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!

PECHA KUCHA | Pecha Kucha Night goes down Thursday night. As per usual, local creatives will be presenting 20 images for 20 seconds each on what inspires/drive/tickles them. The speaker line-up is stellar; expect to hear from artists, writers, community leaders and creative types of every stripe. The musical guest for the evening is Woodpigeon, and they’re awesome. Tickets always go quickly, so grab ‘em while you can.
Thu, Nov 27 | Doors 6:30 | Vogue Theatre (918 Granville St) | $15 | DETAILS

SCORE | Over years exploring the ruins of demolition sites, salvage yards and abandoned buildings across the United States, Craig Pearce of Union Wood Co. has amassed a collection of fantastic vintage American art (mostly 20’s-50’s). With a new workshop space (perfectly suited for a party) large enough to support an exhibition, Pearce has decided to team up with the Duchesse Vintage (also collectors of cool) for an art show, a sale featuring said items, and a bit of a party. Head over there on Saturday night and you’ll find Staring Without Caring, an exhibit of the strange — everything from odd taxidermic specimens and bizarre vintage acrylic portraits to hand painted signage and hand crafted carnival prize sculpture. It’s guaranteed to be a fun night out, like a cross between a flea market and an art exhibition with a cash bar and awesomeness abounding.
Sat, Nov 29 | Union Wood Company (1340 Pender) | DETAILS

ART | Return those empties, sell some books, dip into the piggy bank — do whatever you have to do to pull together some cash and then get yourself to Emily Carr’s Annual Student Art Sale this weekend. This sale is one of the best ways to score original art from talented local artists before they’re “discovered” and their prices climb beyond reach of us normal folks. Browse through everything from paintings and prints to sculpture and clothing. Consider it holiday shopping (but for yourself).
Nov 28-30 | 12pm-5pm (8pm on Friday) | Emily Carr University of Art and Design | DETAILS

PARTY | Belmont barbershop’s Rich Hope will shave Ken Diamond’s infamous beard down to a moustache. Handlebar, Fu Manchu, Dali or Pencil – what will he go with? This is a fundraising event for a great cause – prizes donated by Ken Diamond Leather Goods, Granted, Brassneck Brewery, The Shop, Reassembly, Campagnolo, Block, Still Life, Sanitary Electric Tattoo, and more. The event is being staged to raise awareness for all men’s health, but for one man in particular…this is for you “Bill”. (More information at ca.movember.com search “Ken Diamond”)
Sat, Nov 29 | 5-10pm | Ken Diamond Studio (756 Powell St) | DETAILS

HOORAY | The good folks behind the excellent Marché St George are celebrating their 4th anniversary this week. If you head there this Saturday you’ll be treated to 20% off of stock (everything from tea and olive oil to Pok Pok drinking cider and sea salt soap), plus you can also take the opportunity to check out launch day at the winter pop-up shop (scoot upstairs) for gorgeous textiles (think Mexican wools, beautiful linen scarves, hand knit sweaters) as well as a fresh batch of ceramics by Janaki Larsen (swoon), gorgeous art work by Klee Larsen, Woodlot scented candles, clothing by Mandula, Glasnost, and Clyde Hats and a ton of other good stuff. The 20% off sale is for Saturday only, but the pop-up continues through December.
Sat, Nov 29 | 9am-6pm | Le Marché St. George (4393 St. George) | DETAILS

EVERYTHING WILL BE | Julia Kwan’s great documentary about our changing Chinatown screens at Vanity Theatre this weekend. If you didn’t catch Everything Will Be at the Vancouver Film Festival last month, take this opportunity! From VIFF: “It’s a neighbourhood in transition, a culture in decline – or on the cusp of gentrification. This isn’t an advocacy doc, but a wise, ruminative portrait, an elegy perhaps, but also a celebration of entrepreneurial energy, resilience and creativity.” For a recent Scout interview with Kwan – and a sense of what the film covers – have a look here.
Nov 28 – Dec 1 | Various Times | Vanity Theatre (1181 Seymour St) | DETAILS  

FAMILY FUSE | This is a good weekend to take small people to the Vancouver Art Gallery. It’s Family FUSE Weekend! The theme is Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China’s Emperors. Not only do kids under 12 get in for free with a paying adult but there’ll be live music (Beijing Opera and UBC Chinese Ensemble on site) and some extra fun activities to encourage creativity in an exploration of “The Past, The New, The Now”.
Sat–Sun, Nov 29-30 | 10am-5pm | Vancouver Art Gallery | 22.50 for grown-ups | DETAILS

CRAFTY | The community of Strathcona is getting together for a kickass winter craft fair this weekend. The little neighbourhood (bordering on DTES and Chinatown) is jam-packed with talented, creative, and community-minded people, so it’s no surprise that there will be 50 vendors this year. Put a dent in your holiday shopping list. Bonus: Santa will totally appreciate how you support local artisans and independent designers!
Sat, Nov. 29 | 10am-4pm | Strathcona Community Centre (601 Keefer) | DETAILS

DESIGN SUNDAY | The Vancouver Design Nerds will be hosting a Nerd Jam at The Museum of Vancouver this Sunday. If you’ve not yet had an opportunity to attend one of these, you should give it a try. Expect a community conversation intended to engage Vancouverites in a creative dialogue about housing. As MOV explains, this event will focus on “identifying successful and improvable spaces of connection in our local communities and neighbourhoods. On-the-fly mapping and visual stocktaking of these spaces will allow participants to see how their ways of living connect them to the experiences of others.” Take part in a community conversation and make a solid start to civic improvement on a personal scale!
Sun, Nov. 30 | 2:30-5pm | Museum of Vancouver (1100 Chestnut St) | $15 | DETAILS

EAT LOCAL | There are two Winter Farmers Market to choose from this weekend. Head to the Nat Bailey Stadium parking lot on Saturday or skip over to the skatepark at the PNE on Sunday and load up on locally grown fruits and veggies as well as fresh bread, honey, dried fruits and scores of other goodies (this is the last weekend that the Hastings Skatepark market will be running, after Sunday, we’re down to only one market – Nat Bailey).
Sat, Nov 29 | 10am – 2pm | Nat Bailey Stadium (4601 Ontario St) | DETAILS
Sun, Nov 30 | 10am-2pm | Hastings Skatepark, PNE (Renfrew and Hastings) | 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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