Things To Do In London Today: Friday 31 January 2014

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The Book Club in Leonard Street via The Book Club Flickr Pool

Listings

BLOOD: Today’s opportunity to donate blood is at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel next to Tower of London. Free, see site for terms and conditions

ART: The January exhibition at Thompson's Contemporary displays a group of contemporary british artists. You'll find a varied mix of painting and sculpture. Free, until 23 February

MORE ART: Vibe Gallery at Tower Bridge hosts the Affordable Art Exhibition, which is actually a normal art fair trying to combine valuable art pieces with reasonable prices for anybody who’s interested. Free, just turn up, until 12 February

SOUTHBANK: Fingersnap, the duo formed by David McAlmont & Guy Davies, performs emotional sounds at the Foyer Spaces inside Southbank Centre. Free, just turn up, 5.30pm

LATE NIGHT MUSEUM: The Natural History Museum's monthly late-night, adult-only opening features live music and pop-up bars and restaurants, as well as the chance to peruse the usual exhibits. Free entry (charge for some exhibits), 6pm

POP-UP FOOD: Lobster expert and pop-up chef Nicos Popupalot performs a pop-up supper club at Ama’s House in Herne Hill. Mediterranean flavours characterise the three-course menu. £33, prebook, 6pm & 8pm

OPEN MIC : Come Rhyme With Me present their menu of London spoken word performers, consisting of Sarah Perry, Anthony Anaxagorou and Karim Kamar and Bella Spinks, kicked off with an open mic. £12.50, prebook, 7pm

POETRY: Words With Edge Festival celebrates its last night at the Red Door Studios, with an open mic and much more (free, 7pm) and Nutshell magazine hosts an open mic poetry night, including a reading from poet Ian McLachlan (£5, just turn up, 7.30pm)

GIGS: The Garage in Highbury and Islington hosts Double Bill featuring indie groups The Winter Tradition & Run Young Lovers (£5, prebook, 7pm) and The Book Club in Leonard Street presents an evening of 100% hip hop and 90s RnB (Free, £5 after 9pm, from 8pm)

LIFE IN CHINA: The Customer Is Always Wrong is a lucid and sharp report on life in a bubbling Chinese city today. Featuring eclectic artist Bill Aitchison, performing at Rich Mix in Bethnal Green. £7/£5+bf, prebook, 7.30pm

ROLLER SKATING: Every week, the Friday Night Skate gives roller skaters and roller bladers a chance to skate the streets of London in harmony. Usually meets at Wellington Arch, but keep an eye on the website for route changes and cancellations due to bad weather. Free, just turn up, 8pm

GO 90s: Join the conga line for a cheesy celebration of 90s style. Bethnal Green working Men's Club will be the venue, just dress randomly. £4, prebook, 8pm


Competition

Do you love photographing London? If you've taken a spectacular smartphone snap of the capital you can submit it to our FLTR competition, which closes at 5pm today, for a chance to get it published in their online magazine.

Good Cause of the Day

February is National Heart Month and The British Heart Foundation (BHF) launches its annual campaign to raise awareness of heart and circulatory diseases. On Friday 7 February the BHF urges you to Ramp Up The Red, dressing in red to raise money for its good cause. Starts from £50 donation, sign up online, all day long

London Connection Puzzle

Your complete set of clues for the week are JOHNSON, COKE, DIGBY and today's addition, CATESBY. What's the London connection? No need to email in, as we have a winner.

From the Archive

How far can you walk from Trafalgar Square without crossing a road? That's the question Victor Keegan asked himself in 2012. Well, the answer was quite interesting and it's still valid today.

Londoddities

This week's theme is 'street oddities'. Today's entry is Goswell Road, which is the only 'Road' within the boundaries of the City of London (all the others being Streets, Lanes, Squares, etc.). Indeed, it's only a half road, as the western carriageway is actually in Islington. You can read more about this anomaly here.

goswell

Previously: London’s narrowest street, The emotive bollards of Southwark, the stretcher fences of Oval, London's last wood-block road.