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, from our calendar to yours!

ROVE | On Friday night eight Main Street galleries, studios and creative spaces will open their doors for Rove. Visit working studios and get a sense of process and place; attend an opening reception or just float through an exhibition or two. Break up your gallery viewings with a beer at Brassneck or 33 Acres and plan to stay out late to hit the after-party at the Projection Room (2321 Main St.). Maps identifying participating galleries (Grunt, MAKE, LPY Studios, Gene Studios, Kafka’s, Omaha Studios, Burrard Arts Foundation and Field Contemporary) are available at www.roveyvr.com
Fri, May 27 | 6-10pm | Various Locations on Main Street | Free | DETAILS

BLOOM | The Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre in Burnaby is holding a fundraiser this week in the form of an art auction that’s all about ink. Expect to see a variety of diverse artworks from over sixty contemporary and traditional artists. There will also be ink scroll stations, food from the always tasty Open Sesame, a live shodo calligraphy performance, and DJ Rennie Foster playing music. Bonus: most of the artists will be in attendance, so it should prove to be a fascinating evening all around. Have a look at the gallery exhibit & online preview here.
Sat, May 28 | 7pm | Nikkei Museum & Cultural Centre (Burnaby) | $25 | DETAILS

READ | Now is the perfect time to start thinking about summer reads. Get busy lining your bookshelves with possible candidates for long afternoons at the beach when you hit the Friends of the Vancouver Public Library Book Sale this weekend. Modern fiction, classics, gardening, biography, art, and history – there will be a little something for everyone. The very best part? Books will be going for less than $2.50 each and everything remaining by Saturday morning is half price of that. Don’t forget to bring a bag (or two)!
May 26, 27 & 28 | 10am–5pm | VPL Central Branch (350 Georgia St) | Free | DETAILS

COMMUNITY | The annual Cedar Cottage Community Carnival happens on Saturday. Free and loaded with live music, face painting and food – nothing sets the tone for the approach of summer like a festive community get together. This is the 23rd year that this event has gone down and they’ve picked up a few good tricks along the way. Not only will there be a silent auction, ethnic lunch, flea market, games, prizes, clowns and bingo, but they also have the one-two punch of a cake walk and bake sale – and we’re suckers for both!
May 28 | 9am–4pm | Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House (4065 Victoria Dr) | DETAILS

MUSIC | No walls, feet in the grass, breeze in the air — outdoor concerts make for amazing experiences. This Saturday night the Alabama Shakes play Deer Lake Park with Kurt Vile and that is some talent that will command toe tapping, hand clapping and dancing well suited to an open air situation. But don’t get too excited – this gig (as well as The Cure on May 31, The Lumineers on June 1) is already sold out – and that’s what Craigslist is for, right? Scope out some tickets via Craigslist or find some by way of your social media channels; this is going to be a gig worth the effort. If all else fails, we recommend a wander through the trails close to the venue to take what you can get as the music floats through the air.
Sat, May 28 | Deer Lake Park | DETAILS

NATURE | Amp up the weirdness factor of your weekend with a trip to the Richmond Nature Park for slugfest this Sunday. Yup, Slugfest. A celebration of slugs. Expect scores of the slimy little pals on site to compete for title of biggest, smallest, slimiest and most beautiful as well as slug related crafts, a scavenger hunt, carnival games, and slug-centric trivia. The big ticket event of the day will be the Great Richmond Slug Race (watch as slugs will race each other in especially exciting fashion). Note that this is a bring your own slug event (for serious), so get out and find yourself a winner (our garden or local park are a good bet). And be sure to look after the little dudes, they like cool, shaded places with a side of green lettuce or kale.
May 29 | 1-4 pm | Richmond Nature Park ( 11851 Westminster Hwy) | DETAILS

HASTINGS HOLE-IN-ONE | Work some fun physical activity in to your week with a round or two of mini golf at The Pagemasters Championship. Forget uninspired courses of dirty astroturf and fake windmills, this is a course with a literary theme. Not only will each putt remind you of classic reads, and familiar characters, but there will also be drinks, music and, we’re betting, a fair amount of laughing. Structured to accommodate teams, families and individuals – this is a three day event, but don’t put off taking part, as proceeds from the event go to The Writers’ Exchange, a stellar organization that helps get inner-city kids stoked on reading and writing. So bust out your best putters and help spread the literary love!
Evening Golf | May 27 | 6-11pm | 881 East Hastings St. | DETAILS
Friends & Families | May 28 + 29 | 10-5pm | 881 East Hastings St. | DETAILS

CELEBRATE | The European Festival goes down at Swangard Stadium this weekend. Cheaper than a plane ticket (and less of a time commitment), this two day festival could be a quick fix to that spot of wanderlust you’ve been trying to shake. Designed to showcase the best of European innovation, culture and tradition, the festival boasts representation from over 30 nations. Expect music, dance performances, beer garden, European craft market, and plenty of food vendors.
May 28-29 | 11am-10ish | Swangard Stadium (Burnaby) | $10 | DETAILS

SPECTACULAR | The Vancouver International Film Festival hosts an afternoon of Canada’s independent filmmaking talent in a unique, curated cinema event this Sunday. Scoot down to the Vancity Theatre to see Cinema Spectacular, a festival by filmmakers for filmmakers, that celebrates “short format low-budget passion projects” from across the country. Expect short dramas and documentaries, animation, music videos, some feature film trailers – all made by Canadians. Stick around after the lights go back on for a filmmaker Q+A, and a post-screening party!
Sun, May 29 | 2pm | Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour Street) | $12 | DETAILS

GET AWAY | Do it! Jump on the ferry and make for Galiano Island. Four of BC’s top chefs are set to cook up a weekend to remember with a very special Kitchen Party at Bodega Ridge. Days of beach combing and forest hikes finished with collaborative cooking efforts of Chefs David Gunawan (Farmer’s Apprentice), Nico Schuermans (Chambar), Jesse McCleery (Pilgrimme) and Josh Blumenthal (Elementa)? Sounds like heaven to us. Expect hyper-local ingredients to appear in dishes conveying a delicious sense of place as well as bonfires, live music and ample booze – all low key and Island style. Oh, and a waffle breakfast (supplied by Medina). $50 for Friday Dinner (casual) and $100 for dinner on Saturday (4 courses). Or, both for $125. There are also a limited number of packages available ($550 per couple gets you 2 nights in a cabin and dinner both nights).
May 27, 28 | Bodega Ridge (Galiano Island) | DETAILS