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!

HERITAGE | The Vancouver Heritage Foundation screens “Restoring Community” at Vancity Theatre this Wednesday. The documentary looks at three Vancouver case studies as vehicles for conversations about the retention and rehabilitation of older buildings. After the film there will be a panel discussion featuring Naveen Girn (Cultural Researcher), Michael Kluckner (Historian),  Gordon Price (Director of the City Program at SFU), and Andre Rowland (Architect) on the importance of sustainability and community in the context of development.
Wed, Feb 4 | 6:30pm | Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour St) | $12 | DETAILS

WRITE | Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Be bold by sitting down to craft a hand-written letter. If you’re unsure of how to get things rolling, allow The Regional Assembly of Text on Main Street to help out. Take your romantic thoughts and secret confessions and they will hook you up with a brilliant collection of paper, cards and stamps to help you get the job done. It’s called the Letter Writing Club. It’s free, open to everyone, and supplies are provided. Go ahead and give someone a written thrill!
Thu, Feb. 5 | 7:30 pm | Regional Assembly of Text (3934 Main St) | Free | DETAILS

COLLABORATION | The Love Letter Project started last year with an invitation for individuals to submit letters about challenging times and how they got through the rough parts with love. Letters were posted online at www.theloveletterproject.ca with the hope that other people facing tough times could go to read them and find some encouragement. The response was great, so organizers decided to take it one step further by gathering together 18 local artists and asking each to choose a letter that spoke to them in such a way to inspire a visual response. Head to Omega Gallery on Dunbar this Friday night to see the results at The Love Letter Project book launch and exhibition.  This show continues until February 14.
Fri, Feb 6 | 6:30pm | Omega Gallery (4290 Dunbar) | DETAILS

OPENING | Gallery Jones launches a new showing of works by Vancouver George Vergette this week. According to the gallery, the artist’s “fluency with his materials is evident in this new body of work, featuring resin on canvas paintings that defy expectations and exhibit a fluidity and maleability not seen before in Vergette’s rich history with resin, oil and pigment painting.” The show, entitled Mysterious Mountain, kicks off Thursday with a reception from 5pm to 8pm. While you’re there, give the artist a pat on the back; not only did he create this standout series of paintings, but he just became a Dad for the second time last week. Congrats!
Thu, Feb 5 | 5-8pm | Gallery Jones (1725 West 3rd Ave) | DETAILS

GATHER | The Nostalgia of Food is a group show of works by photographers and artists inspired by food. Hit the opening reception this Thursday for great art, intelligent conversation with good people and killer food. This show runs until March 1st and will include some food-related workshops like Sake-making on February 15th and Play With Your Food (using food for mark-making and pattern-making on tea towels) on Feb 18th. More details here.
Thu, Feb 5 | 7pm | Studio 126 (126 E Pender St) | DETAILS

OPERA | The UBC Opera Ensemble and UBC Symphony Orchestra are getting together to perform Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) this weekend. The lighthearted and comically confusing four act tale of love, betrayal, and forgiveness is perfectly suited to entertain in the run up to Valentine’s Day. Directed by Nancy Hermiston with guest conductor Neil Varon.
Feb 5-7, 7:30pm | Feb 8, 2 pm Chan Centre (6265 Crescent Rd., UBC) | $37 | DETAILS

IRIE | Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter Bob Marley was born in Nine Mile, Jamaica on February 6, 1945 and died tragically of cancer in May of 1981. While he was on the planet, Bob did some pretty amazing things. Head to The Grandview Legion this Saturday night for a night of live reggae music, Jamaican food and Rastafarian vibes in celebration of the man who inspired many. Bonus: birthday cake for everyone! Tickets are $18 and you can grab them at Highlife Records (1317 Commercial Dr.) and Riddim and Spice (1945 Commercial Dr).
Sat, Feb 7 | 9 pm | Grandview Legion (2205 Commercial Dr) | $18 | DETAILS

FOOD CART FEBRUARY | The Winter Farmers Market shakes things up this month. Not only will market goers see the number of food trucks increase dramatically (February is Food Truck Festival at the Market – a sort of tryout for the summer market whereby participating trucks feature a ‘market’ menu item and market goers vote for a winner), but the market is also moving from the parking lot at Nat Bailey Stadium across the street to the old Riley Park Community Centre lot. Keep in mind that the market ‘move’ takes place on February 14 but Food Cart February starts this week.
Sat, Feb 7 | 10am – 2pm | East Parking Lot Nat Bailey Stadium | DETAILS

COYOTE CITY | If you spend any time in Vancouver’s urban outdoors, you’ve likely come across a coyote. Relatively new to city streets (they’ve only been in the region for 50-ish years), coyotes are growing in numbers and increasing in brashness. Given that they like the city – they’ve got plenty to eat (juicy rodents also on the rise) and find ample locations for building dens in our parks and greenways – it might do well to learn a bit about them. The Stanley Park Ecology Society team is leading an late afternoon walk and talk that will cover the species basics and talk about how to coexist with them safely. Please email to register: [email protected]
Sun, Feb 8 | 3:30pm | Stanley Park Nature House (foot of Alberni St. by Lost Lagoon) | $10 | DETAILS 

FAMILY DAY | Hooray for family!  If you don’t have one, you can always build one out of friends, and sometimes it’s easier that way. However you roll, make good use of this day off by getting together with the people you love. Take a walk, linger over coffee, maybe sit down for a good meal. We suggest hustling over to the Pacific Spirit Regional Park where there will be a Nature Fun by the Fire event involving wildlife story-telling and songs, nature talks, and marshmallows roasting — all in a beautiful rainforest! Everyone is welcome and this event is free.
Mon, Feb 9 | 1-4pm | (4915 West 16th Ave – 400 m west of Blanca) | 604-224-5739 | 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.