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…

Check out the opening reception for a new show that our buddies at Vancouver Is Awesome are sponsoring: ‘Stories From Vancouver’, an exhibition of documentary photography featuring work by Brett Beadle, Talya Florian, Rafal Gerszak, PK Ben Huang, Goh Irimoto, Bev Davies, Randy Laybourne, Nicole Westman and Jonathan Taggart. Curated by Jonathan Taggart. (If you don’t make it tonight – don’t worry, the exhibition runs May 6th – June 6th
May 6 | 6 – 9 pm | WALRUS | FREE

Get it together quickly and you could still make it to see Peter Carey in conversation with Hal Wake out at UBC. The Man Booker Prize for Fiction winner and the author of Oscar and Lucinda and True History of the Kelly Gang is in town promoting his new novel Parrot and Olivier in America.  More details at the VIWF website.
May 7 | 7:30pm | Frederic Wood Theatre, UBC | $20

Cruise down Main Street and drop in to Forsya to see new works by Jill Pilon. Pilon is using the cool duds store to show her large scale mixed media on wood panels. “With many layers and textures, the depth of her new work is intricate and complex.”
May 7 | 7pm | Forsya Boutique & Gallery (2206 Main) | FREE

Iron Man 2 is showing at the Rio. Really?

The annual Spring Festival & Plant Sale goes down at the UBC Botanical Gardens. Not just plants either. Go for the music, facepainting, treats, the works.
May 8 | 10 am – 4 pm | UBC Botanical Garden | Find out more…

American painter Kerry James Marshall speaks about his work at the VAG on Saturday.
May 8 | 2 pm | VAG | FREE (with admission).

Vancouver’s first completed laneway house will be open for a public tour this weekend. The McGill laneway house – built by Lanefab (Scout Interview with Lanefab here) is one of Vancouver’s most energy efficient homes, and was constructed in just over 4 months. It doesn’t hurt that it also looks pretty cool…
May 8 & 9 | 12 – 4 pm | 2703 McGill (at Slocan) | FREE

Join the volunteer team for the Vancouver Heritage House Tour. The Foundation has a handful of afternoon shifts (1 pm-5:30pm) open and, as a volunteer you can score yourself a complimentary tour ticket and attend a volunteer appreciation & orientation event. Email [email protected] if you’re interested.

Big News: The Trout Lake Farmers Market opens this weekend. Nothing compares to the first Farmers Market of the season. Hallelujah!
May 8 | 9 am – 2 pm | North Parking Lot of John Hendry Park at Trout Lake | FREE

Spot Prawn Festival! What more do you need to know? The Spot Prawns are here – get yourself to the docks at False Creek Fisherman’s wharf!
May 8 | Noon – 3pm | False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf | $10 per plate

Hoppapalooza : Two Rivers bison chili from Chef Greg Armstrong, live music by Vancouver bluesman extraordinaire, Rich Hope and a whole lot of beer. See you there.
May 10 | 6pm | Alibi Room | $49

Pick of the week: A five-course tasting meal at Au Petit Chavignol paired with Red Truck Beer…heaven! The evening starts with a cheese and beer tasting led by cheese expert Allison Spurrell and Red Truck brewmaster, Dave Varga, followed by delicious beer-inspired dishes like cheddar & beer soup and beer-braised short ribs paired with some of the brewery’s top limited releases. Dessert is a batch of warm house-made chocolate cookies with a glass of Red Truck’s Limited Release Stout. A perfect evening of food and beer! Tickets available at Au Petit Chavignol or by calling 604-255-4218. Cheddar & beer soup? Dude. That is so awesome…
May 11 | 7 – 9:30 | Au Petit Chavignol | $60 (inc taxes and grat)

The Audain Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Visual Arts will be honouring artist Robert Davidson at the Vancouver Art Gallery this coming Wednesday night. A free gig, so why not?
May 12 | 7pm | VAG | FREE

VanDusen Botanical Garden director Harry Jongerden discusses Shakespeare’s knowledge of and reference to plants and flowers.  Points for original programming.
May 13 | 7:30 pm | VanDusen Botanical Gardens | $15

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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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