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, from our calendar to yours!

OPENING | From paintings and drawings to print and sculpture, Picasso: The Artist and His Muses brings together an impressive gathering of over 60 works, including “Claude and Paloma” which fetched a cool $28.2 million at auction in 2013). That alone is a bit of a mind blower, but the subtler point of interest is that this exhibition was designed around personal subtext, making fascinating connections between the man, his personal relationships, and his art. Katharina Beisiegel of Art Centre Basel (who presents the show in collaboration with the Vancouver art Gallery) explains: “With this exhibition we seek to look beyond Picasso and put a spotlight on the women that heralded the many transformations in his art. These unconventional women often followed their own artistic pursuits and in a form of creative osmosis inspired Picasso intellectually and artistically.”
June 11 to Oct. 2 | Daily, 10am-5pm (9pm Tue) | Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby St) | $24 | DETAILS

RIDE | Velopalooza is a two week-long community-run bike fun fest that goes down June 10th to the 26th. With close to 50 events planned (rides, tours and meet-ups), this is a good time to get your bike out of hibernation and back on the road. This week you can join in the Velopalooza Kickoff Ride, participate in a scavenger hunt, get in on something called Soft Serve Sunday (presented by East Van Bike Polo), try your multi-tasking skills with Bicycle Karaoke, or just take an easy seawall cruise. Oh, and Saturday is World Naked Bike Ride Ride, so that’s happening too. Naked or clothed, there’s definitely something for everyone!
June 10–26 | Various times and locations | Free | DETAILS

MAKE | Mini Maker Faire hits the PNE Forum this weekend. A cross between a science fair, a community fair, and a farmer’s market, and an art show, this gig will have everything from workshops and information booths to performances and collaborations. Expect to meet enthusiastic textile designers and craft brewing fanatics, builders, engineers, scientists and artists – all excited to explain and answer questions. This is an event that celebrates our power to make, remake, and create things, so clear your schedule, snap up a few tickets and roll up your sleeves for a fun day of hacking, crafting and inventing.
June 11 & 12 | 10am-6pm | PNE Forum (2901 E Hastings St) | $15 | DETAILS

ART | Beach weather is expected to be on hold for the next little while, so why not dedicate some time to checking out some local galleries? There’s a lot to see right now: Monte Clark is showing works by Graham Gillmore, who paints figures found in ‘50s and ’60 children’s books over large format ‘canvasses’ made from stitched together vintage ledger papers – cool stuff. The Gam just opened “Record In and On It” by Sarah Delaney; we’re really digging these abstract paintings – gentle colours and so much texture! ‘Wish You Were Here’ continues at the Kimoto Gallery until Saturday; check out this sweet line-up of new paintings by Will Rafuse depicting iconic Vancouver landmarks and familiar neon signs. Finally, don’t miss Harry Callahan: The Street at the VAG. Can’t wait to float through this exhibition of 150 photographs taken on the streets of Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Cairo, Mexico, Portugal, and Wales.
Will Rafuse | Kimoto Gallery | Until June 11 | DETAILS
Graham Gillmore | Monte Clark Gallery | Until June 18 | DETAILS
Sarah Delaney | The Gam | Until June 25 | DETAILS
Harry Callahan | Vancouver Art Gallery | Until September 5 | DETAILS

LAUGH | Looking for a little weekend pick-me-up? Head over to the Hot Art Wet City Gallery on Main Street and load up on hilarity at not one but two comedy nights. Friday night Graham Clark presents… The Cake Show! Yes, a whole cake-centric evening including funny pictures of cake, cake videos, and stories about cake. Also of note: real cake. Seriously, what more could you ask for from a Friday night except maybe a cold beer? There will be that, too. Saturday night: Gavin Matts hosts Questionable Answers, a panel show that sees comedians Sophie Buddle, Darcy Michael, and Kyle Bottom take part in discussions, trying to answer and wrap their heads around some of the internet’s most “out there” questions. Sounds like fun, and what are weekends for if not for a good chuckle with friends?
The Cake Show! | Fri, June 10 | 7:30 | $10 | HWAC (2206 Main (@ 6th) |DETAILS
Questionable Answers | Sat, June 11 | 7:30 | $10 | HWAC (2206 Main (@ 6th) | DETAILS

GUERRILLA ART | International Yarn Bombing Day happens this Saturday. Yes, there’s one whole day on the calendar set aside to appreciate the time and vision that goes into the officially unsanctioned decorating of public spaces with yarn. Keep your eye out for mini-installations of creative expression wrapped around parking meters, sign posts, telephone poles and tangled in the bushes, trees, and plants of public green spaces. If you’re interested in moving from passive spectator to active participant, consider taking part in A Year Of Felting: An outdoor workshop at Britannia centre on Commercial Drive, where you can make a felted ball garland to decorate the Cherry Tree at the entrance to Napier Greenway. All materials supplied for this free drop-in class!
Sat, June 11 | noon-4pm | Britannia Centre (1661 Napier St) | DETAILS

EAT LOCAL | With the Mount Pleasant market kicking off its season this Sunday we are now up to a full compliment of Farmer’s Markets! Take full advantage of these pop-up sources of good ness to stock up on fresh local food. Grab spot prawns while you can, plus salad greens, asparagus and herbs galore, as well as cheeses, artisan breads, preserves, honey, wild salmon, cookies, and pies. Oh, and all the peonies! The window is still open, folks! Support the people who grow our food!
Downtown | Thursdays | 2-6pm | Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza | DETAILS
Trout Lake | Saturdays | 9am-2pm | North Parking Lot, John Hendry Park | DETAILS
West End | Saturdays | 9am-2pm | 1100 Block of Comox (across from Nelson Park) | DETAILS
Kits | Sundays | 10am-2pm | 2690 Larch @ 10th | DETAILS
Mount Pleasant | Sundays | 10am-2pm | 2300 Guelph St | DETAILS
Main Street | Wednesdays | 2-6pm | 1100 Block Main (Thornton Park) | DETAILS

CINEMA | With rain predicted this might be a good weekend to catch a movie. We suggest Cinema Paradiso at The Rio. Not only is this a phenomenal film that will pair well with a touch of drizzle falling and a little vino from the bar at The Rio (yup, they sell wine), but this screening takes place on the eve of Italian Day on The Drive. What a great way to get into the Italian spirit! From the theatre: “Loosely based on writer/director Giuseppe Tornatore’s own life, the story follows a prominent filmmaker recalling the days of his magical boyhood, when he fell in love with movies and formed a deep friendship with the projectionist at his village’s theatre.“ This film screens in Italian with English subtitles.
Sat, June 11 | 7pm | Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway)| $12 at the door | DETAILS

ITALIAN DAY | As mentioned, Italian Day takes over The Drive this Sunday, and so what if a little drizzle is expected? The street will be closed to traffic from Venables to Grandview to allow pedestrians to bounce safely between barbecue stations, gelato booths, patios and live music performances, and that always makes for good times. Add to all of that more than a few options for a good cup of coffee, a display of classic cars, and the occasional impromptu bocce game and you have a solidly inspired Sunday. Bonus: this year the theme of the festival is food. From Festival organizers “With Italian Day 2016, the pleasures of beautiful Italian food and drink will represent the heart of the celebrations when shared with Vancouver’s multi-cultural community, as a symbolical extension of warmth the Italian table offers, as well as a showcase of Italian product and local Vancouver eateries.” Remember to leave the car at home, as driving hereabouts will be impossible.
Sun, June 12 | 12pm-8pm | Commercial Drive (Venables to Grandview) | Free | DETAILS

TOURIST TIME | Sightseers at Granville Island Market are still at manageable levels and grey skies tend to mean lighter pedestrian traffic. So scoot down and be a tourist in your own town! We suggest you trek in on foot (a nice pre-market seawall walk is always nice) and relax over a morning coffee and a fresh honeydew doughnut from Lee’s before easing into your grocery shopping. And be sure to fuel up at the newly opened Chau Veggie before you leave (the tumeric and coconut Golden Temple soup is amazing). Oh, and keep in mind that those adorable ferries are a good option for getting off the island if it happens to rain.
Granville Island Public Market | 7 days | 9am-7pm | 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.