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

Ten Things That You Should Absolutely Do Between Now And Next Week

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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!

BEACH | We’re half way through summer already, so it’s time to get serious about checking things off the season’s ‘To Do’ list. If you haven’t packed up and spent a full day at the beach yet, now is the time. Try English Bay, Kits, Wreck or Whytecliff. Pull together a picnic lunch or dinner and dig in for the long haul. Second or Third Beach on a Tuesday can keep you entertained well into the evening with its drum circle beach party and fresh air cinema (Mean Girls plays tonight– Tuesday, July 29), so get out there and build some memories to cling to this winter.

PRIDE |
Pride hits Vancouver this weekend, and you’ll be able to feel the positive energy spreading beyond the West End. As always, the big ticket event is the parade, which starts at noon this Sunday and travels along Robson street to Denman, down Denman to Beach Ave., ending at Sunset Beach, where a proper pride party takes place. For all the juicy bits (dance parties, beer gardens, outdoor markets and live entrainment) leading up to the main event and the full scoop on parade details – skip over to the Pride site here. This deal attracts an easy 650,000 people, so keep that in mind. Leave the car at home and take lots of good, respectful energy with you.
Sun, Aug. 3 | noon to 6pm | The West End | Free | DETAILS

EAT | Summertime is so great for easy and ample access to local produce, so hit a farmers market this week and support the people who grow good food. It’s a good move in every direction. For a mid-week market, head over to the corner of 8th and Vine on Thursday. Expect fresh local fruits and veggies as well as baked goods, vegan treats, preserves and more.
Thursdays until September 25 | 3-7pm | Corner of West 8th @ Vine 

POP UP | A collection of cool Vancouver-based businesses are bringing their products together in a West End pop-up that marries hip tea house with surf shack. Oollo Tea, Lemonni (simple, modern textiles), and Forest & Waves (textiles and prints) are using the space at Production Road (990 Nicola, right next door to Greenhorn Cafe) to showcase some of their collective brilliance. You’ll find fancy fanny packs (really, Forest & Waves managed to make a good version), tea and tea-infused chocolates and candies, fresh and happy tea towels and textiles, pillows, and cards. The opening night party goes down the evening of Saturday, August 2nd.
Aug 1 – Sept 14 | Fri-Sun 11am-10pm, Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm | 990 Nicola | DETAILS

FORAGE | Local blackberries are moving into the good-for-picking zone right now. Find yourself a thicket and get picking. Try the borders of a quiet strip of defunct Canadian Pacific Railway tracks (always a good source). UBC Farm is also a solid place to fill your bucket. Sure, these berries will cost you (a nominal recommended donation of $2 per bucket), but they’re also free of car exhaust and other pollutants. Vancouver blackberries are the best; perfect for smoothies, crumbles, jams, or syrups for summer cocktails.

SHOW BOAT | And now for something completely different: the Kits Show Boat. Take a seat on the bleachers and enjoy the view as you listen to a variety of musical acts. This Friday (August 1st) Vancouver Dorfmusik plays, because when was the last time you sat down to enjoy some live Swiss “village” band tunes? They’re followed by Hawaiian Wailele Wai Wai, so it’s a double win! And then on Saturday, the ‘atmospheric indie funk rock’ band Pentons Alley get busy. Expect a crowd, however, as the Celebration of Light takes place on the same night.
Now until Aug 16 | 7 pm | 2300 Cornwall at Kitsilano Beach | DETAILS

FESTIVAL | The Powell Street Festival goes down this weekend. This annual celebration of Japanese Canadian arts, culture and heritage that usually takes place in and around Oppenheimer Park is relocating due to protests against homelessness in the park. You’ll find the main stage on Alexander St. between Princess and Dunlevy, with festivities taking place in the surrounding four blocks of Japantown. The fantastic community festival features dance, music, martial arts demos, craft vendors, traditional Japanese food and a freakin’ sumo tournament. This is 38th year that the Festival has been going on. In that time, it has grown from a small community event to a full-blown arts and culture festival attracting thousands of visitors. Our photos from last year are here.
Fri, Aug 1 – Sun, Aug 3 | 11:30am – 7pm | Japantown | Free | DETAILS

FIREWORKS | Keep in mind that the Celebration of Light fireworks takes place on Saturday. Japan will light up the skies in the last of the series of pyrotechnic displays for the 2014 event. Plan accordingly, which is to say don’t try to drive through the West End while this is going down!
Sat, August 2 | 10pm | English Bay | Free | DETAILS

HARMONY ARTS | The quaint seaside village of West Vancouver launches its annual 10 day arts and culture festival this weekend. Scoot over the bridge for a cold lemonade and a wander through the craft market showcasing loads of one-of-a-kind pottery, jewellery, textiles, woodwork and glass designs all made by locals. Hang around after the sun goes down for outdoor movies and concerts. The Harmony Arts Festival starts on Thursday and runs until August 10th.
August 1-10 | Ambleside, West Van | Free | DETAILS

LUMBERJACK LOVE | Squamish Days and the awesome Loggers Sports Festival kicks off with the 1st Annual Loggers Sports Beard Pageant on Thursday followed by the Campfire Showdown (teams of two race to build a fire that can successfully boil a can of water). Friday sees bed racing, chair carving and the Cleveland Avenue Street Party. On Saturday there will be axe throwing, tree topping and something called the Loggers Stomp Dance, because hell yeah! On Sunday there will be pancakes and a parade. And on Monday there will be a community picnic. Man, Lumberjacks know how to throw a party! Stoked.
July 31 – August 4| All over Squamish | DETAILS

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late-may-2009-169Michelle 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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There are 2 comments

  1. Hey, great idea to pick blackberries by the CPR tracks, but just a reminder that CP is currently moving to block them off to citizens because the city of Vancouver refuses to pay CP $100 million for land they were granted for free. Not only do (award-winning, long-wait-listed) community gardens lose their land, Vancouverites also lose prime blackberry territory!

  2. Richmond Maritime Festival Aug 8th to 10th – next week though. Always a ton a great music & have some fish n’ chips at Pajo’s or try unique Japanese comfort food at Moncton Cafe, then try out a couple of indie coffee roasters there like Rocanini or the newer Peaks Roasters down by the wharf!

    O’Hare’s isn’t a bad spot to get a beer (lots of craft beers) later. Guys are kinda meat market-y though. lol.

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