Things To Do In London Today: Wednesday 28 August 2013

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Celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna at Janmashtami festival, 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.

ART: Artwork created by The Libertines and Babyshambles musician Pete Doherty pops-up at Camden Collective from today. Free, just turn up, until 1 September

IMPROV: Comedy improv troupe Non De Script start their four-night run at New Wimbledon Studio. £13.85, prebook, until 31 August

JANMASHTAMI: Bhaktivedanta Manor’s spectacular Janmashtami festival celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna on earth 5000 years ago. All are welcome. Free, just turn up, today and 1 September 9am-midnight

DREAM: Southbank Centre is the venue for I Have A Dream: Architects of Our Republic, an outdoor mass-participatory event celebrating the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s legendary ‘I have a dream’ speech. Free, just turn up, from 2pm

ENTREPRENEURS: Budding entrepreneurs (or "wantrepreneurs") can get inspired at a London Wantrepreneurs Meetup in Piccadilly Circus, with guest speaker Juan Guerra, CEO of Student Funder. Free, just turn up, 6.30pm

FOOD SCIENCE: Another excellent sounding late from the Science Museum: learn about the science of food and drink by trying a bug buffet, liquid nitrogen ice cream, or brewing your own ginger beer. Free, just turn up, from 6.45pm

VICTORIAN LONDON: Author Clive Bloom returns to Housman’s bookshop to present his latest book, Victoria’s Madmen, and tell the stories of some of the neglected figures of the Victorian age. £3, prebook, 7pm

MUSIC: Oxjam Dalston's New Summer event takes place at the Shacklewell Arms, with Gorgeous George, Dominic Saul, Milk Teeth and Le Dim. £5 (prebook)/£7 (doors), 7pm

SLAM: It’s the grand final of the Roundhouse Poetry Slam! Deciding the winner are John Berkavitch, Daniel Cockrill, Stephanie Dogfoot, Zena Edwards, Kat Francois and Polarbear. £4, prebook, 7.30pm

COMEDY: At the time of writing, Matt Okine is nominated for the Best Newcomer Award in Edinburgh. Catch him at Soho Theatre from today. £15/£10, prebook, until 7 September, 9.15pm

FIREWORKS: Ian Visits reckons there'll be a firework display in the Thames off Greenwich tonight, tomorrow and Thursday. Free, just turn up, 9.15pm


Good Cause of the Day

Ian Wright is the first Canadian to have walked the entire London Underground. Across a six month period, he walked a grand total of 151 hours 16 minutes (that's almost one full week), covered 394.3 miles (nearly the distance from London to Edinburgh), and actually visited every single tube station along the way (with multiple vists to stations where more than one line goes through them). Not just a nutter, Ian is also raising money for Bowel Cancer UK. You can donate via his JustGiving page and keep up to date on the walks he completed via his blog.

London Connection Puzzle

Yesterday's clue-word was NELSON. Today's is STATE. Spotted the London connection yet? If so, email matt@londonist.com with the solution. This week's puzzle is set by Dave Brown (last week's winner), who also runs the Footprints of London guided walk company.

From Londonist’s Archive

In 2011 we harked back to the swinging 60s by showing Inside The 1960s Oxford Street HMV. Groovy.

London Weather by Inclement Attlee

Kite-flyers will be under-nourished today with winds no stronger than a wasp's fart. Shadow collectors, by contrast, will have plenty to garner as an all-day sun casts crisp, clear umbra. [Editor's note: What the hell is a 'shadow collector', Attlee?] [Attlee's note: one who collects shadows] [Editor's note: I see, and where does one keep these shadows?] [Attlee's note: In a box, of course. Have you not heard of shadow boxing?] [Editor's note: That's something completely different. You are a very silly man.] [Attlee's note: Can we take this offline?] [Editor's note: No. You're fired.]