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, September 18th to Wednesday, September 24th 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.

EQUAL NIGHT | The Autumn Equinox arrives on Monday, September 22nd, marking the moment the sun crosses the equator, and day and night balance out, signifying the ‘official’ start of Fall. Which means that this is your last proper weekend of Summer. Even with rain in the forecast, for the next few days you can still catch a trace of it. Make time to get outside and take it in. With crowds thinning, a seawall walk through Stanley Park is an easy way to close out summer and welcome the new season.

PARTY | Summer is officially over this week, which means the days of patio hangs are numbered! And neighbourhood buddies Budgie’s Burritos and The Lido are pulling all the stops to make their final patio party of the season a real doozy. Think, a Budgie’s versus Lido DJ ‘battle’, cheap drinks from 33 Acres and Soma Craft Cidery, and free Budgie’s chips and salsa with every drink purchased (until they run out). The partying begins at 2pm on September 21st, and will keep going until late (in other words, bleeding into the wee hours of official Autumn.) Yes, it will probably get messy – but in a proper ‘farewell to summer’ way. The 21st also just so happens to be a Sunday…Consider yourself warned. DETAILS

LEARN | Remember television? We’re talking remote-controlled, regularly programmed, ad-riddled, sitcom and news hour television…yup, ‘the good ol’ days’ before everything was on demand, and a bit of patience and planning was required…Regardless of what you’re TV experience has been, head to The Polygon in North Van this evening to hear from multi-media artist, poet and professor Judy Radul, whose TV-inspired installation This Is Television is currently up in the gallery as part of the group show, Star Witnesses (until Sunday, September 28th). For the night, Radul will be doing an off-the-cuff performance, featuring live-edited text projections and readings from her 2018 book, also called This Is Television. Advance registration – and a sliding scale donation of $10-20 – is much appreciated, but not required. DETAILS

GIG | Shoegaze trio Bloom Effect are celebrating the release of their new EP, Oscilón, with a launch show at The Astoria this Friday. Expect “fuzz-washed soundscapes”, English and Spanish lyrics drifting through layers of spacious, hazy, and immersive ‘reverb’, and the kind of dreamy catharsis that pulls influence from bands like Cocteau Twins and Alvvays in equal measure. Snag your tickets here. Can’t make it out Friday night? They’re also playing a ‘stripped-back’ acoustic set at Oide on Saturday afternoon, that will pair nicely with a good cup of coffee. DETAILS

HISTORY | It’s easy to think that Lost Lagoon has always been there. Circling it through the seasons, watching the shifts in weather and light, it can feel as if it were timeless. But the Lagoon was built and shaped, and is changing still. On Wednesday, September 24th, attend a-walk-and-talk to learn how it came to be, its role as habitat, and how things like the introduction of swans and being cut off from the sea continue to leave their mark. DETAILS

SAVE | The season’s tomato rush won’t last long, so now’s the time to think ahead. Stock up at the market, haul home as many as you can carry, and find ways to put save them for the cold months. Slow-cooked, rich sauce in January starts here. As for where to score in high volume? This Sunday, Endswell Farm is bringing Bowen Island–grown organic heirlooms to East Vancouver’s ‘A Living Taste’ storefront for a one-day-only tomato market. It’s a perfect chance to capture the summertime in jars. DETAILS

SKILLS | If adding a new skill to your kitchen repertoire is on the fall agenda, Butchery 101 at Two Rivers Specialty Meats is worth a look. Led by Taryn Barker, Head Butcher and owner of The Little Butcher, this 90-minute, women- and gender-non-conforming-only workshop covers how to break down your own chicken and make the most of every part. Your ticket ($125) includes a bird to take home, snacks, drinks, and even a shot at a new knife set from House of Knives. DETAILS

ESCAPE | The shift from summer to fall is the perfect time to escape the city for a bit of trail walking. Temperatures are accommodating; and the colours, smells and sounds are all captivating. Take the low road out to Lighthouse Park (doable by car, bike, or bus) and spend a few hours wandering the trails. There’s nothing quite as restorative and grounding as taking some time out to appreciate nature. Breathe deeply, and inhale the forest and salt air. When you’re done, hit up Savary Island Pie Co. for a piece of pumpkin pie. DETAILS

MAKE | If you didn’t master sourdough during Covid but wish you had, this UBC Farm workshop is your chance: In three hours, you’ll see every stage of the sourdough-making process, start your own loaf (to finish at home), and take away a live starter with instructions to keep it thriving. Alongside baking, you’ll taste a selection of fresh sourdoughs with butter and cheese. ‘Learn How to Make Your Own Sourdough’ is led by Valentine Kitamura (aka Tartine & Maple), a French-trained cook who specializes in making baking approachable and fun. Spaces ($65) are still available, but they won’t be for long! DETAILS

DINE | Summer may be winding down, but Livia on Commercial is keeping spirits high with a month-long series of Friday night pop-up dinners featuring Chef Raf Racela. Known as the Sous Chef at Como Taperia and for his Filipino concept, Tayo, Racela is bringing modern Filipino flavours to Livia’s Italian kitchen every Friday from September 19th through October 10th. Walk-ins only, starting at 5:30pm – so get there early if you want a seat. DETAILS

WINE | The history of Georgian winemaking spans thousands of years, and Georgia continues to produce some killer natural wines, both growing and breaking away from long-held traditional methods. However, often this little country gets overshadowed by some of the louder-and-prouder European winemaking regions. This Friday night, though, Georgian wines will be getting top billing at The Boxcar when dedicated Georgian wine importer Siradze Selections does the pouring. Mark the last weekend of the Summer with a glass of something special. Patio doors open at 4pm and stay open until late. Midnight Joes‘ Airstream food truck will be on site to deal with your hunger pains. DETAILS

NOURISH | Harvest season is edging in, which means that autumn crops are starting to hit the Farmers Markets alongside plenty of summer treats. It’s the best of both worlds! Expect apples, pears, plums, and tomatoes sharing space with the first squash, fortifying kale, potatoes, and radicchio. DETAILS