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 list of super sweet things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week. From our calendar to yours…

Driving = Wicked Silly

If you’re one of those crazy people hooked on the warm rush of satisfaction that comes when – with a car full of hot, sticky and increasingly irritated passengers – you finally score a parking spot at a busy park or beach in the middle of the summer, then this weekend has lots to offer. Right off the bat, parking anywhere in the West End (and many parts of Kits) will be insane during the Symphony of Fire pyrotechnics (July 25, 29 and again on Aug 1). If late night traffic jams aren’t your thing, try Spanish Banks on sunshiny Friday (there is a sandcastle competition going on from 10am-3pm). On Saturday there will be Kits Beach (any time after 10:30am should present a challenge) or Brockton Oval in Stanley Park (Pride Picnic). And don’t overlook Sunday afternoon on Sunset Beach: just because there isn’t a specific event going on doesn’t mean that the parking lots will have space. If you aren’t crazy, take a bike, bus, or travel by foot – beaches and parks in Vancouver this weekend are THE place to be, and driving to or from any of it will be wicked silly.

On A Mission…

The Mission Folk Music Festival happens this weekend and you’ll want to get in on it. Locals like T. Nile and Headwater (that’s them in the video gettin’ folksy on a BC Ferry) play alongside international artists like The Rastrillos (Mexico) and Tom Paxton (USA). “Staged in one of BC’s loveliest parks, overlooking the Fraser River, the Mission Folk Music Festival presents, for its 22nd year, a festival now renowned for its mix of accessibility and easy-going comfort, affordability and small-town friendliness, shaded day stages and some of the finest folk, world, roots, blues and brilliantly “un-categorizable” music from across Canada and around the world.” Friggin’ yeehaw.
July 24 – 26 | Fraser River Heritage Park | Ticket prices vary – see website

Zulu Sale

Grab yourself some vinyl at the the1st annual Back Alley Bargains Garage Sale at Zulu Records this weekend. They’ve rented tables and plan to fill them up with records, CDs, Shirts, weird knick-knacks, posters and maybe even an old bottle of Grateful Dead wine.
July 25th & 26th | 12PM onwards…. | Zulu Records

Bee Beards Are Awesome

It’s way the heck out in Surrey but the Honeybee Festival a worth while reason to make the trek. Not only will the Honeybee Centre host local vendors flogging all manner of honey bee goods, there will be carnival games, face painting, music, educational beekeeping demonstrations and – the real reason people flock to the Honeybee Festival – bee beards. All proceeds will go to the Burns Bog Conservation Society.
July 25 | 10am – 4pm | Honeybee Centre | FREE

Terraristes…

Sixty bucks is a lot of coin to part with these days – but I am seriously considering it because I have always (call me a nerd) wanted a terrarium and this weekend over at Blim Thyrza Segal will demonstrate how to build one. She will go over soil mixtures, plant types, and maintenance of terrariums and workshop goers will put together their own teeny tiny little garden. So cool. More information at [email protected]
July 25 | 2 – 6 PM | Blim | $60, includes materials/registration required

Eastside Traces

Media Undefined aims to design and implement community and collaborative arts-based projects through local, national, and international partnerships. This weekend they present free outdoor screenings of video, animation and shadow puppetry works inspired by the Strathcona and Downtown Eastside neighbourhoods. Check it out.
July 24 & 25 | 9:15 – 11pm | 400 East Hastings (at Jackson) | FREE

Green Laneway Housing

Head down to Granville Island’s Lighthouse Sustainable Building Centre for an introduction to a pilot project to create a green laneway house as part of Light House’s 2010 Green Building Challenge. Bryn Davidson (the project’s designer and partner in the new development company, Lanefab) will present an overview of the pilot project and introduce Lanefab’s product line of 5 lane house variations. Light House will be providing project support and consulting services to help the project become a leading demonstration of eco-friendly design. $5. Due to space limitations, please RSVP by 5pm on Friday to [email protected] or 604-682-5960 for guaranteed entrance.
July 25 | 2-4pm | Lighthouse Sustainable Building Centre | $5

Portobello West

If your feeling the itch to do some mid-summer shopping, remember to do your best to buy local if you can. Portobello West market is the perfect venue. Head down to the Rocky Mountaineer Station (1755 Cottrell Street) to see some of the hot new fashions and art pieces created by Vancouverites. We’re looking forward to checking out new duds by Floating Gold Iceberg and Love Punk as well as belts by Catalyst Creations and the serenely beautiful and almost creepy work of Poodlebreath.
July 26 | 12pm to 6pm | Rocky Mountaineer Station | 2 bucks

Illuminares

lluminares Lantern Festival – Thousands of people gather at dusk with handmade lanterns and wacky costumes to float through the trees and across the lawns of Trout Lake Park in a slow moving procession of faeries and all manner of otherworldly creatures. The fun really begins when the sun goes down. That’s when the fire jugglers, musicians and dancers entertain as you admire lanterns and light installations dotting the park grounds. It’s sort of like stumbling into a dream (or a really mellow acid trip) – a magical way to spend a summer evening. The Festival was put on the shelf last year due to lack of funding – so if you make it this year be sure to drop a toonie in the donations bucket. It takes an awful lot of hours to organise faeries.
July 25th | Dusk onward | Trout Lake | FREE

Winemaker’s Dinner at DB Bistro

Don’t miss this winemakers dinner at db Bistro on Monday night. Guests will be seated in the private dining room and wine vault and treated to a multi-course wine-paired menu by chef de cuisine Stephane Istel and complemented by wines from Naramata’s Meyer Family Vineyards.
July 27 | db Bistro | $65

12 Bucks of Kickass Music

Bowerbirds (Raleigh, North Carolina) and Megafaun play the Biltmore. Unfamiliar with either band, I had a visit to their respective Myspace pages. Have a listen to Northern Lights by the Bowerbirds while you’re doing the dishes and tell me you can think of a better use for that 12 bucks in your pocket. Their touring partners Megafaun (Durham, North Carolina) aren’t too shabby either (one reviewer likened the band’s sound to Fleet Foxes with terrible hangovers)- have a listen here. Great way to pass your Wednesday evening.
July 29 | Door 8m | Biltmore | 12 beans (try Red Cat)

Farmer’s Markets

Here are some good places to buy locally grown produce from really good people this week.
East Side: July 25| 9am – 2pm | Trout Lake – can’t miss it | FREE
West End: July 25 | 9am – 2pm | 1100 Block of Comox | FREE
Kits: July 26 | 10am – 2pm | Parking Lot of Kits Community Centre | FREE
DTES: July 29 | 3pm – 7pm | Thornton Park (in front of the Bus Station)| FREE
UBC: July 25| 9-1 | UBC Farm | FREE (but make a donation – they needs the support)
West Van: July 25 | 9am – 2pm | Dundarave Village | FREE
West Van: July 26 | 9am – 2pm | Ambelside – parking lot beside Police Station (off of Bellevue/13)

——————————————————————————————————– 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 by the beach in Vancouver and enjoys wandering aimlessly through the city’s shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera. ——————————————————————————————————–