Things to do
NEW LONDONERS: A new photography exhibition opens today, showcasing shots by photographer Chris Steele-Perkins. During the course of the project, he photographed families from every country of the world who are now living in London. British Library, free, just turn up, 22 March-7 July
WAR WIDOWS: The War Widows Association is a charity which campaigns to improve the lives of war widows and their dependents. Today, hear from its leader Mary Moreland about the charity's history and the work it does today. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, book ahead, 11.30am
OPERA HOUR: Spend an hour with Streetwise Opera and you may see a whole other side to the art form. Performing scenes from operas by the likes of George Gershwin, Philip Glass and Benjamin Britten, the organisation — which is formed by people who are, or have been, homeless — puts the raw passion and emotion of opera at the forefront. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 1pm
FRANK TURNER: Singer-songwriter Frank Turner appears at Waterstones today, to sign copies of his new book, Try This At Home: Adventures in Songwriting. It gives an insight into Turner's songwriting process, taking 36 tunes from his back catalogue as examples. Waterstones Tottenham Court Road, free (books for sale at the event), just turn up (early arrival recommended), 5pm
SK8 FRY-DAYS: Skate hangout House of Vans hosts a free evening of skating. Show off your best moves and tricks on the street and bowl courses and mini ramps, keep energised with free fried chicken, and watch a premiere of new film You Can Make History — about the history of Southbank skating — followed by a Q&A. House of Vans (Waterloo), free, just turn up, 6pm-10pm
CURATOR TOUR: Architect, art historian and curator Trinidad Fombella leads a tour of current exhibition, Is This Tomorrow?, discussing how architects and artists respond to current and future challenges. Whitechapel Gallery, included in exhibition admission (£12.95), book ahead, 6.30pm
QUEER SQUATTING: Three queer speakers with histories of squatting in the capital share their experiences, tying it in with London's radical queer history and disrupting conventional understandings of squatting. It's a tactic used by many LGBTQ people to survive and to create paces in which to thrive. Sutton House (Hackney), £10/£5, book ahead, 6.30pm-9pm
JAZZ VERSE JUKEBOX: 'Eclectic' is the best way to describe musical evening Jazz Verse Jukebox, in which jazz improv is intertwined with spoken word. Performers take to the stage, followed by an open mic session in which audience members can perform poetry or sing with the band. Hoxton Hall, £9, book ahead, 7pm
PALACE OPERA: For a fancy night out, get yourself to Opera at the Palace in Fulham. Young opera singers from the National Opera Studio perform works by Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi, Rossini and Bizet. If you want to push the boat out, book yourself a three course meal in the palace before the show. Fulham Palace, £25/£65 with dinner, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm
CHABBA: Cher meets ABBA at club night CHABBA! The biggest hits from both artists are played, as well as Cher's covers of ABBA songs, with Cher and ABBA masks available for early arrivers, and drag performers thrown into the mix. Bethnal Green Working Men's Club, £7/£9, book ahead, 9pm-2am
Tube ponderings with Barry Heck
Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.
Fiendish Friday Quiz time. Which station is this? The first person to tweet @HeckTube with the correct answer wins a copy of the Evening Standard. I’ll even arrange for it to be delivered to a central London tube station of your choice.
Good cause of the day
Starting today, Angel Comedy Trust runs the three-day Islington Comedy Festival, raising funds to work with Comedy Club 4Kids to deliver comedy classes for Islington children. Today's show is a Roast Battle, followed by Science Show Off tomorrow, and Queer as Jokes on Sunday.
What we're reading
- A fancy new theatre is opening in Soho.
- Violence towards tube staff is on the increase.
- Deserter takes on Carshalton Village.
- Woolwich wants to be London's 'second South Bank'.
