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, July 3rd, to Wednesday, July 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.

WATCH | Deckchair Cinema kicks off its summer run tonight with Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, capturing the night David Bowie killed off his Ziggy persona on stage in 1973. Filmed at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, this restored concert doc lets you watch the legend shift gears in real time — a moment that shaped decades of music and culture. The event starts at 7pm with the opening of the concession stand and pre-show music on Cates Deck outside the Polygon Gallery, with the film rolling at sunset (around 9:15pm). Entry is by donation ($10–$20 suggested), and includes popcorn and access to the gallery’s cosmic summer exhibition, Star Witnesses. Bring your own blanket or grab a picnic table in advance. DETAILS

SLICE | Holy moly, is Slice of Life really 10 years old, already?! Yup, the East Van gallery and community space is marking the one-decade milestone this July, with a special anniversary exhibition-slash-party slated for Saturday, July 5th from 1-10pm. That gives you plenty of time to squeeze in a walk through the gallery, which will be all did-up with art by a bunch of local artists; plus: play a pinball game or two, commemorate the experience with a pitstop inside SOL’s retro photo booth and/or their jam-packed-with-goodies gift shop, spend a couple of hours trying your hand at a life drawing session…or just chill and absorb the cool and inspiring, artsy atmosphere. However you play it, show up! Spaces like this – ones that provide low-barrier opportunities for local creatives to incubate and share their work and skills with the community at large – are invaluable, and it’s in the city’s best interest to keep them around. DETAILS

CIVILIZED | The sun’s back this weekend, and frankly, it would be rude not to spend the whole day at the beach. No more sneaking sips from a hidden can when the cops walk by either — Grape Pop Wine Bar has you sorted. Tucked just off the side of the Kits Beach concession, under the shade of a big patio-deck tree, they’ll be serving up chilled wine, craft beer, and easy summer mixed drinks all afternoon long. Grab a spot at the standing bar or settle in with a glass and take in the lawn-and-sand crowds. Feeling snack-y? The adjoining Batch concession is slinging DownLow chicken tenders, burgers, and hot dogs. Sun, sand, and something decent to eat and drink — finally, all on the same page. DETAILS

FESTIVAL | Speaking of Kits Beach and nice times: Khatsahlano Street Party takes over West 4th this Saturday, shutting down ten whole blocks for a full day of local music, art, and summer chaos (the good kind). The music (pulled together with the help of Zulu Records) brings over 60 standout artists from across BC to the stage. Indie psych-rock band Meltt closes out the Burrard Stage at 8pm, but there’s a solid mix of genres playing all afternoon. Scope out the full lineup here, because no one likes surprises when it comes to set times. Beyond the music, expect street performers working the crowd; food trucks (from Burrard to MacDonald) fuelling the day; and the rare joy of no cars, just people. There will be beer gardens for the grown-ups, a family zone for the littles, and enough happening in-between to keep things moving. Bring sunscreen. Leave the dog at home. Don’t miss it. DETAILS

EAT | This Saturday night, Chef Amine Nasrallah of Montréal’s Chaud Devant will be cooking at Bartholomew Bar for a one-night-only pop-up, bringing a taste of Quebec’s terroir to Yaletown. Nasrallah — whose career includes time as sous chef at Toqué!, as well as seven years leading the kitchen at Montréal Plaza — is known for precise, original cooking built on local, seasonal ingredients. The feature menu runs alongside the regular offerings from 5–10pm, and includes dishes like Hokkaido scallop ceviche, lamb tartare, confit black cod, and Montreal duck with foie gras, finishing with a bright Pavlova. It’s a good idea to get a reservation for this one! DETAILS

LEARN | The Architecture Foundation of British Columbia‘s Downtown Walking Tours return this Saturday, offering a two-hour deep dive into the buildings, streets, and spaces that define Vancouver’s city core. Led by two guides, the tour starts at the Street Light sculpture on Marinaside Crescent and winds its way to the Vancouver Public Library, touching on key infrastructure and the role architects and planners play in shaping a better city. Expect thoughtful stops, plenty of walking, and a chance to see the city through a new lens. DETAILS

READ | Spend your Sunday browsing stacks of zines, indie comics, and small press gems at Comix & Stories, a one-day festival dedicated to independent creators and publishers happening at Heritage Hall on Sunday, July 6th. Expect tables packed with prints, pins, and plenty of paper goods worth taking home — plus a chance to meet the artists behind them. DETAILS

MORE BOOKS! | Because there is no such thing as “too many” book fairs: this week is also the return of the Vancouver Art Book Fair. For its 2025 edition, the VABF is taking over the Roundhouse Art and Recreation Centre for a three-day-long extravaganza (beginning on Friday, July 4th and lasting through the weekend), featuring over one-hundred artists and writers who publish from near (Calgary, Seattle, Bellingham, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Victoria, Burnaby, Richmond, Vancouver), far (Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Saskatoon, New York, Denver, Rochester Hills, Providence, Wolfville) and REALLY far (Shanghai, Hong Kong, Eindhoven, Tokyo, London). Swing by to take it all in, meet cool creators and publishers face-to-face, and maybe pick up a stack of inspiration to add to your bookshelf; and if you’ve got a creative bone in your body and/or a curiosity for publications, there are also themed and in-depth talks, panels, and roundtable discussions to sit in on. The Fair officially opens to the public on Friday evening, from 5-9pm; and then doors swing open again on Saturday the 5th from 11am-6pm, and Sunday the 6th from 11am-5pm. DETAILS

PICK | Berry season’s in full swing, and while the farmers’ markets are stacked with the stuff, there’s something deeply rewarding about picking your own. Head toward Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, where Formosa Organic Farm has rows of Certified Organic high-bush blueberries ready to go. Open daily from 8am to 6pm (depending on the weather), this family-run farm has been growing blueberries since 1977 and they like to keep things simple: berries are $5 a pound, grown without chemicals, and there’s even a hammock forest if you need a break from the sun (or, let’s be honest, from your kids, other people’s kids, or just life in general). Admission is $6 per person, or you can grab a season pass for $15 if you’re planning to make it a summer ritual. DETAILS 

CHILL | I’m pretty into the vibe of the Kits After Dark nights at the Hollywood — and if slacker rock is your thing, you might be too. This Friday night’s screening (presented by Range Magazine), is Pavements – a layered, kinda-documentary, kinda-fictional deep dive into the cult of Pavement. It’s weird, smart, and full of heart — much like the band itself. After the screening, stick around for live sets from Cherry Pick, Tariq, Bloom Effect, Janky Bungag, Pastel Blank and Peter Press Lee, all covering Pavement songs!  Let’s be clear: Pavement won’t be there; but their spirit will be alive and well. DETAILS 

LEARN | Head to UBC this Saturday for an evening of documentary films and sharp conversations about the state of BC’s forests and waterways. Two screenings — The Salmon Forest Project and Trouble in the Headwaters — explore the links between traditional knowledge, scientific research, and the real-world impacts of logging and environmental change. Expect thoughtful stories from Indigenous leaders, researchers, and local communities working to protect what’s left. Stay after for a reception and Q&A with the filmmakers and featured UBC researchers. This event is free, but you need to REGISTER HERE.

NOURISH | Take full advantage of early summer vegetables by getting yourself to a Farmers Market this week – now in full swing in various neighbourhoods around Vancouver! Take along your very best reusable carry bags to fill to the brim with leeks, garlic scapes, zucchini blossoms, baby carrots, armfuls of lettuce, and baskets of strawberries. DETAILS