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. You can also check it out in the Globe & Mail, from our calendar to theirs…and yours!

COLLECT | The Contemporary Art Gallery runs an off-site residency space at The Burrard Marina (1655 Whyte Ave) called Field House Studio. New York-based artist Marie Lorenz is currently the artist-in-residence and she is working on building a boat from pieces of driftwood that have been gathered from the beaches and shorelines of the lower mainland. This Thursday night, Lorenz will be at the Maritime Museum (joined by Vancouver artists Rebecca Bayer and Josh Hite) to talk about beachcombing, her process, the inspiration that can come from using found objects, and the beauty of nature. On Sunday, Lorenz puts words into action by leading a beachcombing expedition along Kits Beach. Following the walk, participants are encouraged to stick around and use what they’ve collected to create crafts.
Thu, May 29 | 6pm | Maritime Museum (1905 Ogden Ave) | Free with admission | DETAILS
Sun, June 1 | 1pm | Hadden Park Field House (1015 Maple St.) | Free | DETAILS

CONNECT | Jumpstart your brain by exposing it to some thought-provoking content this week at Fuel (Future of Urbanity, the Environment, and our Lifestyle). The new event series aims to connect innovators from around the world with local entrepreneurs, designers, and community builders to see what happens when they sit down and talk shop. The really interesting twist is that the organizers have matched presenters from different fields to come together to explore aspects/impacts of four sectors that are relevant to our city: Food, Design, Sustainability and Technology. “We all go to events in our own sectors, be they food events, tech events, design events, or what have you. It’s all very comfortable and we always know many of the people in the room. FUEL is your opportunity to get out of your silo and talk about bigger issues. Fish folks talking to design folks? Something interesting is bound to happen!” Expect panel discussions, workshops and trend forecasts. This is seriously interesting stuff, so skip over to the Fuel website to read the full line-up of events.
May 29 | Various times + prices | Vancouver Playhouse Theatre (600 Hamilton St.) | DETAILS
May 30 | Various times + prices | Museum of Vancouver (1100 Chestnut St.) | DETAILS

RIDE YOUR BIKE | As we transition from spring in to summer and start to see more days of dry pavement, biking to get around becomes not only sensible, but also enjoyable again. Coincidentally, this is bike-to-work week and you’ll find all sorts of fun perks to riding to the office. There will be over 50 “Celebration Stations” across the city offering bike commuters things like free bike repairs, coffee, snacks and bike route maps. If you aren’t a year-round rider, this is a great time to lug your bike out of hibernation. A spring tune-up is always a good idea before you lay foot to pedal. If you’re looking for a bike shop that can help you get things in order, The Standard Bike Shop in Chinatown/Strathcona is a good place to start. Pro tip: The Standard is having their first birthday party this Sunday. Expect music, a BBQ, races, a pie-eating contest (note, if you will, that The Pie Shoppe is only a few doors down from Standard Bike), and general good times.
Bike to Work Week | Now through May 30 | DETAILS
Standard Bike Shop Birthday Celebration | Sunday, June 1 | 751 Gore Ave | DETAILS

SALT WALKS | Last August, artist Randy Lee Cutler led a series of walks through Chinatown that focused on salt. These began at the Access Gallery with a salt tasting and a run down of the different ways to consider salt (as medicine, a method of food preservation, a flavour, and as a crystal structure). Cutler then took participants on a tour around Chinatown to visit with shop-keepers who explained how salt influenced their business “whether as a flavour, a remedy or a molecular formation.” As she went, Cutler filmed the experience and the resultant film, Salt Walks: Three Movements, screens this Saturday in the Hall of One Hundred Rivers at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. There will be a salt tasting led by Cutler following the movie.
Sat, May 31 | 2–4pm | Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens (578 Carrall St.) | DETAILS 

DRINK | It’s Craft Beer Week, folks, and with over 60 breweries participating in 21 events there’s a lot to drink and do. Craft Beer Bingo? Check. Cicerone vs Sommelier? You bet. Beer dinners? Absolutely. Some events are already sold out, so don’t dilly-dally on the rest.
May 30 – June 7 | Various times/venues | DETAILS

MAKE | How great would it be to make your own mozzarella, burrata, or Oaxacan string cheese? Super great, right? But where to begin? Head to The Homesteaders Emporium this Wednesday for a 2-hour class that will teach you how to turn milk into delicious, stretchy ‘pasta-filata’ cheeses. This demonstration-style class will give you the basis for understanding how you can pull off the processes at home. Cheese is big in this town and cheesemaking courses sell out in a heartbeat, so don’t sit around contemplating whether or not you’re going to jump in for too long. Just jump! If you can’t score a ticket, Homesteaders has all manner of cheese-making equipment, literature, and basic know how. It’s a great place to start a new DIY project. If you can’t wait and need cheese immediately following the workshop, it’s worth noting that Les Amis Du Formage is only a block away at 843 E. Hastings.
May 28 | 6:30-8:30pm | Homesteader’s Emporium (649 E Hastings) | $35 | DETAILS 

POP-UP | The good folks behind the excellent Le Marché St George are prepping for a summer pop-up shop. From Le Marché: “White linen, unbleached canvas, panama hats, days at the beach, laying in the grass, laundry on the line, simple food on simple dishes. These are some of the things that have inspired this summers Pop up Shop.” Poke your head into the tiny corner store and check out all the gorgeous textiles. Think linens, beautiful blankets, ceramics by Janaki Larsen, art work by Klee Larsen, sturdy leather satchels, clothing by Mandula and, on Saturday only, Victory Gardens will be there selling a selection of wee vegetable plants ready to find a home in your garden.
May 31 – June 8 | 10am-6pm | Le Marché St. George (4393 St. George) | DETAILS

FAIR IN THE SQUARE | Fair in the Square will be held in Victory Square Park this Sunday. It’s always nice to see the little plot of land at the intersection of Pender/Hastings/Cambie come alive with community events and activities. Expect community groups with information tables, art, live music, a free BBQ lunch, some sword-fighting demonstrations (because yeah), yoga (obviously) and lots and lots of cupcakes. This event, put on by The Central City Foundation, is free and worth a visit for its uplifting spirit of community.
Sunday, June 1 | 11-2 | Victory Square Park (Hastings @ Cambie) | DETAILS

DESIGN | Local designer Kate Duncan makes stunning furniture by marrying simple lines and a clean, modern aesthetic with a high level of craftsmanship. Her work is of the caliber that commands respect of other designers – even her line of cutting boards and serving trays are outstanding. So when we heard that she was pulling together an interior design and home décor pop-up shop that would showcase her furniture alongside the works of a handful of like-minded designers, we were stoked. “Address” continues this week at The Chinatown Experiment. Expect art, textiles, hardware, lighting, and more – all uncomplicated and imbued with beautiful style.
Now – June 4 | daily 11am – 7pm | The Chinatown Experiment (434 Columbia St.) | DETAILS

CINEMA | Late in 2013, the Cineworks Independent Filmmakers Society announced a competition for local filmmakers to “…write an original 10-minute script based on eight lines of open-ended dialogue from Atom Egoyan’s award-winning The Sweet Hereafter.” Many aspiring filmmakers rose to the challenge and the winning three will show their short films this week. Sweetness Follows directed by Christopher O’Brien, Karaoke or Die directed by Blair Dykes and I Really Like You directed by Jason Karman will premiere prior to the full-length screening of The Sweet Hereafter on Wednesday night. Grab a seat and see what Vancouver talent has to offer!
Wed, May 28 | 7pm | The Cinematheque (1131 Howe St) | $11 | DETAILS 

EAT LOCAL | We add more Farmers Markets to roster this week: the West End market opens on Saturday and next Wednesday (June 4) sees the start of the Main Street Market. Farmers Markets are a great place to stock up on fresh, local food. Grab spot prawns while you can, salad greens, fresh asparagus, vegetables, and herbs, as well as cheese, artisan breads, preserves, honey, wild salmon, cookies and pies. Support the people who grow our food! 
Yaletown | May 29 | 2-6pm | Mainland between Davie & Helmcken DETAILS
Trout Lake | May 31 | 9am-2pm | North Parking Lot, John Hendry Park | DETAILS
West End | May 31 | 9am-2pm | 1100 Block of Comox (across from Nelson Park) | DETAILS 
Kits | June 1 | 10am-2pm | 2690 Larch @ 10th | DETAILS
Main Street  | June 4 | 3pm-7pm | 1100 Block Main (Thornton Park) | 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 streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy (but faithful) camera.

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