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, December 11th to Wednesday, December 17, 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.

COLLAGE PARTY | The Polygon is turning the room over to artist Francisco Berlanga for a night of cutting, pasting, and making a proper mess. The session draws on Lee Miller’s printed work and Charlotte Zhang’s textile collages, creating an evening that’s loose, hands-on, and grounded in craft. Doors at 6pm, work begins at 6:30pm. A suggested donation $10–$20 buys you a seat at a table full of people ready to make something and have fun. An RSVP is required (get sorted with that here). DETAILS

SING |The community choir named after the best Eastside mall (yes, The Kingsgate) takes over the Hollywood Theatre this weekend, bringing their five-part East Vancouver sound to the stage. What started in 2011 as a few friends learning how to sing together has grown into a 60-member force known for twisting folk, rock, alternative, pop and electronic songs into something entirely their own. This round, expect Charli XCX, Songs: Ohia and The Velvet Underground and Nico among the set. There will also be a raffle — and if you know this crew, you know they run an unreasonably good one — with proceeds going to the Gaza Soup Kitchen and Parents for Palestine Vancouver. Admission is $19-$30 (sliding scale). There’s still time! DETAILS

SOUND |  The Cobalt hosts a four-hour set from Tokyo-born, New York–based multi-instrumentalist Takuya Nakamura, whose mix of trumpet, synths and improvisation is rumoured to have the power to pull a room into a trance for hours on end. Expect a slide between jazz, experimental electronics, ambient drift and club beats. The show is sold out, but a limited number of tickets will be available at the door, so arriving early is in your best interest. DETAILS

DIY | Don’t go with last minute drug store-bought holiday cards! Make something better. Slice of Life is running a linocut workshop where you carve a stamp, roll the ink, and pull a stack of cards with actual character — the kind people keep. Plus, Slice tends to draw a crowd of good people, and we like that. DETAILS

MAGIC | Five years in the restaurant world is practically a lifetime, so Pizza Coming Soon is throwing itself a well-earned birthday party on Sunday. Expect five-dollar drinks, a run of vinyl DJ sets, karaoke and a visit from Merlin the Magician because, of course, there is. They’ve even T-shirt (yes, designed by Rhek). Plus, they have free hors d’oeuvres from Costco, which feels both perfectly sensible and a little cheeky (so right on brand) and Shaylen D might even pic up the mic! In the words of Co-owner Alex (Rhek) Usow: “I’m so proud that we got to put our little version of a fun space into the city, and had it accepted by a community who have supported us so much that we’ve been able to stay open this long. Restaurant-ing is really hard, and we sincerely appreciate everyone who walked through our doors – we literally couldn’t do this if you didn’t pull up to spend time and money with us.” Reservations are limited. We love you Pizza Coming Soon! DETAILS

BREAK | When the wet weather wears thin, the Bloedel Conservatory is an instant reset — warm air, bright plants, and birds overhead. This week is looking particularly wet, so we suggest taking a bit of a wander under the dome for sanity’s sake: check in on the koi, and remind yourself what humidity feels like. It’s an affordable way to escape to a tropical climate and one of the easiest winter mood fixes in Vancouver. DETAILS

MAKE | Flower House Studios returns to La Fabrique St-George for their annual holiday wreath workshop — a hands-on, hand-tied session built around natural materials. Expect clear guidance, a relaxed room, and a couple of hours spent shaping cedar, fir, and whatever else they’ve foraged into a circular piece you’ll actually want to hang. It’s creative, low-pressure, and (unsurprisingly) pairs nicely with a glass of wine. Tickets aren’t cheap ($120), but if you are willing to splurge, we suspect this will be a fun afternoon, and you leave with a wreath.  DETAILS

SAVE | Not sure your bank account is up for holiday shopping this year? You aren’t alone! Enter the Santa-themed swap at Douglas Park Community Centre: an easy win for anyone trying to keep costs down and keep useful things from ending up in a back alley or landfill. Here is the drill: Show up with a couple of clean, working items if you have them, browse the tables, and take home up to ten things you actually need. No pressure to bring something in order to leave with something — the whole point is to help your neighbours reduce and reuse as the season ramps up. Drop-off accepted until 12:45pm. Very cool program. DETAILS

SODALITE | Everyone is always saying that there is nothing happening in Vancouver on Monday night. Good news: This week is different. Bar Sodalite is happening. And when we say happening, we really mean it: Wine pro Tadia Rae and Chef Billy Nguyen will be taking over Pizza Coming Soon for the latest installation of their “Bar Sodalite.” concept. Tadia will be pouring wine, Billy will be cooking rad food, and the room will be full of fine humans. Highly recommend!

SHOP | If you’re looking for a civilized way to sort out a few gifts without subjecting yourself to a mall, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden has a rather good alternative: Their annual Chinatown Market and Craft Fair returns on Sunday with more than 20 local vendors, family-friendly activities (it’s also free entry for BC residents!). Support local makers and wander one of the city’s calmest corners at the same time – not a bad Sunday if you ask us. Plus: Running alongside the festivities are the Garden’s “Santa Sundays”, where Santa and Mrs. Claus hold court against Ming dynasty–inspired architecture. Children can collect stamps, decorate craft booklets and head home with a printed photo for $5.

NOURISH | Eat well and stay healthy! Take a trip to one of two Winter Farmers’ Markets this weekend to stock up on provisions to see you through the holidays. The Riley Park Market goes down on Saturday, or, if Sunday works better for you, you skip over to Kits on Sunday. Either way, a farmers market is a great place to score your fruits and veggies (think apples, cranberries, Brussels sprouts, carrots, potatoes and herbs), as well as fresh bread, honey, dried fruits and loads of other goodies. DETAILS