JAZZ: The London Jazz Festival starts today. We've picked out 10 highlights that won't cost you much brass. Runs till 18 November.
SCI-FI: Fans of science fiction films should check out the programme for the Sci Fi London East festival, which starts today and runs through Sunday. Screenings, quizzes and more, at the Stratford Picturehouse. Costs and times vary.
DONATE COATS: Remember to take your old coats into the following stations today, for donation to the Wrap Up London campaign: Paddington, Victoria, King's Cross, Waterloo, Canary Wharf, Liverpool Street, Charing Cross, & London Bridge. Free, just turn up, 7-11am.
FOOD: The BBC's Good Food Show returns to Olympia, with demos, talks, shopping and sample food. Runs till Sunday. £20, 9.30am-7pm
GIVE BLOOD: Want to do something amazing? Get along to St Olave's Parish Hall and donate some blood. Free, just turn up, 9.30-11.30am and 1-4.30pm
INDIAN CULTURE: The British Library's latest exhibition opens today, themed around Mughal India. Runs until 2 April. £10, 10am-6pm
PHOTOGRAPHY: Take a look at some amazing photojournalism as the World Press Photo exhibition opens on level 2 at the Royal Festival Hall. Runs until 27 November. Free, just turn up, 10am-10pm
SAMPLE SALE: Bargain clothes hunters should head up Haverstock Hill to Hampstead Town Hall for a big sample sale. £1, just turn up with code HAMPX27, 10.30am-8pm
THE WALL: Find out more about how a Hackney wall is being transformed into an art gallery, with a coffee morning at The Russet café, Hackney Downs Studios. Free, just turn up, 11am
STREET ART: The Urban Masters street art exhibition opens in Shoreditch today, featuring work by Banksy, Roa, Shepard Fairey, Blek le Rat and others. Runs until 18 November. Free, just turn up, 11am-7pm
CHILDREN'S OPERA: A fun-sounding family event at Conway Hall sees an opera for youngsters about a hedgehog's love of his home. A performance also takes place on Sunday. £8, Noon and 2pm
JESSICA ENNIS: Meet the Olympic winner at Waterstones, Canary Wharf, where she'll be signing her new book. Free, just turn up, 1pm
MUSIC: Tickets are still available to see Evanescence at Wembley Arena. £35.50, 7pm
STORYTELLING: The London Storytelling Festival opens tonight at Leicester Square Theatre, with a performance devoted to Hans Christian Anderson and a story jam set to music. Runs until 18 November. £7, £10, 7pm/9pm
CURIOSITY: The Natural History Museum has a special evening of comedy and inquiry, as the Museum of Natural Curiosity sets up residence. Speakers include Dave Gorman, John Lloyd, Terry Pratchett and Admiral Lord Alan West. £35, 7.30pm
ROLLERBLADING: The weekly marshalled rollerblade around town begins from Hyde Park Corner. Anyone who feels confident on skates can turn up and take part. Free, just turn up, 8pm
MUSIC: Scroobius Pip and Huey Morgan are at the Book Club in Shoreditch for a We.Are.Lizards evening of music, partying and DJs. £5, just turn up, 8pm-2am
1940's PARTY: Dress up all 1940s (perhaps leaving the gas mask at home) and join the White Poppy Swinging Dance Appeal For Peace, upstairs at the Princess Alice on Commercial Street. Dancing, period DJs and 40's glamour, and all in aid of a good cause. £15, 8pm
LATE OPENINGS: As usual on a Friday, the British Museum is open till 8.30pm, the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery stay awake until 9pm, while the two Tates, the V&A and Royal Academy are dirty stopouts until 10pm. All free and just turn up
Random London Fact of the Day
The 685th Lord Mayor of London is sworn into office today. Alderman Roger Gifford will undergo the Silent Ceremony, a peculiar ritual in which nobody speaks, except for the short address spoken by the incoming Lord Mayor. The new guy on the job is the seventh Roger to hold the title, with the most Rogery of Rogers being Roger FitzRoger, who presided over the City in 1249. Tomorrow, you can watch His Nobleness process around the Square Mile during the Lord Mayor's Show.
Weather
Emphatically grey. Superbly grey. Imagine John Major stood on a breeze block on the Gray's Inn Road, cuddling a flock of herons. That's how grey. Even the temperature will be apathetically grey — 11 degrees is neither remarkably cold or warm. In summary: grey. BBC Weather has more grey for you.
Random Hidden False Rumour Of The Day
Your humble editor is taking a week's break from these listings. His temporary replacement promises the best hidden false rumours you ever did see. Or not see.
