Things To Do In London Today: Tuesday 4 February 2014

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Drawing by Quentin Blake, who talks at Southbank Centre today. See details below

Listings

BLOOD: Today’s opportunities to donate blood are outside County Hall on Belvedere Road, Brewers Hall in the City of London, Cathedral Hall in Victoria and Church of Jesus Christ LDS in Walworth. Free, see site for terms and conditions

UNDERGROUND: Liberty80 - The Anniversary Exhibition opens today in the underground gallery inside St-Martin-in-the-Fields' Crypt, exploring the story of Civil Liberties. Free, until 1 March

LUNCH BREAK: Should we trust lawyers? This is the title of today's lunch-break lecture at UCL, hosted at the Darwin Lecture Theatre. The lecture lasts 40 minutes on a first-come, first-served basis. Free, just turn up, 1.15pm

EARLY CINEMA: Lea and Daria tells the story of two child stars of Croatian theatre in the 1940s and their life after the arrival of World War II. Inspiring and emotional, the screening takes place at JW3 Centre. £6/£3, prebook, 2.30pm

BOOKS & TALKS: Author Jessica Hepburn is joined by actress Janet Ellis to launch her new book, The Pursuit of Motherhood, at Waterstones Covent Garden (Free, prebook, 6pm); American graphic novelist Paul Pope talks about his career, current projects, and the creative process at Foyles (£6+bf, prebook, 6.15pm) and Beyond Words presents poets Matthew Caley and Kirstyn Brook reading their latest work, followed by an open mic session (£4/£3, just turn up, 7.30pm)

DIY LOVE CARD: Surprise your sweetheart, join in with Valentines Card Making at Drink, Shop & Do in King’s Cross. Glitter, glue and felt tips will be provided. You just have to add the creativity. Free, just turn up, 7pm

FICTION-FRICTION: Science-Fiction-Friction is the first of two talks taking place at The Royal Institution, wondering whether science fact is better than science fiction. £12/£8, prebook, 7pm

PUB QUIZ: You’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat is a film-themed pub quiz at the Assembly House in Kentish Town. We did it once. We came last. £4, just turn up, 7.30pm

SOUTHBANK: Southbank Centre presents illustrator Quentin Blake – known for his work in Roald Dahl’s books – for a talk about his earlier work and, more recently, public spaces such as hospitals and museums (£20 talk only+bf, prebook, 7.30pm) and later on David Baddiel talks about fame in life. He'll be at Southbank until 6 February. (£20+bf, prebook, 8pm)

GIGS: Caged Animals perform at the Sebright Arms in Bethnal Green (£6, prebook, 7.30pm) and Brokenwitt Rebels rock with other bands at the Old Blue Last in Shoreditch (Free, just turn up, 8pm)


Good Cause of the Day

Movement for Hope in collaboration with UCL Institute of Neurology’s Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation (BRR) present The Brain, Art, Innovation. An inspiring evening event featuring connections between neuroscience, art and health. The event takes place tonight at the Bloomsbury Theatre and includes talks, dance and music. £12/£9+bf, prebook, from 6.30pm

London Connection Puzzle

A fresh puzzle starts today, set by last week's winner Dave Brown. Your first clue is ST PANCRAS. Don't email in solutions just yet, but have a think about possible themes while you wait for tomorrow's clue.

From the Archive

Everyone remembers the Greek myth of the Minotaur and the Cretan labyrinth. Well, London not only has its own Minotaur (see below) but also contains many labyrinths and mazes. Where? You can find out with our article from 4 February 2011.

Londoddities

This week's theme is simply 'animals'. Today we lament the loss of London's Minotaur, who has stood guard on the suitably maze-like Barbican highwalk since 1997, having shuffled a few hundred metres from his previous home in Postman's Park. One of the few public statues in London to visibly flaunt his penis, the man-creature is now in safe-keeping while this section of the Barbican is transformed into the London Wall Place development. Here we see the beast fenced off prior to removal, no doubt to protect the public from his bullishness. Indeed, he wasn't the only animal statue to be encaged last year, as our recent investigation found.

minotaur2

Previously: Get Stuffed!