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 May 9 to May 15, 2018. Please note that you can now get the Scout List – with a few extra pieces of intel included – sent to your inbox every Thursday. Sign up for your subscription in the sidebar.

DESIGN | Vancouver Design Week is in full swing, and with well over 100 design related talks, tours, panels and workshops planned along the theme of “Impact” there is a little something for everyone. Think about impactful places, learn about impactful people, engage in impactful events: architecture, branding, urban design, community activation – even food and drink, these are all elements of design that have impact us. As VDW explains: “We invite you to not just notice design, but to ask questions, uncover hidden layers, and consider the change that a design makes, lest it be taken for granted until it eventually “disappears”. There are over 50 events going down on Saturday alone, so get wise and make a plan by visiting the VDW website here.

SEEING SPOTS AT DOXA | Winding down this year’s DOXA Film Festival are two screenings of Kusuma – Infinity, the new documentary about the life of the famous Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusuma. The 88-year old multi-disciplinary artist is probably best known for her enormous polka-dot paintings and psychedelic pumpkin sculptures (more than a few of my friends crossed the border to see her Infinity Mirrors exhibit in Seattle last year). Kusuma’s life and inspirations are fascinating and traumatic (she grew up with an abusive mother, was haunted by hallucinations and eventually checked herself into a psychiatric institution, where she still resides), and hers is an amazing story of perseverance and creative genius. There’s no doubt this is a festival standout and a moving and important film. Find out more.

TEAS FOR BEES | Bees are vital. Happy and healthy ones pollinate gardens; happy gardens make people healthy and happy; and happy, healthy people make happy and healthy communities. You get the picture! It’s really important to do what we can for bees. Head out to UBC Farm this Saturday (it’s meant to be beautifully warm and sunny) to celebrate native bees and pollinators at the at the Teas for Bees Picnic Fundraiser. From UBC Farm: “This tea party is entry by donation with all proceeds going towards the UBC Farm’s mason bee housing expansion and new signage. There are only 30 spots. Registration is required. Simple tea party snacks to go with lots of honey served on a fun assortment of china and teaware. All you need to bring is your picnic blanket!” Suggested donation of $5-20. Find out more.

LECTURE | Author Sheila Heti has written an “explosive” book called Motherhood and she’ll be at the Vancouver Film School this Friday night to chat about it with Gabor Maté. From Penguin Random House: “Having reached an age when most of her peers are asking themselves when they will become mothers, Heti’s narrator considers, with the same urgency, whether she will do so at all. Over the course of several years, under the influence of her partner, body, family, friends, mysticism and chance, she struggles to make a moral and meaningful choice.” Sitting in on this timely conversation (Mother’s Day is on Sunday) is free and the event is followed by a book signing. Find out more.

BEER COLLABS | There are a couple of really tasty collaborative beer launches coming up this week featuring some really rad women! On Thursday, Callister Brewing is releasing their International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day “exotic” Belgian Golden Strong beer (with ginger, coriander and grains of paradise), and later in the week (Mother’s Day) Faculty Brewing is launching their very bee-ry three-way Honey Hefeweizen collab with the Hives for Humanity ladies and Vancouver Design Week. That’s two opportunities to celebrate women and mothers by assembling some of your favourite beer-loving female friends and/or family members for good times. Find out more here and here.

PRAWNS! | Spot Prawns are coming to False Creek’s Fisherman’s Wharf this weekend! The annual Spot Prawn Festival, founded by the Chefs’ Table Society of BC, always sells out so snatch your ticket fast! This year $10 gets you a BC spot prawn chowder and a cool $60 sets you up with a Spot Prawn Brunch (grazing style tasting menu with 6 delicious dishes). Expect cooking demos, a children’s area and educational displays, as well as the opportunity to buy prawns straight from the dock. Always fun! Find out more.

OCEAN SPORTS | The Jericho Sailing Centre opens its doors for the curious this weekend. From dinghies and kayaks to paddle boards and sailboats, the place has everything, so head down to the west side water sports hub to find out about upcoming programs and learn about what the centre can offer you. Hang around for a burger and a beer, wander your way out t0 the end of the pier to watch fishing lines cast and crab traps hoisted.  Find out more.

EXPLORE | Clear Saturday morning for some east side hang time. Start at Trout Lake for crepes at the Trout Lake Farmers Market (obvs. bring a backpack along to pick up ingredients for dinner while you’re at it). Before you leave the park, follow the trail around the lake – it only takes 15 minutes and a little bit of nature is a good starting point for a grounded weekend. And then it’s a 5-10 minute walk from Trout Lake over to The Drive. Grab coffee (you can’t walk a full city block on The Drive between Broadway and Venables without passing a coffee shop) and spend some time in a bookstore (Peoples Co-Op, Pulp Fiction and Canterbury Tales are all good options). And if you feel peckish, La Mezcalaria does a kickass brunch and La Grotta Del Formaggio will make you a mean Italian deli sandwich that will transport nicely to a nearby park (the sun is expected to shine all weekend). For more ideas of what to get up to while in the area, check out our  Commercial Drive guide here.

MOTHER’S DAY | It’s Mothers Day on Sunday! (You can never have too many reminders, right?) Take your mom out for brunch (here’s a guide for some ideas) and pay a visit to one of Elly Rakhmetouline of Late Bloomers’ flower stands. The Gibsons Flower Farm are paying a visit to the city this weekend especially for the event, and will be popping up at The Pie Shoppe on Powell Street, as well as at Brassneck Brewery and Cartems on Main Street. (Bonus: while you’re there, why not add some points for thoughtfulness by picking up or settling in for an impromptu treat or drink!) Elly will also be up bright and early doing deliveries, in case you’d like to start your mom’s day with a flower bouquet at her doorstep. Shoot her a message or visit her website to make your order now!

PLAN AHEAD | Food and drink aficionados won’t want to miss A Musical Feast on May 20th, amid the spectacular setting of the Cowichan Valley’s Blue Grouse Vineyard. With Chef Bill Jones (Deerholme Farm) leading the organization efforts and renowned New York City composer/pianist Misha Piatigorsky providing the musical ambience, for the long table family style dinner, it’s a night designed to delight all of the senses. The food will be prepared by local chefs, paired with Blue Grouse wines, with some incredible live music to round out what will surely be a magical and memorable event. Find out more.