Things To Do In London Today: Wednesday 24 July 2013

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Ping! launches at the HMS President tonight, details below.

Listings

BLOOD: Today’s opportunity to donate blood is at Brewers Hall in the City of London. Free, see site for terms and conditions

CARDBOARD TUBE: Give your imagination a workout with Overground Underground, a performance as part of InTRANSIT festival, in which a cardboard Tube train will collect visitors and "take them" on an improbable route around London. Free, just turn up, until 27 July

HERITAGE OF VIOLENCE: A Molecular Mass is a collaborative theatrical lecture, presented by charity Cardboard Citizens and theatre company Chickenshed, that reveals the results of six months work looking into the heritage of violence. Free, prebook, 6.30pm

PING!: Join Ping! London, the return of the street ping pong project which provides people with opportunities to play social and competitive table tennis for free, for its official opening night at the HMS President on Victoria Embankment. Free, just turn up, 6.30pm

LONDON ON FILM: Can't believe this hasn't sold out yet, but London at the Library tonight hosts an evening devoted to film-making in London (Westminster Arts Library near Leicester Square). Speakers include Bob Stanley of Saint Etienne, film-maker Paul Kelly, and expert on just about everything Travis Elborough. See you there! £4, prebook, 6.30pm

COUNTER CULTURE: A debate takes place at the Institute of Contemporary Arts tonight, focusing on whether the concept of counter culture still exists. Invited speakers include Dan Hancox and Simon Warner and the debate will be moderated by Dr Lucy Robinson. £10/£8, prebook, 6.45pm

BOOKSWAP: Frog Morris, Paul Taylor, Sophia Buchuck, Yolanda Mercy, Mizz Lee and Mars Willis spend an evening of poetry, performance and book swapping at Woolfson & Tay. Free, prebook, 7pm

FOLK CUSTOMS: The British Film Institute's William Fowler presents a number of rare short films from the BFI National Archive showing some of our rich traditions of folk music, dance, customs and sport, at The Last Tuesday Society. £7, prebook, 7pm

FLAPPERS: If you missed her at Kensington, Judith Mackrell discusses flappers with Sarah Churchwell at Daunt Books Marylebone. £8, prebook, 7pm

PSYCHONAUT OF PROPHECY: At The Moot With No Name, Tim Heath, Chair of The Blake Society, discusses how William Blake believed it was our duty to challenge the limitations imposed upon us by society and in doing so, become prophets. At The Devereux pub in Temple. £3/2, just turn up, 7.30pm

COMEDY: Liam Williams (of Sheeps sketch trio) and Amy Hoggart, in her Pattie Brewster guise, are previewing their new Edinburgh shows at The Vine between Kentish Town and Highgate. And for an extra special treat, straightfaced Norwegian Daniel Simonsen MCs. Free, just turn up, 8pm


Please contact matt@londonist.com with any suggestions, solutions or contributions for the following sections.

Good Cause of the Day

The Albert, a pop-up venue for experimental projects and community well-being, hosts a summer party at its South Kilburn creative space this Saturday. An evening of art, dance and live music will be free for attendees to enjoy, while money raised from food and drink sales will go towards the continued life of this community and arts hub. Free, just turn up, Saturday 27 July 4pm-late

London Connection Puzzle

Yesterday's clue was 'George'. Today, we give you 'Henry'. Worked out the London connection yet? Obviously, there are a few potential solutions at this stage, but we'll give you the further clue that it is something very Londony. Send entries to Matt at the address above.

London Weather, by Inclement Attlee

When you read a London forecast, here or elsewhere, you must bear in mind that it's a simplified and averaged-out picture. I could declare, for example, that it'll be another humid, windless day with plenty of sunshine and the odd bugglefluff of cloud. But that assumes you're a normal, typical Londoner living in a conventional part of the capital. As we all know, however, there's no such thing as a normal, typical Londoner. Take for instance Old Father Thames and his entourage of mermaids. I have it on good authority that they still keep court on the bottom of the river — near Queenhithe, since you ask. For them, today promises a wet, murky day with occasional boats. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the Brixton squat holding an LSD party can expect largely pink skies with downpours of Tizer. Remember: London is a complex place and not even the weather is the same for everybody.