Things to do
MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: It's Museums At Night weekend, when London's cultural institutions stay open after sunset. Events today include a Cold War evening at National Archives, a late night opening at British Library, and Friday Evening Fizz at the Fashion & Textile Museum.
DRAW ART FAIR: This three-day art fair is all about modern and contemporary drawing, and it gets its first outing this weekend. More than 40 galleries from all over Europe exhibit work, with individual exhibitions of artists’ drawings, or groups of drawings, exhibited in a museum-style context. Saatchi Gallery (Chelsea), £20-£80, book ahead, 17-19 May
CHOCOLATE MARKET: Yeah, bet that got your attention. Chocolate takes centre stage at this weekend's Canopy Market, as craft chocolate experts Cocoa Runners are drafted in for a series of tastings, talks and workshops. One of the sessions is about chocolate and cheese pairings which sounds wrong, but could just be what's been missing from our lives. The usual Canopy Market stalls are out as well. Canopy Market (King's Cross), free entry, just turn up, 17-19 May
SICILY FEST: Get your Hampsteads into nosh from southern Italy at Sicily Fest, a celebration of food and drink from... well, Sicily. Pasta, wine, cheese and arancini are all on the menu, which sounds like an excellent line-up to us. Tuck in at the venue, or stock up on products to recreate the dishes at home. Boiler House (Brick Lane), free entry, just turn up, 17-19 May
PECKHAM 24: This three day contemporary photography exhibition uses images, video and performance to explore dance, music and movement, and the venues associated with them. Works on display date from the 1980s club culture scene to the present day, including the closing party of legendary New York club, Paradise Garage. Copeland Park (Peckham), free entry, just turn up, 17-19 May
OVAL NIGHT MARKET: New nocturnal event Oval Night Market launches tonight. Co-launched by night-czar Amy Lamé, the market hosts street food and arts and craft stalls, along with live music, and a craft beer bar, set against the backdrop of an industrial gasworks. How very east London. Oval Space (Bethnal Green), free entry, just turn up, 5pm-11pm (repeated tomorrow)
ARCTIC CAMELS: No, we didn't know that there were camels in the Arctic either, but there you have it. Actually, there are only two of them — Bor and Bestla — and they're the subjects of new documentary, Arctic Camels. It follows their lives with nine year old owner Torarin and his family. Bertha DocHouse (Bloomsbury), £9/£7, book ahead, 6.30pm
STREET ART: Have a crack at creating your own artwork, inspired by classic Banksy street art piece, Flying Balloon Girl. All material, and guidance from a qualified artist, are included in your ticket — and it takes place in a pub, so plenty of booze to get the creative juices flowing. Horniman At Hays (London Bridge), £34.99, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm
COMEDY: Phil Wang of Taskmaster headlines comedy show Bush Hall Presents, supported by Harry Hill — who's trying out new material — Tom Ward, Fern Brady and Desiree Burch. Bush Hall (Shepherd's Bush), £19.25, book ahead, 8pm
ALTERNATIVE EUROVISION: The Eurovision final takes place this Saturday (here's our guide to screenings and parties), but things kick off a bit earlier than that at Underbelly Festival. Alternative Eurovision is a show of cabaret performers from various Eurovision countries going up against each other to compete for the crown. Underbelly Festival (South Bank), from £17, book ahead, 9.30pm
Tube ponderings with Barry Heck
Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.
Fiendish Friday Quiz time. I’m looking for two reasons that Mansion House station is a little bit unusual. Think you have a solution? Tweet to @HeckTube.
Good cause of the day
New exhibition On This Planet opens today, showcasing work by 30 UK illustrators on the theme of land loss and habitat loss. Money raised from the sale of the works goes to the World Land Trust, which buys land to conserve it for wildlife. Find out more.
What we're reading
- Crossrail is costing £13m a year in drivers, before the railway even opens.
- Tube strikes on the FA Cup final weekend have been suspended.
- The English Green Belt, mapped.
- An unexpected corridor in the V&A Museum.
