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…

MONDAY | DECEMBER 19th

FRESH AIR | Get out in some of that west coast fresh air. The Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden is a nice way to take advantage of any break in the rain. Fresh-made sweet or savoury waffles, apple cider and hot chocolate are all on site to keep your energy up for the 15 acre, festively lit walk. | DETAILS

BUY LOCAL | Hit the Red Flag pop-up shop to score last minute hand-crafted gifts from Vancouver designers. Check out snowflake earrings from the The Royal Canadian Snowflake Collection, clothing from Hunt & Gather, cashmere scarves and gloves from Astrosatchel’s Winterlux line. Also, Beta5 Chocolates and art by Meghan Paterson! | DETAILS

SKATE | Grab your skates (or rent them once you’re there) and hit Robson Square for a lap or twelve around the ice rink. There might be one or two other people out there thinking the holidays would be a lovely time for a twirl, too, so plan ahead – bring your thermal mug, some nice thick gloves and your happy holiday attitude. In the evenings there will be carollers, so…yeah. | DETAILS

GOOD | Take a few minutes out of your day to drop some food of to Luis and Rob of Welcome to East Van. They have their cube van parked in Gastown at Water and Cambie and are aiming to fill it up with food for the needy. A little food out, a little good karma in. That’s how it works, folks. | DETAILS

TUESDAY | DECEMBER 20th

HANNUKKAH | Happy Hannukkah little Bubbelehs. Stuff your sweet faces with Potato Latkes and chocolate coins. | DETAILS

CREATE | Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice and if you haven’t sorted a lantern for the Festival just yet, there’s still time. Check out The Secret Lantern Society website for last minute lantern workshops in your hood. | DETAILS

SHOP | Make your way to Le Marché St George’s pop-up shop for last minute gifts. Quality unique gifts from good peeps. Grab a christmas tree and an espresso while you’re at it. Check the website for a peek at their gift ideas. | DETAILS

ART | Bill Anderson’s new photographic works will be shown at The Windsor Gallery. Take a moment to clear your head with a wander through this exhibition of photographs that “draw inspiration from the natural world and the imprints left on it by the people who venture into it”. Sweet. | DETAILS

MUSIC | Saskatchewan retro-rockers The Sheepdogs are at The Commodore tonight. They’re sharing the stage with Monster Truck, Louder Than Love, Head of the Herd, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. From this week’s Zulu Report: “CCR-type vibes, real Canadian lovers slinging guitars and whatnot. We got more questions regarding our stock of this record than any other title this year.” | DETAILS

WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 21st

OUTSIDE | Today’s the shortest day of the year. That means Thursday will be just a little bit longer, and Friday, longer still. The reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days is a good reason to celebrate. Five neighbourhood festivals will illuminate the solstice with lanterns, fire, singing, drumming, music and dancing! Check it. | DETAILS

LISTEN | Kid Koala plays the Rickshaw Theatre tonight. This will be an awesome little respite from the Christmas buzz. Good for us all. | DETAILS

WATCH | The Adventures of Tin Tin opens today (and there was much rejoicing). Catch Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson’s first cinematic collusion/collision. Andy Serkis (Gollum) as Captain Haddock? Should be fantastic. | DETAILS

TRAIN | Get yourself into the holiday spirit by grabbing a bag of freshly roasted chestnuts and taking a ride on the Stanley Park Christmas Train. Cuddle up with a loved one as it chugs its way through a heavily decked out forest while Christmas carols are cranked through speakers dotting the surrounds. Buying tickets in advance is highly recommended. | DETAILS

THURSDAY | DECEMBER 22nd

FRESH AIR | Throw on gloves and a scarf. The Carol Ships are making an inner harbour trip tonight which would make a mid winter walk on the seawall extra amazing as you listen to Christmas cheer float across the water. No rain scheduled. Get on it. | DETAILS

MOVIE | A Christmas Carol is playing at Vancity Theatre. “Alastair Sim offers a masterclass in comedy as Ebenezer Scrooge in this definitive black and white version of the Dickens’ classic.” | DETAILS

MUSIC | There’s a Christmas Band playing the Biltmore tonight. Soft, dark and sexy – The Biltmore is such a great place escape to. Add a big bottle of Steam Whistle to the package and you’re golden. | DETAILS

SNOW | If you were hoping for a white Christmas, you’re going to have to climb a little higher to get it. Try Grouse for a sleigh ride through a snowy forest or lace up some skates for a turn on the mountain’s outdoor rink. Both activities come free with admission to the mountain. Other free activities include snowshoeing, Theatre Under the Sky, and the Endangered Wildlife (wolf) Habitat. | DETAILS

FRIDAY | DECEMBER 23rd

HOCKEY | The Canucks are home and playing the hated Flames at Rogers Arena. If you have tickets, have a ball. If you don’t and you can sneak away from Holiday party obligations, Pats Pub on Hastings is a good place to head. | DETAILS

CULTURE | The Russian Christmas Fair goes down at the Roundhouse today. It sounds pretty…Russian. Russian crafts, traditional Russian dancing, traditional Russian music, Father Frost, traditional Russian carols, and Russian dance performances. See what I mean? Very Russian.| DETAILS

ON STAGE | If you’re looking for a new tradition, why not try The Patron Saint of Stanley Park? “It’s a ferociously stormy Christmas Eve in Vancouver’s historic park. A scruffy vagabond, who may be more than he appears to be, helps a struggling family to see that Christmas really can illuminate the strength of the human spirit.” | DETAILS

SATURDAY | DECEMBER 24th

RELAX | It’s Christmas Eve. Give up on those last minute panic trip to the shops. Slow down and order a pint. Try Bitter (they have Growlers that will set you right) or The Alibi Room for some proper holiday cheer. | DETAILS

GATHER | There’s no Farmers Market today, but there’s always Granville Island Market. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but your bravery to fight the crowds will always be tastily rewarded at Lee’s Donuts or Edible at the Market. | DETAILS

WATCH | This year’s feel-good magical animation film is in theatres. Hugo is about an orphan boy living in the walls of a Paris train station who “meets a girl who possesses the key to a machine left behind by the father he recently lost.” It’s a 3D gig, but it’s Martin Scorsese and I hear he can slap together a film. | DETAILS

SUNDAY | DECEMBER 25th

Merry Christmas, dear readers! Our love to you and yours, and best wishes for 2012.

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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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