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. From our calendar to yours…

LISTEN | Sam Sullivan is holding another one of his Public Salons this week. The former mayor of Vancouver has gathered an impressive line-up of “thinkers and doers’ to talk Wednesday night. Expect presentations by architect Matthew Soules, former attorney general Wally Oppal, Myriam Laroche (Founder of Eco Fashion Week) and Hootsuite CEO Ryan Holmes. Get tickets here.
Wednesday, February 8 | 7:30-9 pm | Vancouver Playhouse (Dunsmuir/Georgia) | $16

LEARN | Are you a little sketched-out by global industrial food systems? We certainly are. Journalist and former Vancouver city councillor Peter Ladner (The Urban Food Revolution: Changing the Way We Feed Cities) is too and he wants to get people excited about a local food-production revolution. He’ll be hanging out at Eternal Abundance on the Drive on Thursday night to chat about a variety of ways in which we can build and support community food security. Expect to gather practical advice on how to contribute to making local, fresh sustainable food affordable and widely available. Details.
Thursday, February 9 | 8pm | Eternal Abundance (1025 Commercial) | $3

LOOK | Catalog is having a show on Thursday night. Love is in the Error: Pathetic Solutions to Pathetic Problems is new work by the artists Chris von Szombathy & Drew Shaffer. “This show of sculptural work puts forth their mutual conception that our actions are both pathetic and divine; that what is gauche is more revealing than what is graceful. Both artists’ work grows between Rococo and Pop branches and their work is proof that the exegesis of our existence is as ignored as it is apparent.” Pre-show sushi at Sea Monstr! The show runs until Sunday February 26th.
Thursday, February 9 | Catalog Gallery (56 Powell) | Free

EAT | Along lower Main Street there is a little gallery space, and in the alley behind that gallery there is silver gate. Through that gate (this Friday night) will be a pop up dinner project called “Elephant Cutlet”. They’re not taking reservations or telling just anyone where the fabled gate is, but if you contact the organisers they will hook you up. And we highly suggest contacting organisers, because…on the menu…Country Pâté with Green Apple Jelly & Toasts ($7) House-Made French Sausage (Or shell poached egg) with Lentils du Puy, Potted Cabbage & Hearty Bread ($12) and Pear Panettone Pudding with Crème Anglaise for ($6). How’s that for a Friday night? DO IT!
Friday, February 10 | 7pm | Secret location…through a Main Street back alley | Contact ludzuxiexie {at} gmail.com for details

MEET | If you’ve ever walked around the new Woodwards complex in Gastown you’ve likely noticed Stan Douglas’ translucent photo mural, Abbott & Cordova, 7 August 1971. It’s pretty awesome, as is Douglas’ revealing book of the same name (published by Arsenal Pulp Press). It details how he came to create the scene from the 1971 Gastown Riot (fascinating), and also takes both the riot and his work “as points of departure to discuss the legacy and implications of this tumultuous time, not only for Vancouver but for all urban centres where dissent and conflict based on class, lifestyle, or other issues arise, and where the role of authorities is contested in the form of public demonstration” (learn more about riot and the work here). The official launch goes down on Friday, February 10th at the Charles H. Scott Gallery (Emily Carr). Stan Douglas will be in attendance and signing copies. Be sure to check it out.

TUNES | The Secret Chiefs 3 and Dengue Fever play the Rickshaw Friday night. If you haven’t heard of them, The Wiki doesn’t help. They perform a “wide range of musical styles including surf rock, Persian, Arab, Indian, death metal, film music, electronic music, and various others”. Wha? What the hell is that? In cases such as these, it’s often best just to hit play on the Youtube and cut to the chase. That’s what I did (plus I read about them on the Zulu Report last week). Looks like it’ll be a solid show.
Friday, February 10 | 7pm | Rickshaw Theatre | $20 | Details

MAKE | Anyone can buy a box of chocolates for their Valentine (and it’s a tradition we fully support), but how many among us can claim to contribute to the making of those chocolates? Intrigued? Find someone that you like enough to share chocolate with and hook up with Adam and Jessica over at BETA5 this Saturday night to learn how to hand-paint chocolates. Each participating couple will hand-paint and take home their own box of 24 chocolate. Yes, the $125 is a little on the steep side, but that’s only $75 each and you’ll be treated to some amazing chocolate and taking 24 of them home. This event also happens Tuesday, February 14th!
Saturday February 11 | 8:30pm | BETA5 Workshop (413 Industrial Ave) | $125 per couple

PARTY | Gastown’s Artspeak is having a 25th Anniversary Celebration this week. Twenty five years is a big deal for an arts organization, so help them celebrate by attending this party. It’ll cost you $100, which includes “Friend” level membership and admission for you and a guest. There will be a silent auction featuring works by: Aaron Carpenter, Stan Douglas, Geoffrey Farmer, Janice Kerbel, Mark Lewis, Kyla Mallett, Judy Radul,Marina Roy, Kathy Slade, Mark Soo and Althea Thauberger. The event is presented with the support of Nelson the Seagull, Six Acres, Beta 5 and Soirette Macarons and goes down at Old Faithful. So it’s a bit of a steal, really. For further information or to purchase a Friend membership please contact Artspeak at 604.688.0051 or [email protected].
Saturday, February 11 | 7pm | Old Faithful Shop, 320 West Cordova | $100 | Details

ZINERY | Sad Mag is a quar­terly magazine that celebrates independent art and culture in Vancouver. Sad Mag is entirely volunteer-run and in order to raise funds for printing costs associated with their 9th issue (due out in April), they’re holding their 3rd annual comedy show at The Cobalt this week. There will be a riotous lineup of comedians, a photo-op kissing (and crying) booth, DJ’s cheap drink,s and the general charm that you have come to expect from The Cobalt. Cover is $10 and includes a year’s subscription, plus admission to comedy show and dance party.
Thursday, February 9 | 8pm | The Cobalt (917 Main St) | $10 | Details

LIGHTS | Illuminate Yaletown goes down this weekend. The neighbourhood’s buildings and streets will come alive with interactive, innovative, and interesting light art exhibits on Friday and Saturday night. Not only will ‘cutting edge and power smart’ video and lighting technology spill from every corner of the historic area, but the streets will also be full of performers and musicians. It can get crowded. Don’t forget to bundle up.
Friday, February 10 + Saturday, February 11  |  6-10pm | Yaletown | Free | Details

IMPORTANT NOTICE: HEADS-UP ABOUT BILL YOU MURRAY ME

A while back we ran across a poster advertising an art exhibition dedicated to Bill Murray. We thought it was a great idea. Apparently so did a lot of our readers. So many people wanted to take part that organizers have had to find a bigger space and bump the show opening up by a week. Guests are still expected to don red toques and housecoats and accessorize with pipes and beards. And there will still be cheap drinks, great music and tons of excellent art.
New date/location: Saturday, February 18 | 7pm-2am | The Fall Gallery is located at 644 Seymour

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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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