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 October 2 – October 8, 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.

ENGAGE | Climate change and stewardship of the environment are issues that no party or candidate should ignore this federal election. Because parties and candidates sometimes need help remembering what to focus on, the organization 100 Debates on the Environment has arranged for politically neutral and environment-focused all-candidates debates to take apace across the country. One of these debates goes down in Vancouver this Thursday night. Make your way to SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts to hear Dr. Hedy Fry, (Liberal Party of Canada); Jesse Brown (Green Party of Canada) and Breen Ouellette (New Democratic Party) talk about how they plan to tackle issues concerning the environment. Funny that there aren’t any Conservatives in this line-up, isn’t it? Stop being so politely and apathetically Canadian. We need to get angry, get informed, and get voting for change. This is a good start. Find out more.

FILM FEST | The Vancouver International Film Festival continues its cinematic awesomeness this week. With an impressive and varied line-up of fantastic films from around the world, plus an emphasis on connecting with movie goers through engaging talks and events, filling the extra day in your weekend with movies will be easy. Find out more.

WINE | Speaking of Film Fest, New Zealand wine documentary “A Seat at the Table” by David Nash and Simon Mark-Brown is screening at VIFF Oct. 4th and 6th and it looks inspiring and relatable to anyone working in BC’s wine trade. Check out the trailer here. From VIFF: “Winemaking is really quite a simple business. Only the first 200 years are difficult,” quips Baroness Philippine de Rothschild in David Nash and Simon Mark-Brown’s visually resplendent survey of New Zealand’s wine industry. The co-directors are out to disprove the Baroness’ notion by showing how Kiwi winemaking has taken lessons from the French to produce superb vintages using biodynamic methods (BC producers take note!). Often hilarious interviews with French and Kiwi vintners add a welcome spice.” Tickets and details here.

DARK | Ever walk through Stanley Park at night and feel slightly nervous about some rustling in the bushes? Hook up with Stanley Park Ecology Society peeps this Friday night for a “Hoots & Howls” walk and get schooled on what might be lurking in the dark. Once you’ve taken this informative walk, you’ll be much better equipped to anticipate park residents such as skunks, raccoons, coyotes and owls. Wear sensible footwear and come out a more informed city dweller. Extra cool part: This walk begins at dusk with a beer reception to “awaken the nocturnal animal within!” Find out more.

LAUGH | Comedian and bad writing sadist Sara Bynoe hosts another one of her hilarious Teen Angst evenings this Friday night. From Sara’s website: “Somewhere in the back of your closet gathering dust and turning yellow with age is comedic gold. Those old journals, poems, and essays you wrote as a teenager when you thought you could do no wrong, would probably make you cringe if you were to read them today. Now, imagine sharing them in front of an audience. That’s exactly what happens at Teen Angst Night. You held on to those diaries for a reason, right? This is that reason!”  Listen and laugh. Find out more.

ART | Hit the opening reception for Pattern Recognition on Saturday afternoon and check out works by Bratsa Bonifacho, Kim Keever, Katrin Korfmann, George Byrne and Chris Shepherd, with a special focus on New York-based artist Jeffrey Milstein’s stunning aerial photographs. From Bau-Xi Gallery: “Meticulously composed and highly detailed, this curated selection of artwork reflects the ways in which the photographic lens or painter’s brush activates their respective subject matter.” Take a sneak peek here. Those shipping containers are so good, right?

CHILL | Autumn is here. If you’ve been reluctant to accept that reality up until now, this is the weekend you should probably give up and embrace it. Consider a trip out to UBC to wander the serene beauty of the Nitobe Memorial Garden. Carefully designed to offer visitors a thoughtful vantage point on the subtle changes of each season, it’s the perfect place to get philosophical about the seasons. Time your visit for a Saturday morning and you can swing by the UBC Farm Market for some nourishing fall vegetables. Find out more.

ALLEY MARKET | The good folks at Ubuntu Canteen are pulling together their first ever Alley Market on Sunday. Half party, half outdoor maker’s market complete with cocktails, music, crafts and Sweet Boy creampuffs — what more could you could possibly want out of a Sunday? Expect handmade ceramicists, leather work, natural body care products, plants and flowers, jewellery and – it can’t hurt to mention it twice – Sweet Boy Cream Puffs! Find out more.

POP! UP | Mondays may have an enduringly bad rap, but starting October 7th, Pop! Up Wine Bar is going to be adding some extra colour to the beginning of the week on The Drive. The new wine concept, focusing on wines that are made with care, ethical practices, sustainability in mind, will popping up at Livia the first and third Monday of each month and we’re already super excited to make it a regular habit. See you there! Find out more.

TINARIWEN | I can not believe that there are tickets left to see this amazing band. This is going to be a great show. You should grab a friend and get ready to have your mind blown. Find out more.