It’s the first ever International Day of the Girl, focusing on rights for girls and fighting for their education all over the globe. Visit dayofthegirl.org to find out how you can support this movement.
Elsewhere around town, we mark Chocolate Week with 3 chocolatey events highlighted, along with more family fun in London throughout the weekend. Indulge!
HOT TICKET
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory hits the West End in 2013!
Tickets go on sale this Monday (Oct 15) for the lavish musical production of Roald Dahl’s famous tale, directed by Sam Mendes, set to hit London theatres in 2013. Book ahead of the masses at the Charlie & the Chocolate factory web site.
Thu-Sun: Six Robots Named Paul at NEO Bankside, Pavillon A, 50 Holland Street, London, SE1 (London Bridge tube)
Book a 30 minute slot to have your portrait drawn by artist/scientist Patrick Tresset’s 6 robots named Paul, part of Merge Festival. 12-7pm (Wed-Sun), FREE (Oct 10-21)
Fri: Bach to Baby in St Luke’s Church, 194 Ramsden Rd, Clapham SW12 (Clapham South tube)
Lovely classical concert series aimed at babies and toddlers, sessions held around London (see web site for dates and venues). This week’s theme is Good Morning America, with songs from West Side Story to Gershwin. 10am coffee, 10.30am concert; adult £10/child FREE (Oct 12)
Sat: Circle of Tales at Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St, W6 (Hammersmith tube)
Get back to basics with traditional African storytelling using wire puppets, song and dance. Messy play after the show. For ages 4-7. 11am & 1pm, £8 (Oct 13)
Sat: The Big Draw: Sizing Up at V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 (Bethnal Green tube)
Explore a range of drawing techniques using crayon, pencil, ink and chalks to help create a large-scale portrait of Robbie the Robot, as part of the month-long drawing festival. All ages. 11am-4pm, FREE (Oct 13)
Sat: Mini Maestro: Beethoven’s 5th Symphony at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2 (Charing Cross tube)
Ride a musical sidecar, go on a symphonic treasure hunt and even conduct a real orchestra at this popular family concert series with the London Musical Arts orchestra. 4.30pm, adult £8.50/child £6.50 (Oct 13)
Sat-Sun: Chocolate Unwrapped at London Film Museum, 45 Wellington St, Covent Garden, WC2 (Covent Garden tube)
A 2 day extravaganza featuring the world’s top chocolatiers in tastings and demonstrations, chocolate movies and chocolate cafe. Need we say more? 10.30am-7pm (Sat) and 10.30am-5pm (Sun), adult £10 adv/£12 door; child 3-10 £5 adv/£6 door; under 3s FREE (Oct 13-14)
Sat-Sun: The Good Neighbour at Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 (Clapham Junction overground)
A unique interactive experience for visitors young and old where you get to eat together before the show and then explore the old Battersea Town Hall’s hidden passages. There are 3 different journeys by age group: Early Investigators for ages 0-5 to enjoy the BAC play space; a thrilling dash for Young Adventurers ages 6-12; and an outdoor guided tour for Intrepid Explorers ages 13+. 10.30am, 2.30pm & 6.30pm (dates and times vary); adult meal £7/kids’ meal £3; show £8/Early Investigators FREE but booking required (Oct 13-Nov 4)
Sun: Choc Opera at Cadogan Hall, Culford Room, Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1 (Sloane Square tube)
Enter the Wibbly Wobbly world of Impropera, the wacky family-friendly improvised opera troupe and celebrate the launch of the Love Bug chocolate bar from Rococo Chocolates. Tickets include Rococo chocolate and Hot Chocolate, proceeds to Kids Company. 3-4pm, £15 (Oct 15)
LOCAL PICK
Fri-Sun: Islington Contemporary Art & Design Fair, 3-5 Torrens St, EC1 (Angel tube)
Don’t miss this popular annual show (now in its 9th year) that offers a rare opportunity to browse and buy pieces direct from contemporary artists and designers. 6.30-9pm (Fri, preview), 11am-6pm (Sat-Sun), FREE entry (Oct 12-14)
We also like
Muppets take Manhattan is on at Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley (Sat); the UK B Boy Championships World Finals at O2 Academy Islington and O2 Academy Brixton (Sat & Sun); cook and buy seasonal produce at Home Grown at Ham House and Garden (Sun); browse the Vintage Fashion Fair at Cecil Sharp House, NW1 (Sun)
