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…

COMMUNITY

It’s time to get out to the UBC Farm. If you haven’t been even though we’ve been asking you to repeatedly, you’ve been crazy not to. It’s like a vacation. You leave it feeling restored and inspired. Even if you’ve been many times, this weekend is a good time to go back and show your thanks because it’s FarmAde, the annual fundraising festival. To be clear, it’s an outdoor festival at the end of summer on UBC’s 24-hectare learning and research farm, meaning very specifically that it’s going to be many kinds of awesome. Originally intended to raise awareness about the farm and help protect it against the threat of development zombies (who can seldom see past dollar bills, poor dears), this family-friendly BBQ has become a tradition among its supporters.  There will be vegan, vegetarian and local, free-range beef burgers on the grill as well as farm-fresh corn and organic UBC Farm veggies. To drink: smoothies and juice from The Juice Caboose and a beer garden featuring handcrafted brews from East Van’s Storm Brewing. Woot! So totally take advantage of the free shuttle van and the…wait for it…bicycle valet. Details here, and props to UBC Farm for cultivating food and community at the only operating farm in the city.
Friday, September 16 | 3-8pm | UBC Farm, 6182 South Campus Road | Free admission, cheap wholesome food  | Website

This weekend is the Renfrew Ravine Still Moon Festival. It’s a magical night and it’s hard to imagine the kind of person who could be disappointed by a twilight celebration of art, music, environmental stewardship, and community participation. “Led by the giant moon the community lights their own lanterns and, accompanied by live music, walks the trail along the ravine as darkness falls. They come upon the outdoor river-stone labyrinth where they are invited to a walking meditation surrounded by music and candles. The parade continues past other lantern installations such as the Watershed lanterns and surprise performances until it reaches Renfrew Park where night has fallen and a world of magic has arisen”. Scout goes every year and we’re freaking stoked for it. Details here.
Saturday, September 17 | Moon Festival Harvest Fair, 4 – 7pm | Lantern Parade: 7:15pm | 7:30-9pm Lanterns, art, music, tea and moon cakes at Renfrew Park.

It’s the Autumn Shift Festival on Main Street. The idea is to celebrate the shift in season and the growing shift in attitudes towards sustainability, eating locally and growing some of your own food. Expect the usual wickedeness that comes with any Main Street Festival: great music, a BLIM throwdown of local trinkets, gardening booths and interesting demos.
Saturday, September 17 | 12pm to 6pm | Main Street between 12th and Broadway

Strathcona’s McLean park is the place to be on Sunday. “Harvest Festival is a multi-cultural, all ages, free community celebration where everyone can join in the festivities, sing and dance to the music of local talent, play some good old fashioned games, enjoy feasting and spend a fun filled afternoon with old acquaintances while having the chance to make some new ones. Having a sense of community in this big city is just as important for those who have lived here for years, as it is for any one who has just arrived in this neighbourhood or this country. The Strathcona Harvest Festival is assisted, supported and organized by several families, friends, local businesses & organizations and in this way many people of all ages, backgrounds and interests are contributing to the building and celebration of our diverse community.” Truly one of our most favourite harvest events, a block from the office.
Sunday, September 18 | 12pm to 4pm | McLean Park, Strathcona (Keefer & Heatley) | Free

GRUB

Grab locally grown produce from good people at your neighbourhood farmer’s market. Main Street on Wednesday rocks.

Trout Lake Farmers Market | Saturday | 9am-2pm | Trout Lake | Free
Kitsilano Farmers Market | Sunday | 10am – 2pm | 2690 Larch @ 10th | Free
West End Farmers Market | Saturday | 9am-2pm | 1100 Block Comox | Free
Thornton Park | Wednesday | 3pm – 7pm | Main Street Station at Terminal | Free
Dundarave (West Van) Saturday | 9am – 2pm | Between 24 & 25 on Marine
Oak Street Market | Wednesday | 3-7pm | Oak @ 49th (Unitarian Church) | Free
Westside Pocket Markets | Thursdays | 3-7pm | Kits Neighborhood House, 2325 W 7 | Free
UBC Farm has lots of good stuff this week, load up while you can. Markets end next month.
Saturday, September 10 | 9-12pm | UBC Farm 6182 South Campus Road

The Y is offering a Back to Basics cooking program. If you’re a kitchen noob, this is probably a good gig. Learn to build an adaptable, healthy, and affordable recipe repertoire in the hunt for culinary skill. Find out all about it here.
Tuesdays (September 20 to November 1) | 6:30pm – 8pm | Robert Lee YMCA – 5th Floor | $96

OKTOBERFEST is going on, so no one says a thing about the war (hat tip: John Cleese). The Alpen Club does it right with “Real Oktoberfest by Real Germans.” Enough said, except that if you can’t make it this week, don’t verlieren deine Scheiße, Tommy. The whole thing is going on again next week, and the week after. Details here.
September 16 & 17 | 7pm | Vancouver Alpen Club (4875 Victoria) | $30

LEARN STUFF

Learn about your city! Gordon Price, Director of the City Program at SFU (woah), is leading a planning tour of Vancouver’s West End. He’ll teach you all about the eight different architectural stages found in this part of the city. From fine wooden mansions to functional wooden walk-ups and high-rise towers. “Gordon Price explains some of the planning theory and trends that shaped the West End – and some of the lessons to be learned.” Win.
Saturday, September 17 | 10am to 12pm | $15

Over at Rhada (Yoga outreach centre) on Main Street there’s an open house going on. Everyone is welcome to drop in, take a free class, stick around and hang out, you know, get enlightened to the moment and that sort of thing. Lots of learning going on at Rhada. Check it out. Details here.
Saturday, September 17 | Rhada (728 Main) | Free

Michael Moore is in town, so hide your conservative friends. I’ll bet you could learn a lot from him if he got you all alone (ew). He’s hanging with the folks from the Vancouver International Writers Festival to talk about himself, cuz it’s like that. “Before Michael Moore became an Oscar-winning filmmaker, and all-round rabble rouser and thorn-in-the-side of corporate and right-wing America, he was the guy who had an uncanny knack of just showing up where history was being made… He shares stories from Here Comes Trouble, a hilarious and revealing memoir of his early life.” Find out all about it here. And heads-up – Writers Fest can hook you up with Michael Ondaatje next week (The Booker Prize-winning author of The English Patient, pops in to discuss his forthcoming novel, The Cat’s Table).
September 18 | 7:30pm | Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage (2750 Granville) | $17

The Stanley Park Ecology Society is dishing on city creatures this weekend. Those are the (mostly) furry animals that share our neighbourhoods; racoons, skunks, squirrels, coyotes and elephants.  This is a good way to learn about city dwelling animals. The Ecology Society meeting room is certainly a much more controlled learning environment than the chance encounters when you are – holy shit! – taking the garbage out or cruising the alleys late at night, as one does after a fashion. It’s far less dramatic, and it gives time to consider ways to live in harmony with the things that tap at your bedroom window at 4am just to remember that its their house, not yours. More information here.
September 18 | 1:30-3:30 pm | Lost Lagoon Nature House (Bottom of Alberni street at Stanley Park) | $10

Be Prepared Not Scared. Ahhh! The capitals just freaked me out. And so we learn personal and family earthquake preparedness for a shakeless hour and a half. It could make a world of difference. Calm you down. More info.
Monday, September 19 | 7pm-8:30pm | Vancouver Public Library 350 W. Georgia St | Free

We’ve been able to stretch out summer a little, but it’s time to start planning for harvest. One way to put away for colder months is to can what is bountiful right now. One way to do that is through fermentation. And one way to negotiate the wild fermentation process is by attending The World In A Garden workshop at Organic Lives. Handy information to fit into your brain. All financial proceeds benefit The World In A Garden. All gustatory proceeds go to you. Good deal, with details here.
Wednesday, September 21 | 6-9pm | Organic Lives (1829 Quebec) | $55

MUSIC

Montreal’s Young Galaxy plays the Commodore. Can’t imagine this being anything less than fantastic
Saturday, September 17 | Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville)

There’s a Skateistan benefit going on at The Cobalt this week and Skateistan is a pretty kickass cause. It’s Afghanistan’s—and the world’s—first co-educational skateboarding school. Artist Marc Curtis Smith will be showing his fully operational skate-guitars. How rad is that for multi-purpose? Phoenix Thunderbird and Dead Voices provide entertainment. Drinks are cheap! $4 beer/$6 Jamesons. Well, cheapish, and with good karma.
Wednesday, September 21 | 9pm | Cobalt | $5

The Music Appreciation Society is hosting an afternoon devoted to legendary Vancouver art band UJ3RK5 on Saturday. “Former UJ3RK5, and CBC Radio personality, David Wisdom will present images and give an oral history of the band. Wisdom will be joined by a panel of other band members including Rodney Graham, Ian Wallace and Colin Griffiths.”
Saturday, September 17 | 2pm | Emily Carr Lecture Theatre | Room 301, South Building | Free

The Olio Festival is fast approaching and you’ll be wanting to work a few of its gigs into your schedule. It’s hard to know where to begin. There’s something for everyone: guitar slayer J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr, Ladyhawk, Cave Singers, The Pack AD – the list goes on, and it’s not limited to music (though they could have stopped there and still come out looking pretty good). They’ve also added art, comedy, skate and film events to the roster. Rain City Chronicles is holding a Behind The Scenes story telling thingy at the WISE Hall; OBEY Clothing is having a group art show featuring prints and works by Shepard Fairey. What? There’s lots going on. Get sorted here.
Thursday September 22 – Sunday September 25 | Over 30 events | Various prices and some free gigs too!

Broken Social Scene plays Malkin Bowl (with special guests Ra Ra Riot) next week. What a great way to spend the last Saturday night in September! Sadly, we have no more tickets to give, so grab yours here.
Saturday, September 24 | Malkin Bowl | Doors 5:30, Show 7pm | $35

CREATIVE

Mike Macri’s first solo show in Vancouver, More Like Our Fathers, opens at the Catalog Gallery Friday night. It’s a series of 12 needlepoint portraits of goaltenders from each of the 12 teams of the first NHL expansion era (1967-70). More Like Our Fathers is a great way to get pumped for pre-season hockey while appreciating craft at the same time (Kestler knits, and it’s no biggie). Show runs September 16 – October 2nd. Read a Scout profile of the artist here.
Opening night: Friday, September 16 | 6pm until late | Catalog Gallery (56 Powell) Gastown

There’s a Lino Block making class at Blim on the weekend wherein participants will learn three different ways to block print and explore design techniques like pattern, negative space, texture and colour. Get all the details here.
Sunday, September 18 | 1-4pm| Blim | $65

Love Second Nature Lab at Emily Carr. This coming week, they’re offering an opportunity to learn how to prepare seed bombs and moss graffiti for a collective night-time guerilla gardening event with local blogger and garden diva Andrea Bellamy. Essentially, it’s a short workshop using clay, compost, seeds and moss to create a seed bomb followed by a walk in search of empty lots and fertile ground for which to bomb. “Andrea Bellamy is the creator of Heavy Petal, a blog devoted to urban organic gardening. She has a certificate in garden design from the University of British Columbia and studied permaculture methods for food production at an urban micro-farm.” So you can bet she’s an authority on guerilla gardening. Bomb the city Andrea!
Friday, September 23 | Emily Carr University of Art and Design | Free

The Rio Theatre presents a Saturday evening screening of the Coen Brother’s The Big Lebowski that you won’t want to miss out on. Not only is it a great flick, but there will be a contest for best costume, so drag out the bath robes, the Dieter suits, and viking headgear. Props to the person who can pull off a wet ferret or a pee-stained rug. Get creative!
Saturday, September 17 | 9pm-11:30pm | Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway @ Commercial) | $8 ($7 in film-related costume)

BUY LOCAL

There is a Vans sample sale at Antisocial this week. That was VANS SAMPLE SALE. Vans may not be local, but Antisocial is. And the shoes are good. So good that even though there will be a line-up, it’s OK because it’s a line-up of people who agree that they’re good.
Thursday, September 15 | 7pm | Cheap!

Spend on Trend goes down at Heritage Hall, despite the awful name. This is your chance to make your way through the Fall collections of local and independent clothing and jewellery designers before they hit stores. Hook yourself up with Autumn style from Bronsino, Toodlebunny, Astrosatchel, Bueno Style and more (peek at the complete list here).
September 16, 17 & 18 | Friday 5-9pm, Saturday 11-6pm, Sunday 11-5pm | Heritage Hall (3102 Main) | $5

Chinatown/Strathcona gets a little slicker this weekend with the official Board of Trade opening. Shop owner’s David Lin and Eunice Quan are throwing a bit of a bash to let everyone know they’ve officially opened their doors. Expect exhibitions and music from local artists Gene Doe, Christopher Shyr, Gypsy Market and The Lost Boys as well as visiting New York artist Jeffrey Robbins, who will be creating a live installation of art to be completed on site. Have a gander here and get yourself into the party by visiting the Board of Trade’s Facebook page.
Saturday, September 17 | 7:30pm  | 227 Union Street @ Main | Free (and good shopping!)

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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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