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A better East End film
We don't think much of the new Kray twins flick so here's a very different take on east London. Cool Unicorn Bruv features no Hollywood stars, was put together in an afternoon and lasts a couple of minutes. Someone lent the director his horse for a few hours and this quirky moment in Brick Lane came about. Something to brighten your day.
Things to do
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HALF-PRICE PUB TOUR:
At Londonist, we love pubs, history and trivia so this London Pub Walking Tour appears to tick all boxes. Elevate your daytime drinking by finding out about Victorian gin-drinking, duelling poets and, of course, Mr Dickens. Also on 25 September. Meet at Chancery Lane tube station, £15, prebook, 1pm
CARIBBEAN WEEKEND:
If you missed Notting Hill Carnival, here's a second chance. Kentish Town pub The Gipsy Queen gives summer a decent send-off with its Caribbean Weekender, with BBQ and jerk chicken, live music and DJs, rum specials, hula-hoop classes and carnival mask-making for kids. Until Sunday. Free, just turn up, from 5pm
CHILEAN FESTIVAL:
Mercado Chileno is bringing a taste of the South American nation to Old Spitalfields Market. There'll be wine and pisco tasting, food demonstrations, folk music and cueca dance. Also on Saturday. £27.50, prebook, 5.30pm
GHOST BUS TOUR:
Sure, Ghost Bus Tours might sound a bit touristy, but we think this one's actually a lot of fun and Johnny Depp of all people agrees. Hop aboard the London Necrobus, a 'haunted' black Routemaster and find out about London's sinister past with highly knowledgeable and spookily-costumed guides. Meet outside The Grand at Trafalgar Square. £21, prebook, 6pm
BAUMBACH DOUBLE BILL:
Regent Street Cinema screens a double bill of Brooklynite Noah Baumbach indie comedies, Frances Ha and his latest, Mistress America, for fans of his kooky style. Marylebone, also Saturday. £15, prebook, 6.30pm
CHICKENSHED JAZZ:
Head up to north London for this tribute to local fifties and sixties jazz-master Alex Walsh. Hear the Dixieland tunes played at Wood Green Jazz Club back in the day performed by graduates of the Royal Academy, Trinity and Guildhall Schools of Music at Southgate's Chickenshed Theatre Jazz Bar. £15, prebook, 7pm
DOCUMENTARY:
Why aren't there more women working in computer science and technology? Code: Debugging the Gender Gap explores female under-representation in the fastest-growing sector in the world. Hear experts in psychology, education, science and technology along with tech women themselves talk about the obstacles leading to a widening employment gap, followed by director's Q&A. Frontline Club, Paddington. £10, prebook, 7pm
SHAKESPEARE IN A GARDEN:
To celebrate the culmination of their 1500-mile tour of the UK, the HandleBards — an all-male quartet of cycling actors — are putting on A Midsummer Night's Dream at Chelsea Physic Garden. Bring a picnic blanket to London's oldest botanical garden and enjoy the iconic Renaissance romcom with a complimentary gin cocktail. £15, prebook, 7pm
BALLROOM DANCING:
Tango, foxtrot and rumba the night away at Bishopsgate Institute's Great Hall. Nick Miles of Ballroom Blitz will walk you through a few moves in a brief taster, then you're ready to dance. You don't need to bring a partner and you can wear whatever you like. £10/£8, prebook, 7pm
CANDLELIT CONCERT:
Chamber ensemble London Concertante plays a programme of Baroque music by candlelight at St Martin-in-the-Fields tonight. Listen to well-loved pieces by Mozart, Bach and Handel in its beautiful neoclassical interior. £9, prebook, 7.30pm
CEILIDH:
Dance Scottish-style to live music at Ceilidh Club at Cecil Sharpe House in Camden tonight. Great fun, even if you get the steps all wrong. £12.50, prebook, 8pm
COMEDY:
Sofie Hagen picked up the Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Fringe, so she’s definitely one to see. And where better than the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room, alongside Holly Walsh and Ray Peacock. £13.24, prebook, 10pm
Good cause of the day
This refugee crisis is only getting worse so Fluffer Records are doing their bit to help. They're putting on a concert featuring punk, psychedelic and garage bands at the Shacklewell Arms in Dalston from midday to midnight on Sunday. Entry is by physical donations which will fill a van and be driven down to a local charity in Calais to be distributed as needed. Bring clothing, cookware, shelter, non-perishable food and medicine, then enjoy the show.
What to do this weekend
If you enjoy these daily listings, make sure you're getting the weekend ones so you can get the best out of London on Saturday and Sunday too. You can subscribe by ticking The Weekend Guide, and our emails will start landing in your inbox on Thursday lunchtimes so you can start daydreaming about your days off.
Find more London events in our Free & Cheap events listings. Want to see your event in these last-minute listings? Email us at [email protected] at least 48 hours before the event, and we will consider it for inclusion. Note: due to high volumes of email, we can’t always reply.
