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ART: Contemporary Emotion opens at Opera Gallery, including work by Yayoi Kusama (pictured), Anish Kapoor, Warhol, Picasso and more. Find it at 134 New Bond Street until 9 March. Entrance is free, open from 10am-7pm.
PROGRAMMING: Gordon Plotkin gives a talk at the Royal Society on the rise of artificial languages, metamathematics and computer programming. Free, just turn up, 6.30pm
LECTURE: Interested in international relations? Consider it as a social science at the LSE public lecture in the Hong Kong Theatre. Free, first come, first served, from 6.30pm.
FILM: Watch a special preview of new film, Song for Marion, at Curzon Mayfair followed by a Q&A with the director, Paul Andrew Williams and actor Terence Stamp. Tickets £17.50+bf, prebook, starts 6.20pm.
FOLK: Contemporary folk hero Sam Lee and friends play the Bedford in Balham. Tickets £15, prebook, doors 7pm.
FILM: Under the Cranes is a new film about Hackney, mixing rare film footage from Hackney Archives with freshly shot cinematography and you can see it at Bishopsgate Institute. Tickets £8/£6 concessions, prebook, starts 7pm.
CARNIVAL: The Rio Carnival party at Floridita, Soho, features live music performances from Anselmo Netto, nine piece band, Soul Fiesta and Tropicana dancers from Element Dance. Free entry, book a table, doors open 7pm.
STORIES: ... of romantic misadventure take the sting out of Valentine's Day and are told at the Black Heart in Camden. Featuring one Londonist contributor. Yep, one of ours *proud*. Free entry, night starts at 7.30pm.
COMEDY: Invisible Dot's monthly gig showcases the ‘new wave’ with Claudia O’Doherty, Jamie Demetriou, sister sketch act Toby, Oyster Eyes and Mat Ewins. Tickets £8, starts 7.45pm.
WIN: free seats at the exclusive anti-Valentine's film screenings tonight at the Kensington Roof Gardens with Rooftop Cinema Club and Now TV - find out how here.
Random London Fact of the Day
The original plans for Nelson's monument in Trafalgar Square would have seen the figure of Nelson in bronze and the lions in granite. The design of the monument involved two competitions and government intervention to complete. The resolution that there should be a Nelson monument was made in February 1838 but Nelson's Column was not completed until 1867. And we think planning processes are slow these days! Find out more in this meaty tome.
Good Cause of the Day
Noah's Ark Children's Hospice is a dynamic and innovative children's hospice service, providing practical and emotional support to life-limited and life-threatened children and their families in North London.
They're running a Valentine's Day awareness campaign, sharing case studies where early intervention in a family by the charity's experts has helped keep couples together, despite the worries and practicalities involved in caring for a sick child. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to learn more and show your support.
Many thanks to Karen Nash and Vivienne Drewett who suggested this charity for a shout out on Facebook.
London Weather
Expect brass monkeys this morning after an overnight frost. We might get a bit of sun to cheer the morning so take advantage of this interlude to go for a brisk walk before everything turns soggy and sleety again with the temperature barely struggling to 3 degrees all day. Keep an eye on BBC Weather and layer up, London!
