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

BALLET | If your Christmas sped by at warp speed and left you wishing you’d slowed down to relish the holiday spirit a little longer, you’re in luck as Ballet BC presents the Alberta Ballet in the The Nutcracker this week. “Set in turn-of-the-century Imperial Russia, an era noted for its opulent grandeur, this extravagant production displays more than a million dollars in stunning sets and costumes; including more than 100 children from local dance schools, mice dressed as Cossack soldiers, and snowflakes dressed as Russian princesses.” Accompanied by The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Alberta Ballet production of The Nutcracker runs through to New Years Eve. Let the Cossack soldiers and sugar plum fairies keep the dream alive!
Dec. 29-31 | Queen Elizabeth Theatre (600 Block Hamilton St) | $20-105 | DETAILS

DELICIOUS | Head to Granville Island to check out the Carousel Theatre’s musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach, the highly entertaining tale of James Trotter, a youngster who escapes the care of his wicked aunts (Spiker and Sponge) by becoming a stowaway in a giant magical peach inhabited by fantastic creatures. “The walls were wet and sticky, and peach juice was dripping from the ceiling.  James opened his mouth and caught some of it on his tongue. It tasted delicious.”
Now-Jan 3 | Various times | Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright St.) | $18-35 |  DETAILS

THINK | Make a cup of coffee or tea, find a comfortable place on the couch, and throw on a podcast. We suggest you hit the CBC website and get lost in one of the most recent episodes of Ideas with Paul Kennedy. From the renaissance of psychedelic drugs to the end of Capitalism, listening in on Ideas can move you from vicariously pushing boundaries to a ringside seat at an intellectual boxing match without having to talk to anyone. Not only always interesting and inspiring but also free! DETAILS

POLAR BEAR SWIM | Some swear that a freezing cold dunk in the Pacific Ocean is the best way to start a new year. It’s definitely invigorating, even if it’s just your big toe that gets wet. The level of energy coursing through the crowd alone can fuel weeks of seeming invincibility. Give it a try, or at least enjoy the spectacle. The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world (it kicked off with a handful of brave souls way back in 1920). On-site cash and non-perishable food donations to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank are encouraged. Always imaginative costumes alone make it worth getting out of bed for. It’s said that a few swigs of the good stuff can help supply the requisite courage (not that we encourage that sort of thing). Because burrr.
Fri, Jan 1 | 2:30pm (Registration 12:30pm) | The icy shores of English Bay | DETAILS

COMMIT | So you’ve made yourself a promise to change a few things, cook more, get creative with a photography class, get in shape – that sort of thing. Now is the time to commit. When considering taking up a new activity, starting at your local community centre makes good sense. The Vancouver Parks Board operates dozens community centres at various locations throughout the city, so the likelihood of there being one in your neighbourhood is pretty high. One of the greatest things about your local Community Centre is how super economical it is. Expect a few other people to understand that and register for your yoga class on the double. Get sorted today! DETAILS

DUDE | The Rio Theatre once again presents a late afternoon New Year’s Day screening of the Coen Brother’s The Big Lebowski. It’s a great flick, and showing up in film-related costume is always an awesome way to go (plus you’ll get $2 off at the door). From the Rio: “Ring in the New Year (and nurse your hangover) with The Dude, your favourite Cowichan sweater, some nihilists, that comfy old bathrobe you love, a green toe, and all the White Russians (a hair of the dog drink special!) you can possibly handle.” So drag out your bath robes and/or viking headgear and get yourself to the Rio! Props to the person who can pull off a wet ferret or pee-stained rug. Get creative!
Fri, Jan. 1 | 4pm | Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway) | $8 ($6 in film-related costume) | DETAILS

SCIENCE | “Sunflowers may seem harmless, but amazingly, they can invade and wreak havoc on ecosystems. Want to learn more about chemical warfare in the plant world?” Head out to UBC and hit the the Beaty Biodiversity Museum for their Way Cool Biodiversity series this Sunday and a lecture about what makes toxic sunflowers so cool. Line your brain with some interesting knowledge about the natural world and poke about the fascinating cabinets, drawers and displays in the museum. Science is rad. Get into it!
Sun, Jan 3 | 1pm | UBC Biodiversity Museum | Free with $12 admission | DETAILS

GET GROUNDED | Coming down from a combination of excessive consumption and general holiday buzz can leave you feeling somewhat deflated, detached and not a little stunned. Get grounded by communing with nature. The Stanley Park Seawall, Kits Beach and Jericho are all great city walks. The Pacific Spirit Park trails are restorative, too. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to go further afield, consider a wander through the pathways of the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta or hike out to Quarry Rock in Deep Cove. Although sunny skies are predicted, January has a way of being sneakily soggy, so sensible footwear would be the smart play.

STAR DUST | The Quadrantids Meteor shower sparkles through the sky this Sunday night. Most visible from the Northern Hemisphere, this winter meteor shower could throw down more than 50 meteors per hour, but the window for seeing them is tight. Improve your chances by seeking out a viewing location free from light pollution after midnight on January 3rd. Although the moon will be big and aiming to steal stargazer’s attention by casting a bright light, the forecast for the weekend is looking like it will cooperate with clear skies. Spotting a bit of comet dust seems like a magical start to the new year. Keep an eye out!
January 3 Midnight – January 4 dawn | Find out more about The Quadrantids here

CHIP | It’s time to part ways with your Christmas tree. It doesn’t have to be a sad thing. Make an afternoon of it by recycling that little needle-shedding bugger at UBC Botanical Garden and shake it off with a heart hike down to Wreck Beach or a contemplative stroll along Jericho Beach. Bonus: monies raised by collecting the $5 suggested donation for the tree chipping service goes to support a garden and food literacy education programs in local schools.
Now–Jan 3 | 9:30 am – 4:30 pm | 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.