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 sweet things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week. Come join us…

Brussels Sprouts & Unicorns

Late this afternoon at the swish yet accessible Walrus on Cambie Street you are invited to attend a book launch for Robert Chaplin’s most recent release: “Brussels Sprouts and Unicorns. Publishers Summary: No non-sense irreverence, seriously humorous rhymes and good times, high level mathematics, testimonial evidence of Brussels sprouts, and proof of the existence of unicorns. This book is a joyride.” Swing by to see what all the fuss is about.” May 21 | 5pm | Walrus (3408 Cambie Street) | FREE

Sex with Strangers & Lillix

From the gang at the Biltmore: An evening featuring one of Vancouver’s surging bands, Sex With Strangers, along with the return of an ass-kicking all female pop band called Lillix”…Recently named by SPIN Magazine as one of “7 Undiscovered Bands Worth a Listen. And it doesn’t end there – Accost and Girlfriends and Boyfriends will also play a set. Basically we’re talking about a toonie per band – can’t really get better than that (we found a live performance video of Sex With Strangers online. Dig the dude in the Lego costume.). May 21 | Doors 8pm | Biltmore | $8

Bargains for Bibliophiles…

Friends of the North Vancouver District Public Library are holding a book sale this weekend. Hardcovers: $2.00, Paperbacks: $1.00, Children’s books: $.50, AV: $1.00 May 22 – 24 | Lynn Valley Main Library | FREE

DOXA Begins!

Today marks the first day of the DOXA documentary film festival. What, prey tell, is DOXA? From their site: “Continuing the tradition of showcasing stories that aren’t often told, DOXA 2009 brings Vancouver premieres of eye-opening and unexpected films from Canada and around the world. Featuring 75 films in an expanded 10-day festival running May 22–31, DOXA offers our most diverse and innovative programming to our widest audience yet. From the intimate to the inspirational, the humorous to the maddening, the poignant to the sublime, the films at DOXA offer you a chance to share in stories that will move you more than you expect.” Check out a list of films here. May 22 – 31 | Empire Granville 7 / Pacific Cinémathèque /Vancity Theatre Ticket Prices: Opening Night Film: $15, Single Tickets: $10 ?Festival Pass, $125

DOXA Opening Night Party

Tonight, after the curtains close on the DOXA film festival inaugural flick (Hanna’s suitcase) there will be a bit of a party at the Vancouver Art Gallery. May 22 | Vancouver Art Gallery | $35

UBC Farm Tour

Get in touch with what the UBC farm is up to by tagging along with a representative from UBC who will not only explain aspects of the teaching and research projects taking place on the farm, but will take you to visit the chickens, chat with a beekeeper, and guide you through the fields and orchards that grow over 200 varieties of food crops. You will also have a chance to join farm staff and apprentices for hands-on field activities after the tour, including transplanting greenhouse crops into the field, bashing blackberries, collecting eggs, and building soil. This event is free but consider making a donation to the farm to help with their educational programs. May 23 | Click here for details | FREE

Trout Lake Farmers Market

Fresh produce from local farms land at Trout Lake today. Load up on baby greens, garlic, onions, parsnips, potatoes, rutabagas, shallots, spinach, squash, apples, strawberries, goat and cow’s milk cheese, yogurt, eggs, beef, chicken, lamb, pork, cod, sablefish, shrimp, salmon, tuna, bay leaves, chervil, rosemary, sage, savory, thyme, honey, maple syrup, mushrooms, nuts, dried fruit, juice, baked goods, breads, dips and condiments, sauces, preserves, candy and (most importantly) really good chocolate. May 23| 9am – 2pm | Trout Lake (15th / Victoria) | FREE

The Chapel & Harbour Light

Artists from Vancouver’s East Side unite with Chapel Arts to present an exhibition to benefit the Salvation Army Harbour Light – an organization that “provides hope through a continuum of care program including meals, drop-in centre, substance abuse programs, shelters, and more for the neediest community in our city. This show will feature photography, fused glass, textiles, jewelry, furniture and painting. . If you can’t make the opening night shindig, don’t fret – this art exhibition is open to the public until June 7th. Exhibition Hours: Wed – Sat from noon – 6 pm and Sundays from 1 – 4 pm for High Tea until June 7, 2009. May 23 | 7pm – 11pm | Chapel Arts| $25

Blim Community Market

The Blim Community Market hits Main Street this weekend and you should make a point of stopping by, here is why: not only will you see oodles of cool stuff but your attendance shows support for local talent and supports local economy. Check out fashion, accessories, supplies, fine art, vintage items and records. Don’t miss the amazing cupcakes from CoCo Cake Cupcakes, cool cards from Firefly Notes, T-shirts from Monkey 100 (so, so, so great) and grab some ridiculously cheap and super delicious coq au vin from Open Sesame May 24 | 11am–5pm | Cambrian Hall | FREE

Grouper at Zulu

Every day is a good day to pop in to Zulu but today is extra-super special because Portland based musician and songstress Liz Harris of Grouper makes an in-store appearance. Listening to Liz Harris is like listening to angelic whispers floating over icy water and to catch her live at such a stellar venue as Zulu will be a great experience. May 24 | 3:30pm | Zulu Records | FREE

Eating Stories

For all our foodie readers: today at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Gardens there will be a special food-themed story telling session. Deets: “From Aboriginal memories of barbequed salmon to Chinese Canadian stories and recipes of traditional New Year’s dishes and life in Chinatown, Eating Stories is a collection of short stories written by local authors reminiscing on what “home cooking” means to them. Join us as 7 of the authors read excerpts of their stories and delight us with cooking demonstrations and samples. May 24 | 2pm | Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Gardens | $10

La Traviata

Opera Pro Cantanti presents Verdi’s classic about frivolity, folly, and faithful love. Come on, a little opera will do you good (and Andrew swears by Verdi). May 24 | 7:30 pm | Cambrian Hall | By donation

Arleigh Wood Open House

Vancouver Artist Arleigh Wood is having a Spring Open House Sunday at her live/work space in the ‘Artiste’ building in a little pocket of town known as ‘The Brewery Creek Area’. Where, you may be asking yourself is Brewery Creek? I asked myself the same. Until now, I had not heard of Brewery Creek, Now that I’ve looked at a map I would describe it sort of like “…you know, that area near Science World and the Bus Station but above Terminal and a little to the East -around where all of those derelict looking brick buildings with cool windows and tall fences are). “Brewery Creek “is considerably more concise. So Brewery Creek it is. But back to the point: Get out of the house and explore the city this weekend and while your doing it, think about dropping in on artist Arleigh Wood to see what she has been up to. If you can’t make to Arleigh’s open house, you can always stop by her blog. Cool stuff. Seriously. I saw her show at the East Side Culture Crawl this past fall and loved it. May 24 | 12-5pm | Check out her blog for details | FREE

21st Century Flea Market

From the 21st Century Flea Market website: “With 175 different vendors offering everything from shabby chic to 50’s kitsch, collectibles and memorabilia to vintage kitchenalia, this popular European-style collectors market is a must-see…” May 24 | 10am-3pm | Croatian Cultural Centre | $3 at Door – kids FREE

This One is for Karen…

TV On The Radio at the Malkin Bowl! Read the following excerpt from NME magazine article written by Gavin Hayne: “It is commonly agreed that Ravel’s ‘Boléro’ is the best song to have sex to in the known world – a twining melody, repetitive driving snare rhythm, a sudden key change building to a fierce crescendo and soft, winsome diminution. Wham, bam, thank you ma’am. But in the hyper-compressed whirligig of the modern age, most don’t have time for a 17-minute orchestral helter-skelter. Take that girl in the front row – the one making the sign, just as TV On The Radio saunter back for an encore, reading “I lost my virginity to ‘Staring At The Sun’. Please play it for me.” Tunde [lead singer] plucks it from her pliant hands, reads it, grins one of his ineffable charismatic grins, looks almost bashful, then spends the rest of the encore wandering round the stage with it clutched absently in one hand, before announcing, “OK, this goes out to Karen…” May 25 | Malkin Bowl (awesome) | 5:30 | $32.50 try Red Cat or Zulu

Kitchen Party!

Last but not least, from the South Okanagan Winery Association: We’ve noticed the best parties end up in the kitchen, so why not start there? Join the South Okanagan Winery Association as they present their 2nd Annual Kitchen Party showcasing fine wines & limited releases from some of BCs top wineries with canapés prepared by Vancouver’s best restaurants. The event will be hosted at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. Yes, it’s a bit pricey, but some great restaurants are going to be on site to pair food with the phenomenal wine, we think it will be well worth the cost of admission and the proceeds go to a good cause. May 26 | 6:30 – 9:30 pm | Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts | $75 —————————————————————- 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. —————————————————————-