From our calendar to yours comes this carefully considered agenda of cool things we are doing, wishing we could do, or conspiring to do in Vancouver from Thursday, March 13th to Wednesday, March 20th, 2025. Please note that you can now get the Scout List – with a few extra pieces of intel included – sent to your inbox every Thursday. Sign up for your subscription here.

YES! | Bar Tartare’s rotating lineup of Vancouver’s sharpest chefs and cool-as-hell visiting talent keeps things interesting, pairing seamlessly with their always on-point natural wine selection. No need to overthink your drink — just let the Tartare crew match you with something that fits the moment. This week, Rafael Racela is taking over the kitchen. You might know him as the executive chef at Mount Pleasant’s ¿CóMO? Tapería, or from his Filipino pop-up series, Tayo, where he puts his roots front and centre. Racela’s all about bold flavours, tight technique, and serious energy in the kitchen. We’ve hit his pop-ups before, and the guy always delivers. This one’s gonna be solid. Go, Raffy! DETAILS

FIRE | Welcome Spring with the Persian New Year and fiery traditions of Chaharshanbe Suri at Ambleside Park. Expect live music, dancing, and plenty of food, plus the chance to take part in the centuries-old ritual of fire jumping — a symbolic act of renewal, shedding the past year’s misfortunes and stepping into the New Year with good health and luck. The Iranian Canadian Congress hosts this free community event and welcomes all. Free to attend, however there is a fire jumping fee! DETAILS 

FOREST | This weekend’s looking good on the weather front – heck, there might even some blue skies and sunshine! Spring is creeping in, and these warm bursts push everything into motion. Get into it. It’s always life-affirming to see nature waking up – buds popping, shoots stretching, colour creeping back in. And honestly, who couldn’t use a little optimism right now? Not sure where to go? Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve is a solid choice. It’s packed with trails for all levels, but I’m partial to ‘Homestead’, an easy hour(ish)-long loop with some gentle climbs, weaving through the forest, past streams, and alongside a rushing river. Afterward, reward yourself with a killer chai latte and well-earned doughnut at United Strangers. DETAILS

FEAST | Celebrate Nowruz with a special one-night pop-up from chef Saman Ahmadivafa (¿CóMO? Tapería, Khaaterat) at Dachi on Tuesday, March 18th. Born in Iran and living in Vancouver since 2008, Saman channels childhood memories into his cooking, bringing the warmth and tradition of Iranian New Year to the table. From Dachi: “The theme of Iranian New Year is especially meaningful for him, as it’s centered around gathering with loved ones, sharing meals, and creating lasting memories. As he hasn’t been able to see his family for many years, this themed menu is a way for him to relive those fond moments and reconnect with his culture.” The family-style tasting menu highlights seasonal, local ingredients with a pescatarian and vegetarian focus, reflecting the fresh, vibrant flavours of spring. Thoughtfully paired cocktails round out the experience, with an option for curated pairings. There are only a few tickets left, so if you want in, you’d better act fast! DETAILS

GIG | Minneapolis brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum mix classic country with traditional folk ballads, adding offbeat, wry twists on heartbreak — no melody is too quirky, no story too strange. Their band, The Cactus Blossoms, carries a dreamy, slightly eerie energy that gives off serious David Lynch vibes. And this weekend, they’re playing the Biltmore Cabaret, a venue with its own dark, velvet-covered lounge feel, offering just the right amount of complementary off-kilter vibes. Feels like the perfect match! Grab a cold beer or a neat Canadian Club, sink into a booth, and let the haunting harmonies and vintage twang pull you under. Sissy & the Western Playboys are opening. Tickets are $35 DETAILS

LEARN | Turn invasive species into art at a hands-on workshop exploring the ecology of Metro Vancouver, at Slice of Life this Sunday, March 16th. Learn to make your own ink for drawing out of regionally invasive European Mountain Ash, then put it to use in a guided life study session with locally harvested plant material. Along the way, dive into a discussion on urban ecologies and the stories behind the species we often overlook. Expect plenty of discussion, some very cool eco-conscious paintbrushes, and a small container of your own handmade ink to take home. Knives are involved, so anyone under 16 interested in participating will need an adult present to keep an eye on them. It’s a very reasonable $25 beans to attend, so we expect spaces will fill up. Get on it! DETAILS

WATCH | No matter the weather outside, I’m not above checking into a movie theatre for a full day of big screen entertainment and popcorn. This Sunday, March 16th the Rio is offering a fully eclectic range of screenings, starting with Hayo Miyazaki’s forever perfect My Neighbor Totoro (10:20am); moving onto “a moving portrait of two exiled Filipino revolutionaries, the late Jose Maria (“Joma”) Sison and his wife Julie De Lima; both key leaders in the ongoing Philippine revolution” for My Friend the Terrorist (12:45pm); followed by Becoming Led Zeppelin (3:30pm), what the New York Times calls a “hagiographic look at the group’s beginnings, the movie is as straightforward as it is headbangingly diverting”; and finishing with Oscar Award winning Anora (8:15pm). Add a grilled cheese & beer dinner into the mix, and Sunday is a win! DETAILS

ART | I’m really interested in catching Town + Country: Narratives of Property and Capital at the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery. The show breaks down the idea that cities and countryside are separate worlds, examining how this belief has shaped land ownership, the housing crisis, and who gets to live where. Through contemporary works, it challenges cycles of private property, colonial land grabs, and economic inequality. With climate change and real estate speculation adding to the instability, this exhibition feels especially timely, pushing for a new way of thinking about land, labour, and home. Town + Country: Narratives runs through Friday, April 18th. DETAILS

NOURISH | Stinging nettles, chives, fiddleheads and halibut are all coming into season now. A weekend trip to the Winter Farmers Market will sort you out. Also look for kale and potatoes, as well as goodies like fresh bread, eggs, pickles, local preserves, and honey. Thanks, farmers! DETAILS

PLAN | This one’s not until March 25th, but trust us, you don’t want to sleep on tickets. The Linda Lindas are on a serious trajectory, and small venues might not be in their future for much longer. The Los Angeles rock band is making a stop at the Vogue Theatre as part of their 2025 Spring North American tour. Fresh off their acclaimed album No Obligation, the band has been everywhere lately: playing Coachella, opening for legends like Blondie and The Rolling Stones, and even jamming with Weird Al. Their mix of L.A. punk, post-punk, garage rock, power pop, and rock en Español makes for a high-energy, defiant, and seriously fun live show. Expect this one to sell out. DETAILS

COMMUNITY. NOT CLICKBAIT.