Five cool things to do this week (Feb 8 to 14)

1. Eat pancakes

It’s Shrove Tuesday on February 12!  Mix up a batch of your fave banana and chocolate chip pancakes or head to national breakfast treasure Cora’s: They’ll donate a dollar to improve the lives of Canadian children for every one sold. Icing on the (pan)cake.

2. Watch a hot new rom-com

Nicholas Sparks, the man behind the notorious cheesefests The Notebook, The Lucky One, and Dear John has another tear-jerker hitting the silver screen on -- you guessed it -- Valentine’s Day. Starring Julianna Hough, our very own Cobie Smulders and Josh Duhamel, Safe Haven follows a young woman who is forced to confront her mysterious past when she falls for a conveniently hot widower. Bring your BFF and a box of Kleenex. In theatres February 14. Click here to watch the trailer.

3. Hear gospel music

From coast to coast we’re toasting Black History Month. Top picks: Uplifting sounds abound at Edmonton's Annual Gospel Concert (Feb 9, Jubilee Auditorium), and rare vintage portraits and contemporary work from emerging artists on display at Halifax's Canadian Museum of Immigration's newest exhibition (until March 30). Find out what’s happening in your city with the Then & Now Black History Month Series presented by TD.

4. Celebrate Mardi Gras

Channel New Orleans and throw a Mardi Gras party! Get a group of friends together, don strands of colourful beads, and even set up a mask-making station with feathers and ribbon. Then serve up Southern-style Cajun jambalaya to the soundtrack of Sugar Boy Crawford and his Cane Cutters, "Jock-A-Mo."

5. Talk about your childhood

Childhood shapes us all. That’s why War Child Canada has created a place for people to share their stories about growing up and generate a conversation about the importance of children’s rights. Check out Facebook.com/warchildcanada to see band members from Billy Talent reminisce about life revolving around BMX bikes and rotary-phone calls, Sarah Harmer describe her days as carefree and Kardinall Offishall smile at what he calls the best time of his life.