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 in August, 2022. Note that you can now get the Scout List – with a few extra pieces of intel included – sent to your inbox by signing up for your subscription in the sidebar.
FEAST | Food just tastes better when it’s enjoyed outside. And, when it comes to local salmon, even more so when it’s eaten beside the water, and is prepared by some of Vancouver’s most passionate chefs…As is the case at the Wild Salmon Celebration, happening at Fishermen’s Wharf this Saturday, August 27th. Think eight food stations serving up a tasting menu created by ten chefs – Paul Natrall (Mr. Bannock), Vish Mayekar (La Tana), Josh Gonneau (VCC), Roger Ma (Boulevard), Dennis Peckham (Glowbal Group), Robert Clark & Julian Bond (Organic Ocean), Bobby Milheron (Homer St Cafe, Tableau, Maxine’s), Jacob Kent (Como Taperia), Jane Young (Lift Bakery) – plus BC wine and beer to pair with it, and a treat to cap it all off. DETAILS
PLAN | Tomoko Tahara is serving up a vegan dinner at Burdock & Co. on September 5th, and the menu reads like poetry! From the first course of *cardamom waffle with apricot miso butter, pine cone salt & leek ra-yu, to the third of 12 hrs squash pave with pistachio, fresh truffle, young mulberry & emerald oil and on… This one also coincides with the end of summer harvest and celebrates the hard-working local farmers who grow the ingredients featured on the six-course tasting menu – all excellent reasons to scoop up your tickets now, before they sell out! DETAILS *Take note that, since this dinner is dependent on what’s available from the farm at the time, some items may differ.
MAKE GOOD | Summer days are dwindling, so putting in as much outdoors time as possible should take precedent. With that being said, if you’re staying in the city this weekend, there’s a fun sounding free community event popping up in the open air park at 7th and Main (next to Steamworks Mt Pleasant) on Saturday, featuring a full DJ lineup and dance floor, local vendor market, food trucks and more. The Make Good Party kicks off at 2pm and winds down with the sunset. DETAILS
ART OPENING | Local painter and illustrator, Amanda Niekamp, has a solo show at Slice of Life Gallery beginning this Thursday (August 25th) that we’re stoked to check out – so much so, that we recently interviewed Niekamp (check it out here). The series is called Procession and is an homage to places – particularly ones of architectural significance – that have inspired her wanderlust. Think images full of whimsy, colour, tangibility and child-like vulnerability. Here’s a bit more on the series’ inspiration, from Kamp: “I travelled to Europe during a quiet hum when hardly anyone was travelling, and the architectural spaces I visited were free of the crowds that can take away from the experience. I was able to visualize and value the spaces for what they were without people. The resulting work in this context is the bare bones, the raw structures, materials and landscape. Only the viewer’s agency stands as occupancy.” DETAILS
HARVEST | We have arrived at that delicious point of the summer when tomatoes are at peak perfection. Take full advantage and gobble them up while you can. Get yourself over to the Farmer’s Market this week (they’re now in full swing in various neighbourhoods around Vancouver, four days per week, including the weekday after-work time slots), and take along your very best reusable carry bags to fill to the brim with heirlooms, cute little cherry tomatoes and armfuls of Romas. The window of perfection is open and it’s time to jump through! DETAILS
NATIVE PLANT WORKSHOP | Get to know more about your native plant species neighbours by signing up for a morning plant walk through Strathcona Community Garden on Sunday, August 28th. Over the course of two hours, knowledgeable guides Erica Ellis and Matthew Williams will be touching on topics including the medicinal, cultural, and culinary uses of some indigenous BC plants; plus there will be storytelling and journalling, and participants will get to sip on tea made using some of the highlighted ingredients. Participation is available on a sliding scale, from $5-15. DETAILS
POP-UP | Local ceramicist Kate Metten is hosting her first artist pop-up inside her new Main Street brick-and-mortar shop. The pop-up is on now until Thursday (August 25th) and features works by two other Canadian women also working in clay (available to admire and purchase): interdisciplinary artist Teresa Dorey (Dorey Ceramics) from Montreal, and Vancouver-based Nehiyaw-Métis artist Tara Dwelsdorf (Brick Brick Ceramics). Even if you can’t make it to the opening, find some time to get out and support this trio of talented women!
PNE | It’s hot as heck, but don’t be fooled. Fall will sneak in before you know it, and then the long, wet winter will follow. Make the most of t-shirt wearing weather. Obviously, you’ll want to include a trip to the Pacific National Exhibition fairgrounds. What is summer if not rollercoaster rides, mini doughnuts and target practice on rubber ducks? The PNE kicked off last weekend and carries on until Labour Day (Mon, Sept. 5). Find out more.
STARS | Every year around this time, stargazers and naturalists flee the bright lights of the city to catch the Perseid meteor shower. The shower is visible from mid-July right up until September each year, and this year we can expect to see 60-100 meteors per hour! Pretty much any open sky free of light noise will do the trick. Perseid’s peaked mid August, but you’ve still got a couple of weeks left to catch the action. | DETAILS
ESCAPE | This is a perfect time of year for a drive in the country. If you don’t want to invest in a whole weekend away but need the restorative break of leaving the city, consider heading toward Ladner/Delta for a day trip on Westham Island. There’s something immediately relaxing about the sound of wooden slats under your tires (be they car or bike) as you cross the Westham Island Bridge. On the other side are quiet roads flanked by long grass, plus roadside egg and vegetable stands. Cropthorne Farm is a great place for fresh, organic vegetables and, if you get there before they are all sold out: stunning bouquets of seasonal flowers. Fit in a walk at Reifel Bird Sanctuary too if you can (register in advance). You’ll feel like you’ve escaped on a country vacation, because you have!
COOL OFF | Pack a bag with towels, sunscreen, drinks and snacks and make for the hills! Not only does Lynn Canyon Park offer lovely and partially shaded trails, but it also has some beautiful swimming holes. Check out the 30 Foot Pool (a short walk from the suspension bridge) or find your way to Homestead Trail where there are several river access points. DETAILS
KAYAK | Another heatwave is upon us, beginning NOW. When it’s hot out, finding ways to cool down is imperative. One fun way is to rent a kayak and get out on the water, where it’s naturally more pleasant. Not sure where to do that? We’ve mapped out a list of spots currently offering hourly and extended rentals…Check it out here.
MAKE | On the last Sunday of each month The Museum of Anthropology is running a family program series called Culture Club. This month, the club is exploring environmental art and is offering a “make your own work of art from recycled materials” workshop with local environmental artists, Elvira DS Monteforte and Dolores Altin. Supplies for this event are limited; first come, first served. DETAILS
SCORE | August Studios is putting on a $100 or Less Art Show later this month. Mark it on your calendar now, because you won’t want to miss out. 20+ artists will be participating and all of the pieces on exhibition will have a price tag of $100 or less! We’ve seen the company this studio keeps, this will be a sweet selection of art. DETAILS
BLACKBERRIES | Local blackberries are moving into the good-for-picking zone right now. Don’t miss this precious window — grab a bucket, find yourself a thicket and load up! Our favourite spots are next to train tracks (careful), in empty lots, and in other wild, unkempt spaces. Perfect for smoothies, crumbles, jams, or syrups for summer cocktails!
ART | Two Vancouver artists are joining forces to shine a light on folks for their contributions to the community and culture of East Vancouver. The new exhibition by David Vegt and M W Bowen, titled Habitual, features twenty paintings of key figures and will be mounted on the walls of the Zoë Pawlak Gallery, a Westside artist-run space, from August 25-28th, 2022. Don’t feel too weird about the (somewhat ironic) address, though – Pawlak is an Eastside hero herself, and all subjects of the portraits on display have been invited to attend. Which means there will be solid East Van vibes in the air, and an above-average chance of engaging in conversation with some pretty cool people. Opening night reception for Habitual takes place on Thursday, August 25th from 7-10pm. There will also be an artist talk on the following Saturday (August 27th) from 1-2 pm. DETAILS
PLAN | Tickets are now on sale for a special September dinner at Shady Hazel Farm on the Sunshine Coast. This dinner will feature Chef Lucais Syme of Autostrada Osteria, who will be highlighting the food raised and grown on the Coast through a family style menu set out on a long table in a field on the farm property. Seats at this dinner will sell out FAST, get sorted here.
AVERILL CREEK DINNER | Eke the most out of the remaining weeks of summer is by planning a food- and wine-centred trip to the Duncan area, when Averill Creek Vineyard will be kicking off their new Dinner Series (Tuesday, August 23rd) with a multi-course meal prepared by Chef Wesley Young (PiDGiN). The price for a seat at one of these tables isn’t small – tickets are $185 per person before tax, for food, wine, a cocktail and snack – but if you are looking to cap off your summer with a memorable meal enjoyed amid a spectacular setting, then this one definitely seems worth it! That being said, events like this typically sell out super quickly, so go with your gut feeling… | DETAILS THIS IS NOW SOLD OUT
DOG DAYS | If pups put a smile on your face then you won’t want to miss Strange Fellows’ Patio Party this weekend, because this one is all about dogs – from the furry kind (think, a pop-up adoption station) to the edible sort (hotdogs and corndogs). Music will be bumping, tails will be wagging, beer and dog treats will be flowing, and the good vibes will be aplenty. DETAILS
BE ENCHANTED | See the Dr. Sun-Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in a whole new (twi)light by attending this Friday’s Enchanted Evening Concert, featuring a performance by local all-Asian drag family, House of Rice. Take in the serene surroundings of the garden when the day is at its most pleasant, at dusk, and relax with some refreshments while mingling with a welcoming group of fun-loving folks. This is the last event in the Enchanted Evening Concert series until next year, so don’t miss out! DETAILS
FIELD DAY FEST | Field House Brewing in Abbotsford is throwing their annual Field Day Fest this Saturday, and some tickets for both the Sunny and Sunset Sessions are still available! We’ve been to the Fest in the past and, as far as music festivals go, this one is a super chill, all-around good time (no toe-stomping, elbow throwing, smelly port-a-potties, knee-deep mud, etc. to contend with!) Think a line-up of eight local musicians, an artisan market (during the daytime session only), really good food from the brewery’s Canteen using their own farm grown ingredients, and lots of incredibly delicious sour beers – all enjoyed on a pretty lawn among fellow fun- and beer-loving folks. DETAILS
DINE | Ubuntu Canteen plays host to winemaker Rajen Toor, of Ursa Major Winery in the South Okanagan Valley for a special dinner this Saturday night. Expect a night of excellent food and handmade wines, paired with good company and conversation…and poetry (recited by the winemaker himself!). If you’re familiar with Toor’s wines (some of our personal faves in BC) and their cheeky yet lyrical names, then the latter is hardly surprising, and definitely a fitting cap to the evening’s meal! Seats going for $155 each. That’s no small price tag but we have little doubt that this will be a memorable experience, worth every penny! Take a sneak peek at the menu details on Ubuntu’s Instagram feed here.
BURGERS + BUBBLES | The good folks of Juice Bar are hosting the good folks of Bella (much loved sparkling wine house in Naramata) for an evening of smash burgers, bubbles, and good times. The party starts at 5pm this Friday, August 12th and continues until the bubbles run dry on the patio at Juice bar in Gastown. It’s going to be a fun time, we think you should go. DETAILS
MIDNIGHT MOTO | You don’t have to ride to enjoy a motorcycle show and swap – just roll up and admire. Ask questions, get talking: curiosity will get you interesting places. Expect bikes, merch, vendors and a crowd at this one night only gathering of bike enthusiasts. Bonus: DownLow Chicken Shack is right there. DETAILS
LEARN | Architectural photographer Martin Knowles and UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture Professor Emeritus, Sherry McKay are leading a tour of UBC’s ‘most iconic mid-century modern buildings’ on Saturday. The idea is to get schooled on the ‘innovative and fascinating architectural movement’ and level up your photography skills while you’re at it. The workshop is open to all skill levels. Hit up the Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s website to grab a place on the tour here.
FIX | Have you got a busted blender, torn shirt, or malfunctioning coffee maker? Don’t kick your broken bits to the curb in frustration, fix them! Don’t know how? Hit the Community Repair Event at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House this weekend where you can get help from a team of handy volunteer fixers. Score a free appointment time slot (between 9:30am-12:30pm) to receive in-person repair help by booking here.
KULA x RISE UP | Head over to Strathcona on August 13th for an afternoon of good eats, treats for your skin and body, and to connect with the cool people putting it all together. Roll in at lunchtime to chow down on some of Kula Kitchen’s hot veg soul food (hello, Mac & RIBZ Soul Bowl), and fill up your pockets with cash to spend on colourful clothing from Naa Sheka, and other specials at the Rise Up Marketplace. The good vibes (and good music) will surely abound! | DETAILS
UBUNTU DINNER | Also on August 13th, Fraserhood’s friendly yellow neighbourhood spot, Ubuntu Canteen, is switching gears to play host to winemaker Rajen Toor, of Ursa Major Winery, from the South Okanagan Valley. Expect a night of excellent food and handmade wines, paired with good company and conversation. The whole thing kicks off at 6pm, with seats going for $155 each. If you’ve tasted Toor’s wines before (some of our personal faves in BC), then you know that this will be a memorable experience, worth every penny! | DETAILS
APERO MODE | The next Apéro Mode is happening at Hānai on Commercial Drive next week (August 10th, 5-8ish). A fun wine list, amiable crowd and a cute space to enjoy it all in – sounds like a pretty perfect mid-week antidote to us! Even if you’re not a “wine person”, there will be beer, cider, and frosé to drink and Hawaiian snacks to nosh on. See you there! | DETAILS
BARNSIDE | If you haven’t had the opportunity to hit an al fresco dinner this summer, this is the time to get serious about making it happen. We suggest heading out to Barnside Brewery for a feast of farm-fresh vegetables, prepared by Acorn’s Chef Devon Latte. Take a tour of Barnside and their neighbours, Cropthorne Farm, who happen to be the exclusive supplier of the vegetables going into the evening’s menu (vegetarian with vegan options available by request in advance). All-in, tickets for the dinner and tours of both locations are $122 per person – with the $10 beer pairing being an obvious addition…as is tacking on the $20 for roundtrip transportation (pick-up and drop-off happens at the Acorn, on Main Street). Scoop up some tickets and more info DETAILS.
BLOCK PARTY | Acorn restaurant is celebrating a whopping 10 years of business this summer, and they’re doing it right: with a good old-fashioned block party on August 5th, from 1-9pm. Put aside a good chunk of time in your afternoon and/or evening after work (it is Friday, after all) to enjoy as much veg-forward street food snacks, wine, beer and cocktails as you can, along with other family-friendly activities planned for the day (think music, games, and vendors to shop). Even better, the sun is slated to return just in time for the Friday festivities…meet us there, it will be a blast! | DETAILS
PRE-PARTY | Sad about not having snagged a ticket to Farmhouse Fest? Good news: Bells & Whistles is throwing a Farmhouse Fest pre-party at their Fraser Street location this Friday, August 5th. Things kick off at 11:30am, and continue throughout the entire day! Kegs will be tapped (including Cantillon, Holy Mountain, Fair Isle, and Garden Path), special bottles will be available (Tilquin, Field House, and Hanssens Artisanaal) and beer fans will be gathering! Not a bad backup plan. | DETAILS
GARDEN PARTY | If you don’t have a garden (or just prefer other people’s gardens to your own) you should consider factoring in a visit to Oh Carolina Café & Grocery for their weekly Sunday afternoon Garden Party. This week the tiny East Van favourite has planned a kebab party, and they’re calling it “Sheik Shack”. There will be tasty natural wine flowing (by the glass and the bottle), loads of good food and very friendly people talking about interesting things. It all kicks off at 3pm, and no tickets are required. | DETAILS
ART | Local artist Devon Gifford has a new show opening at THIS Gallery on Saturday, August 6th. It’s aptly called Dark Days – it was was conceived during early Covid times, which the artist spent languidly observing and painting the clouds from various outdoors locations. From the artist statement: “Each layer of grey tone contains depth, warmth, and light; a metaphor of what I was seeing and feeling around me, in the world, everyday. The sadness, and all of the little things that make a difference – that bring depth, warmth, and light. Clouds became my comfort, a warm hug for my mind.” Some contemplative cloud-gazing sure sounds like a great change of pace and mind space for the hot week ahead… | DETAILS