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!

LAUGH | Get yourself to Little Mountain Gallery in Mount Pleasant and have a laugh on Thursday night. Jokes Please! is a weekly standup comedy show that takes place every Thursday evening at the LMG. This week, it’s May the Fourth – aka Star Wars day – so grab a drink and settle in for some distinctly Star Wars humour. Doors at 8:30pm with the show starting at 9m, Door is $5, Drinks are $4. “Laugh it up, fuzzball!”
Thu, May 4 | 9pm | Little Mountain Gallery (195 E 26th Ave) | $5 | DETAILS

BUY LOCAL | Hooray, Got Craft is back in East Van! Make your way over to the Maritime Labour Centre this weekend to check out the supercool handmade wares of over 75 independent artists. Expect everything from locally crafted ceramics, jewellery, clothing and accessories to caramels, salt, oils and bitters. Set aside a piece of your weekend to explore what your neighbours and community members are busy creating.
Sat, May 6 + Sun, May 7 | 10am–5pm | Maritime Labour Centre (1880 Triumph St) | $3 | DETAILS

ZORG | Not that you NEED the reminder, but The Fifth Element is a top notch film: “In the 23rd century, a New York City cabbie, Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), finds the fate of the world in his hands when Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) falls into his cab. As the embodiment of the fifth element, Leeloo needs to combine with the other four to keep the approaching Great Evil from destroying the world. Together with Father Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm) and zany broadcaster Ruby Rhod (Chris Tucker), Dallas must race against time and the wicked industrialist Zorg (Gary Oldman) to save humanity.” A movie like this deserves a big screen and a proper bag of popcorn. Head to The Rio on Friday night. “You wanna play it soft. We’ll play it soft. You wanna play it hard. Let’s play it hard.”
Fri, May 5 | 11:55pm | Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway) | $10 | DETAILS

ANTISOCIAL | Poke your head in to Antisocial Skate Shop on Thursday night and catch the opening of the most recent show to hit the walls of the smallest (and possibly coolest) exhibition space in the city. Three Doodes, A Maverick Whip and Whole Lotta Fun (photographs by Mikael Bidard) is the artist’s first solo show. On a walk-in the other day I also noticed that co-owner Michelle was busy merchandising the heck out of a load of new spring stock, so there will be lots of good to take in.
Thu, May 4 | Antisocial Skateboard Shop (2337 Main St.) | DETAILS

LISTEN | On every Sunday in May the South Main Gallery will host an artist talk with a different guest artist and topic each time. If talk #1 (this Sunday) – “Creating Big Work in a Small Town” with Dina Goldstein – is any indication, this is going to be a seriously good reason to block off a few hours of your weekend. Find out more about the talks here. Check out Goldstein’s work here.
Sun, May 7 | 2pm | South Main Gallery (279 East 6th Ave) | DETAILS

WATCH | DOXA is on, and with over 85 documentaries on the roster this year, there’s plenty to keep you entertained and informed, plus there’s also the opportunity to dig a little deeper with panel discussions, talks and informal after-film discussions. This year we’re particularly looking forward to catching a few of the films included in the Spotlight on Troublemakers series. From Doxa: “Spotlight on Troublemakers celebrates folk who upend the applecart, wreak havoc and generally disrupt business as usual with a selection of films that resist, rage on and fight for real change.” Check out the full line-up here.
May 4-14 | Various times, Various venues | $13 | DETAILS

SCORE | There is a kickass sale going down at Franklin Street Studios this weekend. Hustle down to the Eastside portal to awesomeness and load up on scents, salts and oils from Osmics; beautiful textiles and paper products by Banquet Workshop; jewelry and art by Dina Gonzalez Mascaro; “really friggin nice” clothing; stunning leather bags; Sweet Boy Cream Puffs; clay pots; even more jewellery; haircuts (bring your own hair); and a selection of pleasing items made by ceramics superstar (and all around rad human) Maggie Boyd. If you’ve got a mom, this is exactly the kind of place she’d want you to be shopping for her. Plus, this will be a fine Saturday in the company of solid peeps. See you there!
Sat, May 6 | 11am-5pm| 1654 Franklin St. | DETAILS

ART | The annual Degree Exhibition at Emily Carr opens this week. A group show of a magnitude rarely encountered, this is really worth a visit AND, this is the last time this showing of talent will hit the walls at the Granville Island campus (ECUAD officially picks up and moves to Great Northern Way for September). Hit opening night on Friday or head down over the sunny weekend. Grab coffee and a fresh doughnut from nearby Granville Island first and then wander the galleries, hallways, foyers and classrooms of the campus to take in upwards of 300 works by the talented graduating students.
May 6-21 | ECUAD on Granville Island (1400 Johnston St.) | DETAILS

MINGLE | Parker Street Studios is holding an Art Salon this weekend. Departing from the Eastside Culture Crawl format of opening artist studios to the public, this event brings art out of studios and into the hallways, inviting the public to wander two floors of temporary gallery space displaying painting, sculpture and installation pieces. Expect works from close to 60 artists. Friday night is where/when the action will be.
May 5-7 | Fri, 7-10 pm Sat + Sun noon-4pm | Parker Street Studios (1000 Parker St.) | DETAILS

OF A FEATHER | This is Bird Week, folks. Being that Vancouver is smack in the middle of the ‘Pacific Flyway’ route for migratory birds (the north-south route that flows from Alaska to Patagonia), we get to see plenty of seasonal species, and the city boasts a number of bird specialists willing to share their knowledge. The theme this year is ‘Birds At The Shore’. From guided tours (on foot, bike, and in kayak) and informative talks to nest box building and bird wing taxidermy workshops — there is something for every age and level of interest.
May 6-13 | Various times and locations | DETAILS

FINALLY | Trout Lake and Kitsilano Farmers Markets open this weekend, and if that isn’t a sure sign of the coming of summer, I don’t know what is! Stock up on goodies like local salad greens and stinging nettles, fresh vegetables and herbs. There will also be artisan breads and preserves, honey, wild salmon, cookies, pies, flowers and even a food truck or two to keep you busy. Welcome back, farmers! We’ve missed you!
Trout Lake: Sat May 6 | 9am-2pm | North Parking Lot, John Hendry Park | DETAILS
Kits: Sun, May 7 | 10am-2pm | 2690 Larch @ 10th | DETAILS