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 24 to July 30, 2019. Note that you can also 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.

BEES |  Hives for Humanity is hosting a special garden party on the North Shore that would make a fun Thursday afternoon excursion. Head to West Van (location provided with ticket) to learn directly from beekeepers why bees matter – and do it in a beautiful and pollinator-friendly garden. Guests have the opportunity to taste Hives for Humanity honey, as well as other sweet treats such as Honey Chamomile ice cream from Earnest, mead from Humblebee Meadery, and chocolate and coffee from East Van Roasters. Tickets are $65 and proceeds go directly to Hives for Humanity’s bee-centric initiatives. Helping bees helps everyone, so do some good and get your tickets here.

PIE + PICKLES | The Pie Shoppe is hosting a collaborative Pie & Pickles dinner on Friday night. Hit up the sexy little Powell Street space for a “super casual” meal of savoury pies, lacto fermented pickles, buttermilk rye, raspberry kombucha, cider and really, REALLY tasty desserts.  $30 per person, from 6:30 until ‘sold out’ (9:30ish). Meet some cool people. Taste some cool things. What a fine way to spend the last Friday in July!  See you there. Find out more.

FIREWORKS | The Celebration of Light begins this week. Saturday sees a display of pyrotechnic amazingness put on by India, Canada gets in on the action next Wednesday (July 31) and Croatia finishes the 2019 celebration next Saturday night. There are many Vancouver beaches, hills, parks and bridges that will provide free and spectacular views of the fireworks. Best to travel by foot, bike or public transit – forget the car.  Find out more.

CITY | Whether you’re new to the city of just interested in brushing up on local history, an Architectural Institute of British Columbia walking tour is a great way to get to know Vancouver. View the personality of the city through the prisms of its landmarks, buildings, structures and streets. Learn about heritage preservation, contemporary and historic architectural styles, the impact urban planning policy has on the evolution of the city, and more. There are six tours in all, each covering a distinct area of the city. Thursdays to Mondays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (with new ‘after hours’ tours from 5:30-7:30 every other Thursday).  Walks include: Chinatown; Gastown; Strathcona; Yaletown; West End; and Downtown — pick one and get walking! Find out more.

ART | Interested in the intersection of art and social commentary? Slip in to the Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (Centre A) to check out (dis)location (dis)connect (dis)appearance. As Centre A: explains, this exhibition “(…focuses on intergenerational relationship gaps, specifically on the loss of language and the resulting disappearance of the transference of culture and tradition between generations. These complex issues are explored through the diverse lens of the artists, each at a different stage of exploring, rediscovering, and reconnecting with their roots, while others attempt to facilitate communications between generations. At the same time, these works explore themes of family, belonging, domesticity, gender, and migratory identity experiences.”  This show continues until August 10th. Find out more.

BLACKBERRIES | It’s early, but local blackberries are moving into the good-for-picking zone right now. Don’t miss this precious window — find yourself a thicket and get picking! Our spots are next to train tracks (careful), in empty lots, and in other wild, unkept spaces. Perfect for smoothies, crumbles, jams, or syrups for summer cocktails!

SCORE | Cruising alleys and driveways for quality garage sales is traditionally a hit and miss activity. Sometimes you find an exactly perfect picnic blanket or pick up some sweet vinyl. Other times it can be a castaway shit show of headless barbies and VHS tapes. Increase your chances of scoring the good stuff by hitting the famous Hawks Avenue Yard Sale in Strathcona this Sunday (10am-4pm). The pickings are along Hawks Ave. between Keefer and Prior St., and along the edges of McLean Park.

LEARN | On the last Monday of the month, Odd Society Distillery and Cocktail Lounge collaborates with Rough & Tumble Bar Services to host an evening of booze forward storytelling – they call it Odd Talks. “Topics range from distillation to honey terroir, to the science of the hangover.” July’s talk goes down this coming Monday and will feature Shelley Bolton and Stacey Lynden from East Van Roasters who will speak about working with single origin coffee and chocolate. Guest bartender, Souhail Rosta (Pourhouse) jumps in with a cocktail list inspired by the science of coffee and chocolate. No tickets required, but space is limited. Doors at 7pm, speakers at 8pm. Find out more

PRIDE | Don’t panic – the parade isn’t until Sunday (August 4th), but if you want to make sure you squeeze in every possible Pride-related activity, you need to start with the official Pride Week flag raising hosted by the City of Vancouver on Monday. This event will include the reading of the Pride Week Proclamation by Mayor Kennedy Stewart and the raising of the Pride and Trans Flags at City Hall. Stick around afterward for food trucks, music and information booths hosted by local LGBTQ2+ organizations. Find out more.

HEADS-UP | The Psychedelic Furs are in town to satisfy your post-punk UK rock cravings next week. They’ll be on stage at the Orpheum next Wednesday night with such nostalgic tunes as “Love My Way,” “Pretty In Pink,” “Heaven,” “The Ghost In You,” and “Heartbreak Beat”. The Furs are “co-headlining” with James and tickets are still available. Grab your best oversized 80’s blazer and a liberal helping of hair gel! Find out more.