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, April 3rd to Wednesday, April 9th, 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.

SOFT | Though June officially opens next week (Thursday, April 10th), word is the city’s sharpest new brasserie-inspired cocktail bar is quietly opening its doors this weekend. Located at the corner of Cambie and 17th, the two-level space, designed by Mexican architect, Héctor Esrawe, is refined, sculptural, and intentionally understated – with a hell of a cocktail program and some seriously good food. While the menu reimagines French classics, the bar leans elegant and exacting, with cocktails drawing from both French and Japanese traditions. Martinis are poured ice-cold from the freezer, and every detail – from the lighting to plating – lands with quiet confidence. Find out more.

IMMERSE | Got an open evening ahead of you? Perfect. Because tonight (Thursday, April 3rd) is the Opening Reception for EMDR at the VIVO Media Arts Center. Pop by the East Van arts space tonight anytime between 6pm and 9pm – and/or during regular hours (12-6pm) beginning on April 4th until the 12th – to immerse yourself in a surreal four-channel film installation by Vancouver-based artist duo, Trevor Jacobson and Tanya Goehring (of The Automatic Message) in collaboration with dance artist Daria Mikhaylyuk. From the Press Release: “At 14 years old, Jacobson was hit by a truck and sustained life-threatening injuries, including a head injury, two broken femurs, a ruptured spleen, and liver lacerations. The subsequent court case, challenging recovery, and lasting effects of the head injury led to a lifelong journey with PTSD. Now in his 40s, Jacobson has found life-changing relief through EMDR [Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing] therapy. EMDR explores the various mental spaces Jacobson experienced while living with PTSD and undergoing this treatment: the emotions he feels, the memories he revisits and the mental landscapes he navigates.” Sounds intense! This project didn’t come easy, either – it took eight years to get to this point! – so show up with your undivided attention and ready for some serious contemplation. The video will be running on a 70-minute-long loop all evening long during tonight’s Opening Reception. Find out more.

FINALLY | The Vancouver Farmers Markets’ 2025 season begins this weekend! And if that isn’t a sure sign of the coming of Spring, then I don’t know what is. The first of the 2025 Markets to open are Trout Lake (Saturday, 9am-2pm) and Riley Park (Saturday, 10am-2pm). (FYI there are also still a few weeks remaining of the Kits Winter Farmers Market, Sundays from 10am-2pm.) Stock up on goodies like local salad greens, stinging nettles, fresh vegetables and herbs. There will also be artisan breads, preserves, honey, wild salmon, cookies, pies, flowers and even a food truck or two to keep you busy. Welcome back, farmers! We’ve missed you! Find out more.

HIKE | This is the first weekend of Spring that we get to leave our coats at home and remember what summer feels like. But don’t get too comfortable – we know from experience that the rain will return before actual Summer has a chance to settle in… Still, that’s no excuse for wasting a single minute of these days of dry skies. Get outside! Walking and hiking traffic will be heavy, so if you want to maintain distance, aim for a less popular trail or wander. We’re thinking of hitting Iona beach, ourselves; but Vancouver Trails has a good list of local hikes of various distances and levels of difficulty. Check it out here.

PHOTOGRAPHY | The Capture Photography Festival officially hits gallery walls across the city this week. As usual, the focus is on showcasing all manner of ‘lens-based art’ created by emerging and established artists from here and around the world. Together with the obvious visual component, there are also numerous tours, talks, and workshops to enjoy. Head over to the Capture website (here) to design your own experience. However, if you need somewhere to start: there will be a guided tour of Stitched: Merging Photography and Textile Practices at the Gordon Smith Gallery happening this Saturday. The exhibition brings together works from nine artists exploring the intersection of lens-based media and textile art, tracing common threads (pun intended) across form, process, and social commentary. Free to attend with registration, but spots are limited. Lock in your place here. Capture runs until April 30th. Find out more.

BRUNCH | Selene Aegean Bistro kicks off brunch service this Saturday, April 5th, with a menu rooted in the morning traditions of the Aegean Coast. The menu is stacked with meze-style snacks, lighter plates, and full-on comfort dishes, like Cilbir with baharat chilli crunch, Shakshuka with tirokafteri, and their front-runner sweet, Pistachio Honey Toast (thick-cut Japanese milk toast topped with with whipped ganache and a gloss of Cynar-orange blossom syrup). Designed by co-head chefs Adrian Nate and Arish Dastoor, the menu runs Saturdays, Sundays, and Holiday Mondays, from 10am-2pm. Walk-ins are welcome; reservations are recommended. Find out more.

EXPLORE | Need a change of pace? Slip away from shore and into nature in a kayak! A few hours of calm water and paddling will leave you clear-headed and ready for a good night’s sleep. And who wouldn’t be better off with a little bit of both? Deep Cove Kayak rentals range from two hour slots to the full day – and beyond, if you’re super keen. Rates include paddle, lifejacket, whistle, and all other mandatory safety equipment. Although these guys have one of the largest kayak rental fleets in Canada, there will be a fair number of outdoor enthusiasts aiming to get out on the water this week, so be sure to book your boat in advance (1-2 days ahead of time is recommended). Find out more.

RETURN | This weekend, the VIFF Centre screens Resident Orca, a powerful documentary tracing the story of the last Southern resident Killer Whale to be captured. Filmmakers Simon Schneider and Sarah Sharkey Pearce began filming in 2019, drawn to the story of Lolita (also known as “Toki”) who spent over 50 years confined to a shallow tank at the Miami Seaquarium. Along the way, they became part of a sweeping coalition of ex-trainers, Indigenous leaders, activists, and billionaires fighting for her release. The result is a moving portrait of grief, hope, and the complex bond between humans and animals. Find out more.

POUR | This Sunday, Dachi is cracking open the good stuff, for a one-day-only sake bar featuring Mariko Tajiri (longtime sake educator, terroir obsessive, and Miki’s drinking partner of 15+ years) fresh in from Toronto. With her, Tajiri has brought a suitcase full of new bottles from Kyabetsu Imports, which specializes in sake made by producers who actually care about the land it comes from. Expect rare pours, first-to-market finds, and thoughtful snacks from Chef Sonja Lee. And frankly, Spring is the perfect excuse to start drinking sake again! No reservations, just the warm blur of a very good afternoon. Find out more.

SNACK | Fresh off a two-week trip to Japan, Folke’s co-owners, Colin Uyeda and Priscilla Deo, are bringing the energy back to Kits with a one-night-only izakaya-inspired dinner. Expect a casual yet flavour-packed evening filled with new ideas, playful combinations, and plenty of stories from the road — all served up in Folke’s welcoming, art-filled space. Reservations are strongly recommended; walk-ins will be limited. Find out more.