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…

CULTURE

Make a note: Catalog Gallery is setting up with Paul Labonté’s (aka Paul 107) Sometimes I Take The Pictures show this week. You’ll want to get down to Gastown for this one. Labonté splits his time between creative projects, commercial consulting and production, and the day-to-day runnings of his own publishing company, The Secondhand Projects. He also takes pictures. Man, does he take pictures! “Labonté characterizes the works in this show as the direct product of the writer’s block he experienced while working on the great Canadian novel. As he set out to write the new book, Labonté channeled the energy from the affliction of this process to serve as a bed for most of the work in this show.” Read more about the show here.
Thursday, August 18 | 9pm | Catalog Gallery | 100-56 Powell | Free

Also Thursday night: SubmiT. What’s the hell is that? In a nutshell: ten local artists come up with designs for ten limited-edition t-shirts, the shirts are then sold( or a preferred donation of $40) over the course of an evening bash (complete with cocktails and the DJ Trike) down on Granville Island. The line-up of artist participating are: Fiona Ackerman, Jessica Bell, Sarah Gee, Indigo, Ryan Romero & Travis Collier, Brandy Masch, Simon Montgomery, Ben Skinner, Andrea Wan, and Geroge Vergette. We may not be able to afford an original Vergette on canvass, but a T? That’s totally doable.
Thursday, August 18 | Performance Works (Granville Island) | $30 Cover / $40 shirt

If you’re stuck in town but want to get out without a huge time/travel commitment, think about making your way to Aldergrove for Project Corn Dog. It’s a hybrid local meal/local theatre event perfect for a mid summer evening. From Farm Folk City Folk: “How close can you get to your food? Come and spend a summer evening on a local organic farm diving into a delicious piece of site sound and taste specific theatre. Follow puppets, musicians and circus acts through planted fields and fruit orchards, past streams and into a forest grove as Georgia, an organic farmer, and her scientist daughter Freidi struggle to save their family farm from an over the fence GMO attack and find love in unexpected places. The evening finishes with guests, farmers and actors sitting down to an open air organic meal grown on the very land they’ve just explored. The dinner will be prepared by Seasonal 56, and served alongside wine pairings from Lotusland Vineyards.” Not your run-of-the-mill summer evening, for sure.
August 19, 20 & 21 | 5-8:30 pm | Fraser Common Farm, Aldergrove, BC | $50

Cool cat David Wisdom will be at the VAG on Tuesday, August 23. The photographer and former CBC radio host presents a slide show along with a few of his buddies (Bill Jeffries, Karin Bubas, Rodney Graham, Stuart McCall, Robert Kleyn, Connie Kuhns). This is gonna be a popular gig, so arrive early to ensure your place. Entry stickers will be distributed starting at 6:30pm.
Tuesday, August 23 | 7-9pm | Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby) | Free with admission

It’s Beerlesque time! What is Beerlesque? Think about it. Beer + Burlesque = Beerlesque. Pretty straightforward really. From event organisers: “Vancouver’s top burlesque dancers will perform side by side with local alt-country-gypsy-circus band Blackberry Wood, a corseted fashion parade courtesy of Lace Embrace Atelier, belly dancers, a bearded lady, and Canada’s youngest sword swallower in a carnival for the senses.” To lubricate the evening, BC’s top craft breweries Red Racer, Driftwood, Red Truck, Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island, Storm, Phillips, and Russell (among others) will be pouring their award winning craft brews as part of the price of admission. And hey, local food carts ReUp BBQ and Ursu will be on site, too. Mmmm, ReUp. The tassels will twirl, the beer will flow and the BBQ will BBQ. To purchase tickets please visit www.roundhouse.ca, or call 604.713.1800
August 19 | 7-10pm | Exhibition Hall The Roundhouse Community Centre | $50 (entertainment and drinks included)

Word has it that some of Vancouver’s funniest are getting together at the Museum of Vancouver to chat. They’re calling this event The KEN talks. Kinda like TED Talks, but funny. Get it? Charlie Demers (comedian and bestselling author of “Vancouver Special”) will be there. So will Kaitlin Fontana (media critic and author of “Fresh at Twenty: The Oral History of Mint Records) as well as Craig Anderson, co-founder of comedy duo Bronx Cheer and star of Hellcats on the CW Network. KEN is aiming to be a public event that reveals the community-building power of funny ideas. Can’t go wrong with that, right? Cash Bar and Reception/Social to follow (even better). Tickets here.
Friday, August 19 | 7:30PM | Museum of Vancouver |$12

The Main Street Magazine Tour is on. It’s a cool tour of local arts and literary magazines and the community spaces in which they thrive. Great way to get a literary handle on the city. This year the tour stretches all the way in to Chinatown. It’s one marvelous night of literary workshops, readings, and performances. The tour begins at Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s Classical Chinese Garden (578 Carrall St), where guests will meet their guides before heading out onto one of two tours:

On Tour A, guide Sara Bynoe (Say Wha?, Teen Angst) will take guests to the Euro-style Everything Café (75 E Pender St) for a workshop on how to get published (hosted by women’s literary magazine Room), followed by a joint reading hosted by literary magazines EVENT and PRISM international—featuring Gillian Jerome, Donato Mancini, Jeff Stautz and Jen Currin—at the quirky shop, art gallery, and craft facility Blim (115 E Pender St).

For Tour B, Jaz Halloran (OCW Magazine) will guide guests to 221A Artist Run Centre (221A E Georgia St) to hear poets Clint Burnham, Kevin Spenst, and more speak about poetry and technology in a presentation hosted by Poetry is Dead, before heading to Hogan’s Alley Café (789 Gore Ave) for Lester’s Army’s mini-workshop on how to write your life story, featuring readings by senior authors who are actively publishing their memoirs.

Opening Reception | 6pm | Dr Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden (578 Carrall St)
Tour A | 6:45 | Room at Everything Café (75 E Pender)
Tour B | 6:45 | Poetry is Dead at 221A Artist Run Centre (221A E Georgia)
Thursday, August 18 | 6–10pm | Venues in and around Main Street in Vancouver’s Chinatown | Admission by donation (suggested $5-$10)

Speaking of Main Street, the girls at Adhesif Clothing and Forsya Boutique on lower Main (at 6th – right by The Whip) are throwing a Summer Sidewalk Sale. Both shops carry really great locally made designs and a splash of vintage. Pick up goods from Mortar and Pestle, Little Houses, Dotted Loop, Daub and Design, Bianca Darr and more. Support your neighbours and community by visiting this sale! Live music, kids activities, good people. Find out more here.
August 20 | 11:30am-7:30pm | 2202 Main | Free

Don’t forget about Portobello Petite at the Rize Pop-up Shop (Kingsway and East 10th Ave.) Lots of locally made goodies. Check it.
Until August 27 | 11am-5pm | Kingsway and East 10th Ave | Free

Also on until the end of the month is that hip little Caste Projects gig on Kingsway. Swing by the one month temporary digs and open studio workspace to score bits from Caste Projects, Henderson Dry Goods, Stranger Things Millinery, Larry and The Found & The Freed.
Until August 31 | Mon-Fri 11am-5pm, Sundays 12pm-5pm | 196 Kingsway

GLUTTONY

A good week for gluttony!

Pizzeria Farina, the new pizza joint (delivery by bicycle) landing at Main and Prior in Strathcona, opens this week. Here’s the word: “Everything is near completion and [chef] J.C. Poirier and his team are excited to start serving their classic Italian-inspired pizza. The pizzeria will open at 5PM and will close when the dough runs out.” Can’t wait. Check out the Scout sneak peek here.
Opens Wednesday, August 17 | 915 Main

The UBC Farm is featuring Basil this week. Pick up 0.5lbs for $8 or 1.5lbs for $21. Basil is rich in many notable health benefiting phyto-nutrients and adds amazing flavour to your summer fresh dishes. Make some pesto, throw it on your pizza or whip up some strawberry basil lemonade. Get it before it’s all gone.
Saturday, August 20 | UBC Farm | 9am-12pm

One of the Vancouver’s very best pastry chefs (Thierry Busset) opens the doors to his own cafe this week. As the latest edition to the Top Table empire, ‘Thierry’ will feature fine handcrafted chocolates, macarons, pastries, and desserts (as well as savoury items such as sandwiches, soup and quiche). The cafe will also have packaged sweets for take-away (perfect gifts) and will be fully licensed (score!). Theirry is located in downtown at 1059 Alberni (between Burrard and Thurlow). Head down this weekend to take it for a spin and let us know what you thought. Be warned, this place will be crawling with camera-toting foodies, so start out early. Drool over the menu here.
Open Now | 1059 Alberni | Weekdays: 7 am–midnight / Weekends: 9am–midnight

Sean Heather’s Long Table Series on Tuesday night sounds like the perfect summertime dinner. Check it out: Pan Seared Salmon, Roasted Cauliflower, Spinach, Lemon Caper Vinaigrette and a nice cold Blood Alley Bitter. Seriously. That’s amazing.
Monday, August 22 | 7pm | The Salty Tongue (210 Carrall) | $16

Finally, I don’t want to freak you out or anything, but August is drawing to a close. Next up: September. That’s FALL people. And somewhere in the middle of that comes the sad day when your neighbourhood market will go in to hibernation. So don’t take your close proximity to fresh local produce for granted. 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

FLICKS

The Rio throws down with the 2nd Annual ‘Dead on Film’ Zombie Short Film Competition (9pm). If things get a bit scary, you can stick around afterwards for The (original) Endless Summer. It starts just before midnight and is guaranteed to bring you back to a warm fuzzy place.
Friday, August 19 | The Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway) | $8 ($6 in film-related costume)

The Big Lebowski is on at Vancity. Coen Brothers at their best. Oh, and Vancity serves beer, did you know that, dude? Details (like you need any more info than that which I have provided up to this point).
Saturday, August 20 | 8:15pm | Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour) | $11

Over in Yaletown the plan is to project The Italian Job onto a huge 40 foot by 20 foot screen in David Lam park. Sounds like a pretty sweet set up!
August 21 | Dusk | David Lam Park | Free

In False Creek they’re going bistro style with their outdoor movie screening (gentle lighting, tables) Movie goers are invited to bring down an evening picnic or purchase food from food carts brought down for the evening. Tables are available by reservation ($20 for a table of 4) or you can sit your soft bum on the ground for free. Either way, you’ll want to mark next Thursday on your calendar because they’re showing The Fighter. Details.
Thursday August 18 | 8pm | The Olympic Plaza (Cnr Salt Street and Athletes Way) | Free if you don’t mind sitting on your own bum or $20 for a table

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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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