by Michelle Sproule | 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. To submit an event for consideration, email events [at] scoutmagazine.ca You can also check it out in the Globe & Mail, from our calendar to theirs…and yours!

SKATE | Vans’ VanDoren Invitational Bowlriders Contest goes down at Hastings Skatepark this weekend. Vancouver is home to a staggering number of outdoor skateparks and Hastings is (arguably) our best foot forward, design-wise. Expect some serious ripping as some of the world’s gnarliest skateboarders get to know how we roll.
July 10+11 | 2pm | Renfrew @ Hastings | DETAILS

KHATSAHLANO | Khatsahlano Street Party happens Saturday and it’s going to be sweet. Expect stages across 10 blocks of West 4th showcasing over 50 of Vancouver’s finest independent bands and solo musicians as well as many other artists and performers. Bonus: beer gardens and a family zone – depending on which way you swing!
Sat, July 11 | 11-8pm | Along 4th Ave between Burrard & MacDonald | Free | DETAILS

INIDAN SUMMER  | The 5th annual Indian Summer Festival kicks off this week. With a mission to “offer daring, multi-arts events that catalyze and inspire audiences and artists in a spirit of dialogue and global citizenship”, this is a festival with a lot to experience. Expect musical performances, brain-expanding talks, visual arts exhibitions, public art programming, and some really, really great food. The Opening Gala is at The Roundhouse on Thursday night, but events continue through to July 18th.
July 9-18 | Various times/locations/prices | DETAILS

SUPPORT | Support local emerging artists and make a point of taking in an art opening this week. Quiet Mountains & the Hum of a Past Fullness is opening at The Toast Collective on Kingsway. A series of painted illustrations on paper by local artist Karlene Harvey, Quiet Mountains explores concepts of home, memory, language and storytelling. This exhibition runs until August 8th.
Thurs, July 9 | 7-10pm | The Toast Collective (648 Kingsway) | Free | DETAILS

ART | Over the last few years many of Vancouver’s galleries have re-located to a parcel of land known as ‘The Flats’ (between Main Street and Clark Drive just above Industrial Avenue), and they’re throwing their third collective summer bash this Saturday. Cruise exhibitions from 5 galleries, attend an artist talk (or two), and get to know the neighbourhood. Finish the day with a beer at the Red Truck Brewing Parking Lot Concert (295 East 1st) featuring The Trews, No Sinner and Rich Hope.
Sat, July 11 | Various locations in “The Flats” | DETAILS

CHILL | If you were looking for an excuse to hide out in a cool dark place and avoid the heat, now you’ve got it: this is Bond week at The Rio. We think the Friday night double-bill screening of From Russia With Love and Goldfinger is looking like a good time. The theatre sums it up nicely: “Big screen Bond plus buttery popcorn, ice-cold adult beverages, Pussy Galore, and utterly relentless air conditioning? Nobody does it better.” Well said!
Fri, July 10 | 7 + 9:10pm | Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway) | DETAILS

RACES | Wiener dogs take over Hastings Racetrack this weekend. There’s something so uplifting about these hopeful, low-to-ground dudes waddling as fast as their little legs will carry them around a track (intended for creatures much, much larger). Wieners leave the gates to do their business between regularly scheduled horse races on Saturday and Sunday. Things could get pretty tense as Top Dog stands to leave with a $2,500 purse. Not so bad!
July 11 + 12 | 2pm both days | Hastings Racecourse (188 N Renfrew St) | DETAILS 

ESCAPE | If you’re in need of a summer vacation but can’t manage to slip away from work for a long weekend, consider heading to Bowen Island for the day. Exploring beaches and forests on Bowen is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. There’s no need for a car. If you catch the 11am boat from Horseshoe Bay as a walk-on passenger you will arrive at the Marina Pier just in time for lunch (we highly recommend Shika – just to your right as you disembark the ferry – for a rice bowl and a cold drink). This weekend is Steamship Days and there will be lots of activity as a result. Expect to see beautiful specimens of wooden boats brought over by The Vancouver Wooden Boat Society, as well as antique cars, live music, a summer market, real live artists, and patient, talented people leading kids’ activities, not to mention those great beaches and lovely shaded forest trails.
July 10, 11, 12 | Bowen Island | DETAILS

SUNDAY SUPPER | Take a step out of your regular routine to attend a special potluck dinner in Strathcona this weekend. Sunday Supper is a series of events that brings the idea of an artist talk together with good food and bright conversation, laying them all out in a lovely backyard setting for maximum summer enjoyment. This week, Sunday Supper features a talk by artist Lauren Marsden about her recent work Ecstatic Time, a set of short looping films and animated GIFs documenting a series of performative gestures, shot in various locations.’There will be some food provided, but please arrive with a dish to share. To RSVP, please email ssoutham [at] gmail.com. Once you RSVP, you will receive the location deets.
Sun, July 12 | 8pm | Location details upon RSVP | Free | DETAILS

GREASY SPOON | Heads-up for next week: Chefs Ned Bell and Sean Murray of Yew at The Four Seasons will be cooking a special “Greasy Spoon” dinner at Save On Meats on the evening of Tuesday, July 14. The menu reads temptingly: an updated version of old school tomato soup, this one with saffron and Outlandish Mussels; a BLT (albacore tuna, crispy pork belly and tomato jam), Lobster Shepherds Pie, and a dessert of coffee and doughnuts! This is going to be an amazing meal paired with cocktails and beer from Persephone Brewing. Snag a ticket before they sell out. Bonus: all proceeds go to help feed inner city kids in need and teach them about local food systems.
Tue, July 14 | Two seatings: 5:30pm & 8pm | 43 West Hastings St. | $95 | DETAILS

To submit an event for consideration, email events [at] scoutmagazine.ca 

Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended 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 streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy (but faithful) camera.

——————————————————————————————–