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 20th to Wednesday, March 26th, 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.

EQUINOX | It’s almost time to pack up the winter hats and coats, folks! The Vernal Equinox (March 20 at 2:01 a.m. Pacific) officially signals the beginning of longer days and warmer weather. Get ready to turn soil and keep your eyes peeled for cherry blossoms! Fun fact: There are those who claim the Vernal Equinox is the only day of the year when an egg can be perfectly balanced on its end…and hours of frustration and/or fun can be had giving it a shot. Good luck!

SNAKES! | One of our favourite things about the arrival of spring is that the The Keefer Bar drops a fresh round of conceptual cocktails. This year, their Spring Prescriptions list is themed ‘Great Snakes’. From the Keefer: “This expression is not just a TV stand-in for swearing anymore! Now it’s a catalogue of some of the world’s greatest serpent inspired cocktails. Seeing as it is the Year of the Snake, our bar team slithered off to discover their favourite snake-stories and design cocktails around them.” We have our eye on Hollow Tooth (Gobernador pisco, St James rhum blanc, Irony pepper aperitif, pineapple, passionfruit, basil, osmanthus, and clarified tofu coconut milk). DETAILS

SPIDERS | Alright, listen up! This one’s for the kids — but also for the science nerds, the spider-lovers, and anyone who likes being freaked out (in a good way). This week, the Beaty Biodiversity Museum is all about jumping spiders: those tiny, eight-legged parkour pros with insane vision, wild hunting skills, and the ability to communicate through dances and vibrations (yeah, they’ve got moves). Get in there to learn about why these little guys are straight-up nature’s most underrated weirdos. Expect hands-on activities, scavenger hunts, films, and all kinds of cool stuff to mess around with at your own pace. Bring the kids, bring yourself, and prepare to leave with a newfound respect for jumping spiders. DETAILS

EXPLORE | Aren’t these longer and brighter days fantastic?! Sure, a few raindrops might be involved, but pull on your rain slicker and mud boots because Spring is a great excuse to expand your horizons and explore places you might have been uninspired to check out during the Winter. Need a nudge in the right direction? Take some time to slow down and appreciate the here and the now with a spell of fresh air. A beautiful stretch of sandy shoreline spreading towards the sea at the mouth of the Fraser River, Iona Beach Regional Park in Richmond (just north of the Vancouver International Airport) is a great go-to this time of year. In addition to walking the beach (when the tide is out it goes on forever!) there’s also a breakwater to conquer. And, if beaches aren’t your thing, you can walk the raised boardwalk and gentle footpaths through marsh areas and check out log booms on the river. Breathe it in!

POZOLE | With Spring comes the inevitable Spring Showers – which obviously calls for something warm and comforting. Good news: Every other Sunday, Pozolero David Katz sets up at La Mezcaleria, serving his legendary nourishing and soul-soothing pozole (the fact that you can also order La Mezcaleria snacks, margaritas and beer to go with it doesn’t hurt either). This Sunday, March 23rd the Pozole Party kicks off at 11am. Don’t forget to book ahead. ¡Pozole verde por siempre! DETAILS

STOMP | Want to wash down the week with a big ol’ glass of wine? We feel ya. Good news: The Vin Van travelling wine bar sets up shop at 1024 Main Street (The Ellis Building) for this month’s edition of Stompin’ Grapes. Expect a fresh lineup of wines by the glass, killer cocktails from Civil Serpent (aka Amanda MacMullin), and a vinyl-spun disco soundtrack. No kitchen service, but snacks will be on hand. The good times roll from 6pm until late. Walk-ins welcome. DETAILS

DISH | Local artist Ohhelloleigh Ceramics is opening her studio for a Seconds and Samples Sale this Saturday, March 22, from 11am to 5pm. Pottery seconds are pieces with minor flaws, sold at a discount but still perfectly safe to use and enjoy. This is your chance to help Leigh with her studio spring cleaning and stock your cupboard with locally made ceramics that bring a little extra heart to your morning coffee at the same time. DETAILS

DINE | For one-night-only on Tuesday (March 25th), Noah’s Cafe is hosting a very cool collaborative dinner with soon-to-open cocktail bar, Nomonomo (のものも) – including some very interesting cocktails, of course. The eight-course seasonally-inspired menu is stacked with dishes like Carrara wagyu steak tartare, red miso sablefish, and confit beef tongue, plus a knockout sando situation for dessert. On the drinks side, Nomonomo’s rolling out a lineup of special cocktails just for the occasion, like a Japa-tini with barley shochu and mirin, and the bold Suika, featuring mezcal, sake, horseradish, and watermelon. Initially, there were two seatings (5:30pm & 8pm), but the latter one is already sold out — so if you want in, you’d better hop to it and grab a 5:30pm spot before they’re gone! Noah’s knows how to throw a good time, and at this price, it’s a solid bet these seats won’t last. $100 per person (drinks extra). DETAILS

ESCAPE | Yes, it’s officially spring… but Vancouver is expecting rain almost every day this coming week. How nice would it feel to press “pause” on that? As unlikely as that might seem, there is a way: Hiding out at the Bloedel Conservatory for a few hours usually does the trick. Artificially warm temperatures, plus exotic plants and flowers – and all those free-flying tropical birds! Use your imagination, and you might just forget how miserable it is outside. DETAILS

PLAN | Early mornings aren’t for everyone, but this one might be worth the effort. Slo Rise, a free monthly Sunday gathering hosted by Slo Coffee, brings together coffee, community, and conversation with a laid-back soundtrack from DJ JLiu. The next instalment of Slo Rise is happening on March 30th, and (extra bonus) by then Slo Coffee will have rolled out their new spring drinks, including an Iced Hojicha with Pandan Cream and a Yuzu Espresso Tonic. Show up, sip something good, and ease into the day at Fraser Street’s coolest café. This event runs from 8am to 10am, so consider this your heads-up — some folks need ample warning to be anywhere before noon on a Sunday. DETAILS