A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

Ten Things That You Should Absolutely Do Between Now And Next Week

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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!

EQUINOX | There’s no point in trying to ignore it, folks. Summer is over. The September equinox, also known as the autumnal equinox, goes down this Thursday (officially at 7:21am). An equinox occurs twice a year (around 20 March and 22 September) when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun making our day and night roughly the same in duration (“equi-nox” meaning “equal night”). It’s a fantastic thing in the Spring because we look forward to more sunlight and longer days. In the Fall, however, not so much. But don’t worry, the clock doesn’t go back until the first week in November. We’re just headed in that direction for real. Take the high road and embrace the hell out of it. Add an extra layer, order a gently spiced Fall cocktail, and dig in to some comfort food. The more you think about it, the better it actually is. So here’s to Fall!

FEAST | Head west for the UBC Harvest Feastival this Thursday evening. It’s an outdoor dinner celebrating autumn’s arrival and an abundance of art around campus. The dinner features a six course menu including a blackberry beet salad, a pumpkin penne, and a fire roasted peanut butter s’more. If that last item alone doesn’t tempt you to splurge on the reasonably priced tickets ($10-$35), consider the merits of the after meal itinerary of galleries, UBC Symphony Orchestra performances and a Harvest Improv show.
Thu, Sept 22 | 4:30pm to 9:00pm | UBC University Commons | $10-35 | DETAILS

DESIGN | IDSWest kicks off on Thursday night. Expect everything from small scale and handmade furniture to large scale instalments and groundbreaking concepts. We’re particularly interested in checking out The District, a marketplace for local designers selling everything from cutting boards and textiles to candles and cups. Local and international exhibitors, speakers and design wonks will be gathering at IDSWest to show, discuss, collaborate and inspire all weekend long, but we suggest you make a point of hitting the launch party ($35); music will be playing, wine will be flowing and good times will be had. See you there.
Thu, Sept 22 | 7-11pm | Opening Night Party (19+ trade and consumers) | DETAILS
Fri, Sept 23 | 9:30am – 5:30pm | Professional Trade Day (Trade only) | DETAILS
Sat, Sept 24 | 10am–6pm | Open to the public | DETAILS
Sun Sept 25 | 10am-5pm | Open to the public | DETAILS

POLITICS | I tend to check out over the summer and choose beer on a beach over lectures and documentaries, but by September I usually regain an appetite for challenging my mind. I’ll definitely get a cerebral workout at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre out at UBC where author and New Yorker staff writer Jane Mayer discusses Dark Money, detailing how super PACs and big donor cash are shaping the upcoming elections in the USA.
Fri, Sept 23 | 6:30pm | Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre (6163 University Blvd)| DETAILS

LISTEN | The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra launches its 98th season this weekend, so get yourself to the Orpheum and get in on the almost-centennial celebratory vibe. The evening includes a work by Composer in Residence, Jocelyn Morlock, as well as Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. As always, the infinitely affable and exceedingly talented Bramwell Tovey leads the program. We suggest a quick and tasty stop at Uva for a solid start with quality cocktail.
Sat, Sept 24 | 8pm | Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe St.) | $19-100 | DETAILS

DINE | It’s mushroom season, folks! Vancouver chefs do an impressive job of showcasing the diversity and subtlety of flavour of fungi, so get out there and gobble some up. This week we suggest pulling up a chair at the Sunday Supper Series at La Pentola in Yaletown where Chef Travis McCord and his crew will serve a mushroom-themed family style feast. Expect to taste giant puff ball, lobster and cauliflower mushrooms incorporated into sausage-stuffed quail, agnolotti with cacao and marsala butter, braised wild boar belly, garganelli with rabbit and pancetta ragu and venison neck agnolotti. Hearty, earthy, lovely Autumn on a plate! Space is limited, so be smart and reserve.
Sun, Sept 25 | La Pentola (350 Davie St) | $65 (optional +$45 for wine) | DETAILS

ARCHITECTURE | The Vancouver Heritage Foundation is holding its annual Midcentury Modern Residential House Tour this weekend. Participants get to check out the interiors of five significant Modernist homes. Expect elevated aesthetic appreciation and a big dose of real estate envy. From Vancouver Heritage Foundation: “Inspired by the innovative Modernist style, Mid-Century Modernism embraces clean lines and a close relationship with nature. In Vancouver we enjoyed a specific adaptation in West Coast Modernism which made use of our abundant local natural resources and incredible landscape.” Although tickets for the shuttle and spaces at the post-tour reception are both sold out, die hard ’Post and Beam’ enthusiasts are still welcome to get in on the self-guided tour portion of the day using independent transportation.
Sat, Sept 24 | 1-5pm | Various Locations | $60-110 | DETAILS

EASTSIDE FLEA | If you’re looking to change up or update your Fall wardrobe with a few key pieces or are inspired to shake things up at home with some cool accent odds and sods, Eastside Flea is where you’ll want to be this weekend. Peruse booth after curated booth of goodies from over 55 local vendors on Friday night (6-10pm), plus Saturday and Sunday (10am-4pm). Bonus: pinball, pool, music, food trucks and cocktails. See you there!
Sept. 23-25 | various times | Ellis Building (1024 Main St.) | $3 | DETAILS

ART | The days of being able to walk out your door to pop in to your local Art Gallery to check out an original Picasso are drawing to a close. Picasso: The Artist and His Muses comes of the walls of the Vancouver Art Gallery and you don’t want that to happen without having seen the exhibition in person. Pro tip: pair your viewing with a handy “Scholar’s Tour” this Friday (September 23, 1pm) for a unique appreciation of the collection. From the VAG: “Join Catherine Soussloff, Professor of art history at the University of British Columbia, as she tours the popular exhibition Picasso: The Artist and His Muses in its final weeks. Soussloff will discuss Picasso’s later works (1955–73) in relation to both the artist’s earlier practice and the history of art in the second half of the 20th century.”
Now – Oct 2 | Daily, 10am-5pm (9pm Tue) | VAG (750 Hornby St) | $24 | DETAILS

EXPLORE | Predominantly clear skies, changing leaves, stunning sunsets — Autumn comes with excellent weather for exploring! Pull on some layers and get hiking. We suggest a few hours on the trails out at Lighthouse Park in West Van followed by slice of pumpkin pie at Savary Island Pie Co. on Marine Drive. Don’t feel like tackling the bridge? Head out to the Endowment Lands for a bit of fresh air, listen for Pileated Woodpeckers, take the stairs down to Wreck Beach, or visit the bunnies out at Jericho Beach. Winter is coming, so get out there and take advantage while you still can.
All Week | Beaches, parks and forest all over the city | Free (except for the pie part)

 

Transition Into 2024 with Some Quality Downtime

From our calendar to yours comes this carefully considered agenda of cool things we are doing, wishing we could do, or conspiring to do in Vancouver, from now until January 8th, 2024.

Scout List, Vol. 601

From our calendar to yours comes this carefully considered agenda of cool things we are doing, wishing we could do, or conspiring to do in Vancouver, right now.

Scout List, Vol. 600

From our calendar to yours comes this carefully considered agenda of cool things we are doing, wishing we could do, or conspiring to do in Vancouver, from March 30th to April 5th, 2023.

Scout List, Vol. 599

From our calendar to yours comes this carefully considered agenda of cool things we are doing, wishing we could do, or conspiring to do in Vancouver over the days and weeks ahead.