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 list 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…

The Scout List

Busy, Busy, Busy! A good weekend to ditch the car for sure. First off, it’s Critical Mass this Friday, so be sure to plan accordingly. It’s also Pride, so get your gay on. And don’t forget about the fireworks. China struts its stuff on Saturday night (shortly before they take over the world).

If you’re looking for a cool place to trip out, consider the Rio Theatre for a double bill featuring Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas (starring Johnny Depp) and Where The Buffalo Roam (starring Bill Murray) on Friday at midnight. One can never have too much Hunter S. Thompson! Only 8 beans if you show up in film related costume. Hint.

For a different type of trip, take in Superfly at Vancity on Friday night. “A soundtrack that became one of the most influential albums in pop history highlights the story of a Harlem coke dealer trying to get out of the business.” Alrighty, then.
July 30 | 7pm | Vancity Theatre | $10

Maybe you just feel like reading. That’s cool, too. Same with taking pictures…there’s a sweet-sounding East Side photo contest going on. Read about it here.

The George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to BC Author Anne Cameron at VPL on Friday evening. The author is reading from her works. Deets here.

There is a Chefs Table Society fundraiser at the Vancouver Club that will showcase the talents of many of Vancouver’s best toques. Check out all the fun here. Sounds like a very cool event. Not too many tickets left, so jump on while you still can.

Most of us could thrive just as well in a little less space. Get inspired by wandering the Prefab 20*20 exhibit at the gallery of the Architectural Institute of BC. The exhibit is comprised of examples from a recent international competition that asked designers to submit a submission for “free-standing, prefabricated dwelling units covering a footprint of no more than 400 square feet (37.5sm) in an urban setting anywhere in the world. Each unit was required to accommodate two adults, with room for sleeping, bathing, cooking, working, studying and storage. (A total of 285 teams from 149 cities and 26 countries responded to the call. This exhibit will feature the winner, two runners-up, four honorable mentions, shortlisted and local entries.)” AIBC can fill in the details here.
Now – August 23 | 8:30 – 5 pm Mon – Thrs, 8:30 – 1 pm Fri | AIBC | FREE

Important: make your way to the land of manicured lawns on Friday night. Kerrisdale is hosting a Public Information Session about the proposed moving of the VAG from it’s current locations to 150 Dunsmuir. Info here.
July 30 | 7pm | Kerrisdale Community Centre | 5851 West Blvd | FREE

And just who isn’t passionate about perennials? Learn how to use herbaceous perennials effectively in your garden with instructor Egan Davis. More information.
July 29 | 6-8 pm | Van Dusen Gardens | $43

This one is wacky but cool and cheap – triple bonus: “Grow edible fish and plants – almost anywhere – in a single connected eco-system. This workshop will explain the basic principles of aquaponics, including basic system design and a hands-on demonstration of how to build a small indoor system. Please RSVP to Jodi at [email protected]
July 31 | 1 – 3:30 | Strathcona Community Garden | Suggested donation: $5

Saturday night is the kick-off party for HI-5, a new monthly party “with an emphasis on collaboration”. Hi-5 promises “a stacked lineup of Vancouver’s most talented and beloved DJ’s, with some special outta town guests thrown in for good measure.” It goes down at Storyeum. A portion of proceeds will go to support the work of W2 Community Media Arts Society in building a media centre for Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. If you go, we’d love to hear what you thought.
July 31 | 11pm | 151 W. Cordova Street | $10 cover, cheap drinks

The Long Table series continues at the Heather. This Sunday they’re serving up individual Salmon Wellingtons with creamed leeks & buttered potatoes with a pint of Orchard Hill Cider. Grab a seat at the Communal table and dig in.
August 1 | 7pm | Irish Heather | $17

The Powell Street Festival! “Taking inspiration from the Japanese notion of Koen debut, or Park debut, whereupon neighbourhood toddlers are introduced to their local community, the 34th Annual Powell Street Festival celebrates the idea of neighbourhood, youth, children, the park and its landscape.” Get the full story here.
Oppenheimer Park (400 block Powell Street)

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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.