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!

GIG | Help the Biltmore Cabaret celebrate their 7th birthday this week. Needles and Pins (Punk) and Ladyhawk (Alt Rock) play a few sets Thursday night and it’s likely going to get loud. This subterranean rock-out could set the tone for a great weekend, so give it a go.
Thu, Dec 18 | 8pm | The Biltmore (2755 Prince Ed) | $16 | DETAILS

THE HOBBIT | The final chapter of the film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is playing on screens around town. Honestly, what says holiday cheer more than pipes filled with Old Toby, scrappy elves, and a jolly white-bearded fellow in a funny hat? This is skip-out-of-work material for sure, so grab some hot buttered pop corn and let Peter Jackson take you away for a few hours.
Various times & locations | DETAILS

RELAX | The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performs Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons at the Chan Centre this Friday night. In addition to Vivaldi, there will also be a bit of Mozart, some Vasks and a smattering of Handel. Sounds like a fine start to the weekend if you ask us!
Fri, Dec 19 | 8pm | Chan Centre (6265 Crescent Rd., UBC) | DETAILS

ART | Whether you’re on the hunt for a unique gift or wanting to take in some culture, head down to The Gam Gallery on East Hastings to check out Paper Presents: Works on Paper and Printed Matter. As the name suggests, the focus at this group exhibition is on prints, cards, journals, posters, calendars and paintings on paper. For an idea of what you’ll see, take a look at the online calendar here. This show is only up until Saturday, so hustle!
Dec 18, 19 & 20 | 11am-6pm | Gam Gallery (110 E. Hastings) | DETAILS

TRADITION | The Goh Ballet is performing Tchaikovsky’s Christmas-themed ballet, The Nutcracker, at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts this week. Expect elaborate sets and gorgeous costumes, live music performed by Vancouver Opera Orchestra, and, most importantly, a Sugarplum Fairy.
December 18-22 | The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (777 Homer) | DETAILS

LAST CHANCE | If you’ve been procrastinating on the whole holiday shopping thing because the idea of inserting yourself into the chaos of malls and big box stores one week before Christmas sounds like your idea of hell, you’re not alone. The good news is that Nochebuena has you covered. Scoot over to East Van Studios (870 E Cordova) for the Nochebuena pop-up and score all kids of great products made by Vancouver’s artists, designers, and craftspeople. From honey (Mellifera Bees) and candles (Woodlot) to ceramics (Maggie Boyd) and textiles (Glasnost) – organizers have assembled top notch makers in one place, a long way from any mall. Don’t miss out.
Sat, Dec 20 | 11am-7pm | East Van Studios (870 E Cordova) | DETAILS

BONFIRE | This Saturday is a good night to head over to Dundarave Pier in West Vancouver. Take a stroll through the local shops and then bundle up tight and make your way down to the beach where there will be a giant bonfire roaring (lit at sunset) with live music, hot chocolate and a forest of decorated Christmas trees for you to wander through. Plus there’s a beach, the sound of waves and the delightful smell of the ocean in the air.
Sat, Dec 20 | 3pm to 9:30pm | Dundarave Beach | West Van | Free | DETAILS

FILM | Celebrating the shortest day of the year with a full day of short films. Broken into three parts: a kids program (2:30pm and geared toward children under the age of 8); a family program (starting at 4pm); and a comedy program (kicking off at 6pm and appropriate for an adult audience), The Shortest Day Film Festival is not only jam packed with entertaining shorts – but the really great part? It’s all free and, rather than only one day, screenings are running for three days (Fri, Dec 19 – Sun, Dec 21).  We suggest checking out the Cinematheque  (200 – 1131 Howe St) on Saturday but for a full line-up of what’s planned, skip over here.
Fri, Dec 19 – Sun, Dec 21 | 2, 4 & 6pm | Various Locations | Free | DETAILS

LIGHT | This Sunday, the sun will come up at 8:05am and set again at 4:16pm – that’s not a lot of daylight. The good news here is that the darkest day of the year has a silver lining – after Winter Solstice, our days get longer. Little by little we’re headed toward those beautiful mid-summer 9pm sunsets, the memory of which all Vancouverites cling to during these winter months. So in a roundabout way, it’s time to celebrate. Raise a glass to summer – it’s coming. Eventually.  Sun, Dec 21 | All day, everywhere

ENGAGE | There’s nothing quite as magical as joining a procession of strangers meandering through streets with handmade lanterns on a chilly night. The Secret Lantern Society has once again organized a Winter Solstice Lantern Festival to fill the streets of Yaletown, Chinatown, and Granville Island this Sunday. Get yourself out there and participate. If you haven’t had time to pull together a lantern, don’t fret – you can attend one of the last-minute lantern-making workshops. Skip over to the Secret Lantern Society website for event details.
Sunday, Dec 21 | Various Locations | DETAILS

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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.