lives, but what is it exactly? If you’ve ever stopped to think about the answer to that question and are interested in getting to the bottom of it, make your way down to hear author Andrew Blum (Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet) give it his best shot. Blum will be at the centre of Vancouver’s Internet Exchange (yes, there is such a thing and it’s really located at SFU Harbour Centre) to give his talk, which is entitled Tubes and Exchanges: Discovering the Real Places of the Internet. Curious? Use your internet connection to find out more here. Admission is free, but reservations are required and will likely be spoken for quickly.
Thursday, May 2 | 7pm | SFU Harbour Centre (515 W. Hastings St) | DETAILS

THE CAVE SINGERS | Live music is such a good move. Do yourself some good and catch The Cave Singers at the Commodore this Thursday night. The indie folk/rock band from Seattle is coming over the border to play tunes from their most recent album, Naomi. Joining them on stage will be The Bleeding Rainbow. So grab a cold bottle of beer, a place in the crowd that has a good view, and enjoy!
Thursday, May 2 | Doors 8pm / Show 9:30pm | Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville) | $18.50 | DETAILS

POP-IN LOCKER ROOM | Canadian brand Muttonhead (unisex clothing made from high quality and sustainable materials and designed to outlast trends) launches their Spring/Summer 2013 “Good Sport” collection with a pop-in-shop exhibit at Chinatown’s Board of Trade Co. this weekend, but if you head down on Thursday night you’ll catch a party that will include a little bit of love from Caribou Brewing Co. and Vancouver Urban Winery, as well as a baseball card-themed photo booth (awesome).
May 2-5 | 11am – 6pm daily | Board of Trade (227 Union St) | DETAILS

SHARE | Take a seat at the ShwayShway Cafe to meet new people, share good food and slow down a little. The pop-up long table series is setting up shop at The Chinatown Experience this weekend to serve up Middle Eastern-influenced mezzo plates featuring Yummus hummus, beef or roasted vegetable Tajine (stew), dessert made by Sunday Morning Ice Cream and drinks for $30 (you might even see a hookah making it’s rounds). We hear that Friday and Saturday nights might already be sold out, but there are still seats for Sunday and the lunches of hummus, baba ganouj, labneh, sides and tea for $10 are wide open. More here.
May 3, 4, & 5 | Lunch 11-6pm, Dinner 7-11pm | 434 Columbia St | $10/$30 | DETAILS

FUSE GRAND HOTEL | Once every few months, The Vancouver Art Gallery lets loose. These occasional breaks from the usual civilized gallery behaviour are known as FUSE – an evening of music, live performance, DJs and art. This time around, FUSE follows the theme of the museum’ latest exhibition: Grand Hotel. Expect comedy improv inspired by hotel-themed films, live jazz, a touch of Andy Warhol and a little Blim (with the added incentive of a cash bar and gallery tours).
Friday, May 3 | 8pm–1am | Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby St.) | $20 | DETAILS

GET ACQUAINTED | Forbidden Vancouver is leading a Lost Souls of Gastown walking tour this weekend that will take you through the back alleys and dark corners of historical Gastown. By the time you’re done you’ll know all about Gassy Jack, Klondike Kate and poor old John Bray. You’ll also get a feel for what the neighbourhood vibe was like way back when and gain a better appreciation for its street names, architecture and variouslandmarks.
Saturday, 4 May | 8pm | Various Locations In Gastown | $22 | DETAILS

KARMA | Local artist Wendy Sexsmith is trying to brighten rehab up by raising funds for a mural project that would transform the colourless hallways of Onsite (a DTES rehabilitation centre). How can you contribute to building a stronger and healthier community through art? It’s as easy as enjoying a plate of Huevos Rancheros. Just show up at the Interurban Gallery for brunch this Sunday and the money you spend on breakfast will go toward funding this project. Bonus: Vancouver band The Sojourners are playing.
Sunday, May 5 | 11:30 | Interurban Gallery (1 E. Hastings @ Carrall) DETAILS

WATCH | Doxa is on, and with 74 screenings at 5 venues, there’s plenty to keep you entertained. Highlight include Vancouver director Corey Ogilvie’s Occupy The Movie, Google and the World Brain by Ben Lewis. Also look out for Slow Food Story (Sunday, May 5 @ 3:45 pm) in which Director Stefano Sardo follows the delicious adventures of Slow Food movement founder Carlo Petrini as he endeavours to foster an anti-fast-food movement.
May 3-12 | Various times, Various venues | DETAILS

WILD EDIBLES | Figure out what you can and can’t chow down on while on a trek through local forests by taking a two-hour guided tour with the well informed culinary peeps at Swallow Tail Tours. Not only will hike leaders will brief you on where to find and how to identify delicious items such as wild mushrooms, fiddleheads, berries and stinging nettles, but they’ll also fix you up with secrets of how to prepare them for optimum impact and (the best of all part) they’ll also make you lunch using foraged food right on your walk.
Sunday May 5 | 11am | Lynn Headwaters, North Vancouver | $39 | DETAILS

THE SHOW | Prepare to be blown away this Sunday at the annual Degree Exhibition at Emily Carr. Wander the galleries, hallways, foyers and classrooms of the campus to take in upwards of 300 works by talented graduating students.  Students exhibiting their work have come through ECUAD in Design, Media and Visual Arts. And for the first time this year, Emily Carr will be offering one-hour tours for those wishing to get a more in-depth understanding of the work on display.
Sunday May 5 | 5-10pm | ECUAD (1400 Johnston, Granville Island) | DETAILS

Check the Globe & Mail every Thursday for our Special Weekend Edition of the Scout List

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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 shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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SCOUT LIST: 10 Things That You Should Absolutely Do Between Now & Next Week

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…

ECO FASHION WEEK | Catch the latest from local designers strutting their wares down runways and across stages to demonstrate how fashion and sustainability are no longer mutually exclusive. Highlights include the 68 lb challenge (contestants search the isles of Value Village to find 68 lbs of used clothing that they then rework in to a new collection) and the Hey Jude Fall ’13 collection preview. Full schedule here.
Now – April 24 | Various times | Robson Square (800 Robson St) | DETAILS

BLOOM | In order to support their endeavours to promote an appreciation for the history and culture of people of Japanese Canadian heritage, the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre in Burnaby is holding a fundraiser this week. Bloom, the museum’s annual art auction, is all about Kokeshi, wee wooden dolls – a little like the austere offspring of a matryoshka doll and a clothes peg – painted in a distinct style and adored for their good luck. Attendees are invited to enjoy canapés, a cash bar and good conversations in between placing bids on 100 artist-designed dolls (check out a gallery of the dolls here).
Thursday, April 25 | 7pm | Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre | $25 | DETAILS

BIG MOUTH | The relationship between art and real estate in Vancouver is an interesting one. Development without regard for art leaves a city bereft of character. Yet, without appropriate development, the creative class will have nowhere to live. The Big Mouth series, conceived of and organized by Polina Bachlakov, seeks to bridge the gap between the worlds of art and real estate development by engaging speakers to explore the opportunities for collaboration and overlap of these two worlds. Speakers include Michael Green (Michael Green Architecture), Mark Shieh (Director of River Market at The Quay), Ron Burnett (President and Vice Chancellor of Emily Carr University of Art + Design), Steven Cox (Principal and Creative Director of Cause+Affect, Pechakucha), Heather Redfern (Executive Director of The Cultch, Vancouver’s East Cultural Centre), Ernesto Gomez (Nuba, Arrival Productions), Donald Luxton (Heritage Vancouver). This event is sold out but the good news is that there will be a limited number of tickets released at the door!
Thursday, April 25 | 7pm | Macaulay Fine Art, 293 East 2nd Ave | Free | DETAILS

OCEAN WISE | The Vancouver Aquarium and Naramata Bench Wineries Association are joining forces this weekend to hold Wine For Waves, a fundraising event for Ocean Wise, the “Vancouver Aquarium conservation program created to educate and empower consumers about the issues surrounding sustainable seafood.” It will offer Vancouverites a first taste of Naramata Bench’s spring release wines paired with seafood prepared by some amazingly talented chefs (Chef Ned Bell of Yew, Chef Bruno Terroso of Poplar Grove, Chef Mark Ashton of Lake Breeze Winery, Chef Darin Paterson of Red Rooster Winery, and more). Good food and wine for a good cause? You can’t go wrong.
Friday, April 26 | Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, 791 West Georgia St | DETAILS

SPLURGE | Got Craft? You should. Make your way over to Templeton Secondary School, (727 Templeton Drive in East Van) this weekend to check out the spring edition of Got Craft and peruse supercool handmade wares of indie artists, designers, bakers and soap makers. This event is a Scout favourite, and definitely one of the best craft shows we have in Vancouver. Bonus: If you’re one of the first 50 people through the door, you’ll have a chance to score a free swag bag of goodies (full of handmade items from vendors at the show).
Sat, April 27 + Sun, April 28 | 10am–5pm | Templeton Secondary School, 727 Templeton Drive | $3 | DETAILS

BELLE GAME | Hannah Georgas and The Belle Game are playing the Rio Theatre on Friday night. They are also playing Saturday night, but good luck getting tickets to that, they went in a snap – prompting this second show. The Belle Game recently wowed the Pecha Kucha Night audience with a pre-show performance, then played Record Store Day at Zulu Records. With a new album out (released April 20) and a quickly growing following, tickets won’t be available for long. Try Redcat or Highlife or call The Rio’s phone service (1-888-222-6608).
Friday, April 26 | 8pm | The Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway) | $25 | DETAILS

LEARN | Cleopatra, well known for her strength and cunning, was rumoured to be besotted by pearls. The presence of these precious, naturally produced gems in her jewellery is the jumping off point for a discussion about the ancient pearl trade. The Vancouver Chapter of The Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities offers a Friday night lecture with Professor Joel Walker (History Department at the University of Washington) that will explore the power of the pearl and it’s role in antiquities of trade and commerce.
Friday, April 26 | 7pm | Alliance for Arts & Culture (938 Howe St) | $5 | DETAILS

A MOST CURIOUS EVENT | Hustle down to Gastown on Friday night for an auction and oyster tasting event at the stunning new location of The Found And The Freed, a pop-up shop teaming with cool antique artifacts. The Curious Oyster Catering Co. will be on site shucking four different types of oysters (sourced from The Outlandish Shellfish Guild), serving canapes and pouring cocktails, wines and scotches selected to perfectly pair with the bivalves. 10 unique items – gathered from back-country barns, abandoned buildings and small town garages – will be auctioned proper-like with a professional auctioneer and paddles. That – and the generally good company that oyster-loving people are famous for – will make for a good start to the weekend.
Friday, April 26 | 7:30pm | 207 Abbott St | $45 | DETAILS

SKATE | The pavement is dry, the sun is shining and the new skate park is open out at UBC (Thunderbird Blvd and Health Sciences Mall). As Canada’s first skatepark located on a university campus, this new facility deserves your attention, for historical and cultural reasons, if not just for fun. Even if you don’t skate, grab yourself a tea or coffee at the UBC Student Union Building, take a seat on the sidelines and watch for a while.

SLOW DOWN | If you’re in or headed to the Okanagan this weekend, slow down and enjoy some good food. The Slow Food Canada National Conference is going down at The Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos and the gathering of chefs, farmers, foodies and winemakers brings with it two Slow Food meals that should not be missed. The premise of Slow Food movement is to respect food and enjoy what you are eating. Know where it comes from, appreciate fully what has gone in to growing, raising, harvesting and preparing that food and do it in a way that celebrates flavour and ritual of sharing food. A pretty sound premise to be sure. Sit down at one of two dinners (Slow Fish Grazing Dinner or Taste of Thomson Okanagan) to immerse yourself in the Slow Food movement, eat some amazing food and meet some great people.
April 27 + 28 | The Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos | $75 | DETAILS

Check the Globe & Mail every Thursday for our Special Weekend Edition of the Scout List

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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 shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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SCOUT LIST: 11 Things That You Should Absolutely Do Between Now & Next Week

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…

MAKE IT! | Score one-of-a-kind items that have been handmade by local designers at the Make It! show this weekend. This is a craft fair with an edge. Not only will you find table after table of cool and imaginative clothing, accessories and jewellery, but you’ll also find a fully licensed bar and DJ. Clever.
Apr. 19-21 | Fri: 4-9pm, Sat: 11-6, Sun: 11-5 | Croatian Cultural Centre | DETAILS

GET CRACKLIN’ | Do you love meat? If the answer is yes then you may want to wrangle a group of likeminded friends together and grab some seats at Campagnolo’s family-style nose-to-tail feast of whole roasted suckling pig this Wednesday night. Yes, you read that right! And the deliciousness doesn’t end there. Chef Ted Anderson will also be preparing a whack of awesome side dishes to compliment the pig, and wine will help grease the rails. All of a sudden Wednesday night is looking a lot more interesting right?  Word to the wise: tickets are going fast.
Wed, Apr. 17 | 7pm | Campagnolo (1020 Main St) | $59 | DETAILS

SHOP HOP |  The Gastown Spring Shop Hop happens this Thursday night. The one-night-only event offers Vancouverites the opportunity to cruise forty-seven of Gastown’s best shops, check out all of the new spring wares and be treated to great deals, in-store specials and the occasional cupcake . And get this: the kind people of Gastown want to make sure that you don’t get weighed down by the trying on of clothing and the carrying of bags so, with every purchase you make, you’ll receive a food or drink voucher to one of your favourite nearby participating restaurants (think Nicli Antica Pizzeria, Salt, Peckinpah, Pourhouse, Sea Monstr). Even if you’re not looking to spend, the vibe is good and the business owners are friendly. So get hopping.
Thurs, Apr. 18 | 5pm–9pm | Various very cool locations | FREE to browse | DETAILS

BEGGARS BANQUET | It’s spring people, the perfect time for some new duds! Refresh your closet with some stylish vintage at The Beggars Banquet this Friday night. Loaded with a tight selection of cool clothing, jewellery, shoes and handbags, this one-night-only pop-up flea market is guaranteed to inspire. Citizen Grace and Duchesse Vintage will be there, as will Lauren Clark & Lynsdey Chow of Hey Jude and the Jordan River Soap crew (gotta keep squeaky clean).  The bar will be open and the music will be playing. Arrive early and you might even score some complimentary food (provided by The Bottleneck) and R&B beer.
Fri, Apr. 19 | 5-11pm | 213 E Georgia St. in Chinatown | DETAILS

FOUNDATIONS | The Emily Carr University of Art + Design Foundation Show lines the walls of the ECUAD Concourse Gallery with works by first year students. Sure, the show is an opportunity for new students to bring their family and friends down to see what’s been keeping them so busy over the past eight months, but it’s also an opportunity for the general public to size up the next wave of emerging art, design and media makers (and even place bets on their futures by purchasing pieces of their art). Pop down to Granville Island for the opening reception on Friday night. This show continues until April 27.
Fri, Apr. 19 | 7-10pm | Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Granville Island | DETAILS

LISTEN |It’s Record Store Day on Saturday and independently run record stores across the city are fixin’ to help you celebrate. Back to back in-store performances, record releases, sales and the coming together of people who love music – sounds like a fine use of a Saturday! Hit Red Cat Records, Neptoon and Dandelion Emporium on Main and Zulu Records on 4th Avenue for all sorts of record-related fun.
Sat, Apr. 20 | All Day | Various Locations Around Town | Free | DETAILS

ORO |  Klee Larson takes a great photograph, and her artistic abilities don’t stop there – they spill into everything she does. Lately she has been playing around with printing photos on vellum and adding layers of gold foil and resin (the results literally glow). Clear some space on your schedule to attend the opening reception for Klee’s first solo show on Saturday evening. Oro(Spanish and Italian for gold) is a gathering of Klee’s recent works showing at The Shack Art Collective in East Van. The majority of pieces are small and, keeping within the mandate of The Shack, priced within reach (in the $80-$110 range). Bring a little cash in your pocket for art (and a drink) and enter through the alley to check out this cool little gallery and the amazing artist exhibiting within!
Sat, Apr. 20 | 7pm | The Shack Art Collective | 4364 Prince Albert (enter through alley) | DETAILS

GROW | Head to the greenway on East 23rd between St. George and Carolina Streets on Saturday afternoon to load up on plants. A fantastic plant swap is going down that will give gardeners and food growers the chance to buy or trade plants just in time for spring planting. Bring along gardening tools that you no longer need and donate them to a new home, get gardening advice from experts, and take part in Earth Day activities while you’re there.
Sat, Apr. 20 | 1-4pm | Tupper Greenway (500 Block of East 23rd Ave)

WRITERS FESTIVAL | The 14th Annual North Shore Writers Festival is on this Friday and Saturday. Head over to Lynn Valley to sit in on readings, panels and discussions aimed at celebrating Canadian writing and literature. Super stoked for the fun that will surely ensue at Friday night’s Literary Trivia event (hosted by author and CBC Radio superstar Grant Lawrence and the astoundingly well versed ‘Quiz Mistress’ (and librarian) Julie Backer. Also looking forward to The Art of Food Writing, a panel discussion with Diana Chan (Foodology), Andrew Morrison (Scout), Mijune Pak (FollowmeFoodie) and Stephanie Yuen moderated by Barbara-jo McIntosh (Saturday, 1–2:30pm).
Fri, Apr. 19 – Sat, Apr. 20 | Various Times | 1277 Lynn Valley Rd, North Vancouver

4:20 | On the 20th day of the 4th month (that would be this Saturday), thousands of people gather in, on and around the Vancouver Art Gallery 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 it’s zenith in a storm at 4:20pm. If you’re driving through downtown, take caution around the VAG parameter, as there may be a few slow moving pedestrians to avoid. If you are attending and get the munchies, the Scout tip of the week is that Bel Cafe at The Hotel Georgia will be selling 4:20 themed Hemp Seed Macaron ($2) all day. Between those and the fleet of food carts on site, you should be all good, man.
Sat, Apr. 20 | 4:20pm | Vancouver Art Gallery | Free (or $5 a joint)

Check the Globe & Mail every Thursday for our Special Weekend Edition of the Scout List

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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 shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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SCOUT LIST: 11 Things That You Should Absolutely Do Between Now & Next Week

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…

PECHA KUCHA | Pecha Kucha Night Vol.27 goes down this week. As per usual, the gathering of local creatives will be presenting 20 images (for 20 seconds each) on what inspires them. Participants include a fascinating group of artists, musicians, community activists and business owners. This month’s speaker line up has great range, from Brandon Grossutti of PiDGiN Restaurant and the creative peeps behind Definitely Raining to Emily Smith of Vancouver Mini Maker Faire and Brian Wakelin of Public: Architecture + Communication. PKN remains one of the greatest mind-expanding, culturally significant ways to spend your time in Vancouver. We have a pair of tickets to give away, so stay tuned!
Thursday, Apr. 11 | Doors 6:30 | Vogue Theatre | 918 Granville St | $15 | DETAILS

POP-UP | If you’ve never been to a pop-up by The Found and the Freed before, this is a good weekend to start. Brought to you by a couple of great gals who source vintage and antique artifacts from all over (and then dust them off, fix them up and bring them to a convenient location for you to sift through), this is the kind of gig that you always hope you’ll find when you follow up on one of those pop-up leads. Be warned: the best items tend to fly out the doors, so don’t sit on whatever you fancy for too long. As we noted this morning, they’re taking over the former Chrome Yellow digs at 207 Abbott St. in Gastown beginning Friday night with regular hours starting on the Monday (to Friday 11am to 7pm and from 11am to 5pm on the weekends).
Fri, April 12 (to May 10) | 7pm | 207 Abbott | DETAILS

ART | Cultural hub, hideout, public venue or meeting place — a hotel is a many faceted creature that simultaneously bears witness to fleeting relationships and long-standing traditions. Responding to the complex, evocative and global phenomenon of The Hotel, the Vancouver Art Gallery opens a new exhibition this week, Grand Hotel: Redesigning Modern Life. This show, commissioned and produced by the Vancouver Art Gallery, “charts the evolution of the hotel from an isolated and utilitarian structure to a cultural phenomenon that figures prominently around the world.” Follow up with a civilized cocktail in a hotel lounge. Best bets: Yew, Tableau, Hawksworth.
Sat, April 13 | Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby St) | $19.50 | DETAILS

LEARN | In collaboration with Vancouver Opera, The Vancouver Public Library is hosting an evening talk about tea this week. This free public lecture ties in with upcoming (May 4-11) opera Tea: A Mirror of The Soul, which tells the story of a Japanese prince and his tragic path to the wisdom of The Book of Tea. Tea experts will be on hand to discuss the history, mythology and rituals associated with Chinese and Japanese teas. Free admission, but seating is limited.
Tues, April 9 | 7pm | Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch (350 W. Georgia St.) | DETAILS

BUY LOCAL | Make your way to Heritage Hall this Sunday for the annual Nifty For Fifty sale. Everything from clothes and shoes to trinkets and awesome accessories are on sale for $50 or less. Everything on site will be vintage or made by local designers like Adhesif Clothing, Allison Wonderland, Daub+Design, Toodlebunny, C’est La Vie … (the list goes on and on and it all sounds straight up fantastic).
Sun, April 14 | 11am–8pm | Heritage Hall (3102 Main) | $1 | DETAILS

VINTAGE | Since you’re in the neighbourhood for the Nifty For Fifty Sale already, you might as well tack on a scoot down to the ANZA Club for a flip through the Frugal Fashionista Market. Organizers have assembled used and vintage clothing experts, retailers and stylists to outfit stalls and tables with loads of great deals for your sponge shopping pleasure.
Sun, April 14 | 12-6pm | Anza Club (3 W. 8th Ave) | $2 | DETAILS

SUNDAY SCHOOL | The Vancouver Urban Winery kicks off a series of laid-back and ‘irreverent’ wine education classes this week. Hosted by sommeliers David Stansfield and Lisa Cook, Sunday School wine classes are intended to be a fun and informal introduction to drinking, buying and talking wine without any pomp. The first in the series of seminars, Wine 101: A World Tour of Wine, will furnish attendees with flights of wine to help them taste the difference between wines produced in different regions around the world – there is no better way to learn than to experience, right? Upcoming classes: April 28, BC vs. The World; May 12, Better Know a BC Winery: Joie Farms and May 26, How to Buy Wine and Influence People.
Sun, April 14 | 7pm | 55 Dunlevy Ave | $35/$120 for 4 classes | DETAILS

SPRING | Along with daffodil-studded boulevards, cherry blossoms and occasional 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 plates of home-made borscht, perogies and kielbasa, there will be a bazaar and kids swap meet to pick though. Leave with a full belly and a few treasures from the sale, grab a cup of tea at The Wilder Snail and then park your bum in MacLean Park for a hang out session (weather permitting).
Sun, April 14 | 11am | Ukrainian Cultural Centre (805 E Pender) Street | DETAILS

ZERO WASTE | This is Earth Month, folks. Join Marnie Newell from The Society Promoting Environmental Conservation and Jen Rustemeyer from The Clean Bin Project at The Homesteader’s Emporium for a Zero Waste Kitchen and Bath Workshop that will teach you how to throw fewer things out.
Sun, April 14 | 2-3:30pm | Homesteader’s Emporium (at 649 E Hastings St) | DETAILS

HUNGRY HERONS | Great blue herons are busily having babies right now. Head down to the Stanley Park Nature House on the edge of Lost Lagoon to learn about Vancouver’s heron population, their mating habits and the unique ways in which they feed and care for their offspring. Pre-registration for this program is advised. Email programs@stanleyparkecology.ca
Sun, April 14 | 1:30pm-3:30pm | Stanley Park Nature House | By Donation | DETAILS

FOOD | Hustle down to Barbara-Jo’s Books To Cooks on Sunday afternoon for a visit (and a little bit of food truck love) with James Cunningham, host of TV’s Eat Street. Cunningham will be on site (along with Vikram Vij who will be cooking from Vij’s Railway Express menu) to bring Vancouver the Eat Street cookbook, which is full of recipes from food trucks and street vendors. The price of your ticket includes refreshments and a signed book.
Sunday, April 14 | 2pm | 1740 West 2nd Ave | $25 | DETAILS

Check the Globe & Mail every Thursday for our Special Weekend Edition of the Scout List

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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 shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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HEADS UP: Kitsilano’s 05 Tea Bar Set To Pair Rare Teas With Whiskies On April 21st

If you’ve never been before, the O5 Tea Bar is a sleek looking shop on West 4th dedicated to the art of tea. A few weeks ago it held a Raw Elements Tea + Spirits event that focused on Mezcal with Hawksorth bartender Jon Smolensky. The evening saw a mezcal tasting followed by a tea tasting and finished with a tea-infused mezcal punch (see shots above). The liquids were paired with canapes and chocolate, and it was awesomeness all round. The good news is that O5 is hosting a similar event in the near future and we thought you might want to know about it. The bad news? There is none.

The next Raw Elements Tea + Spirits is all about whisky. In addition to the in-house tea experts, O5 has invited whisky sommelier and amiable Bao Bei barman Guy Stowell to serve two whiskies paired with rare teas. He’ll also offer a creative bourbon cocktail for the finish. As with past events, sweet and savoury bites will be circulated throughout. Stoked.

Sunday, April 21 | 6:30pm | O5 Tea bar (2208 West 4th) | $30 | DETAILS

SCOUT LIST: 11 Things That You Should Absolutely Do Between Now & Next Week

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…

PUNCH DRUNK LOVE | Every month, producer/presenter Melanie Friesen of Vancity Theatre’s Cinema Salon asks a prominent Vancouverite to present their favourite film and speak to its greatness. This month, it’s award-winning musician and producer Steve Dawson. He’s screening his favourite film: Punch Drunk Love (Adam Sandler, Emily Watson). Discussion of the film follows the screening with drinks
Tuesday, April 2 | 7:30pm | Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour) | $13 | DETAILS

TEA | This Tuesday night, Kitsilano’s O5 Tea kicks off a series of Tuesday night movie screenings designed to be a fun way to connect with other Vancouver tea wonks. The series begins with Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited starring Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson. Have a laugh and enjoy compilentary tea and nerd-out with like minded tea drinkers. Best part, it’s all free.
Tuesday, April 2 | 7pm | | O5 Tea bar (2208 W 4) | Free | DETAILS

TASTE | We can think of no better way to celebrate Spring than with a four course ‘Cuisine de Terroir’ meal prepared by Joy Road Catering, except for the same dinner paired with wines from Road 13 Vineyards. The Country In The City dinner has the Okanagan coming to us inside the beautiful Vancouver Urban Winery on Wednesday night. Cam Smith and Dana Ewart of Joy Road do a stellar job of making the most out of fresh local ingredients (think wild nettle pesto with house made ricotta prosciutto, fresh oysters, poached trout, roasted lamb, pearl barley risotto with wild fire morel mushrooms). Tickets are going fast. See you there?
Wednesday, April 3 | 7pm | Vancouver Urban Winery (55 Dunlevy) | $100 | DETAILS

KNOW YOUR CITY |  Check out the Secrets of the Penthouse tour this Thursday night. Led by the good folks at Forbidden Vancouver, this tour will reveal the juicy secrets and varied histories of Vancouver’s most infamous nightclub. Meet owner Danny Filippone, hear star-studded stories, take in the wall of historical photographs, catch a bit of burlesque, and learn about police raids, murders and fires. As you can imagine, this event will be popular and, although there are two tours running, it will likely sell out. If you don’t make this tour, don’t panic. You can get in line for the ones on May 2nd or June 6th.
Thursday, April 4 | 6:15pm + 7:15pm | The Penthouse (1019 Seymour) | 6pm | $38 | DETAILS

GET UP | This Friday brings Creative Mornings, the monthly morning gathering for creative types. Each event includes a 20 minute lecture followed by a 20 minute group discussion. It begins at 8:30am and ends with everyone splitting for work at 10am. This month’s speaker, Ian Ruhter, is an old school photographer. Way old-school. This is an artist who sought to restore some of the depth and soul of the photograph by returning to over 100 year old technologies and methods. He captures on film what he could not achieve with present day equipment. Sign-up for a ticket here (they get snapped up FAST, so don’t wait.)
Friday, April 5 | 8:30-10am | Dodson House (25 E Hastings) | Free | DETAILS

NIRVANA NIGHT | Celebrate the life and talent of Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994) at Fortune Sound Club on Friday night. Event organizers will screen the documentary “I Hate Myself & I Want To Die” followed by a chat with the film’s director Benjamin Shapiro and an evening of Nirvana covers performed by local bands.
Friday, April 5 | 6pm Film 8pm music | Fortune Sound Club (147 E. Pender) | $10 | DETAILS

ENTANGLEMENT | Vancouver artist, photographer and environmentalist Michael Hall is fascinated by single-use plastic waste. He might see the ugliness in the physical evidence of a consumer-driven society disenfranchised from the natural environment, but he also sees the beauty in this man-made and easily discarded material. He plans to use that beauty to engage the community in thinking about it. Head to the EastVan Studios this Saturday for an art auction and party with DJs and such, the proceeds of which will help Hall pay for the printing of photographs and the development of the theme.
Saturday, April 6 | Auction 2-9pm Party 9pm | EastVan Studios (870 E. Cordova) | DETAILS

BLOSSOMS | How awesome is it to have a city full of cherry blossoms right now? Get excited about it with the likeminded at the Sakura Days Japan Fair at VanDusen this weekend. Cruising the Sakura Days Japan Fair is like being teleported to Japan, or as close as most of us are going to get by Saturday anyway. The gardens are packed full of cherry blossom gazers, live entertainment, arts and crafts tables and martial arts performers as well as tea ceremony stations, flower arranging stations, origami making booths and lots of traditional and anime-inspired costumes.
April 6+7 | 10am-5pm | VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak) | $12 | DETAILS

LISTEN | Canadian artist Roy Henry Vickers will be in town this week for an art exhibition and storytelling event in support of his new book, Raven Brings the Light. A collaboration between Vickers and historian Robert Budd, Raven Brings the Light tells the ancient First Nations legend of how Raven brought light into a world of darkness. Vickers will treat attendees to a reading from the book and a look at 18 new prints created as illustrations for the book. The one day show will pop-up at the Waterfall Building near Granville Island (1540 W 2nd) and is free to all.
Saturday, April 6 | 10:30am-4pm, Storytelling @ 11am | 1540 W 2nd | FREE | DETAILS

GO GREEN | It’s time to get your garden sorted. Hook up with Victory Gardens this Saturday for a composting workshop with soil specialist Emma Holmes. The hands-on workshop will cover important topics such as what different types of compost can be made, the different soil situations that will influence the type of compost you choose to create, what you should and should not put in to compost, and how a compost should be maintained for maximum benefit.
Saturday, April 6 | 10:30 | 151 W 1st Ave False Creek Village | $18 | DETAILS

CHEKHOV | It’s altogether too seldom that Vancouver sees a Chekhov play on stage. That oversight will be addressed this week by The Only Child Collective when they present Three Sisters at the Vancity Culture Lab. The century old drama opens a four year window on the lives of the Prozorov family (sisters Olga, Masha, and Irina) and their brother Andrei as they come to terms with their place in a changing Russian society.
Now-April 20 | Various times | Vancity Culture Lab (1895 Venables) $14-$28 | DETAILS

Check the Globe & Mail every Thursday for our Special Weekend Edition of the Scout List

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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 shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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