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 27th to Thursday, April 3rd, 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.

ENGAGE | From March 27th through 29th China Cloud Studios is throwing a three-night bash to celebrate 15 years of being the scrappy, loveable home of weird and wonderful art that it is. Expect top-notch comedy, music, and maybe even a few existential crises on a couch that’s definitely seen some things over the years. With The Sunday Service, Comedy World, and a Sun Ra tribute from Tiny Pyramids all on the schedule, you can pick your poison or commit to the chaos by grabbing a $60 weekend pass. Plus, there’s a cash bar, some dodgy chairs, and all the charm money can’t buy (but tickets can). DETAILS

PREPARE | It’s raining. Of course it is! But rather than wallow in bed all day long, this Sunday drag yourself to Le Marché St. George where you can wrap your hands around something hot and caffeinated, while pretending to be the main character in a tasteful French film. Plus, there’s a pre-loved clothing pop-up from 11am–3pm to help you get ahead of spring wardrobe envy. DETAILS

DOZE | For Episode 9 of their event series, Doze Hifi is taking over the intimate, design-forward Lucky Sushi Co. in the West End, bringing fresh Spring energy for a night of kissa-style hi-fi listening, curated snacks, and thoughtful drinks returns. Chef Jin Park will offer a special menu to pair with the music, and guest selector Hashman Deejay (from Mood Hut) will be spinning alongside surprise guests. Expect a deep listening session built on sound, detail, and community. Score a ticket in advance for $10, or pay $15 at the door. Walk-ins welcome. DETAILS

CHILL | Catch the Alvin Brendan Trio on Sunday night, when they’ll be bringing that cool, clean jazz heat to The Flamingo Room. Alvin’s got that rare touch of deep swing roots, polished style, and just enough edge to keep it fresh. From The Flamingo Room: “Alvin attributes his cool and sophisticated sound to his learning from his local heroes Bill Coon and Ron Samworth, as well as having the opportunity to learn from internationally acclaimed legends Peter Bernstein and Lorne Lofsky. In combining his love for early Jazz/Swing music with his contemporary influences, Alvin always aims to create a statement that adheres to a rich musical tradition whilst being exciting and fresh.” Slide in, grab a drink, and let the music do what it does. $6 cover charge at the door. DETAILS

OPENING | The Capture Photography Festival kicks off this week. In addition to showcasing all manner of ‘lens-based art’ created by emerging and established artists from here and around the world, Capture 2025 also offers a series of tours and talks. With so many shows and events happening, we suggest you devise a personalized plan. Customize your festival itinerary by clicking “My Itinerary” on the lower left side of the screen on the Capture website. If you can swing it, the festival’s Opening Reception goes down at the Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art, in North Van, from 7-9pm on April 1st. There, you can take in Capture’s Featured Exhibition, Stitched: Merging Photography and Textile Practices, featuring works by Simranpreet Kaur Anand, Barbara Astman, Maya Beaudry, Dana Claxton, Liz Ikiriko, Jayce Salloum, Michaëlle Sergile, Michelle Sound, and Lan “Florence” Yee. It’s free to attend, but you’ve only got until 5pm tonight (Thursday, March 27th) to lock in your mandatory RSVP! DETAILS

CREATE | On April 7th, The Jealous Curator (aka Danielle Krysa) is in town to take the stage at The Beaumont Studios for a live interview about how to live a more honest creative life, whatever that means for you. Expect big truths, proper laughs, and maybe a quiet internal reshuffling of creative priorities. In addition to being the founder of The Jealous Curator, Krysa is also the author of Your Inner Critic is a Big Jerk and A Big Important Art Book – Now with Women. She has spoken at TEDx, PIXAR, and CreativeMornings — not to mention, Oprah.com has her on tape. If you’ve been waiting for a creative reboot, this one is a solid (and, at $20 per ticket, affordable) way to kickstart something new this spring. We’re letting you know well in advance so that you can scoop a ticket while they are still available. DETAILS

SUNSHINE | Don’t sweat the rain that is coming our way between now and the weekend: It’s good for the garden, and for the water table. And since the sky’s supposed to clear up on Sunday, line up something easy and outdoorsy to shake it off with, like a visit to Fraser River Park. It’s got big open lawns, cherry blossoms doing their thing, boardwalks over marshland, and just enough nature to make you feel like you’ve got your life together (or at least like you could). Add to that a hit of sunshine: Hooray for Spring!

GIG | The Folk Implosion (aka Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh) and John Davis) are in town to perform at The Fox on Thursday (April 3rd). These guys are known for cutting through the mid-’90s with a blend of lo-fi folk and beat-driven sound that landed them on the soundtrack for Kids (you know, the 1995 film that launched Harmony Korine and Chloë Sevigny into fame) and struck a chord with listeners who didn’t quite fit anywhere else. From The Fox: ‘”How the fuck are we going to turn this into a song?” That’s the question Lou Barlow and John Davis have asked themselves since co-founding the Folk Implosion in the early 1990s. Beginning with improvised jams featuring Barlow on bass and Davis on drums, the duo develop their beat-driven pop collages from the ground up.’ Short story: This duo has always blurred the line between noise and pop with their jagged, personal, and weirdly comforting sound. Into it? Tickets are still available. Score yours here.

VOTE | The Vancouver by-election is coming up fast, with advance voting already in motion and will be continuing on Tuesday, April 1st at City Hall from 8am to 8pm. Voters will be choosing up to two candidates from a field of 13 to fill vacant City Council seats. See the full list and candidate details here. You can vote early, by mail, or in person on Election Day, on Saturday, April 5th. Not registered? No problem. Just take your ID and register when you vote. Also: WE LOVE YOU SEAN ORR! DETAILS