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 sweet things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week….

India and the West

“Join us for the fourth program in a multi-part series produced by the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra (VICO) that aims to shed new light on the art of intercultural music-making. Composer Moshe Denburg will take the audience on a journey through the history of intercultural collaborations between India and the West, culminating in a look into the future possibilities of combining these two fascinating traditions. The series, Music of the Whole World, aims to provide access to educational materials on the art of intercultural music-making. Whether you are a veteran composer, a beginning student of music, or simply a music lover wishing to learn more about the many musics of the world and the bridges between them, this series is one that you will not want to miss.
June 10 | 7 pm | Vancouver Public Library | FREE

David Sedaris at CBC

CBC Radio is pleased to present a very special Studio One Book Club with David Sedaris (in town rightfully whoring his wonderful, best-selling newest book, When You Are Engulfed in Flames! Due to short notice, this one is “first come/first served” – no contest for tickets. The taping will be Thursday afternoon June 11, at the CBC Studios (entrance at 775 Cambie Street). The first 120 people there at 2:45 p.m. will get in. The one-hour show will begin at 3 pm, sharp. But if you don’t want to run the risk of being #121 or worse, consider basking in the greatness of Mr. Sedaris at Chapters on Broadway @ Granville where he’ll be signing books between 1-2 pm. Hey, if you work your schedule like the schooled pro that you are, there’s a chance you could swing both events). So basically, the guy rules. If you can make it out – do. We’ll see you there.
June 11 | 2:45pm | CBC Studios – 775 Cambie Street | FREE

Hollywood stars invade Osoyoos

If you’re looking for a good reason to skip town this weekend – here it is: the first annual Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival. The big deal: Celebrity Wine Auction in support of the Providence Children’s Center. In attendance: The Canadian Tenors, Jason Priestley (Beverley Hills 9020, Hollywood & Vines), Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek, National Treasure), Dean Cain (Superman), Tiffani Amber Thiesen (Saved by the Bell, Beverly Hills 90201), David Cubbitt (Medium), Singer Jann Arden, Canadian Olympic Gold-medal winning athlete Michelle Cameron, Chef Ned Bell (Food Network), Terry David Mulligan (The Tasting Room) and Chad Oakes (Emmy award-winning producer). Also suspected to show up: Paul Gross (Men with Brooms, Paschendaale), Erika Eleniak (Baywatch). Other great highlights of the weekend will include the The Nota Bene Release Party (hosted by Jason Priestley), a Burrowing Owl Winemakers Dinner (featuring Chef Bernard Casavant and the exceptional wines of Burrowing Owl), and the Desert Spirit BBQ (featuring Chef Jonathan Thauberger and wines from the South Okanagan). If you can’t make it – ET Canada will broadcast. Not exactly the same…
June 12 to 14 | Osoyoos | Various Prices/times locations – check out Ticket Web or Blackhills winery for deets.

Another fine in-store gig at Zulu

Directly from the Fourth Avenue institution themselves: “Vancouver’s Litterbug decend on Zulu for an evening of nice indie sounds… Vancouver band Litterbug hold court at Zulu in advance of an appearance at Cafe Deux Soleils on June 20th. This is a great sneak peak of this band known for their Feelies-esque dreamy pop… and plus it is a party at the store.” June 13 | 5pm | Zulu Records | FREE

Drinking Contest

Fancy yourself a bit of a mixologist? Then you might want to get your muddling hand ready for The Divine Cocktail Mixers recipe contest. Get yourself down to The Market Gourmet Foods at 450 W. 2nd Ave at 10am on Saturday, June 13. “The first 50 contestants in line will receive two free bottles of Divine Cocktail Mixer. All contestants will have until midnight June 28 to create and upload a three-minute maximum video of their original Divine cocktail recipe to www.divinecocktails.com. Divine cocktail connoisseurs will then review the videos and announce the top ten finalists via www.youtube.com/DivineCocktails by July 3. Then the fun begins. Via YouTube, the public is invited to rate their favorite recipe video. The top three contestants will be determined by the number of votes each video receives multiplied by its YouTube rating. The top three contestants will be announced on July 17 via YouTube and the Divine website. The final three are invited to perform their recipe live at the launch party at George on July 21 (at a swish “VIP” evening emceed by Fred Lee) and a panel of judges including Divine creator, Jay Garnett, award-winning bartender Shaun Layton of George, and Scout editor Andrew Morrison will determine first, second, and third place. Word has it that the grand prize winner will receive a Divine gift basket valued at $250, have their winning recipe featured at George, and be profiled on the Divine website. For more information and complete contest rules and regulations visit www.divinecocktails.com.
June 13 | 10am | The Market Gourmet Foods

Eat Local

Not that the trek over to Trout Lake isn’t worth it, but if you’re living down town or in Kits (and would rather walk than drive) you’ll be glad to know that both of these Farmers Markets open today. Same deal as the others – they’re good places to buy locally grown produce from good people. In season this month: luscious salad greens, green onions, radishes, shallots, spinach, sprouts, sunchokes, tomatoes, Apples, delectable rhubarb, fresh strawberries. You’ll also find Bay leaves, chervil, rosemary, sage, savory goat and cow’s milk cheese, yogurt, eggs, beef, chicken, lamb, pork, cod, sablefish, shrimp, salmon, tuna and an inspiring array of bedding plants.
East Side: June 13 | 9am – 2pm | Trout Lake | FREE
WE: June 13 | 9am – 2pm | 1100 Block of Comox | FREE
Kits: June 13 | 10am – 2pm | Parking Lot of Kits Community Centre | FREE

Local Made & Lemonade

Support your local artists and designers by dropping over to Main Street’s Forsya (@6th) for their special Local Made & Lemonade event. Get yourself a fresh glass of lemonade from the lemonade stand (proceeds go to the Children’s Hospital) and browse the shop where, in addition to racks of duds by Two of Hearts, Haiiku, Adhesif, Carny Love, Maudlin & Joy, Toodlebunny and Leaf Window, you’ll also find a handul of artisans selling wares that compliment their regular stock. Check out illustrations and art cards by Adam Bull and Katie Tennant; jewelry by Catherine Ousey of Sapphire Jewelry Studios; sculptural sustainable paintings and stuffys by Christina Norberg; copper jewelry by Harj Sanghera; silver and semi-precious gem jewelry by Sarah Holmes; and handmade soy candles and pottery by Sue McLeod of My Cloud Creations.
June 13th & 14th | 11am – 6pm | Forsya | FREE

Car-Free Vancouver Day

This Sunday, Car-Free Festivals will pop up in Kitsilano, the West End (on Denman Street, between Davie and Robson ), Main Street (between 12th Ave and King Ed), and Commercial Drive (between Venables and 1st Ave). Each Festival was envisioned and organized by the local core organizers, and each had a unique flavour. Lifted directly from the Car-Free Vancouver website: You can expect to see Commercial Drive buzzing with street hockey, revolutionary knitting circles, roller disco, a Healing Garden, tons of babies and dogs, and merry mayhem abundant. On Main, look for tons of local vendors, story-telling, food, arts and crafts, 7 music stages and a grafitti wall. In the West End there will be a spoken word tent, dance classes, world music, community tables and a parade. Kits will be Block Party central – hop from one to the next, there will be street “living rooms”, dances, performers and potlucks.
June 14 | Various times – but roughly 12-6 | Commercial Dr | Main St | Kits | West End | FREE

Because MALL is a 4 letter word

From the Got Craft site: “Vancouver’s largest indie craft fair goes bite sized! For those that can not wait until December, the monthly bite sized show features a dozen, rotating handmade vendors. Make sure to come back the second Sunday of each month as each show will be different” If you’re not familiar with the Got Craft concept, or for a little background on their sweet events click here.
June 14 | 11am-4pm | Little Mountain Gallery

Julie Doiron with Dog Day

From Aaron over at the Bilt: “She’s won a Juno, been shortlisted for the Polaris Prize and is a founding member of one of the most legendary bands in Canadian indie-rock history. I rest my case. You must see Julie Doiron. Oh, and her new record is pretty amazing…. Halifax’s Dog Day have got the goods to be a terrific pure pop band, capable of crafting sublime melodies and hooks, but their fondness for the noisier virtues of the indie rock canon of the ’90s ensures that they’ll never be quite so easy to pin down.
June 14 | Doors 8 pm, Show 9 pm | The Biltmore Cabaret | $15 try Red Cat or Zulu

Farmers Market at Thornton Park

Don’t forget the mid-week market (previously held at Riley Park) at it’s new location on Main Street Thornton Park (across from the VIA Rail Station and near the Main St Skytrain Station). It runs until 7pm so that you can pick up grub on the way home from work.
June 17 | 3pm – 7pm | Thornton Park | FREE

Dawn Chubai Jazz Trio

Our friend Dawn Chubai is singing at DB tonight!
June 17 | 6-9pm | DB Bistro Moderne

Au Revoir Simone

The New York based flock of lithe young songstresses known as Au Revoir Simone play Richards tonight. Not sure if the venue is a great fit for this ethereal sounding indie-pop band, but there is only one way to find out. If you’re not alltogether down with the element of surprise when it comes to laying down money for a gig – head over to the band’s myspace page for a listen.
Jun 17 | Richards | $14

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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 by the beach in Vancouver 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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