A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

Scout List: Our Eclectic Agenda For Discerning Vancouverites…

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…

GLUTTONY

Russell Brewery is hosting a gig in the Salt Cellar. Get this: 6 beers and 2 of those tasting courses that Salt puts together so well for only $40. Beat that!
Wednesday July 27 | Salt Cellar (Blood Alley) | $40

Canada’s first Pinkberry opens this week. Enjoy an evening of free swirly goodness with all the toppings. They know how to get you hooked.
July 21 | 6-8pm | 860 Main Street, Park Royal Village, West Vancouver

Don’t miss the finger-licking goodness of an old-school Medieval Feast at Chambar on Thursday night (tonight). There will be 15 different dishes served family style and no utensils. So leave the white jeans at home and get dirty! Highlights will include spit roast pig, meters of Chambar Ale, decadent meat platters, friendly, communal tables and no-fuss attitude. Costumes and furs are deemed festive, but not essential. Please note that due to the traditional nature of the celebration, vegetarian options and cutlery will not be available (neither were orthodox in 1831). Points for best use of imagination! Score tickets here.
July 21 | 6pm | Chambar | $70

Grab locally grown produce from good people at your neighbourhood farmer’s market. Main Street on Wednesday rocks.

Trout Lake Farmers Market | Saturday | 9am-2pm | Trout Lake | Free
Kitsilano Farmers Market | Sunday | 10am – 2pm | 2690 Larch @ 10th | Free
West End Farmers Market | Saturday | 9am-2pm | 1100 Block Comox | Free
Thornton Park | Wednesday | 3pm – 7pm | Main Street Station at Terminal | Free
Dundarave (West Van) Saturday | 9am – 2pm | Between 24 & 25 on Marine
Oak Street Market | Wednesday | 3-7pm | Oak @ 49th (Unitarian Church) | Free
Westside Pocket Markets | Thursdays | 3-7pm | Kits Neighborhood House, 2325 W 7 | Free

Clear your calendar for next Saturday night and find a way to get to Squamish for the first Sunwolf Supper of the season. “Enjoy the simple flavours of summer with Chef Owen Lightly as he sources local, sea-to-sky ingredients for a four-course, mellow, out-of-doors dining experience. Nestled in the Squamish Valley, Sunwolf is the perfect place chill out by the river, adore the mountains and enjoy a fabulous meal with friends and community.” To secure your spot and get hooked up with all the critical details, please email Owen at [email protected]
Saturday, July 30 | Sunwolf Lodge, Squamish | $60 (Advanced tickets only)

If you really like the idea of hitting the road and you’re able to make an overnight commitment, consider joining Scout at Pemberton’s North Arm Farm for an al fresco dinner with James Walt of Araxi. It’s a stunner of a setting and Chef Walt is a genius with local ingredients. “With dozens of ingredients grown just footsteps from Chef James Walt’s outdoor kitchen, diners will enjoy a four-course menu featuring the valley’s freshest produce, beef from its pastures, day-boat catches from our coastal fisheries and wines from leading producers. Each event will begin at 3:00 p.m. with a reception and farm tour led by North Arm Farm’s proprietor Jordan Sturdy.”
Saturday, July 30 | North Arm Farm, Pemberton BC | $160 per person (all inclusive of reception, four-course menu, wine, tax and gratuity)

Don’t just see Vancouver, taste it! An enterprising bunch of lads called The Tour Guys are willing to lead you about the city on a street food tour, hows that for a good way to spend a Monday night? As explained by The Tour Guys: “You’ll sample some international flavours alongside some good ol’ fashioned Canadian classics. Along the way we’ll introduce you to some of the interesting tidbits about historical and recent happenings surrounding food in this lively city of ours. By the time you’re done, you’ll be an expert in “street meat”.
Every Monday, Thursday and Saturday | 1:30pm and lasts approximately 2 hours | find out where to meet here.

NATURE

Vancouver Community College science instructor Maria Morlin will be down in Stanley Park this Sunday afternoon to guide a walk that focuses on evolutionary history. From The Stanley Park Ecological Society: “Evolution plays a key role in what you see around you. The mutations and deviance’s it creates shapes who we are and what we might become. Join VCC Science Instructor, Maria Morlin, for this fascinating walk through Stanley Park and its evolutionary history.” More information here.
Sunday, July 24 | 1:30-3:30 pm | Meet at the Stanley Park Nature House at Lost Lagoon | $10

The World In A Garden is a multicultural urban agriculture project that educates community and youth on the nutritional, cultural, social and environmental benefits of a just and local food system. That’s an important gig. They’re putting on a cool workshop this weekend that I hope to attend. Local garden guru Patrick Wilson will be hanging out on the Boulevard to discuss native plants. “Redefine local with an exploration of edible plants native to beautiful British Columbia. Patrick Wilson of Linnaea Nurseries will guide participants through the identification, uses and benefits of native edible plants, speaking specifically about the cultural significance of First Nation heritage on our food. Participants have the opportunity to learn from First Nations culture and our own native edible garden! As a thank you from The World In A Garden and their community partners, participants take home a native starter plant and a copy of Organic Gardening magazine. Now we’re talking local!”
Sunday, July 24 |11am-1pm | West 57th & East Blvd | $20

The coolest chicken guy in the city (Duncan Martin) will be down at the Bulkhead Lab near Olympic Village this Sunday. He’ll be doing his usual gig, showing off his chickens and his clever little Backyard Henhouses, and also leading informal demonstrations and discussions on the basics of proper care and keeping of small urban flocks of hens in order to educate and prepare you to set up your own backyard hen house. Even if you don’t have space in your life for chicken right now (you poor dears), Duncan is a pretty cool guy who will leave your life a little richer. You should totally go!
Sunday July 24 |12:00–3:00pm | Bulkhead Lab (On the seawall adjacent to Habitat Island on the periphery of the west side of the Olympic Village) | Free

ART

Gastown’s Catalog Gallery sees an opening featuring not one but two hand-painted signage artists on Thursday night (tonight). In the front room, catch the works of Justin Wright Since Trees Were Invented, and then slip in to the back to see works from Dan Climan’s Deals and Steals collection.
Thursday, July 21 | Catalog Gallery | 100-56 Powell St.

Here’s an original solution to chronic studio space shortages in Vancouver. Local artist Robert Chaplin is holding a show in a parking spot on Friday night. The show goes down at #6 E Cordova, and for a few short hours you’re invited to check out Robert’s latest endeavour: The Royal Canadian Snowflake Collection. Here, in the artist’s own words, is the deal: “Every snowflake in the collection is sculpted by my hand, then permanently cast in sterling silver. The collection is produced exclusively through sponsorship, like discovering a new star, sponsors get to name their snowflake. Sponsors receive the first snowflake cast, to keep or give to a friend. The first snowflake is signed and delivered, as a pendant or lapel pin, it’s name engraved on the back. The pictorial collection is updated periodically, each snowflake pictured includes the name of the sponsor and the name of their snowflake. We are all Royal Canadians and sponsoring a snowflake is easy.” More here. Short story: If you know Robert, come out to catch up. If you don’t know him yet, this is a great opportunity to meet one of Vancouver’s most eccentric talents.
Friday, July 22 | 6-9pm | #6 East Cordova at Carrall and Cordova | Free – until you sponsor a snowflake.

The 221A Artist Run Centre presents Forms in Formation, a show curated by Denis Ha. “The project will examine the ways that text, colour, and forms become players in time based environments, and how meaning is affected by the temporality of viewing experiences.” See how this plays out in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari next Wednesday evening. Free admission and…popcorn!
Wednesday, July 27 | 8pm | 221A E Georgia | Free

Little Mountain Gallery is having an opening reception for a group show next week and it looks like it’ll be really good. The show is called Drawn and will feature works by Sol Sallee, Charles Keillor, EC Salazar. Check out the work that these artists have up on their websites. Mind-blowing. I’m really looking forward to seeing this.
Wednesday, July 27 | 7-10pm | Little Mountain Gallery | free

PRIDE

It’s Pride time people. Thank god the sun plans to come out Saturday, because Pride kicks off with a Picnic in the Park. Hit Brockton Oval for some nostalgic summer-time games, an old-school picnic and a spin at the beer garden (live DJ and BBQ)
Saturday, July 23 | 11am | Stanley Park, Brockton Oval | Free (except the beer part)

Next up: Vancouver Pride Queer Arts Festival at the Roundhouse. This promises to be a stimulating show, full to the brim with queer visual art, theatre, dance and music.
July 26 and 27 | 7pm | Roundhouse | $15

The Vancouver Pride parade itself goes down next Saturday. For all the juicy bits (Davie Village street party, Sunset Beach beer gardens, outdoor film screenings, live theatre) leading up to the main event and the full scoop on the Pride Parade proper – skip over to the Pride site here.

CITY

Musically speaking, you’re all set this weekend. Just catch the bus over to Kits and unwind with a music and art festival along West 4th Ave that will blow your mind. There will be 5 stages of FREE live music from 23 of Vancouver’s hottest acts including Yukon Blonde, Jon and Roy, Aidan Knight, Sun Wizard, Veda Hille, No Gold, The Evaporators, Mode Moderne, Frog Eyes, Louise Burns, David Vertesi, The Shilohs, B-LINES, Defektors, our buddy Rich Hope and many, many more! Khatsahlano is one big-ass street party that you won’t want to miss.
Saturday July 23 | 11am to 6pm | between Burrard & MacDonald

Mellow right out with some live music in the tranquil setting of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens on Friday night. Jack Essombe & Pepe Danza give a Feel the Beat in the Summer Heat concert.
Friday, July 22 | 7pm | Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (578 Carrall)

Let’s give commercial laneways another go this Saturday, shall we? Last Saturday in the alley west of Main Street between Broadway and 8th Ave, things were a little damp. This Saturday there will be sunshine! Visit the once grotty back lane to see it turned into an area of activity and creativity as the Livable Laneway project (in collaboration with Vancouver Design Nerds) transforms that shit into a culturally invigorating atmosphere. There will be an artist’s market, street food (oh, Chutney Village we love you), live music, public art and a crowd of cool people. Go Livable Laneways!
Saturday, July 23 | 5-9pm | Alley west of Main Street between Broadway and 8th | free

So, council meets Tuesday night to review The Viaducts and False Creek Flats Planning: Eastern Core Strategy. They’ll be looking at that area of the city that includes the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts over to Clark Drive. “The initial analysis from the first phase of the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts Study revealed that the transportation impacts from the partial or longer term complete removal of the structures are manageable provided there continues to be investment in transit, walking and cycling improvements to accommodate current travel demand and future growth. ” Read the full Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic administrative report here.
Tuesday, July 26 | 9:30 am | Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall | Free (if you don’t count taxes)

You know when I tell you about REALLY cool events a little ahead of schedule because they are guaranteed to sell out and then you don’t get tickets right away and then you find out that all of your friends are going but you can’t get a ticket anymore and you get really pissed? Don’t let that happen with this one, OK? Next Thursday night there will be a fundraiser for a beautiful film on westcoast modernist architecture held at a beautiful location that will be attended by a sea of beautiful people and it’s where you’ll want to be. Ouno is hosting to benefit the finishing of the film by Gavin Froome and Mike Bernard. (“It’s the first comprehensive film on the particular form of architectural modernism found on North America’s Pacific coast (from British Columbia to Southern California”) Trailers/footage will be projected at the party. Check the trailer here.
Thursday, July 28 | 8pm-midnght | 636 Keefer | $10 get you in with a drink, $100 get you in with a drink AND a kick-ass-cool Coast Modern Poster. Pick door number two kids, it’s the real winner.

JUST, WOW

KISS superstar Gene Simmons takes over the stage at River Rock casino on Friday night. He’ll be there with Shannon Tweed, his son Nicholas, and daughter Sophie. They’ll be telling stories and holding a Q&A.
July 22 | doors 7pm, show 8pm | $50-$150beans

So, yeah…um…there’s this Robot Racing Competition out at UBC this weekend and I was wondering if you wanted to go? Sounds like a whole bunch of super nerds will be building robots that integrate “advanced control theory, machine vision, and electronics into a vehicle designed to handle rough terrain” and then testing them out on UBC soil (we’re talkin’ drag race AND circuit race). If that sounds as cool to you as it does to us, hit it with a date.
Saturday, July 23 | 10 am–5 pm | Outside the SUB (2329 West Mall) | free

MOVIES

Did I mention about the good weather rolling our way? It’s true, It’s finally time to enjoy an outdoor flick like it was meant to be enjoyed – not in rain gear. Fresh air flicks this week include:

Goldfinger – July 25 | Dusk | Robson Square (across from the VAG) | Free
The Muppets – Thursday, July 21 | Dusk | Trout Lake Park

What a delightful way to while away a summer evening. Bring your own blanket and snacks. It’s free and it’s fun.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part II) continues to dominate the movie theatres, so give your money to independent establishments like the Rio. It’s playing there every day several times a day: 4:00pm, 6:45pm, 9:30pm.

The NeverEnding Story is the late night flick at the Rio. What better time for it?
Friday, July 22 | 11:55pm | Rio Theatre | $8

Eco Pirate: The Story of Paul Watson opens at Firth Avenue. The work of local documentary film-maker Trish Dolman, Eco-Pirate “chronicles the extraordinary life of the most controversial figure in the environmental movement—the heroics, the ego, the urgency of the world’s original eco-pirate.”
Friday, July 22 – 18 | Fifth Avenue Cinemas | Daily at: 1:45, 4:35, 7:20, 9:50 | $12.75

VANITY

Community Thrift & Vintage throws down with a better-late-than-never grand opening bash on Thursday night. Refreshments, Snacks, and one-of-a-kind vintage shopping with the cool kids. Can’t wait.
Thursday, July 21 | 6pm – 9pm | 41 W Cordova | Free and only a few doors down from Boneta!

On the flip side, True Value Vintage Clothing on Robson is closing shop and invites everyone down for one last hurrah. They are offering “Buy 2 Get 1 Free Vintage” deals . oh, and Live Music! Thanks True Value, we’ll always cherish the memories.
Friday, July 22 | 8pm-12am | Down the staircase at 710 Robson Street | Free

The Chosen Ones are having a summer blow-out sale at The Waldorf. This will be your last chance to score hand-picked vintage by hand-picked vendors at the hotel this season. Party on Friday night (Julia de Courcy doing nails) and a special outdoor summer market on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Oh, and after party at 360 Glen Drive.

Party: Friday, July 23 | 10pm
Afterparty: Friday, July 23 |Late | 360 Glen Drive
Market: Saturday, July 23 | 11am – 6pm
Market: Sunday, July 24| 11am – 6pm

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late-may-2009-169Michelle 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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