Things To Do In London Today: Friday 14 March 2014

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©Richard Davenport. Leeds Uk, West Yorkshire Playhouse. Little Bulb perform Hot Club de Bulb in the Cafe Bar . Transform Festival
Music night at the Scratch Bar, in Battersea Art Centre. Details below

Listings

BLOOD: Today’s opportunities to donate blood are at St Olave Parish Hall in Fenchurch Street, Sainsbury's in New Cross Gate, outside no 73 Alleyn Park in Dulwich and at the Parish Church Of St Paul in Winchmore Hill. Free, see site for terms and conditions

IDEAL HOME: Bring together all the best ideas to make your house look better and head to The Ideal Home Show in Earl's Court. £12-14, prebook, until 30 March

SHORT FESTIVAL: Repeater is the three-day-long music festival taking place at The Shacklewell Arms in Hackney. It features music, an art fair, a zine fair and an ale festival. £5-10+bf, prebook, until 16 March

STEAM BUS: If you find yourself in Covent Garden Piazza today, watch out for the Enterprise steam bus on show in front of London Transport Museum. The steam bus will then play a starring role in this weekend's Open Weekend at Acton Depot. Free, just turn up, 11.30am

WALK: GoToMidtown this week has a themed walk that connects with arts. Starting from Holborn Station, you'll visit sites from the career of 18th century writer John Gay, including places connected to his operas and poems. Free, just turn up, 1pm

STORYTELLING: Feel like a child again — listen to some of the most enchanting Grimm Brother's tales at the Shoreditch Town Hall with author Philip Wilson, who will lead you into a world you may have forgotten. The storytelling is on until 24 April, with special family ticket price. £35/£19.50, prebook, 5.30pm

IDENTITY: Tate Britain hosts an evening of discussion to mark the end of John Akomfrah’s display The Unfinished Conversation. The artist himself takes part in the talk on different kinds of identity. £15/£10, prebook, 6.30pm

MUSIC EVENING: Scratch Bar in Battersea Arts Centre holds a free music evening every Friday. Tonight’s DJ is Always Will, who promises to take listeners on a journey of musical vibrations. Free, just turn up, 7pm

MUSEUM LATES: See in the weekend with a spot of culture at the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, or National Portrait Gallery. Free, check websites for closing times and events

COMEDY: Feel like having a laugh? Then head to The Wunderkammer improvised comedy night at The Nursey Theatre. Tonight's themes are Nando's and cell patterns. £8+bf, prebook, 7.30pm

EAT & DANCE: Caligula Party is back in town to offer you a different dining experience. Start the evening with a pop-up and multy-sensory banquet and then dance until late with a selection of musicians and DJs, at The Playroom in Shoreditch. £50, prebook, from 7.30pm

THEATRE: The Same But Different theatre company performs Starring James Franco at the Rag Factory in Brick Lane, for a total of three days. A comical and absurd performance about fame. £5+bf, prebook, 7.30pm  

SKATING: Join in the London Friday Night Skate, open to roller skaters and bladers, weather permitting and starting at Wellington Arch. Free, just turn up, 8pm


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Good Cause of the Day

An alternative St Patrick's Day celebration is happening at the Ku Bar in Leicester Square, to fundraise and help Mind Yourself, a health and wellbeing charity working with Irish men and women in London. The event is a hat competition, where participants are required to design and make their own St Patrick's hat and then get judged. £20+bf, prebook, 6pm

London Connection Puzzle

Your full set of clues are LION, LAMB, GRIFFIN and PEGASUS. Spotted the London connection? No need to email in as we have a winner.

From the Archive

On this day last year, we wandered around north London and highlighted eight things you (probably) didn't know about Finchley. If you live or work around there, feel free to share some more.

Londonist Event

Want to come to the most Londony event ever? London Showoff is an evening of 10 quickfire talks about London from speakers such as Mark Mason (Walk the Lines) and Lucy Ingles (Georgian London: Into the Streets), plus our very own Matt Brown. We're co-producing the event with UCL and the guys behind Science Showoff. Tickets are just £5 + booking fee, with all proceeds going to the Shoreditch Trust charity. Entertainment, facts, hilarity and civic pride all guaranteed. Tickets here.