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…

EAT

Did you know that there is a hot chocolate festival going on at this very moment? No word of a lie. Our friends at City Food asked us to spread the word: “In support of their favourite charities, six top chocolate makers and one gelato guy will spike their hot chocolate drinks with the wildest, most delicious flavours they can dream up.”  I’m really liking the sound of Bella Gelateria’s Honey Nougat & Hazelnut hot chocolate…
Now – February 13 | Various Chocolate joints about town | more info here.

The Winter Farmers Market fills the Nat Bailey Stadium parking lot on Saturday. Hook yourself up with hearty root vegetables,  fresh bread, dried fruit and scores of other locally-grown goodies. Get the full list of who will be there here.
Saturday, January 22 | 10am – 2pm | East Parking Lot of Nat Bailey Stadium

The Baker’s Market is on. Hightail it over to Olympic Village to stock up on baked goods.
Saturday, January 22 | 11 am – 3pm | Creekside Community Centre

GREEN

Nature Vancouver has lined up Dr. Elizabeth Elle (SFU Biology Department) to talk about the all-important bee on Thursday night. “British Columbia is home to incredible wildflower diversity, the vast majority of which rely on insects (mostly bees) for successful reproduction.  This lecture will introduce you to the diversity and pollination needs of wildflowers in two of Canada’s most endangered ecosystems.  You’ll also learn the natural history of wild bees; we have more than 300 species in BC, that look and behave nothing like the introduced European honeybee.  Our “charismatic microfauna” come in all shapes and sizes and colors of the rainbow and may be threatened by habitat loss, potentially impacting the persistence of wildflower populations.” Bees are awesome. See you there.
Thursday, January 20 | 7:30pm | Unity Church (5840 Oak) | Details

Sit in on a two-hour class (followed by a one-hour activity) on how to plan a food garden and knowing the importance of preparing beds for planting. Registration required. Find out more here.
Sunday, January 23 | 1:30-4:30pm | Strathcona Community Centre (601 Keefer) | $35

Can bicycling and walking really be the key to bringing our world back from the brink of environmental disaster?  Mia Birk,  author of Joyride: Walking and Pedaling Toward a Healthier Planet thinks so. Hook up with Mia to join in the discussion about the role of active transportation in worldwide climate change, peak oil, and energy dependence. To reserve a seat, visit: www.sfu.ca/reserve
January 26 | 7pm | Segal Centre (515 W Hastings) | Free!

Backyard Chickens 101! Head to the Strathcona Community Centre to learn about the basics of proper care and keeping of small urban flocks of hens. More here, and even more here.
Tuesday, January 25 | 7-9pm | Strathcona Community Centre | $10

ART

Chapel Arts plays host to an artist networking event and Eco Art Salon
Thursday, January 20 | 5-9 pm | Chapel Arts (304 Dunlevy) | Free

The VAG launches “Unreal”, featuring works from their collection that include Marcel Dzama (swoon), Maxwell Bates, Cindy Sherman, Annette Messager and others. Catch a New Gallery Tour for a guided walkthrough. Dates + times here.
January 22 to September 5 | Vancouver Art Gallery | $19.50

Also at the VAG this coming week: the annual Emerging Artist Lecture. Every year it focuses on the work of a local artist who is breaking out on to the international scene. This year it’s Germaine Koh. “Koh’s work looks at everyday objects and daily activities that often go unnoticed, yet profoundly shape our experiences.” Find out more…
Tuesday, January 25 | 7pm | Vancouver Art Gallery | Free with Gallery admission ($19.50)

“MOA presents a talk by an artist from the Antwerp-based artist collective known as Berlin, which recently spent two months in the Arctic Circle creating a documentary-like installation that captures the essence of Canada’s most remote capital city, Iqualuit.”  The film itself is part of the PuSh festival and will be showing at SFU Woodwards.
Tuesday, January 25 | 7- 9pm | $14/$12 | Details

If you dig lighthouses (and who doesn’t?) head to Granville Island to check out the new show at Emily Carr’s Charles H. Scott Gallery: The Voyage, or Three Years at Sea Part I, an exhibition featuring the work of Rodney Graham and Tacita Dean. “The exhibition is the first in a series about the sea that will take place at the Gallery over the next three years. Lighthouses have long held a place in art and literature. Behind these fictional representations are the remarkable stories of the engineers that built the lighthouses and the keepers that have manned them through the centuries.” More here.
Now – February 20 | Charles H Scott Gallery | Free

BOOKS + THE LIKE

If you’re a lover of typeface and letterpress printing (how can you not be?) there is a cool flick going down at Blim: Typeface, A Chronicle of Typography in the Digital Age and Dying Art of Timeless Craftsmanship. “Typeface focuses on a rural Midwestern museum and print shop where international artists meet retired craftsmen and together navigate the convergence of modern design and traditional technique.”
Friday January 21 | Doors: 7 & 9 pm | Screening: 7:30 & 9:30pm | $7–10 sliding scale

Emily Carr is kicking off a series of interdisciplinary forums entitled – More Than Words: Art, Language and Textual Practices. Short story: text as art and the ways in which we use it in our efforts to challenge the limits of communication. The first lecture (Text + Image Practice) goes down Thursday afternoon. Gonna be interesting.
Thursday, January 20  | 3:50pm | Room 301, South Building | Free

Have a few outdated books collecting dust in the corner? Don’t chuck ‘em. Re-purpose them into shiny new journals or sketchbooks at Blim! “This beginners course introduces the basics of hand-sewn book binding with a focus on rebinding old and discarded book covers to create something new. Materials included in this course include book covers, paper and ribbon for built-in bookmarks but feel free to bring in your own crafty items for embellishment.”
Saturday, January 22 | 2 – 5pm | Blim | $65

Do you really want to attend the above, but don’t have any old junkers kicking about? Score yourself some good looking, second-hand reads at St. A’s Book Sale. Two bucks will get you five paperbacks or one hardcover.  Details.
Friday, January 21 from 6 to 8 pm; Saturday, January 22 from 10am to 1 pm. | St Augustine’s (8680 Hudson)

MUSIC

There is some awesome going down at the Astoria on Saturday night. Line-up details here.

Salem plays the Waldorf Hotel on Saturday night. Read Pitchfork’s take here. You’ll want to get sorted with tickets pretty quick. Try here.
Saturday, January 22 | 10pm | Waldorf | $15 | More info…

Indie pop looker Darwin Deez (crazy-ass fashion sense) is sliding in to town to support their self-titled debut release. Dig it (the hair-do is killer).
Monday, January 24 | 8pm | The Media Club | $13

Ween is playing the QE on Monday night (and there was much rejoicing).
Monday, January 24 | 7pm | Queen Elizabeth Theatre (600 Hamilton) |$45

MISCELLANY

Don’t forget Architectural Karaoke goes down at the Museum of Vancouver, wherein “architects face off in provocative and funny reactions to some of Vancouver’s architectural icons.” Cash bar. Awesome. Details.
January 20 | 7:30pm | Museum of Vancouver | $12

The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival on. Check out this year’s line-up of theatre, dance, music (and various “hybrid forms” of performance) from all over the world over at the PUsh website. I dig choose your own adventure stuff like this…
Jan 18 to Feb 6 | Various times and venues

Opera Pro Cantanti throws down again with Norma on Sunday night. “Norma is a masterpiece of the Bel Canto period, and one of the most famous operas of all time. It tells the story of a Druid Priestess who forms an illicit bond with a Proconsul of the Roman army, thereby betraying her people and beginning a chain reaction of events that may lead to war. Bellini’s great work contains some of the most beloved music in all opera, including the glorious soprano aria “Casta Diva.”
January 23 | 7pm | Cambrian Hall (215 E17) | $18

Terminal City Soundscape! “Through intercultural music and free improv, through the World Soundscape Project and a musical fascination with beauty, Vancouver leaders composers, performers and musical thinkers have shown us how the local is universal.” Curated by Music on Main’s David Pay, music will be accompanied by video projected on to a 48 foot long screen.
January 23, 24 & 25 | Heritage Hall | Bar 7pm Concert 8pm | $29 | Details

For the fellow science nerds out there: get your space fix with a lecture entitled Exploring the Early Universe From the Edge of Space with BLAST. That’s right. No one gets down like Gaelen Marsden from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UBC. More info…
Wedensday, January 26 | 5-6:30pm | Coach House, 6201 Cecil Green, UBC | Free

FILM

There’ s a heavy flick worth seeing at the Rio late on Friday night:  “The City of the Lost Children is a fantasy science fiction film from Jean-Pierre Jeunet about a scientist who kidnaps children and steals their dreams.” Creepy, right?
January 21 | 11:55pm | Rio Theatre | $10

Speaking of creepy, Never Let Me Go is screening at the Hollywood this week. Also a good flick, but not really ‘uplifting’. They are also showing Conviction. The good news is that the double bill for only $8 will leave you a little leftover cash for a good strong post-movie pick-me-up.
January  21 – 27 | 7:30pm/10:15pm | Hollywood Theatre | $8

If you’re looking for something a little lighter, word has it that there is a special event out at UBC this Friday and “It’s kind of a big deal…” Yes, it’s the Anchorman Beverage Garden. Discover the The Legend of Ron Burgundy and share a few drinks, dorky frat boy style. Having trouble remembering Ron Burgundy? Refresh your memory here.
January 21 | 7:00pm | Norm Theatre @ UBC SUB | $6

Pull up a chair the dim light of the Waldorf Hotel’s Library to catch a pay-what-you-can movie. This week: “Full Moon in Paris” by Eric Rohmer. A nice way to spend a Sunday for sure.
Sunday, January 23 | 3pm | Waldorf Hotel | pay-what-you-can | Details

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Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended Bond 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.

——————————————————————————————–

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…

FRESH AIR

Get to know Stanley Park all over again with a Stanley Park Ecology Society educator who is leading a two-hour expedition. Expect to be lectured as you go on the broad concepts of ecology and how they relate to Vancouver’s green gem. Wear yer wellies!  More information.
January 16 |1:30-3:30pm | Lost Lagoon Nature House | $10

Winter won’t last forever, so make the most of it. Grab your skates (or rent them on site) and hit Robson Square for a spin before regretting not doing it for yet another year. If you’re out of practice, nice thick gloves and a bit of bum padding are both recommended.
Robson Square | 9am -9pm | skating FREE (rentals $3) | Details

ART

This is your last chance to take in the Robert Adams and Song Dong: Waste Not exhibits at the VAG. They come down on Sunday.

The Audain Gallery opens a group exhibit this week. It’s called The Long Take: Videos On Architecture And Social Space. The show brings together “national and international artists whose work seek to represent the scales, angles and details of architecture and the urban territory as well as the more hidden relations of the city, such as gender and space and the effects of socio economic processes.” More here.
Now – February 26 | Audain Gallery at  SFU Woodward’s (149 W Hastings) | Free

Shane O’Brien (not the hockey player, but an MFA from the University of Colorado and co-owner of Gallery Jones) gives a lecture on Sunday about “various aspects of the business of art, from the logistics of how galleries operate, to a more subjective analysis of what makes for successful work.” Expect to also hear about different market avenues for art and profiles of different art buyers (private, corporate, private). Sounds fascinating. The lecture is free and open to all. However, they ask that you please RSVP by phone or email as seating is limited. 604-879-9306 or jacana [at] jacanagallery [dot] com. More details here.
Sunday, January 16 | 8pm | Jacana Gallery (2435 Granville) | Free

Natalie Purschwitz & Kelly Lycan come together for the provocatively titled “I Can See Your Underwear” exhibition at Centre A.  “During a three-month production residency, the artists have accumulated and arranged a vast array of plastic materials that are being re-activated as installations.” No one knows how to ‘re-activate’ like Natalie Purschwitz.
January 15 | 7pm | Centre A (2 WHastings ) | Free

LITERARY

Listen up, biblionerds: the UBC Continuing Studies Writing Centre is holding its yearly used book sale this week. Expect a wide variety of subjects, from cookery and classics to history and political science. Books are 50 cents each, and proceeds go to awards and scholarships in the UBC Writing Centre.
January 13, 14 | 10 am – 4pm | UBC Writing Centre | CHEAP!

The Robson Reading Series has Sheila Heti (How Should A Person Be?) and Bren Simmers (Night Gears) lined up for a Friday night reading series on Friday at the UBC Library Bookstore in Robson Square (plaza level). More information here.
Friday, January 14 | 7pm | 800 Robson ( Howe/ Hornby) | Free

Local author Anne Giardini (daughter of Carol Shields) reads from her novel, Advice for Italian Boys.
Tuesday, January 18 | 7pm | VPL  350 W Georgia |  Free

MUSIC

Lifted from the Zulu Report: “Here’s a show that’s going to be great. Two shining examples of local greatness: Duffy and The Doubters and Sex Church. Duffy and the Doubters will bring the r-o-c-k with their fuzzy garagey tunes. We like this band and it’ll be nice to hear the songs from the LP come to life. And making the night even that much sweeter will be Zulu’s beloved Sex Church who are consistently great at what they do: Sun Ra meets The Penetrators deep garage gold. Come on out and we’ll have a real cool time.”
Saturday, January 15 | Interurban Gallery (1 E. Hastings)

Catch Vancouver indie folk/rock band Minto at the Media Club on Friday night. They play with Henry and the Night Crawlers and The Albertans. Should be a gas.
Friday, January 14 | 8pm | The Media Club | $10

UBC Opera ensemble presents Opera Teas on the Stage (shortened versions of operas in a cabaret setting). Reservations required, please call 604-822-6725 to reserve. Details here.
Sunday January 16 | 2 – 4pm | 6344 Memorial  Rd, UBC | $20

Local artists Maxi Theophile Talbot, Sophia Danai, KDence, and Dj K-Rec throw down at Blim on Friday night. “Sick tracks to keep the beat flowing through the night. Come get your fill and treat your soul right!!”
January 14 | 8pm – 12am | Blim | $8–10 sliding scale

AWESOME MISCELLANY

Bored and a little weird? Why not take a quick class on Ballistics at the Vancouver Police Museum. The hour-long workshop explores the types of evidence that investigators use when a firearm may have been involved in a crime. You never know when that sort of thing will come in handy, so get yourself sorted here.
January 19 | 6:30pm or 8pm | Vancouver Police Museum |

Music, sort of. Performance, a little. Architecture, um, yes? I like the sound of the MOV event on January 20, though I can’t say I’ve ever heard of Architectural Karaoke (and I’m the daughter of an architect). Apparently it exists and MOV is the place to take it all in. “Architects face off in provocative and funny reactions to some of Vancouver’s architectural icons.” Cash Bar. Details.
January 20 | 7:30pm | Museum of Vancouver | $12

The Year of the Rabbit is upon us. (Chinese New Year goes down on the first Sunday of the Lunar or Chinese New Year (3rd of February). Don’t get caught without your Rabbit mask. Head to the DTES to sit in on one of several preparatory rabbit mask-making workshops.  Find out more…
January 17, 18 | 2-4pm | Carnegie Centre, 2nd Floor Lounge
January 19, 20 | 1:30-3:30pm | Oppenheimer Park

If you’re kicking about downtown on Saturday afternoon and you see a crowd gathered at the Library and wonder what’s going on, it’s a demonstration in support of WikiLeaks. On a related note: Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has sold his memoirs (to be published in March 2011 under the title Wikileads: My Time at the World’s Most Dangerous Website). So, while I’m sure he’ll appreiate the support, he doesn’t really need it, if you get what I’m saying.
January 15 | 2-5pm | VPL Main Branch | Free

If you have $100 in your pocket and your looking to up your knowledge of successful heriage restoration projects in the city, you’re in luck. Hang out at the Merchants Bank Building next Wednesday night an learn all about the building’s restoration under local architect Paul Merrick.   Details.
January 19 | 5:30 – 8 pm | 500 Granville (@Pender) | $100 (donation to Heritage Vancouver.)

The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival is coming up. The fest brings Vancouverites a line-up of theatre, dance, music (and various “hybrid forms” of performance) from all over the world. Check back next week for the action we’re looking forward to. If you can’t wait that long, head over to the PUsh website and choose your own adventure.
Jan 1 to Feb 6 | Various times and venues

MOVIES

Sofia Coppola’s new film Somewhere opens at the Fifth Avenue this week. So does Barney’s Version. Either one is a safe bet for solid entertainment.
January 14 -  | Various times | Fifth Avenue Cinemas | $12.50 ($8.50 on Tuesdays)

Hey, Flock of Seagulls, guess what? Pulp Fiction is the midnight movie at the Rio this week (Friday). A little bit of late night Tarantino is always a good way to start a weekend. Outfit yourself with a costume and take a few beans off of the price of admission.
January 14 | 11:55pm | Rio Theatre | $10

The Green Hornet (and Kato) hit the silver screen. Support local and see it at an independent joint like the Rio (4:15pm, 7:00pm and 9:30pm nightly).

The Hollywood is showing Carlos (the Jackal) and A Woman, A Gun and a Noodle Shop.
January  14-20 | 7:30 /10:15  | Hollywood Theatre |  $8

Hayao Miyazaki’s legendary Spirited Away is playing out at the SUB.  It is said to be highest-grossing film in Japanese history, and for good reason.
Now until Sunday January 16 |  7pm and 9:30pm | $6

London River is playing at Vancity Theatre. “Failing to reach her daughter in London after the bomb blasts of 7/7 2005, Elisabeth (Brenda Blethyn) journeys to the capital and shows up on Jane’s doorstep – a flat above a Halal butcher in Finsbury Park. But Jane’s not home. The police aren’t much help – they’re inundated with enquiries from concerned friends and family. The hospitals have posted lists of the injured, but her name isn’t among them. As she continues to search, Elisabeth keeps bumping into a North African, Ousmane (Sotigui Kouyate). Their children were a couple, it seems – but neither parent can comprehend what this might mean for their chances…” Find out more here.
Friday January 14 |  6:30pm  | Vancity Theatre |  $10.50

EAT

Bishop’s celebrates 25 years with a special four-course menu that includes Bishop’s classics like Goat Cheese Salad, Qualicum Bay Scallops, Lamb Three Ways and Death by Chocolate. The menu will be on offer Sundays through Thursdays starting January 13th through February 10th ($49)

Get yourself clued in to the proper handling of knives at Barbara-Jo’s this weekend. Ther is still one session of hands-on knife skills classes with spaces available.
Saturday, January 15 | 12 noon | Barbara-Jo’s Books $70

The Baker’s Market is a good reason to visit the ghost town known as Olympic Village. It’s actually a nice area. Stuff yourself with baked goods and then walk the seawall to burn them off.
Saturday, January 15 | 11 am – 3pm | Creekside Community Centre

Sean Heather’s Long Table Series puts Roast Beef with yorkshire pudding & roasting jus (with a 16oz Pint Of Driftwood Ale) on the 40 foot communal table this Sunday evening. Oh Yorkshire Pudding! I do love you. More info.
Sunday, January 16 |  7pm | Salty Tongue | $17

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Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended Bond 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.

——————————————————————————————–

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. This is our carefully considered first rate list 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…

TALKS

Legend Brian Eno is in town to give a talk at the Vogue on January 10th. Details are here, but the short of it is this: “Musician, producer, ideologue, futurologist, visual artist, political activist – Brian Eno is a visionary and iconic figure within global contemporary culture; an innovative presence who has been at the forefront of creative thought for the past four decades.” Sadly, iconic futurologists don’t come cheap. You’ll be looking at $65 per ticket. Nevertheless, it’s Brian effing Eno, so probably a solid use of funds.
January 10 | Vogue Theatre (918 Granville) | $65

CBC’s Sheryl MacKay co-hosts the CBC Book Club with Douglas Coupland next week. The pair tag-team on local author William Gibson. “William Gibson is back with the third novel that began with Pattern Recognition and Spook Country. His new novel Zero History continues the absorbing and addictive relationship between journalist Hollis Henry and global marketing magnate Hubertus Bigend. The New Yorker said of Gibson “His eye for the eerie in the everyday still lends events an otherworldly sheen”.  Only way to get yourself through the door for this one is to win tickets. Find out all you need to know here.
Wednesday January 12 | 6:30pm Studio One, CBC Broadcast Centre, 700 Hamilton | Free

“The history of the universe in a nutshell, from the Big Bang to now, and on to the future.” That’s a lot of ground to cover in one hour, but I guess the collective wisdom of the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, Department of Physics out at UBC and the Goddard SpaceFlight Centre are pretty confident that John Mather is the man to do it. Head to the Planetarium next Thursday and hear all about how we got here, how the Universe began with a Big Bang, how it could have produced an Earth where sentient beings can live, and how those beings are discovering their history. Sounds like a hot date, for sure!
Thursday, January 13 | 7pm – 8pm | H.R. MacMillan Space Centre (auditorium)

And if space stuff really gets you going, Mr. Ray Villard of the Space Telescope Science Institute (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland) is also coming to town to discuss the big question: When Will We Find Earth II—the First Inhabited Extrasolar Planet? Don’t want to miss out on that now, do you? More details here.
January 14 | 8:15pm | Lecture Hall 2 | Woodward Instructional Resources Centre | UBC

FLICKS

Tron Legacy plays at the Rio. “Sam Flynn, the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant, father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced.”
January 7 | 7 pm | Rio Theatre | $10

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest is on at the Hollywood. The Crazies plays later in the evening. $8 ain’t a bad price to pay for the big screen!
January 7 – 13 | 7:30pm and 9:40pm | Hollywood | Double features for $8!!

“Making Movies Out of Sex and Life” goes down at the Vancity Theatre and includes a flip through four short films, Dyketactics, No Nooky TV, Sync Touch and A Horse is Not a Metaphor. Beat those titles! Q&A with filmmaker Barbara Hammer to follow screening. Find out more…
Tuesday, January 11 | doors 6pm, show 7pm | Vancity Theatre | $5

The Waldorf Hotel is starting up a series of Sunday afternoon films. Grab a good, stiff drink and slip into the comfortably dim light of the Waldorf Library to catch a pay-what-you-can flick. Expect vintage Hollywood, cool documentaries, NFB shorts, and rarely-screened “art films” (gotta love the “art film”). The series kicks off with The Silent Partner this Sunday. The Biltmore did this a few years ago and it kicked ass. A nice way to spend a Sunday for sure. More info
Sunday, January 9 | 3pm | Waldorf Hotel | pay-what-you-can

EAT

The Winter Farmers Market is back on. Make your way to Nat Bailey Stadium to stock up on hearty root vegetables, fresh baked bread, dried fruit and scores of other locally grown goodies. Get the full list of who will be there here.
Saturday, January 8 | 10am – 2pm | East Parking Lot of Nat Bailey Stadium

Had enough of your ‘healthy eating’ resolution? Cool. Me too! Join us at the Baker’s Market this weekend to make up for lost time. Hook up with artisanal breads, scones, pain au chocolat, German pretzels, Parisian macaroons, madeleines, cupcakes, marshmallows, chocolates, biscotti – you name it. Take your own containers and bags. Find out more here.
Saturday, January 8 | 11am – 3pm | Creekside Community Centre (Olympic Village)

There is a raw food ‘cooking’ class slated to happen at the Mount Pleasant Community Centre over the next 6 weeks. “This program is an introduction to preparing delicious raw food meals that are vegan and gluten-free. Raw foods are nutrient and enzyme-rich. You’ll learn about seed and nut sprouting which increases the nutrient value of these foods. We’ll begin with simple recipes and work our way up to more complex dishes, eg. Stuffed Mushrooms, Zucchini Ribbons with Sundried Tomato Sauce, Hazelnut Torte, Faux Salmon Rolls, Chocolate Mousse, Creamy Broccoli Soup, Vegetable Teriyaki, Ravioli and Flax Crackers.” Tempting. More info…
Wed January 12, – Wed Feb 16 | 7:30pm – 9:30pm | $200 (all food supplies included)

ART

On Friday night the Firehall Arts Centre is holding an opening for the exhibition “Moonstruck”. The show features a series of monoprints and works on paper created by of two emerging Vancouver artists (Lori Dean Dyment and Roz MacLean) who use natural imagery to evoke delicately nuanced psychological states: nightscapes and memory. Show runs until February 26.
Friday, January 7 | 6-8pm | Firehall Lobby Gallery (280 E Cordova)

As mentioned last week, 221A Artist Run Centre brings us Pact 19: Drop, a one-night non-juried exhibition of work by artists and designers. Some people worry that non-juried shows can be a bit, um, “out there” but we’re pretty sure that, given the crowd that tends to flock around 221A, this will be a good show. “Work is submitted one day prior to the event then installed the day of. The event aims to support the production and exhibition of collaborative and transient practices as well as nurture a participatory learning environment for artists, designers, curators, critics, volunteers, and the public. Submitted work is documented and compiled into an online publication that is released for free on the organization’s website.
January 7 – January 8 | 2:00pm – 8:00pm | 221A Artist Run Centre | Free

I like the concept behind Erin McSavaney’s upcoming exhibition at the Equinox Gallery. Her work examines forgotten pieces of local towns and settlements. Lifted from the artists website: “Examining a city’s overlooked buildings, its back alleys and loading bays, darkened street-ways and abandoned factories, reveals as many truths about its citizens and spectators as it does their own actual functions and inhabitants.”
January 8 -  February 5 | Equinox Gallery (2321 Granville) | Free

Western Front have a project going on called “Past is Prologue” that invites artists, writers, archivists and historians to conduct research related to the Western Front Media Archive, a repository of over 1300 tapes, including performance documents, video art and audio recordings. Individuals then pull together a bit of an overview of their diggings for an audience. Details here.
Wednesday, January 12 | 6pm – 8pm | Western Front (303 E 8th)

Also next Wednesday, The Museum of Vancouver is throwing an opening party for their new exhibition SweaterLodge Unlatched. “SweaterLodge is an architectural installation consisting of a giant orange polarfleece sweater. It measures 26.5 meters (87 feet) cuff to cuff and is made of Polartec 200 fleece, manufactured from 3,150 recycled two-litre plastic pop bottles. The installation is a portrait of Vancouver where the veneration of nature and the construction of urban culture stand at curious odds. It is part art, part architecture and all commentary on Vancouver.” The installation, created by local ‘Art and Architecture’ firm Pechet and Robb was chosen to represent Canada at the 2006 Venice Biennale of Architecture and being remounted for the first time in Canada at the Museum of Vancouver. Cash bar! The exhibit continues until May, so if you can’t make it down this week, don’t worry, you have time to behold the giant orange polarfleece.  More info.
Wednesday, January 12 | 7pm | MOV |  $15

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Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended Bond 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.

——————————————————————————————–

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. This is our carefully considered first rate list 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…

FRESH AIR

It’s BEAUTIFUL out, so get yourselves outside. Walk the seawall, the beach, the trails. Head up to the mountains. Whatever. Just take advantage, because the rest of the winter will probably suck.

UBC lecturer Sonya Powell leads a walk through Stanley Park that explores evidence of logging in the park and examines turn-of-the-century technologies for extracting old-growth trees. More info here.
January 2 | 1:30 – 3:30 pm | Stanley Park Nature House (Lost Lagoon) | $10

The Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden is still on (until Sunday). Get yourself bundled up and take in the 15 acres of festively lit gardens. Forecast is for sun. Just sayin’.
Until Sunday, January 2 | 4:30 – 9pm | VanDusen  (5251 Oak)

The Stanley Park Christmas train is also making its last rounds this weekend.
Until January 2 | 3:00 – 10:00pm | Stanley Park | Train: $9 Adults / $6 Kids

TALKS

The folks from Parks Canada get busy with an interactive, 45 minute historical tale about Yoho National Park’s spiral tunnels – an engineering feat that overcame the Rocky Mountains to connect our nation as a whole. Get the wiki on the park here.
Wednesday January 5 | 7pm – 8:30pm | Central Library (350 W Georgia)

The Vancouver Police Museum has a few interesting, adult-oriented classes going this coming week. Consider brushing up (no pun intended) on your fingerprinting techniques (Jan 5) and then delve into the world of bloodstain pattern analysis (Jan 7). Hot dates like these aren’t for everyone, but if it’s for you, get the details here.
January 5 | 6:30 – 8:30pm | Vancouver Police Museum | $15

Want to know where your local tax dollars are headed? Show up at the ‘special’ Council Meeting on the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. Doesn’t sound like much of a rager, but decisions are made by those who show up.
Monday January 10 | 1pm | City Hall | Free – unless you count taxes

MUSIC

Zaac Pick and The Belle Game (with guest Riun Garner) play the Biltmore
Thursday January 6 | Doors 8 pm | Biltmore | $10

Wolves in the Throne Room, Gyibaaw, Ahna and Sick play the Rickshaw.
January 6 | No idea what time – but let’s say around 9 | Info

The Ruffled Feathers, Julia and her Piano, Thomas Kolb and Katie Schaan play the Media Club next week.
Thursday, January 6 |  8pm | Media Club | Info

Opera Pro Cantanti presents Bellini’s Norma, “a masterpiece of the Bel Canto period, and one of the most famous operas of all time. It tells the story of a Druid Priestess who forms an illicit bond with a Proconsul of the Roman army, thereby betraying her people and beginning a chain reaction of events that may lead to war. Bellini’s great work contains some of the most beloved music in all opera, including the glorious soprano aria, Casta Diva.” Since we’re all about illicit bonds with Druid Priestesses, we’ll probably be seeing you there.
January 2nd |  7:00pm | Cambrian Hall | $18

Legend Brian Eno comes to town. He’s slated to give a talk at the Vogue on January 10th. Details are here, but the short of it is this: “Musician, producer, ideologue, futurologist, visual artist, political activist – Brian Eno is a visionary and iconic figure within global contemporary culture; an innovative presence who has been at the forefront of creative thought for the past four decades. ” Sadly, iconic futurologists don’t come cheap. You’ll be looking at $65 per ticket. Nevertheless, it’s Brian Effing Eno, so probably a solid use of funds.
January 10 | Vogue Theatre (918 Granville) | $65

FLICKS

Easy A (7pm) and The Social Network (9pm) are playing out at UBC.
January 3 – January 9 | Norm Theatre, UBC SUB | $5

Coincidentally, The Social Network (7pm) and Easy A (9pm) are playing at the Hollywood. This is good news for those of you who really wanted to see Easy A but couldn’t make the 7pm show at UBC. Even better news for those of you who want to catch the 7pm showing at the SUB and then race over to the Hollywood for the 9pm. Crazy buggers.
December 31  – January 6 | 7:30 /9:40 nightly | Hollywood Theatre | Double features for $8!

Boogie Nights plays at the Vancity Theatre on Sunday. And when is a “freewheeling porn odyssey and a XXX-rated family film scored to a non-stop disco beat” not a good idea? Furthermore, when is Mark Wahlberg not a good idea? Say hello to your mother for me.
Sunday,  January 2 | 6:30 | Vancity | $11

ART

If you’ve given yourself a few days off to recover from the chaos of Christmas and you’re looking for something to do, consider taking a trip down to the Vancouver Art Gallery. James Kerry Marshall, Robert Adams and Emily Carr shows are all coming down over the next little while and this week is your last chance to catch them on the walls.

Check out an exhibition of collaborative and transient practices. 221A Artist Run Centre brings us Pact 19: Drop, a one-night non-juried exhibition of work by artists and designers. Some people worry that non-juried shows can be a bit, um, “out there” but we’re pretty sure that, given the crowd that tends to flock around 221A, this will be a good show. And if it’s not, it’s only one night. “Work is submitted one day prior to the event then installed the day of. The event aims to support the production and exhibition of collaborative and transient practices as well as nurture a participatory learning environment for artists, designers, curators, critics, volunteers, and the public. Submitted work is documented and compiled into an online publication that is released for free on the organization’s website.
January 7 – January 8 | 2:00pm – 8:00pm | 221A Artist Run Centre | Free

LOOKING AHEAD

Get this: Mr. Ray Villard of the Space Telescope Science Institute (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland) is coming to town to discuss the big question: When Will We Find Earth II—the First Inhabited Extrasolar Planet? Don’t want to miss out on THAT now, do you? More deets here.
January 14 | 8:15pm | Lecture Hall 2 | Woodward Instructional Resources Centre | UBC

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Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended Bond 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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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. This is our carefully considered first rate list 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…

HOLIDAY CHEER

Fill your lungs with a little west coast fresh air. The Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden is a nice way to take advantage of those breaks in the rain. Fresh-made sweet or savoury waffles, apple cider and Thomas Haas hot chocolate are all on site to keep your invigorating walk through the 15 acre festively lit gardens enjoyable. More details here.
Today – Sunday, Jan 2 | 4:30pm – 9pm | VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak)

Get yourself into the holiday spirit by grabbing a bag of freshly roasted chestnuts and taking a ride on the Stanley Park Christmas train. Cuddle up with a loved one as the tiny train chugs its way through a heavily decked out forest while Christmas carols are cranked through speakers dotting the surrounds. Buying tickets in advance is highly recommended. More here.
Today – Jan 2 | 3:00 – 10:00 pm | Stanley Park |Train: $9 Adults / $6 Kids

If you had higher hopes for the season’s weather and just can’t get into the spirit without a few flakes of snow, you’re going to have to climb a little higher. Try Grouse for a sleigh ride through a snowy forest or lace up some skates for a turn on the mountain’s outdoor rink. Both activities come free with admission to the mountain. Other free activities include snowshoeing, Theatre Under the Sky, and the Endangered Wildlife (wolf) Habitat.
8:45 – 10pm | Adult $39 Kids $13.95 (under 4yrs FREE)

Grab your skates (or rent them once you’re there) and hit Robson Square for a lap or twenty around the ice rink. There might be one or two other people out there thinking the holidays would be a lovely time for a twirl on the ice, too, so plan ahead – bring your thermal mug and some nice thick gloves. Holiday hours are December 24th: 9am to 9pm; December 25th: noon to 5 p.m.
Robson Square | 9 am -9 pm | skating FREE (rentals $3) | Details

BOXING DAY

Chill out with the Melody Diachun Quartet as they perform Jazz Vespers at St. Andrew’s Wesley Church.
Sunday, December 26 | 4-5 pm | Corner of Burrard and Nelson | Free

If you just can’t wait to get rid of your Christmas tree already, you can get it recycled at UBC Botanical Garden starting on Boxing Day. Tree recycling goes on until January 9th for those of you who like to be a bit more leisurely about these kind of things. Whenever you decide to do the deed, know that all donations raised through the UBC Botanical Garden’s Christmas tree recycling program will be directed to support educational projects at local schools. This year UBC has chosen to support the David Thompson Secondary School garden. “Students at the school are excited to use the funds that will be donated from program, to acquire the necessary supplies for starting seedlings in the New Year.” Do it!
Sunday December 26 – Sunday January 9 |UBC Botanical Garden |  9:30 am – 4:30 pm |by donation

If you can’t see the TV through mountains of wrapping paper and Uncle Doug’s thick clouds of mulled wine breath, or you still have family visiting and they’re camped out on your couch watching Who Wants To Be Pathetic, don’t worry. Boxing Day hockey (Oilers vs Canucks) is on at the ANZA club.
Sunday December 26 | 6 pm | ANZA Club (3 W 8th)

FLICKS

Tron Legacy is on at the Rio (and everywhere else). We saw it last night and it’s pretty awesome. The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader plays too, and C.S. Lewis fans are stoked with it. The Fighter, Black Swan and The Tourist are also rumored to be worth the price of admission. But if you’re feeling a little retro, Vancity throws down with a Marilyn Monroe trifecta: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (the story of “two buxom buddies gold-digging while on a transatlantic ocean voyage”; How to Marry a Millionaire (“three marriage-minded blondes who pool resources to rent a posh Manhattan penthouse, the better to ensnare rich male prey”); and Let’s Make Love (which is totally self explanatory).
December 27 – January 3 | various times | Vancity Theatre | $10.50

EAT

As mentioned last week, I’ve been trying to think of a good last minute place to hook up with friends over the holidays. Something no-fuss and relatively cheap, but also festive and cool. Really, no one pulls it off better than The Heather. I am completely enamoured with their Long Table Series and couldn’t resist sharing upcoming menu options. On Sunday, December 26 at 7pm you can get roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables, roasting jus and a 16oz pint of Driftwood ale for only $17. On Monday, December 27 at 630pm you can sit down to a mushroom risotto with braised beef short ribs with a 20 oz pint of Newcastle brown ale for $15. And on Tuesday, December 28th at 630pm it’s chicken pot pie, seasonal vegetables, mashed potatoes and a 16oz pint of Grimbergen for $15.

Abigail’s Party is on my list as well. I can’t decide weather it’ll be for brunch (cinnamon bun French toast) or dinner (buttermilk fried chicken), but I will get there before the holidays are over.

As for lunch, I have my eye on Cin Cin and West. It’s not their usual gig, so get in while you still can.

Lastly, the Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe is open orphan-style, on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the full traditional spread.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world. Start preparing yourself now. The Swim goes down New Years Day in English Bay. Costumes and the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race are the highlights, not to mention the general insanity. Rumor has it that a few swigs from the scotch bottle beforehand can help boost courage (not that we encourage that sort of thing).
Jan 1 | 2:30 pm | The icy shores of English Bay | FREE

Once a month the Vancity Theatre invites a guest to present his/her favourite film. After the screening, audiences and guests mingle and discuss the film over drinks. In January, that guest will be John Furlong, CEO of VANOC for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. His movie choice? Chariots of Fire. Find out all about it here.
January 4 | 7:30 pm | Vancity Theatre | $15

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Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended Bond 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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