Things To Do This Week In London: 6-12 November 2017

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All week

Stick Man Returns For Sugary Sweet Seasonal Singalong. Photo courtesy of Steve Ullathorne

NEWHAM WORD FEST: A new festival for bookworms is taking over Newham this November. Take part in workshops from Arabic calligraphy to screenwriting, see art created people who lived in the Calais Jungle, plus tonnes of author readings, spoken word and book chat. Various venue and prices, book ahead, 6-19 November

FOG EVERYWHERE: Young actors take on air pollution in this musical, anarchic and personal production depicting Londoners’ views on the city that is poisoning them. Preceded on weekends by free Wellbeing Walks through Camden to the venue. Camden People's Theatre, £12/£10, book ahead, until 11 November (sponsor)

STICK MAN: If the pages of your copy are well-worn on your children’s bookshelf, this adorable performance musters something special to keep it fresh and fun. Perfectly pitched and delightfully uncomplicated, this seasonal treat left our reviewer feeling as light as a flurry of snow. Leicester Square Theatre, £14-£21.50, book ahead, until 7 January

MONOCHROME PAINTINGS: An exhibition dedicated to artists painting in black and white from the old masters to more modern works. The National Gallery, £14, book ahead, until 18 February

LIVING WITH GODS: The British Museum can't possibly cover everything about world faiths in one show but it has a damn good try. We reckon this is a fantastic starting point to educate and inspire visitors about world religions. The British Museum, £15, book ahead, until 8 April

IMPRESSIONISTS IN LONDON: It's not all pretty landscapes and subtle florals at this exhibition of Impressionist art by French artists in exile. £17.70, book ahead, until 7 May

Monday 6 November

Great pizza and great comedy at Pizza Express Live.

WINE TASTING: Portugal is a becoming a bit of a hip holiday destination of late. You'll see why at this event where you can sample tapas and wine and port from the Douro Valley, listen to Portuguese DJs and browse craft stalls. Phonica Records (Soho), £30, book ahead, 5pm-9pm

THE SOCIAL: A relaxed evening of storytelling, live music and poetry featuring musicians Marisa Anderson and Toby Hay, plus poetry from Martha Sprackland. The Social (Little Portland Street), £11, book ahead, 7pm

PIZZA EXPRESS LIVE: A new night of stand-up comedy in the recently refurbed basement of the Holborn branch of Pizza Express. Tonight's the turn of Suzi Ruffell, Paul McCaffrey and Ed Gamble. Pizza Express (Holborn), £10, book ahead, 8.30pm

Tuesday 7 November

OTHERWORLD ARCADE: When 2017 gets a bit too much, grab your mates and escape to this pop-up virtual reality arcade and licensed bar in Old Street. Unit 8, Old Street Station, £10, book ahead, until 18 November

TEA AND A GIG: A daytime gig for parents in need of chill-out time, and babies with discerning music taste. Today, folksy-pop band The Greeners take to the stage. Paper Dress Vintage (Hackney), £8/£10, book ahead, 10.30am

TRUMP ONE YEAR ON: It feels like only yesterday we were comparing Trump and Obama's inauguration crowds. One year on, what should we make of his presidency? Find out at this Gresham College lecture. Museum of London,  free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm

AUCTION AGAINST HUNGER: Foodies, get your hands on a ticket to this gourmet dining event, hosted by model Daisy Lowe, with all proceeds going to Action Against Hunger. Tuck into specially prepared dishes and get ready to bid on some impressive auction offerings. Borough Market, £60, book ahead, 6.30pm-11pm

Wednesday 8 November

BEDTIME STORIES: Bedtime doesn't have to be boring. Fill your little one's heads with circus, theatre, dance, and they won't need to count sheep to get to sleep. Aimed at ages 3-10. Bernie Grant Arts Centre (Tottenham), £8/£6, book ahead, 1.30pm and 5pm (repeated tomorrow)

THE GOOD IMMIGRANT: Author of The Good Immigrant, Nikesh Shukla, chats race and immigration with Barbara Roche, chair of the Migration Museum Project. Jewish Museum (Camden), £8.50, book ahead, 7pm-8pm

POPUP PAINTING: Inject some creativity into your evening at this boozy painting class where you can have a go at painting the London skyline. Cargo (Shoreditch), £24.99, book ahead, 7pm-9.30pm

Thursday 9 November

Hear Night Czar Amy Lamé speak as part of Newham Word Festival.

FLAVOUR GALLERY: Art is made just that little bit more exciting when you can taste it, smell it and touch it. Expect dip dabs, inhalable cocktails, edible bubbles and more sensory delights. The Hoxton Basement, from £15, book ahead, until 17 December

AMY LAME: Hear London's night czar Amy Lamé chat about her new book From Prejudice to Pride: A History of LGBTQ+ Movement with author and activist Juno Dawson, as part of Newham Word Festival. The Gate Library, free, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

GHOSTPOET: Head to Camden this evening for music you can dance to and lyrics you can learn from, courtesy of British vocalist Ghostpoet. Roundhouse, £18, book ahead, 7pm-11pm

JEWISH FILM FEST: See more than 70 films, including one about a 12-year-old Orthodox powerlifter (Supergirl), Land of the Little People, a film about the violence faced by Israeli children, and Milk & Honey, an entertaining piece on male escorts at the 21st UK International Jewish Film Festival. Various venues and prices, book ahead, until 26 November

Friday 10 November

Ben Okri will appear at Citizen Festival.

GARDEN MUSEUM LATE: It's your last chance to check out this little oasis of a museum after hours. Pop into the cafe for seasonal dishes if you're peckish. The Garden Museum (Lambeth), £10, book ahead, 10.30am-9pm

CITIZEN FESTIVAL: You won't find much in the way of Mills & Boon at this new three-day literature festival, in which authors such as Lionel Shriver, Ben Okri and more discuss stories of nationality, identity and belonging. The University of Liverpool (London Campus), various prices, book ahead, until 12 November

FUNNY WOMEN AWARDS: Start your weekend will giggles as comedians compete for your laughs tonight at the Funny Women Awards. Hoxton Hall, £12, book ahead, 7.30pm

Saturday 11 November

Urban Farming at The Jetty

URBAN FARMING: Learn how to grow your own, even if your green space amounts to a flowering pot on a windowsill. The Jetty (Greenwich Peninsular), free, email ahead  info@thejettygreenwich.co.uk, noon-3pm

YOGA SUPPERCLUB: Get out of your PJs and into your yoga gear for a chillaxed afternoon of stretching and meditation, followed by a four-course vegan Mexican feast. Reva Studio (Hackney), £35, book ahead, 1.50pm-5.30pm

PUT THAT LIGHT OUT!: An afternoon of remembrance from Alarms & Excursions told through poems, stories and songs taking place in the only surviving, public air raid shelter in Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace Subway, £6-£8, book ahead, 2pm-4pm

FRIGHT NIGHT: Not got Halloween out of your system yet? Hunt for spirits after dark at the Geffrye Museum for a spooktacular night out. Geffrye Museum (Hoxton), £55, book ahead, 9pm-3am

Sunday 12 November

Learn how to mix paste and attempt your own intricate designs at Proud East.

STALKING TREES: Enjoy an Autumnal walk from Bermondsey to Borough taking in the social history and street trees of the area with the appropriately named Paul Wood. Bermondsey tube, £18, book ahead, 10.30am-12.30pm

HENNA ART: You'll need a steady hand for this one, where you'll be mixing your own paste and attempting to create the beautiful patterns like the one above, with Nora Aalit, founder of Hackney Henna House. Proud East, £22, book ahead, 10.30am-1pm

JAZZ: Apparently there was life before jazz — it's this early history which is explored in this one-off love letter to the genre. Expect talks, workshops and plenty of live music for you to have a jig too. Two Temple Place, £15, book ahead, 4pm-11pm

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