Awaiting the release of Moonrise Kingdom (and generally appreciative of Wes Anderson’s genius), we found this set of Royal Tenenbaums inspired hand-painted dolls on Etsy.

These five dolls are inspired by the quirky Tenenbaums, who after years of struggling with themselves and their own family are more than happy to move in with yours. Just please make sure there are no fire hazards and that the television is safely affixed to the radiator, and if you have a nice rooftop for a pet bird to live on that would be much appreciated. Dolls are made of wood and stand approximately 3.5 inches tall. They are lovingly hand painted and sealed in acrylic. While they are considerably sturdy little fellows (and ladies), they are not toys and should not be given to children, even if they are incredible business, tennis, or play-writing prodigies.

Handmade wood Royal Tenenbaums dolls | $80 Dangercat Dolls on Etsy | Details

EVERY COOL THING WE WANT

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…

Strange Brew | Grab a seat at the Rio for a screening of Strange Brew. “Something is rotten at the Elsinore Brewery. Bob and Doug Mackenzie (as seen on SCTV) help the orphan Pam regain the brewery founded by her recently-deceased father. But to do so, they must confront the suspicious brewmaster and two teams of vicious hockey players.” Stick around afterwards for the 9pm screening of Slap Shot. What better, more quintessentially Canadian way could there be to cap an evening during Craft Beer Week?
Thursday, May 24 | 7pm | Rio Theatre | Details

Shop | Not only does Le Marché St. George have its usual line-up of good reasons to visit (quality tea and coffee, fresh baked goods, amazing cheese and beautiful textiles and soap) but they now sell ice cream AND are gearing up for a pop-up. The temporary shop will offer new linens, cottons, ceramics and more. Can’t wait.
Thursday, May 24 – June 4 | Le Marché St George (4393 St. George @ 28th.) | Details

Walk | The season of the walking tour is upon us! The Vancouver Heritage Foundation runs a series of walks that explore cracks and corners of the city with a healthy dose of history and and folklore that will leave you better informed and appreciative of the subtleties of your hometown. Get to know your city a little better with a walk through Chinatown this weekend. The tour covers the fact that Chinese immigration to Vancouver predates the city’s incorporation in 1886 and introduces participants to societal buildings, constructed as headquarters for Chinese fraternal and clan groups. Interesting stuff. Bonus: stick around for a late afternoon lunch at Fat Dragon and then catch the Chinatown Night Market. Pretty solid Friday, amirite?
Friday, May 25 | 12-1:30 pm | Meet at southeast corner of Carrall and Pender | $12 | Details

Dig-in | There’s a dinner going down at Harvest Community Foods in Strathcona this week. A locally made line of authentic Italian tomato based sauce (Sugo) is officially launching their product with a pasta dinner at the shop. We haven’t tasted the sauce (we like to make our own), but we dig local, independent, small batch goodness, and we also like the idea of a bunch of people sharing a Friday night meal at Harvest. This block of Union has changed so much over the past year. Get there a little early and check out cool summer clothing at neighbours Charlie & Lee and Board of Trade bore nipping in to The Union for a Banga cocktail (you might also pay your respects at the Jimi Hendrix shrine next door). Afterwards you can float your way through the Chinatown Night Market. Another full Friday night, for sure. Get in touch with Stephanie or Mike at Harvest to reserve a spot today, because seating is seriously limited. 604-682-8851.
Friday May 25 | 7pm | Harvest Community Foods (243 Union) | 10$/plate | Details 

Gig | Kurt Vile and The Violators are at the Biltmore Friday night. Tickets aren’t going to last, so grab ‘em at Zulu before it’s too late. 
Friday May 25 | Doors at 8pm – Show at 9:30 | Biltmore Cabaret | $20  

In-store | Zulu throws down with another amazing in-store session this week. Toronto’s ZEUS stop by the Kits store for a quick blast of tunes in advance of their full-on psychedelic pop show at the Biltmore (Saturday May 26 | 7pm | Biltmore Cabaret | $15). “Zeus are a young band who were quickly signed to Arts and Crafts and enlisted as the support band for Jason Collett. They dial in a sound that is instantly catchy, yet hard to place completely…is that a Kinks influenced riff or gorgeous Big Star melodies?” Cool, free and enriching. Take some cash in your pocket to score from Zulu’s new haul of concert posters or grab a super fine spring T-shirt. Support Zulu, ’cause they support you.
Saturday, May 26 | 3:30pm | Zulu Records (1972 W.4th) | Free? | Details

Pop-Up | OK, so this is one that you have to get moving on right now. Chef Owen Lightly of Butter on the Endive is hosting a second series of Chef In Residence dinners this coming weekend and seats will go quickly. Owen will once again be collaborating with Adam Chandler of BETA 5 Chocolates (May 26) and James Town of Mikuni Wild Harvest Mushrooms (May 27) as well as Blue Owl Antiques, Tonio Creanza (Creanza Olive Oil), and Luis Valdizon (food enthusiast and gifted photographer). There will be an olive oil tasting in the Blue Owl shop before guests move upstairs for a plated, 4 course intimate dinner. All dinners are 4 courses, $65 (not including gratuity)
May 26 &27 | Blue Owl Antiques (2308 W Broadway @ Vine) | $65 | Details

Culture | The Matisse show opens at the Vancouver Art Gallery this week. The best day to catch the show is Saturday, when you can also take in the Heller Lecture (Collecting Matisse and Modern Masters: The Cone Sisters of Baltimore). The Heller Lecture ticket includes admission to Collecting Matisse. Capacity is limited for this event, so get sorted now.
Saturday, May 26 | 1pm | Vancouver Art Gallery |  $30 | Details 

Support Local | Portobello West is going down this weekend. Flip through clothing, accessories and trinkets from 50 different local designers. Listen to music, eat from food carts and work it all off on the seawall afterward.
Saturday + Sunday, May 26 + 27 | 11am -5pm | Creekside Community Centre (1 Athlete’s Way) | $2 | Details

Slugfest | I’ve always wanted to make it to Slugfest for the weirdness factor, but it does require a bit of a drive out to Richmond. Still, I can’t imagine it being a let down once you get there. There’s a beauty contest (vote for biggest, smallest, or slimiest) followed by the Great Richmond Slug Race (in which, one assumes, the slugs will race each other in especially exciting fashion). Note that this is a bring your own slug event (for serious), so get out and find yourself a winner. Your garden or local park is always a good bet. And be sure to look after the little dudes. We know from experience that they like green lettuce, kale and cucumbers.
May 27 | 1-4 pm | Richmond Nature Park ( 11851 Westminster Hwy) | Details 

OUT OF TOWN…

SUNSHINE COAST | If you can skip town, consider running off to the Sunshine Coast for the fifth annual Lund Shellfish Festival.  A quick ferry ride and a beautiful drive down a winding road gets you fresh cooked seafood, tours, and cooking demonstrations.
May 25-27 | Lund, BC | Details

TOFINO | There is no better way to kickstart summer than to head over to Tofino to check out Feast! Tofino, a 16 day series of gastronomic events that culminates in the always magical Tofino Food and Wine Festival. Trust us. These are seriously good times.
Now – June 2 | Tofino, BC  | Details 

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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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by Lisa Giroday, Sandra Lopuch and Sam Philips | Dandelion – the tasty, nutritious and beautiful weed – is currently in season.  They’re excellent when sautéed with olive oil, garlic, chili flakes, and a little sea salt. They’re also delicious in salads or as a green in sandwiches. The roots can make a tea, and the flowers are superb on their own. It’s crazy that people would ever want to fight dandelions, because every part is edible.

Taraxacum officinale is the dandelion’s botanical name (the term officinale indicating that the plant has inherent medicinal properties). They’re higher in potassium, vitamin A, iron, and calcium than broccoli, supporting digestion, reducing swelling and inflammation, and can be used to treat liver problems. They’re a little testament to that old saying about the best things in life, as no wallet is ever required. Be sure to pick some before they go to seed!

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Victory Gardens is a team of local urban farmers for hire. Lisa, Sandra and Sam help to transform tired or underused residential and commercial green spaces into food producing gardens. Their ultimate goal is simple enough: to challenge the way communities use space and to participate in the change needed to consume food more sustainably. We’ve worked with them in our own garden, and know them to be pretty awesome – always enthusiastic and excited to talk about growing, sourcing and eating local greens. For the rest of the growing season, they’ve hooked up with Scout to share some cool tips and tricks on how to get the best from of our own backyards. Find out more about their efforts here.

by Michelle Sproule | UBC Farm is such a great place; home to fantastic learning gardens, programs and workshops, a Saturday Farmers Market, chickens, cob buildings and lovely grounds to explore. We’re should all be proud that a farm like this exists in our city. But keeping it going does cost money. Consider contributing to its strength and the impact it has on our community by kicking in with a little support. Clear your schedule for June 10th, when sixteen home cooks from different ethnic backgrounds gather to offer their family comfort foods at the 2nd annual international food fair and UBC Farm fundraiser. The countries and ethnicities represented at this year’s event are: Sierra Leone, Ghana, Hakka Chinese, Chile, Mexico, Maya (Guatemala), Pakistan, Goa (India), Egypt, Syria, Tsimshian First Nations, Vietnam, Southern Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (not to mention our very own west coast). Wander the farm grounds, taste authentic ethnic cuisine and support a kickass urban meets rural icon all at once. You can’t really go wrong. See you there.

Sunday, June 10 | 1-4pm | UBC Farm | $50 (includes recipe book) Children 13 and under free | Details 

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…

Anywhere But Here | I like the sound of the international Polaroid exhibit Anywhere But Here that’s going up at the Positive Negative gallery this week. “The fleeting times where you are at peace, where everything is in harmony — a perfect moment. ‘Anywhere But Here‘ investigates and visualizes the sublime escapism people reach for every day solidified in a Polaroid as unique and individual as that instant.” There is a substantial list of contributing artists for this gig. Works have come from Germany, Sweden, England, Italy, and all across the United States and Canada. Check it out.
Opening: Wednesday, May 16 | 7-11pm | Positive Negative Gallery (436 Columbia) | Wed to Sat, 1 to 5 (until June 2nd) 

Say Wha?! | Say Wha?! (Readings of Deliciously Rotten Writing) goes down on Wednesday night. This hilarious evening involves a handful of comedic performers putting their spin on some of the most “cringe-worthy, embarrassing and painfully earnest writing in print.” This is ‘laugh until your belly hurts’ sort of stuff. Readings by: Sara Bynoe (host), Chip Ellis, Diana Frances, Ken Hegan and Sarah Szloboda.
Wednesday, May 16 | 8-10pm | Cottage Bistro (4470 Main) | $10 | Details

Speak Up | The City of Vancouver is holding a few community information/planning sessions this week. Grandview-Woodlands and the West End are looking at a bunch of change over the next decade and the City wants to involve residents and business owners in contributing to what this change will look like. If you live or work in one of these ‘hoods, this is a good time to get your two cents in.
Grandview Woodlands | Wednesday, May 16th | 5 – 9 pm | Café Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial | Details 
West End | Thursday, May 17th, 4 – 8 pm at Central Presbyterian Church, 1133 Thurlow Street | Details 

Beer | Craft Beer Week kicks off this week and man-o-man, is there a lot to do. Check out their website for event details. Scout picks: Hoppapalooza III at the Alibi Room; Hop-Headbanger’s Ball (Woodland Smokehouse), and Cicerone vs Sommelier at The Irish Heather. Many events are sold out but if you get on it right now, you can still snag a seat at Sisters of the Tap at Ensemble (“…an evening of beer and the women behind them…six breweries and five courses complimenting the different styles and personalities of each beer. Each course will be thoughtfully paired by Top Chef Canada Dale Mackay and Executive Chef Brad Hendrickson).
May 18 – 26 | Various times/venues | Details

Dig It | Again and Again and Again, Serial Formats and Repetitive Actions is up and running at the VAG. Slip in Tuesday night (admission by donation) to check out this new show. I’m always fascinated to see what a curator will find/see when given access to the massive permanent collection at the VAG. This show, curated by Daina Augaitis (chief curator/associate director) draws from the permanent collection and “…features artists who utilize repetitive actions or serial images to open up perception both figuratively and literally. From the mechanistic repetition inherent in much domestic work and industrial labour, to the multiple versions afforded by technological developments, to the limits of endurance that have been tested by performance artists, this exhibition offers a number of perspectives on what it means to do something again and again and again.” Sounds awesome.
May 12 – September | Vancouver Art Gallery | $19.50 | Details

Eat Local | It’s been a long, dark winter, but it’s over now. Not sure you can believe me? The Kitsilano Farmers Market opens this Sunday, and if that isn’t a sure sign of summer, I don’t know what is. Last week was Trout Lake, this week Kits! Another couple of weeks and we’ll be running with a full compliment of neighbourhood markets to take our pick from. Welcome back farmers. We’ve missed you!
Sundays. May 20 – October 21 | 10am-2pm | 2690 Larch @t 10th | Details

Grow | Looking for something low-key and grounding to do with your Sunday? Think about heading up to Kingsway to jumpstart your summer garden plans. Victory Gardens has joined forces with super-crafters from Collage Collage to create a Container Garden Kit that will get you sorted out lickety-split, and Sunday is the day that they’re launching the project. If you haven’t been to Collage Collage or have been wanting to check out the kickass Victory Gardens girls that everyone is talking about, this is a good opportunity to do both. Bonus: since you’re up there you also get to have a visit to Matchstick Coffee, poke your head in to a few shops and galleries, and test a few treats at the Gluten Free Bakery.
Sunday May 20 |  2-4pm |  Collage Collage (621 Kingsway) | Details 

Do it | Wander and people-watch through the “shopping extravaganza” of the Chinatown Night Market. Eat street-food, pick up a few pair of novelty socks or an interesting iphone case, and most important, meet/see new people. The possibilities are endless. Grab a cocktail at The Keefer or Bao Bei first. There is nothing quite like the magical circus of Chinatown at night, but it’s even more magical with a quality cocktail or two swimming in your head.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday night | 6:30-11pm | Keefer between Main and Columbia | Details

Be Prepared | Summer is coming. Imagine all the long, warm days of reading at the beach! Load up on some of the greatest classics at the Sons and Lovers Summer Reading Pop-Up Shop this weekend. Grab some Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Salinger, Lawrence, and Wilde. Sons and Lovers will be at Revolver Coffee Shop with a fine selection of classics priced between $5 and $7. Can’t beat that.
Sunday, May 20 | 1pm-4p | Cash Only | Revolver (325 Cambie St.)  | Details 

Quick | There is still time to catch the annual Degree Exhibition at Emily Carr. Wander the galleries, hallways, foyers and classrooms of the campus to take in the work of this year’s graduating students. Students exhibiting their work have come through ECUAD in the disciplines of animation, ceramics, communication design, drawing, digital and interactive arts, film/video/integrated media, illustration, industrial design, interactive design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. There will be genius among them, for sure. See you there!
Now – Sunday, May 20 | 10am-6pm | Emily Carr University of Art + Design (1400 Johnston, Granville Island) | Details 

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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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