Happening at the outset, attractive feature of our times (5)
I believe the answer is:
afoot
'happening' is the definition.
('something's afoot' means 'something's happening')
'at the outset attractive feature of our times' is the wordplay.
'at the outset' indicates taking the first letters (the outset is the beginning).
The initial letters of 'attractive feature of our times' is 'AFOOT'.
(Other definitions for afoot that I've seen before include "Under way (like hunted game?)" , "Currently in progress" , "Happening" , "Astir" , "Making progress" .)