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…

BOOK ART | There’s still time to catch The Liberation of the Book show at Emily Carr. Students, recent alumni, faculty and librarians have come together to present their takes on the book as an object. Scores of handmade and otherwise interesting books and zines occupy the Concourse Gallery until the end of Saturday. Ideal after a tea and a honey dipped doughnut at Lee’s. For a teaser, check the Tumblr.
Now – Sat, Jan 26 | 10am-5pm | Concourse Gallery, ECUAD | Free | DETAILS

OYSTERS + STOUT | Score a seat at the Legacy Liquor Store’s long table for a winter tasting of oysters perfectly paired with a stout flight. The carefully considered selection of beer includes Guinness Draft, Old Yale Sasquatch Stout, The Porterhouse Oyster Stout, Deschutes Obsidian Stout, Echigo Stout and North Coast Old Rasputin. Harvested-that-day oysters will be coming in from Cortes Island with B.C.’s own “Oyster Man”, Brent Petkau (the guy is all kinds of awesome). The tasting will be jointly hosted by filmmaker Craig Noble (Tableland, City Space) and Petkau. Wash their words down with a special oyster-friendly cocktail (The Forager) and a screening of the short film The Perfect Oyster. There are still a few seats left, so pounce!
Tues, Jan 22 | 7pm | Legacy Liquor Store (1633 Manitoba / Olympic Village) DETAILS

WHISKY FOR DINNER | The cold soft fog that has been enveloping the city over the past several days has made the prospect of a whisky supper all the more attractive. Start your evening at The Shebeen (behind the Irish Heather) with a reception that will introduce you to Master of Malts Ian McCallum. Then sit at the famous Long Table where McCallum will lead a tasting of whiskies from three Scottish distilleries – Auchentoshan (Lowland), Bowmore (Islay), and Glen Garioch (Highland). Following the tasting there will be a dinner of braised beef cheeks with pearl barley and spinach “risotto” (vegetarian/vegan/gluten free options available upon request) followed by warm chocolate bread pudding and a wee bit of Bowmore 15 Year Old. Enjoy the resulting toasty warm glow.
Tues, Jan 22 | 7-10pm | Irish Heather212 Carrall | $45 | DETAILS

STUFF YOUR FACE | This Wednesday through Sunday, the north plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery will become Street Food City. Yes, the dream returns: a flock of food carts will congregate in a common geographic location long enough for a street food buffet of sorts. Vendors will include Mom’s Grilled Cheese, Yolks, The Juice Truck, Feastro, Holy Perogy, Soho Road Naan Kebab, Pig On The Street, Re-Up BBQ and many more. Heated tents will be provided so diners can gobble in (relative) comfort.
Wed, Jan 24 – Sun, Jan 27 | 11am-3pm (5pm on Sat+Sun) | Vancouver Art Gallery | DETAILS

CRAZY | Well over 400 engineers are set to converge upon Mount Seymour this weekend for the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race, an annual design competition that sees engineering students from universities across the country building concrete toboggans before manning said contraptions with five team members and then racing the beasts down the hill. Participants are judged on race time and best overall design as well as best team spirit. Engineers are a competitive bunch, so expect high energy and all manner of geeky showmanship. Bundle up and take the camera.
Fri, Jan 25 | 9am-4pm | Mount Seymour (1700 Mount Seymour Rd., North Van) | Free | DETAILS

FILM | There are three fine films showing at the Rio Theatre this Friday night (The Master 6:45pm, Moonrise Kingdom 9:30pm, Zoolander 11:15pm). You could roll in to the theatre at 6:30 and not leave again until well after midnight, being thoroughly entertained the whole time. There’s food and drink available to sustain you, so don’t fret about that. Just book the time, wear something comfy and sign off for a while.
Friday, January 25 | 6:30pm | Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway) | $8 | DETAILS

CURATED | Have you ever been lost down the black hole of YouTube? The mass of videos collected online is staggering in volume and ridiculousness, but thankfully there’s a lot of good to be had, too. Enter Ryeberg, which curates online video by asking invited participants (prominent critics, writers and artists) to use video clips to support their writing and convey an idea. This week in Vancouver (as part of PuSh International Performing Arts Festival), Ryeberg comes offline and on stage. Authors Kevin Chong, Steven Galloway, Caroline Adderson and theatre artist Maiko Bae Yamamoto will be at Performance Works on Granville Island to present YouTube videos that inspire them. Bonus: the night is emceed by Geist publisher and editor-in-chief Stephen Osborne.
Sun, Jan 27 | 7 pm | Performance Works (1218 Cartwright St) | $25 | DETAILS

WINTER WANDER | Grab a warm cup of something and make your way to the Winter Wander in Vanier Park where you can crawl through six of Vancouver’s cultural centres with live music, food vendors and prizes thrown in to make it that much more festive. Think about it: Bard on the Beach, City Archives, The Planetarium, Museum of Vancouver, Vancouver Academy of Music, and the Maritime Museum, all in one go. That’s a lot of fascination for just $5. Pay your admission at the Museum of Vancouver, Vancouver Maritime Museum or the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre and get wandering!
Sat, Jan 26 | 10am-5pm | Museum of Vancouver (1100 Chestnut St) | $5 | DETAILS 

PING PONG PARTY | Who doesn’t love a good game of ping pong? Get warmed up, grab a paddle and join in the fun at The Biltmore Cabaret’s Ping Pong Club Night (complete with DJ, Round-The-World style dance floor elimination tournament, prizes and drink specials). All skill levels are encouraged to participate, so what are you waiting for?
Sat, Jan 26 | 8pm | The Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward) | $3 | DETAILS

BIRDS OF A FEATHER | Get bundled up on Sunday to take a guided walk of Stanley Park to explore the varied and beautiful winter bird life. From the chilly waters of Lost Lagoon to the moss covered trees near Prospect Point, you’d be surprised at how many species of birds call our big green space home during the winter. Learn how to identify them, hear a little bit about what they do while they are here and fill your lungs with some outstanding fresh air.
Sunday, January 27 | 9-11 am | Stanley Park Admission by donation | DETAILS

Check the Globe & Mail every Thursday for our Special Weekend Edition of the Scout List

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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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