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, May 15th to Wednesday, May 21st, 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.

OPEN | Lala (the sexy subterranean hideout below recently opened June) opens tonight (Thursday, May 15th). To get there: just head down the stairs at June, past the velvet curtain, and into what feels like your cooler friend’s basement (if your friend had great cocktails and a killer sound system). The 40-seat listening bar will host nightly vinyl DJs, classic drinks done properly, and a snack menu lifted from upstairs (think, Crispy Frog Legs, Crab Dip, and Truffle Eggs – that sort of thing). It’s part living room with a fancy food program, part low-lit lounge. Designed by renowned Mexican architect, Héctor Esrawe, and named after co-owner Keenan Hood’s daughter, Lala carries on June’s tradition of building spaces around family, food, and the kind of invitation that makes staying a little longer feel like a given. DETAILS

POP UP | Le Marche St. George is popping up inside of their sister wine-focused project, La Fabrique St-George on Sunday, May 18th and Monday, May 19th, bringing together the best of both neighbourhood spots under one roof. Relax into the long weekend vibes with a new brunch menu to enjoy along with La Fabrique’s natural, qvervi-made wines. Yes, the weather forecast is looking a bit “iffy”, but La Fabrique’s space has you covered for all eventualities, with both their street-facing patio along East 7th Avenue, and intimate, moody vibes (complete with a cozy seating section and fireplace which may or may not be put into action) indoors. DETAILS

TEA | The Garden Tea Festival returns to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden for a one-day celebration of tea culture in honour of Asian Heritage Month. Expect hands-on workshops with local and visiting tea experts, live traditional music, calligraphy demos, incense and tea ceremonies, Hanfu try-ons, and a solid lineup of artisan vendors. Admission ($12-15) includes access to all sessions on a first-come, first-served basis. DETAILS

IDENTIFY | Spring Foraging 101 lands at Jericho Park just as the forest hits its stride. Led by Chef Robin Kort (of Swallow Tail Culinary Adventures) and presented by The Bad Academy, this two-hour-long workshop focuses on identifying BC’s edible coastal plants — like licorice ferns, nettles, and bigleaf maple flowers — in their natural habitat. No actual harvesting is involved; just a nice walk, some snacks, and answers to the real questions, like: “Can I eat this?” and “How annoying can I be on my next hike by loudly identifying dozens of plants?” DETAILS

PASTA! | The fine folks at Dachi welcome Pasta La Mano for a one-night-only pasta pop-up this Tuesday. With just a few tickets ($70) still available, we suggest you snag a seat before the window closes. From Dachi: “Head Chef Christopher Hyde and owner Aaron Ellard moved to Vancouver two years ago to grow their business through pop-ups and a monthly Pasta Club delivery service for pasta enthusiasts, all in preparation for the upcoming opening of their first brick-and-mortar location in the city. Centered around Italian inspired cuisine, La Mano’s ever changing menus draw from chef Christopher’s extensive experience in kitchens across Italy, Australia, New York, London and Canada. Their multi-course dinners showcase a brilliant range of flavors and cooking styles, highlighted by beautifully handmade pastas.” Get in on it. DETAILS

ART | Equinox Gallery opens two solo shows side by side this May: Behind the Wall of Sleep by Rob Nicholls and Fictions by Ben Reeves. While Nicholls draws on memories of Vancouver Island to paint dreamlike, layered landscapes that blur time and place; Reeves, known for his thick impasto and conceptual approach, deconstructs realism with works that reveal the illusion behind the image. Together, the shows explore how we see, remember, and imagine. Both run until June 14th, with a (free) joint Opening Reception tonight (Thursday, May 15th) from 6-8pm. DETAILS

FEAST | Basta BBQ is back for the season with a two-day kickoff on Saturday, May 17th and Sunday the 18th, grilling up bold, Southeast Asian-inspired barbecue outside Farmer’s Apprentice from 11am to 2pm. On the menu: BBQ Beef Cheek Rendang with makrut lime syrup; smoked beef and pork longganisa with shrimp paste caramel; fish sauce pork ribs; turmeric rice; tamarind pickles; and a coconut-galangal spring salad. Cornbread will also be available to add-on, if you’re smart. Reserve your spot through OpenTable ($66, tax and tip all-in), or roll up hungry — walk-ins are always welcome. More BBQs coming all season long! DETAILS

COMMUNITY | Two Vancouver-based artists already deeply rooted in the city’s art scene — Anna Kasko (Kasko Frame Works & Gallery) and Dan Siney (Doing&Doing Fine Art) — are joining forces on a new collaborative project aimed at deepening that connection. It launches this Saturday at Kasko Frame Works, the duo’s shared framing-shop-slash-gallery-space in Strathcona. Drop by between 4pm and 8pm for Scorpion Tongue, the debut group show featuring work from over a dozen artists. The project supports artists by rotating exhibitions through the front room of the shop. Some shows will go live online-only; others (like this one) will be open to the public. Regardless, the mission is simple: strengthen cultural health by giving artists more room to be seen and supported. DETAILS

RELAX | The May long weekend’s here, so take the win and slow it down. Sure, the forecast calls for rain — but that just means fewer people at the beach! (Arguably the best kind of beach situation.) Lean into it: take a quiet stroll by the water (maybe Kits?), then treat yourself to a long, late lunch at Au Comptoir.

CLIMATE | This one is next week, but you’ll need to clear your schehdule and purchase a ticket, so were planting the seed now: A full day of future-focused thinking is happening at the UBC Botanical Garden on Thursday, May 22nd, bringing together Vancouver-based climate fiction author Lisa Brideau with a community of climate-concerned citizens, and a range of interactive programming. (We’re plugging it in here so that you can get a jumpstart on locking down your tickets and clearing up your schedule accordingly, before it’s too late.) Expect a keynote, catered lunch, guided garden tour, and collaborative closing session — plus live visual documentation by a local artist. This isn’t just about listening; it’s also about building ideas into action. DETAILS