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!

ART | Alex Morrison is home from Europe with a new show. Phantoms of a Utopian Will hits the walls at two galleries this week, SFU Burnaby and The Burnaby Art Gallery. From The BAG: “Through his exhibitions at SFU and the BAG, Morrison considers how the West Coast’s iteration of the Arts and Crafts movement, as well as Arthur Erickson’s brand of domestic post-modernism, eventually became fashionable and now survive as the ‘house styles’ on the West Coast. At the BAG, Morrison has worked closely with ceramics artist Maggie Boyd in creating a series of decorative earthenware plates which form part of a larger installation of sculptural furniture modelled after famous Arts and Crafts designs. Morrison has also been commissioned by the BAG to design a chandelier which will be permanently installed in the gallery’s Fireside Room.” The tandem exhibitions continue until November (BAG) and December (SFU), but the opening reception – always good times – goes down this Thursday night.
Thu, Sept 3 | 7pm | Burnaby Art Gallery (6344 Deer Lake Ave) | DETAILS

FORAGE | As summer fades into fall, many plants are ready for harvest not only on farms and in fields, but also in parks, alleyways, forests, and roundabouts across the city. Take a crash course on these wild edibles this Thursday on a late summer evening stroll with indigenous Metis herbalist, Lori Snyder. Snyder will share her knowledge of what is safe to pick and when it’s best to pick it, plus she’ll fill you in on how to prepare your foraged edibles and detail what they’ll do for you once you’ve gobbled them up. To register, please call 604-718-5895.
Thu, Sept 3 | 7:30-9pm | Britannia Community Center (1661 Napier) | $25 | DETAILS

POLISH FEST  | Pack up and head for a Lynn Canyon hike Sunday or Monday morning. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, hit Lynn Valley Village and stuff your face with a plate of perogies at the Polish Festival. Also expect live music, singing, folk dancing, a puppet show, a theatre play, and a myriad of arts activities.
Sept 6 & 7 | 1-6:30pm (5pm Sunday) | Lynn Valley Village | DETAILS

LIVE MUSIC | The Victory Square Block Party happens this Sunday. Talent taking the stage include Woolworm, Fake Tears, Ramzi, Other Jesus, Cave Girl, Gal Gracen, Whitney K and Twin River. Expect things to get loud. There will also be food trucks, DJs filling the spaces between sets, and general good vibes. Proceeds go to support Megaphone, a magazine sold by local homeless and low income vendors to generate personal income.
Sun, Sept 6 | 2-9pm | Victory Square Block Party (Cambie & W. Hastings) | Free | DETAILS

HISTORY | Interested in schooling yourself on the history of your city? Mountain View Cemetery hosts walking tours that give a decidedly unique perspective. This weekend you are invited to round out your knowledge of local characters of the past with a “victims of early accidents” tour. As the final resting place of almost 150,000 people, some of the Mountain View ‘residents’ met their demise in historically significant plane, train, car, and boat accidents. Join a cemetery representative for a walkabout and find out all the dark and macabre secrets.
Sun, Sept 6 | 2-3pm | Mountain View Cemetery (5455 Fraser St (enter on 39th Avenue)| Free | DETAILS

BRUNCH | A long weekend is the perfect excuse to try out some of the new kids on the brunch block: Get yourself over to Commercial Drive for some chilaquiles and a refreshing micheladas at La Mezcaleria; sign in to a plant-based brunch at Acorn (do yourself a favour and order the Southern-fried artichokes on housemade waffles); or hit up Kitsilano’s Annalena for benedicts galore.
Mezcalaria | Tue-Sun | 9am to 3pm | 1622 Commercial Dr | DETAILS
Acorn | Sat & Sun | 10am–2:30pm | The Acorn (3995 Main St) | DETAILS
Annalena | Sat & Sun | 10am-1:45pm | 1809 West 1st Ave | DETAILS

FARM DINNER | Technically, summer goes until September 23, but warm-enough-to-eat-outside weather is slipping away and we recommend doing as much of it as possible before the long rains settle in. Go big with a trip to the beautiful Pemberton Valley this weekend and enjoy a Longtable Dinner with food prepared by Araxi’s executive chef James Walt. Expect a stunner of a farm-to-table four course meal paired with wine and set in a one of the most breathtaking farm fields you will ever encounter.
Sat, Sept 5 | 3-8pm | North Arm Farm, Pemberton | $159 | DETAILS

SCIENCE | Head out to UBC and hit the the Beaty Biodiversity Museum for their Way Cool Biodiversity series this Sunday and a lecture about what makes seed dispersal so cool. From the Museum: “In this interactive Way Cool presentation, we’ll explore how plants have gotten to the far flung places they are found, and how the world in which these plants live has influenced their strategies for getting around.” Picking up a little extra knowledge about the natural world is only ever going to work to your advantage — if not in practical application, at least it will amp up your conversational entertainment value at cocktail parties.
Sun, Sept 6 | 1pm | UBC Biodiversity Museum | Free with $12 admission | DETAILS

CORN FEST | The Canada El Salvador Action Network and the Grandview Woodland Food Connection are joining forces to put on a one day, all-out, super-tasty celebration of corn this weekend. Focusing on Latin American culture, food, and the central role corn plays in both, hit the Corn Festival to load up on tamales, pupusas, paletas and tostadas, listen to some live music, catch some traditional dancing and cultural performances, and generally enjoy the culture of corn.
Sun, Sept 6 | 11am-6pm | Britannia Community Centre (Gym D) | Free Admission | DETAILS

WISDOM | Former CBC radio personality and photographer David Wisdom hosts his annual evening of art and music at the VAG on Tuesday night. It’s so popular that it’s guaranteed to be a sell out, which is why we’re telling you about it early. David Wisdom is a bit of a big deal. Not only does he have a dreamy radio voice and impressive musical knowledge (particularly on jazz), but he’s also an accomplished photographer. The ‘communal slide show’ will be accompanied by live music and features images by acclaimed artists Sophia Burke, Aaron Carpenter, Adad Hannah, Doug Lander, and Alex Morrison.
Tue, Sept 8 | Doors 7pm | Vancouver Art Gallery | $10 | DETAILS