The main objective of this website is to scout out and promote the things that make Vancouver such a sweet place to be. We do this with an emphasis on the city’s independent spirit to foster a sense of connectedness within and between our communities, and to introduce our readers to the people who grow and cook our food, play the raddest tunes in our better venues, create our most interesting art, and design everything from what we wear to the spaces we inhabit.

The Scout List is our carefully considered first rate list of super awesome things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week. From our calendar to yours…

Not sure if you have heard – but there is a little thing called WINE FEST going down this week. Not everything is sold out. Head over to the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival website to see what you can still sneak in to.
Until April 25 | Various times, Various prices and Various cool locations

Someone also mentioned that there was a hockey game or something, but I dunno for sure…

Other stuff on the books this week:

Hit the Spring Shop Hop in Gastown TONIGHT. Scout did a little window shopping in the hood last night and there are some tempting spring frocks on the scene. Every girl needs a new spring frock. Anyway – Free wallet-loosening drinks, great deals and good people – Gastown is the place to be tonight. Find out more….
April 22nd | 5pm – 9pm | Various very cool locations | FREE to browse

Or – IF YOU HURRY, there may still be a chance for you to join Heritage Vancouver in checking out the iconic Marine Building’s penthouse. You’ll have to pay for it (tickets are 100 beans) but it’s pretty awesome up there, plus the price includes wine and hors d’oeuvres (the very least they could do). UPDATE : THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT.
April 22 | 5:30pm | Marine Building – 2000 – 255 Burrard | $100

Rodney DeCroo, Spoon River and Paul Pigat’s Boxfire Campfire shake things up at the Fairview. No idea how this little nugget of information landed in my inbox – but there you have it. The Fairview. Awesome.
April 23 | Doors 9 pm/Bands at 10pm | Fairview Pub (898 West Broadway)| $10

This is definitely not the most economical event of the week – but props to VAG and David Aisenstat for banking on Vancouver being ready for a high-priced masked-glam party with a Leonardo da Vinci theme.
April 23 | 7:30 pm – midnight | VAG | $225

Mary E. Todd of Eco-Research and Promotions and Little Red Hen (LRH) Enterprises is in town to talk about sustainability and prefab construction. Sounds like an interesting lecture – well worth the five bucks. Click here for the full deets.
Apr 24 | 2 pm | Lighthouse Sustainable Building Centre | $5

For a different kind of green – If you’ve been bitten by the spring cleaning bug and you’re thinking about addressing the state of your garden – you’ll want to get yourself to the VanDusen Plant Sale this weekend. More than 40,000 plants are for sale. Bring your wheelbarrow. Find out more…
April 25 | 10 am – 4pm | VanDusen Gardens

Looking for a quick escape without actually leaving the city? Slip in to Antisocial for a cool-looking slide show of a motorcycling tour of India by Michael Irvine.
April 24th |  8pm (slide show around 9pm ) | 2337 Main St. | FREE

Blim is moving from their digs on Main and heading to Chinatown (woot! – welcome to the hood) and they’re having a big garage sale. Pick up art supplies, used equipment, and more at their 17th street location. As with any garage sale, the early bird gets the worm.
April 25 | 12 – 6 PM | Blim (197 E 17th Ave.) | Free

Mount Pleasant Community Plan Open House – “Your feedback is needed to help shape the plans for Mount Pleasant’s shopping areas and residential neighbourhoods. Come to an Open House to comment on draft policy for housing parks, heritage and culture. The open houses are designed for residents to drop in, view proposals, talk to staff, and complete a comment form. Vietnamese, Mandarin, Tagalog and Vietnamese speaking volunteers will be available. Childminding is also available.”
April  22 |  4pm | Tenth Church – 11 W. 10th Avenue | FREE

Baker’s Market.  If you need more than the magical words “baker’s market” to get you out to East Kent Ave South – check out our pics from the weekly, cupcake-laden event.
April 24 | 11 am – 3 pm | 408 East Kent Avenue South, Back door #115 | Find out more…

This Saturday will be the last Winter Farmers Market at the WISE Hall. That’s both good news and bad. Good because the end means we’re closer to the beginning of the Summer Markets, and bad because closer doesn’t mean we are there yet. So take a trip to WISE Hall this weekend to pick up your hearty root veggies, spring greens and dried fruit to keep you going until the Summer season opens. (Heads up – East Van May 8, Kits – May 23, West End – June 5, Main Street Station – June 2).
April 24 | 10am | WISE Hall | FREE (the admission part anyway, veggies tend to cost a few cents)

Food Matters: a Salmon Panel Discussion on Challenges and Possible Action. Looks pretty solid. Check it yourself.
April 13 | Christ Church Cathedral | 7:15 | FREE

Connect with nature and learn about wildlife at at the UBC Botanical Garden with sustainability focused Garden and Canopy Walkway tours. Greenheart Canopy Walkway Tours will be 25% off on this day only.
April 24 | 10 am- 4 pm | Website

Catch the Vancouver Institute lecture – Waltzing With al-Bashir: Juggling Peace and Justice in Darfur
April 24 | 8:15 pm |  Woodward Instructional Resources Centre, UBC | FREE

Take a few hours out of your post Earth Day weekend to wander the Agriculture in the City Festival. “Touch, taste and learn about where your food comes from.” Alright. Sure. OK.  Find out more…
April 23 – 25 |  Metropolis at Metrotown | FREE

You might also want to hit the Spring Living Fair at the Roundhouse where you can connect with local, sustainable and eco-friendly exhibitors.
April 25 | Roundhouse Community Center | FREE  Get the scoop.

Strathcona’s Wilder Snail needs some musicians to contribute to Open Mic Night. Grab yer harmonica and meet us there.
April 25 | 6:30 | The Wilder Snail (799 Keefer) | FREE

Thanks to our pal Nancy for a heads up on this one. Join the Friends of Bloedel Floral Conservatory for a glass of Champagne, some tropically inspired chocolates and live performances at “A Little Night Music”, a mini-fundraiser under the Conservatory dome. Call 604-261-5998 for ticket information. We hope to be there.
April 28th | 7:30 – 9:30 pm | Bloedel Floral Conservatory | $20 per ticket

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Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended Bond University in Australia and the University of Victoria before receiving her graduate degree in Library Sciences from The University of Toronto. She lives by the beach in Vancouver and enjoys wandering aimlessly through the city’s shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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