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 agenda 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…

MOVIES

Apparently there’s something about February that says Stanley Kubric to movie house programmers. Lolita is the midnight movie at the Rio this Friday night.
Friday February 4 | 11:55pm | Rio Theatre | $8 ($7 with costume)

“A Clockwork Orange” is playing out at UBC’s Norm Theatre starting next Wednesday. From IMDB: “In future Britain, charismatic delinquent Alex DeLarge is jailed and volunteers for an experimental aversion therapy developed by the government in an effort to solve society’s crime problem… but not all goes to plan.” More info.
February 9-14 | 9:30pm | Norm Theatre, UBC | $5

Via Farm Folk City Folk: “Milk War” is a story about Ontario organic and raw dairy farmer Michael Schmidt’s battle to legalize the sale of unpasteurized milk. In defiance of the law, Schmidt has supplied his fellow private coop members with milk for almost 20 years. “Milk War” Benefit Screening, followed by talk session with Dairy Farmer Alice Jongerden of Chilliwack, BC. Tickets and info: [email protected].
Sunday, February 6 | 3-5pm | Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway)| $20

The Waldorf Hotel’s Sunday afternoon movie series Day for Night brings in guest presenters Donato Mancini and Guinevere Pencarrick to set you up with a sweet afternoon double bill of Italian Gothic Horror classics: Nightmare Castle (1965) directed by Mario Caiano and The She Beast (1966) directed by Michael Reeves.
Sunday February 6 | Waldorf Hotel | Doors at 2pm. Show at 2:30pm

If it’s still raining by next Thursday, you might want to head over to the Rio for a screening of The Bones Brigade Video + The Search For Animal Chin presented by Powell & Peralta. Remember this action? Classics!
Thursday February 10 | 6pm | Rio Theatre

YEAR OF THE RABBIT

The Year of the Rabbit is upon us! Relax, for the new vibe will be less chaotic than last year. The Anno Thumper is said to be a time of diplomacy, peace and tranquility (we’re looking at you, Hosni), so slow down, be friendly, and do what bunnies do best: make love not war. Hit Chinatown Sunday for the parade. It’ll probably be a soggy one, but don’t let that stop you. Grab a good strong coffee and a warm waffle from the window at Medina and whirl down Pender for the fun.

Hooray for the Chinese New Year Parade! Info here.
Sunday, February 6 | 12pm | Chinatown | Free

Slide in to the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Gardens for fortunes, red envelopes, storytelling, drumming, arts and crafts. Find out more…
Sunday, February 6 | 10am – 4pm | Sun Yat Sen Chinese Gardens| $5

The Chinese Cultural Centre is celebrating the Year of the Rabbit with a fair featuring live performances, martial arts demonstrations, and…a lion dance finale! Details.
Sunday, February 6 | 2-4 pm | Chinese Cultural Centre (50 E Pender)|Free

When all is said and done, head over to The Boss Bakery on Main for some Chinese New Year treats or grab a seat at Floata’s Chinese New Year Banquet, where you’ll be subjected to yet another lion dance (you can never see too many).
Sunday, February 6 | 6 pm | Floata Chinese Restaurant (180 Keefer) |$35

FOOD

Wild Rice has got it going on. “Hippety hoppety into the Chinese Year of the Rabbit (4709 if you’re counting) with a special prix fixe menu at Wild Rice. Proprietor Andrew Wong and Executive Chef Todd Bright have created a four-course dinner for the auspicious price of $38.88 (numeral three meaning ‘ever-growing’ and numeral eight meaning ‘good luck’) which will be available from February 2 to 13, 2011. Don’t worry, as much as many people enjoy the taste of rabbit, you won’t find Thumper on this menu. Instead, Wild Rice will donate 10 percent of the menu’s proceeds to support the Rabbit Rescue Shelter.”
Now until February 13th | 117 Powell | Reserve 604-642-2882 | $38.88

MISCELLANEOUS AWESOMENESS

There is a cool event going on at the Ukrainian Hall in Strathcona this Saturday night. It’s called “Build It with Love”. There will be dancing, a silent auction, a photo booth, a cash bar, door prizes, tunes by DJ Karl Spackler. Proceeds support the construction of a new playground for Tyee Elementary. Kids need cool places to play.
Saturday, February 5 | 8 pm | Ukrainian Hall (805 E. Pender) | $20

Also in Strathcona: the East Van Caterwaul. WTF, right? For starters, Vancouver East MP Libby Davies will sing karaoke. You never know where that kind of thing will take an evening, so be there! BTW: cat•er•wauled, cat•er•waul•ing, cat•er•wauls. 1. To cry or screech like a cat in heat. Woah. See you there.
Saturday, February 5 | 8 pm | Russian Hall (600 Campbell) | $30

It will cost you a pretty penny, but Oceonographer Alexandra Cousteau talks at The Centre this week. “Born into the family business, Alexandra joined her parents in Easter Island on her first expedition at just four months old. By the age of three, she had toured Africa, exploring Egypt, Tunisia, Uganda and Kenya in the arms of her father. And like her father, she is one of the few who learned to dive with SCUBA from Captain Cousteau himself at the tender age of seven.” That’s her before she even started elementary school, so my guess is that she’ll deliver a solid $165 worth of wisdom and storytelling. (but just incase, I saw tickets on Craigslist for $65). More here.
Tuesday, February 8 | 7:30pm | The Centre for Performing Arts | $165

Pick of the week: Seriously, if you can swing it, you should absolutely score yourself tickets to “An Evening at the Penthouse Nightclub’ on Tuesday night. “Penthouse owner Danny Filippone will take you on a behind-the-scenes tour and share memories in a video presentation. Includes a New York-style burlesque performance by members of Kitty Nights.” Get the scoop here.
Tuesday, February 8 | Doors 5:45 pm | The Penthouse (1019 Seymour)| $30

NATURE

VanDusen Botanical Gardens has a few bee-related gigs this Saturday. First up, Mason Bee Workshop. In this class you can learn all about mason bees (how to attract them and keep them in your home garden, care for them and that sort of thing). The focus will be on hands-on demonstrations and useful information that can be applied immediately in your backyard.
Saturday, February 5 | 9:30 am – Noon | VanDusen Botanical Gardens | $55

Next, hang out with bee expert Brian Campbell for “The A “Bee” C’s of Beekeeping”. He’ll sort you out with what’s required to keep bees in the city.
Saturday, February 5 | 9:30 am – Noon | VanDusen Botanical Gardens | $60

Dr. Jason Cressey (Deep Voices: The Wisdom of Whales and Dolphin Tales) will discuss the long relationship between humans and cetaceans. Total sleeper pick.
Saturday, February 5 | 2-5 pm | Canadian Centre for Peace (1825 W 16) | By donation

If the crowds in Chinatown get a touch overwhelming and you need a peaceful getaway, consider walking a few blocks East to the Strathcona Community Centre for a civilized class on the major groups of vegetable and fruit crops that grow well in our climate. Grant Watson leads the class with a two-hour discussion followed by a one-hour outdoor activity. Registration is required, sort it out here.
Sunday, February 6 | 1:30-4:30 pm | Strathcona Community Centre (601 Keefer) | $35

HEADS UP FOR NEXT WEEK

Mark your calendars for another kick-ass instore event at Zulu! “Merge Records/Dinosaur Jr bassist/Sebadoh and Sentridoh main man LOU BARLOW is stopping by Zulu Records for an acoustic set of solo tunes from his expansive discography of lo-fi magnificence. Barlow is considered one of the defining songwriters of the 90’s and thus is a must see – meaning this event should be packed to the rafters. Plus, you can follow him down to the Rickshaw later for his full electric set as Sebadoh!!”

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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 in beautiful Strathcona 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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