Things To Do Today In London: Thursday 5 October 2017

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Literature and laughs aplenty at Camden Comedy Club's literary salon

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LIVE STATION CONCERT: Who needs a stage when you've got a station concourse? Swing by London Bridge station to hear Julian Jacobson launch a new series of live events. Today soak up live piano music on your commute. London Bridge station, free, just turn up, 7.30am-9.30am, then 5pm-7pm

ART FAIR: Are your magnolia walls craving some colourful art from the UK's leading emerging artists? Then hit up The Other Art Fair and banish that beige. The private view is tonight. Old Truman Brewery, £14/£11.20, book ahead, 5pm-9pm, until 8 October 2017

FILM INSTALLATION: If you can only spare seven minutes of your day then spend it on the roof of Store Studios in front of Arthur Jafa’s installation Love is the Message, the Message is Death. The seven-minute piece explores African-American identity through found footage, accompanied by a banging gospel-inspired hip-hop soundtrack from Kanye West. Store Studios, free, just turn up, until 10 December

WIMBLEDON BOOKFEST: Literary lovers are in for a treat at this book festival. Headliners include master wordsmiths Ali Smith, Salman Rushdie, Matt Haig, AL Kennedy, Anthony Horowitz, Tracy Chevalier and Kayo Chingonyi. The Big Tent, Wimbledon Common, £12, book ahead, until 15 October

COMEDY + FREE PIZZA: Catch two hilarious offerings from the Edinburgh Fringe in between munching on free pizza and downing free beer. Alasdair Beckett-King & Michael Legg are on the bill. Arrive early — anything with free pizza involved is going to attract a queue. The Bill Murray, £5, book ahead, 7pm

Like some literature with your bunting? Head to the Big Tent for Wimbledon Bookfest
STAIRWELL STORIES: Ascending a 311 step spiral staircase might sound like a daunting prospect for some but throw in some headphones and internationally acclaimed storyteller Nell Phoenix and you'll be so spellbound you won't even break a sweat. The Monument, £20, book ahead, 7.15pm
BLOKES AND BELLS: Spend your evening watching two blokes juggle 20 instruments (no mean feat). Tubular Bells For Two is a sell-out hit at festivals and theatres around the world — don't miss your chance to see it in London. Union Chapel, £25, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm

LITERARY SALON: If you're precious about your writing then you might want to skip this one but if you're one for hilarious, unadulterated literary criticism then pull up a chair at Camden Comedy Club's literary salon, where witty duo Christopher and Luke are joined by a published novelist. Camden Comedy Club, £5, book ahead, 8pm-10pm

ADVENTURE TALES:
Fancy yourself a bit of an eco-warrior? Join Patagonia and the Kendal Mountain Festival to hear inspiring stories and first-hand accounts of climate change from explorer, author and environmentalist Sarah Outen and filmmaker Jack Harries. Ellis Brigham store, Covent Garden, £8/£6, book ahead, 8pm-10.30pm
LATE NIGHT JAZZ: Ever wondered what goes on behind the doors of London's members' clubs? Find out at this exclusive jazz night at the Kings Head, where you can sip cocktails while soaking up three floors of eccentricity. Kings Head Members Club (Dalston), £10, book ahead, 8pm

Art review: Tropical Thames

Courtesy of the artist.

Artist Anne Krinsky incorporates the history of the River Thames into her work, so we see flashes of docks, piers and river walls. They’ve found the perfect home in Crossrail Place Gardens where many of these plants first arrived here via docks just outside. A lovely mix of history and serenity. Anne Krinsky: Tropical Thames at Crossrail Place Gardens, Canary Wharf. Until 15 October, free. ★★★☆☆

Food review: Surprisingly authentic for a chain

We'd heard mixed reviews of Indo-Chinese restaurant chain Banana Tree, so we were curious to see what kind of experience we would have. The Soho restaurant was jampacked with the hungry after-work crowd, but the staff handled it well. The new starter special of crunchy panko coated calamari served with a sweet and salty tamarind sauce is absolutely delicious, albeit toeing the line of being overdone. The regular menu starters of soft dumpling with a strong lemongrass sauce and satay skewers beautifully charcoaled with an authentic tasting satay sauce pretty much filled us up before our mains were served. We combo'd up a beef rendang curry, which had just the right amount of heat that built slowly as we ate, and tamarind crispy fish which paired perfectly with the lemongrass cooler mocktail — even if one of the three fish fillets was basically just batter. The house salad and sweet corn cakes were neither here nor there, but we were pleasantly surprised by our overall experience and how many of our choices tasted like we were back on holiday in Thailand. Banana Tree, 103 Wardour Street, Soho, W1F 0UG ★★★☆☆ Eleana Overett

Theatre review: Feelin' horney

If musical comedy mixed with good ol’ fashioned English awkwardness is your thing, then comedian Alex Horne has a treat in store for you. The Horne Section, of 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown fame, and – as Alex says, suspiciously – the last ever episode of Never Mind the Buzzcocks, is currently appearing at the Soho Theatre, complete with instruments and special guest appearances. Expect some genuinely impressive musical talent, clever genre observations (such as listing songs with caveats like Tina Turner’s ‘You’re simply the best, better than all the rest… better than anyone, anyone I’ve ever met’). Expect audience participation and beard jokes a-plenty. The Horne Section, Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE, £15, 2 October-13 November ★★★★☆ Hannah Foulds

Good cause of the day: Cafe from Crisis goes Brazilian

© Cafe from Crisis

This East End caf not only provides a route into employment for London's homeless and ex-offenders, it also serves up damn tasty food and great coffee. Tonight it launches the first of a monthly late night opening, bringing Brazilian vibes to Spitalfields. Expect samba beats, Caipirinhas and, of course, Brazilian inspired food from the kitchen. Cafe from Crisis, just turn up, 5pm-10pm

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