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 July 11 to July 17, 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.

POP UP | There is a tasty pozole party planned at Birds & The Beets On Thursday night. The second Katz Pozole Pop-Up offers two versions (Chicken or Vegan) of the delicious Mexican soup and all signs point to both being strong justifications for skipping dinner at home. Margaritas and beer also available. No tickets needed, just head in and order up! Make a few pals while you’re at it. Find out more.

ART OPENINGS | There’s not one, not two, but THREE good reasons to head to the CAG this week. A trio of art openings coincide on Friday. “My auntie bought all her skidoos with bead money” by Jeneen Frei Njootli; recently graduated and CAG award-winner Andi Icaza-Largaespada’s abstract photographic panorama (which will be adorning the CAG’s exterior); and the first ever Canadian exhibition of LA-based artist Channa Horwitz, via a study of the deceased’s work entitled “Progressions and Rhythms in Eight”. The opening reception for the full line-up is going down on Thursday evening. Find out more.

FOLK FEST | The Vancouver Folk Fest spreads across the grasses of Jericho Park this weekend. The three day event is a local tradition that speaks to Vancouver’s hippy roots. Expect good things: Neko Case, Ry Cooder, Rodney Crowell, Wallis Bird and Mick Flannery, Carole Pope, Alex Cuba, Petunia and the Vipers, Art Bergmann, Guy Davis, and a whole whack of other fantastic musicians and bands. All of that AND serious summer weather at Jericho? Flat out awesome. Find out more.

LAUGH | Slip into Little Mountain Gallery in Mount Pleasant this week and have a giggle. The members of Little Mountain Comedy Department present Angry & Afraid: An Emotional Summer. From event organizers: “Just because it’s bright and sunny out doesn’t mean we’re not all crying on the inside. In fact, some of us enjoy a good cry out on the deck! Angry & Afraid, the therapeutic comedy show about all your hates & fears, is here to be honest about our summertime emotion, and by that we mean we’re gonna do stand-up and sketch comedy about all the things that frighten and frustrate us!”. $5 in advance or $10 at the door. Not only is laughter said to strengthen the immune system, boost energy and lower stress levels, but it also feels super good! Do some! Bonus: $4 beers. Find out more.

TROUT LAKE | Whether you’re a weekly regular or haven’t yet taken advantage of the Trout Lake Farmer’s Market’s summer offerings, this Saturday in particular is a great time to swing by because it’s RecycleFest! The third annual event overlaps with this week’s market which means that while you’re loading up on fresh produce and other local goodies you can also unload your collection of broken electronics. ElectroRecycle volunteers will be on site all day to usher up to 300 technological devices into their eco-friendly futures. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a proper “Fest” without live music, popcorn, hot dogs, cotton candy, contests and prizes. Oh, and a bouncy castle! Find out more.

WES ANDERSTHON | Looking to escape the heat? How about an evening at the movies? There’s a Wes Anderson trilogy at The Rio Theatre on Saturday that can help you out with that. Yup, you can dig in for over six hours of awesome adventure. We’re talking Fantastic Mr.Fox, Isle of Dogs, and Moonrise Kingdom back to back to back. Add a grilled cheese and a cold beer and there’s no reason to leave until bedtime. Find out more.

SKATEBOARD | Vans Park Series Contest goes down at Hastings Skatepark this weekend. Vancouver is home to a staggering number of outdoor skateparks and Hastings is (arguably) our best foot forward, design-wise. Expect some serious ripping as some of the world’s gnarliest skateboarders get to know how we roll. Check out international pros like Alex Sorgente, Tom Schaar, and Pedro Barros as they compete to be one of the five highest ranked skaters to move on to possibly take the title of Park Terrain World Champion in China this Fall. Also, skateboarding has been confirmed to make its Olympic debut st the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, and that makes us happy. Find out more.

PICK-YOUR-OWN |  It’s blueberry season! Farmer’s markets and local grocery stores are loaded with them, but picking your own is a fun summer activity. Head toward Ladner/Delta and hit Westham Island. Once you cross the wood planked bridge to the soft roads lined by long grass and foxgloves, you’ll find fantastic u-pick berry farms as well as roadside egg and vegetable stands. Take your own buckets for easy post-picking transportation. Try Emma Lea Farms – open daily 10am – 6pm Find out more.

FOOTIE | Flat screens have been mounted, beer orders have been appropriately adjusted and temporary licences have been issued to jersey and flag-selling vendors. Vancouver is ready for World Cup Final festivities. Looking for somewhere to watch Croatia battle France? Commercial Drive is a safe bet (seating will be scarce, but cheers will be loud and crowds will be charged), but you might want to also check out Bells & Whistles on Fraser. They’re kitted out to make your experience top notch with a deep beer list and some a solid menu. In Gastown, check out Di Beppe, where they’ll have delicious pastries, pizza and espresso at the ready.

BELT IT OUT | The summer weather is back which means there’s reason to sing this weekend! Who better to do it with than the karaoke-loving art collective, Weekend Leisure? They’ll be doing their thing at the VIVO Media Arts Centre on Friday night in celebration of their new website, with the funds raised going towards VIVO. Too vocally challenged and/or shy to karaoke? You can still get in on the action since there’ll also be ping pong, snacks, and VIVO is even dusting off their video game archive for your entertainment. The evening kicks off with a selection of Weekend Leisure’s “public access TV episodes, karaoke videos, and other picks that’ll make you cry with joy, laugh nervously, and/or stare blankly with delightful bemusement…” or maybe even inspire you to come out of your shell and belt one out! Find out more.

SHOP & PARTY | The newly opened Broadway location of Mintage throws their Grand Opening bash this Friday. With multiple vendors all selling their wares under one roof, Mintage Mall is a hip spin on the antique mall model. To get you into a shopping rhythm there will be all of the usual party elements like drinks, snacks and DJs. If your Friday night plans are closer to East Van then you can still partake in the celebration because their original Commercial Drive location will also be in full festive mode! Feeling really swanky? Then you might even consider hopping between both shops via one of Mintage’s limousine shuttles. Bonus: Mintage Mall is located upstairs from the also recently re-opened Our Town Cafe, which is open until 11pm. Consider taking a breather from what will surely be a packed space upstairs and head to street level where the booze will be flowing and the a/c blasting, with live music at 9pm. Find out more.