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GIVE BLOOD: Today’s opportunities to donate blood are at Stoll in Fulham and Brewers Hall in the City. Free, just turn up, see site for times and conditions
PROPSTORE: We love any excuse to feel summery, and the National Theatre's unique summertime, pop-up, riverfront bar Propstore does exactly that. Built with sets and props from National Theatre productions, you can enjoy street food, drinks and music throughout the summer months in theatrical style. Free, just turn up.
ESPAÑA: Enjoy the cultural and culinary delights of Spain this weekend at Streets of Spain, a four day celebration of Spanish wine, food, culture and art. Free, just turn up, until 6 May
PIFF, PAFF, POOF: Neil Tarrant speaks at the Royal Society about the links between magic and science in the 16th Century. Free, just turn up, 1pm
IMPERIAL FESTIVAL: The South Kensington Campus of Imperial College is turned into one big science funfair, with talks, demos, food and drink, and interactive robots. The Imperial Festival runs today and tomorrow and is suitable for all the family. Free, just turn up, 4-10pm
OTHER MUSEUM LATES: Unwind after work with a spot of culture at the British Museum, National Gallery or National Portrait Gallery. Free, check websites for closing times and events
MAGIC: Conjuring, mentalism, clowns, psychics and tricksters await you at Madame JoJo's Magic Night tonight. Apparently there will also be banana tricks...we won't say a word. £25 (inc. dinner)/£14/£12, prebook for cheaper tickets, 7pm
POETRY: Mark “Mr T” Thompson and Sarah Thompson host a new monthly night at the Poetry Cafe, Lipped Ink. £5, just turn up, 7.30pm
FREE FILM: The New Cross & Deptford Free Film Festival ends on Sunday, so take a look at what free screenings are taking place over the weekend. Tonight, it is The Cabinet of Dr Calligari. Free, just turn up, 8pm
STICK LOVE: Don Hertzfeldt has been directing hand-drawn animation films for almost 20 years and to celebrate his debut feature It's Such A Beautiful Day, the Institute of Contemporary Arts is screening it alongside a selection of his incredible short works. £10/£8, prebook, 8pm
ROLLER SKATE: The Friday Night skate starts at Wellington Arch. Anyone who feels competent on skates is welcome to join. Free, just turn up, 8pm
Random London Fact of the Day
We dare say that most Londoners haven't heard of him, but John Hunter sure has a lot of memorials. The famous 18th Century surgeon, whose collection of specimens forms the Hunterian Museum, is commemorated by a small bust in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Another bust can be found outside St George's Hospital, Tooting. A third stood at one of the corners of Leicester Square (close to his former home) until it was removed for renovation. It's due to be reinstalled, along with the other Leicester Square busts, at some point this year. A prominent statue of our man also furnishes the entrance hall of the Royal College of Surgeons. A final statue, sometimes listed as his brother William, but we reckon it's John, can be found on Burlington Gardens. Oh, and there's a plaque to JH in Golden Square. And he also appears in the Spirit of Soho mural near Carnaby Street. You don't have to hunt hard to find a Hunter. See our map of John Hunter's London for more.
Shameless Londonist Plug of the Day
Have you tried listening to our weekly podcast, Londonist Out Loud? Each episode comes from a London museum, gallery or institution, and includes London news, features and chat. If you've never tried a podcast before, it's easy. Just download it from iTunes for free, or simply click the play button on any given episode, within your web browser. The archive is here, and a new episode is out every Friday.
Good Cause of the Day
Cancer Research UK is once again promoting the popular Race for Life events, in which women and girls are invited to run, jog or walk a 5km course to raise money. There are several London races this summer, and you can find details about entering or supporting here:
- 14 May — Dulwich
- 1 June 2013 – Clapham and Regent’s Park (2 races)
- 12 June – Battersea Park
- 22 June – Finsbury Park
- 30 June — Richmond
- 6 July – Hampstead
- 7 July – Blackheath
- 14 July – Hyde Park
- 21 July — Croydon
- 23 July — Crystal Palace
London Weather
We'll get it out of the way quickly: it's going to be another warm, sunny day, with clouds moving in towards pub time. But to finish the week with one final culinary weather tie-in, here's a little quiz for you. Can you name these six food or drink products that use/used the sunshine in their packaging or marketing? In some cases, we've doctored the image, so you can't simply read the name.
