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. You can also check it out in the Globe & Mail, from our calendar to theirs…and yours!

SHOP  | The Gastown Spring Shop Hop happens this Thursday night. The one-night-only event offers Vancouverites the opportunity to cruise some of Gastown’s best shops, check out all of the new spring wares, and be treated to great deals, in-store specials, and the occasional cupcake. And get this: the kind people of Gastown want to make sure that you don’t get weighed down by the trying on of clothing and the carrying of bags so they will also be issuing special food or drink vouchers to nearby participating restaurants. Even if you’re not looking to spend, the vibe is good and the business owners are friendly. Get hopping.
Thu, Apr. 21 | 5pm–9pm | Various very cool locations | FREE to browse | DETAILS

FOUNDATIONS | The Emily Carr University of Art + Design Foundation Show is all set to line the walls of the ECUAD Concourse Gallery with works by first year students. As ECUAD explains: “The show reflects encouragement to improvise and experiment with new ideas, processes, and materials. Imaginative thinking and creative experiences across a variety of mediums and disciplines fill the galleries and prepare students for future studies.” Head down to the Granville Island campus to size up the next wave of emerging art, design and media makers (and even place bets on their futures by purchasing pieces of their art). This show continues until April 30.
April 23-30 | 9am-6pm | Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Granville Island | DETAILS

MASH-UP | If you haven’t made your way in to the Vancouver Art Gallery to check out the MashUp exhibit, this is the weekend to get yourself sorted. Friday night sees a one-night only event that adds yet another level to the conventional gallery experience: food. For $50 – or $25 if you’re a Young Associate member – participants will enjoy a guided tour of the first floor’s “Digital Age” exhibit, have an opportunity to create their own Picasso-inspired collage, and devour a multi-course food experience presented by Acorn chefs Rob Clarke and Brian Luptak, as well as chef Kris Barnholden from Latab. Culture, creativity and culinary stimulation in one place at one time? That’s not a bad start to the weekend!
Fri, April 22 | 7pm | VAG (250 Hornby St.) | $25/YA members, $52 for non-members | DETAILS

CITY | Have a few things to say about housing affordability and community? Yes, you do. Get yourself a beer and meet up with like-minded Vancouverites to voice your frustrations, imagine some solutions, and get creative about how to live (and thrive) in a city that is becoming increasingly expensive. Happy Hour: A Future We Can’t Afford? is a Museum of Vancouver sponsored event that sees a panel of “citymakers” tackle key issues facing younger city dwellers: renting, owning, staying, going – that kind of thing. Get the conversations rolling people; we need louder dialogue on this issue! Vancouver will be a pretty boring place if all the young creatives jump ship because they aren’t stoked on sharing a basement suite with five people…
Fri, April 22 | 6 pm | Museum of Vancouver | $15 | DETAILS

ENVIRONMENT  | Earth Day (April 22) is celebrated every year with events across Canada and the world to demonstrate support for environmental protection and action. Get local about showing your support and hit Stanley Park on Saturday where the Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) staff and volunteers will be on hand to walk you through some hands-on activities like invasive plant pulling, water quality testing, and bird watching. A city with a 1,000 acre green space full of wildlife is something to be grateful for and is a good reminder of the larger picture: environmental health is important for everyone.
Sat, April 23 | 10am-12:30pm | Viewing Plaza, Lost Lagoon, corner of Chilco & Alberni | Free | DETAILS

EASTSIDE ART | Parker Street Studios is holding an Art Salon on Friday night. As a departure from the Eastside Culture Crawl format of opening artist studios to the public, this event brings art out of studios and into the hallways, inviting the public to wander two floors of temporary gallery space displaying painting, sculpture, and installation pieces. Expect works from close to 60 artists.
Fri, April 22 | 7-10 pm | Parker Street Studios (1000 Parker St) | DETAILS

BEER | I don’t know if you’ve picked up on it, but East Van has a pretty healthy number of breweries these day. You may not have logged quality time at each one of them, but if you’re a beer enthusiast, you’ve probably tried. Good news: this weekend brings a fine set of circumstances to help knock a few more off of your list. Hop Circuit is an self-guided open house of all the East Van breweries located in the Grandview Woodlands and Strathcona neighbourhoods that sees close to a dozen breweries (and a distillery or two for good measure) open their doors to the public, not only offering beer lovers the chance to taste beer, but also to meet the brewers, tour facilities and connect with other beer wonks. We strongly recommend hitting Strange Fellows (1345 Clark Dr) for a refreshing Talisman Pale Ale as well as Odd Society Sprits, which will be pouring a gin-barrel-aged beer in partnership with Storm Brewing. Food trucks will be parked on the route to offer sustenance. Bonus: bike tours are also available.
Sun, April 24 | 3-9pm | Various locations | DETAILS

MAKE IT! | Score one-of-a-kind items that have been handmade by local designers at the Make It show this weekend. This is a craft fair with an edge; not only will you find over 200 vendors on site showing off their cool, locally produced wares (from clothing and jewellery to baked goods and ceramics), but you’ll also find craft beer, street food, and a DJ. Woot!
April 22, 23 | Fri: 11am-9pm, Sat: 10am-6pm, Sun: 11am-5pm | PNE Forum (2901 E Hastings St.) | DETAILS

NATURE | Head out to Delta this Saturday and get to know a little bit more about local birds. The O.W.L Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society rescue and rehabilitate birds (primarily birds of prey like eagles, falcons, hawks, and owls). Although the bulk of O.W.L centre intake comes from the lower mainland, birds come in from all over British Columbia, and sometimes even the USA – which translates to over 400 birds per year. The centre, run by volunteers who are on call 24hrs, 7 days a week, is holding it’s annual open house this weekend (the only time the facility opens up for the public to get a behind-the-scenes look). Check out the centre’s medical facility and interpretive centre, ask questions, learn about raptor habitats and behaviour, and witness the release of a rehabilitated birds (1pm on both Sat & Sun). There will also be a garage sale, a raffle, and refreshments for sale by Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions Club. 100% of the proceeds are put towards food, medical supplies, cage upkeep and facility growth.
April 23 + 24 | 10am-3pm | O.W.L Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (3800 72nd St. Delta) | DETAILS

CLASSICAL | The Chan Centre is putting on a concert dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare this weekend. Get this: “VSO Conductor Laureate Kazuyoshi Akiyama presents the overture to Mendelssohn’s famous incidental music for the Bard’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as a snippet of William Walton’s dreamy, beautiful music for Henry V. A pianist of extraordinary versatility and range, Gilles Vonsattel performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9, called ‘perhaps the first unequivocal masterpiece of the Classical period.'” Mozart or Shakespeare alone are compelling draws, but both? This should be good.
Apr 22-23 | 8pm | Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, UBC | $Various | DETAILS