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Hot Entertainment: Vancouver International Children’s Festival

ZooZoo at the Vancouver International Children's Festival

You don’t have to be young to enjoy the Vancouver International Children’s Festival (May 29 to Jun. 3), but it sure helps to be young at heart, considering the roster of giggle-inducing activities: creating unique spin art using a bicycle, learning circus skills, making crazy sock puppets, face painting. Various venues on Granville Island overflow with fun shows such as ZooZoo (pictured), Kutz & Dawgs, The Happy Prince and Little Red and the Sea Wolf, guaranteeing six days of revelry for folks aged 1 to 101.—Sheri Radford

Hot Shopping: Footwear from Generic Surplus

The Wellington sneaker by Generic Surplus

Summer’s just around the corner, so it’s time to invest in a pair of cool kicks for the warm weather. Generic Surplus, a Los Angeles–based brand, designs GQ-approved footwear for the modern man. Vibrant colours elevate stonewashed canvas, net mesh and linen to the perfect summer accessory that transitions easily from brunch to the beach. Styles range from the standard sneaker (including the Wellington, pictured) to posh brogues to taller deck shoes. Pick them up at The Block or Livestock.—Jennifer Patterson

Hot Entertainment: Jack White Promotes Debut Solo Album

Musician and producer Jack White

You might remember him from the much-missed rock band The White Stripes, and more recently from The Raconteurs or The Dead Weather, but chances are if you’re a music fan, you know Jack White. It’s taken the guitarist, producer and nine-time Grammy winner 15 years to record a solo album. He sings tracks from his debut, Blunderbuss, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (May 27).—Kristina Urquhart

Hot Dining: Vancouver Food Tours with Edible Canada

Edible Canada's Granville Island Market Tour

Foodies, unite! Edible Canada takes inquisitive—and hungry—guests on tasty and informative tours around a couple of the city’s most popular areas. Reserve a spot on the Granville Island Market Tour (pictured) or book the longer Sample and Shop Tour. Check out various landmarks and food shops on the guided Chinatown walk, and be sure to stay for the optional dim sum lunch.—Jennifer Patterson

Hot Dining: Vancouver Burger Bars

Max's Burgers photo by KK Law

Discerning carnivores sink their teeth into the perfect patties at Max’s Burgers (pictured), Fatburger and Romer’s Burger Bar. Locals love to order burgers and shakes at take-out shack Nimby Burger, which re-opens for the summer May 18, then eat seaside at nearby Kitsilano Beach. Talk about a picture-perfect picnic.—Kristina Urquhart

Hot Art: Aboriginal Art in Beat Nation at Vancouver Art Gallery

"Master of Ceremony" by Shawn Hunt, courtesy Vancouver Art Gallery

More than 20 artists reinterpret traditional Native motifs using modern mediums in Beat Nation: Art, Hip Hop and Aboriginal Culture at Vancouver Art Gallery (to Jun. 3). The innovative installations show how urban culture shapes aboriginal identity.—Kristina Urquhart

Hot Dates: Richmond’s Summer Night Market

The Summer Night Market in Richmond

May 11 to September 16

Barbecued squid and bubble waffles are just a couple of the exotic eats you’ll find at the Summer Night Market (pictured), deemed one of the world’s best by Travel + Leisure magazine. Foodies and bargain hunters hop on the SkyTrain to taste Asian street food, enjoy live entertainment and haggle with retail vendors over super-cute trinkets and jewellery. The nearby Richmond Night Market (May 18 to Oct. 8) is also worth a visit for snacks, shopping and carnival rides. —Kristina Urquhart

Hot Entertainment: Rick Hansen, Man in Motion

Photo courtesy Rick Hansen Foundation

To mark the 25th anniversary of his Man in Motion World Tour (pictured), last August Canadian Paralympian Rick Hansen kicked off a cross-country relay in North America’s easternmost point, Cape Spear (Newfoundland and Labrador). The 12,000-km (7,450-mi) endeavour, which raised money for spinal cord injury research, is finally coming to an end, as the relay travels through various communities in British Columbia this month, finally reaching Vancouver May 21. Jann Arden, David Suzuki, David Foster, Sarah McLachlan and several more Canadian icons are helping Hansen celebrate, with a special concert May 22 at the Pacific Coliseum. Find out more at www.rickhansen.com.—Sheri Radford

Hot Entertainment: Kurt Browning Directs the Stars on Ice Canada Tour

Canadian skater Kurt Browning is the choreographer of this year's Stars on Ice Canada tour

He’s been skating with Stars on Ice Canada (May 18 at Rogers Arena) since it began 21 years ago, and now Kurt Browning (pictured) is finally in the driver’s seat. This year marks his first as show director, leading an all-star line-up that includes recently minted World Champion ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. Browning, himself a four-time World Champion and the first skater ever to land a quadruple jump in competition, says he’s excited to end the tour in Vancouver, where he once hiked Grouse Mountain. “If I didn’t think my 45-year-old legs would hate me during the show, I would do it again!” —Kristina Urquhart

Hot Dining: West Coast Cuisine at L’Abattoir

L'Abattoir photo by KK Law

Who’d have thought that the site of Vancouver’s first jail would go on to house one of the city’s finest food destinations? Chic L’Abattoir, which nabbed the #3 spot in enRoute’s 2011 list of the best new restaurants in Canada, keeps diners coming back thanks to the French-influenced West Coast fare and scene-stealing decor. —Jennifer Patterson