New Music 20×12 Weekend at the Southbank Centre
Beat boxing, fire artists and even giant wasps are promised in this weekend of musical premieres and activities at the South Bank Centre. Twenty new pieces have been commissioned for 2012 as part of the London 2012 Festival. They’re all 12 minutes long and are inspired by the dynamism of the Games. You can fit rather a lot into 12 minutes – take the short opera Our Day, which tells the story of Olympic gold medallist Mary Peters against the backdrop of the troubles in Northern Ireland in 1972. Most events are free but some workshops are ticketed.
13-15 Jul

Bastille Day celebration at Canada Square Park
This not-so-British celebration is part of the City of London Festival which runs in June and July. Bring your own wine and cheese to commemorate the turning point in the French revolution when the Bastille prison in Paris was stormed in 1789. The anniversary is France’s national day, and so it’s fitting that French acts will perform in Canada Square Park in Canary Wharf in the afternoon and early evening. Entertainment starts with euro ska jazz from Santa Macairo Orkestar, followed by young musician L whose songs are twists on French music, and finally the KKC Orchestra which fuses hip-hop and electro swing.
14 Jul

Vietnam Summer Festival at Spitalfields Market
Vietnam is proudly waving its flag at this brand new festival at the renowned Spitalfields food market, where food stalls from different regions will offer tasters of dishes like the classic Pho noodle soup - often eaten for breakfast in the country. If you’re feeling energetic, try out traditional Vietnamese games like jute-bag jumping (much like sack races in the UK) or the intriguingly named “dragon-snake”, a complex group game involving a script, a doctor and a very angry dragon.
14 Jul

Rioja Tapas Fantasticas at Potters Fields Park
It will be fiesta time on the South Bank for this celebration of top Spanish cuisine. Raise a glass of red, white or rosé Rioja wine in Potters Fields Park, overlooking Tower Bridge. Tapas – the perfect walk-and-eat cuisine – will be on sale from London’s Spanish restaurants and live Spanish music and cookery demonstrations are also on offer. You might return as a wine buff after some workshops and wine walks with experts Olly Smith and Susy Atkins.
14-15 Jul

What are you up to this weekend? Post your tips below.

Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women everywhere. Find out how you can mark this important date in London:

March over Millennium Bridge: Join celebrities, activists, and Women for Women supporters on Millennium Bridge as part of the Join Me on the Bridge campaign, promoting peace and equality. Meet on the south side of the bridge at 10.30am, then march across it, along Victoria Embankment and into the ballroom at the Royal Festival Hall for speeches. 8 Mar

Women of the World Festival at the Southbank Centre: Five days of gigs, films, talks, theatre, poetry and more, coinciding with International Women’s Day. Highlights include Equals Live 2012, a concert hosted by Annie Lennox; speed mentoring; and keynote speeches by Eve Ensler and Mary Portas. 7-11 Mar

Support Creative Women at Spitalfields: Spitalfields Market is holding an International Women’s Fair this weekend where you can browse books, arts and crafts by creative women and enjoy free entertainment including comedy, music and ballroom dancing. Free tours of the Women’s Library take place at 12pm and 2:30pm. 10 Mar

Invest in You at Inner Space: Wellbeing centre Inner Space is hosting an afternoon of free talks for women with a theme of Invest in You. Register at www.innerspace.org.uk. 10 Mar

Know of another Women’s Day event? Tell us in the comments below.

Avert your eyes and put down your popcorn as classic horror films hit London’s cinema screens this Halloween.

Jameson Cult Film Club Presents “Chills in the Chapel”, Union Chapel, Islington: 29-30 Oct
The Jameson Cult Film Club presents two horror classics in the atmospheric setting of the Union Chapel, Islington. Steel yourself for The Blair Witch Project (1999) and the best horror remake of all time (fact), Philip Kaufman’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) on the 29 and 30 October respectively.
Read more abot Chills in the Chapel

Brain Wash Presents Fright Night at Curzon Soho: 28 Oct
Don your most gruesome fancy dress for a night of DJs, VJs and drinks and a rare screening of Tom Holland’s Fright Night (1985) at Curzon Soho. Regularly voted as one of the greatest horror films of all time, Fright Night follows one boy’s mission to prove that his neighbour is a vampire. The fun starts at the bar from 9pm, with the screening from 11.30pm.
www.curzoncinemas.com/fright-night-a-halloween-spooktacular

Halloween Screamings, The Round Chapel, Hackney: 28, 30 & 31 Oct
From the creators of the Rooftop Cinema Club comes a short season of creepy classics, including The Exorcist (1973), The Omen (1976) and Halloween (1978), on the 28, 30 and 31 October. Doors open at 6.45pm and there’s a licensed bar – serving spirits no doubt.
experiencecinema.com

The Underground Picturehouse at The Water Poet Spitalfields: 31 Oct
And finally for some light relief, head to The Water Poet in Spitalfields for a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) on 31 October. Doors open from 6.30pm for a 7pm screening.
www.wegottickets.com

If you’re looking for some comfort food, take some inspiration from Gareth1953‘s photo and nom some sausage and mash at the S&M Cafe in Spitalfields.

On the subject of Spitalfields secrets, we also really enjoyed the vintage and modern Spitalfields photos posted on Spitalfields Life on Wednesday, showing street scenes as they were in 1912 and this week.

Add your photos to the Visit London Flickr pool and we could be featuring you next week!

This week’s photo by The_Guvnah shows a historic building façade in Spitalfields which has been preserved when a new building was erected. It’s a slightly bizarre solution to modern life in historic buildings.

Seen anything fascinating in London recently? Add your photos to the Visit London Flickr pool.

East, one of London’s most exciting, quirky and cool festivals, is just around the corner!

East is an annual festival that celebrates the cultural and creative life of East London. Next year it will be held from 4-9 March and, while we can’t reveal too much at this stage, we can tell you that it’s going to be just as interesting and diverse as ever.

East 2010 will explore four key themes:

1. Architecture
2. Asian Subcontinent
3. Travel
4. Minimalism

The six-day festival features around 80 events held at East London venues ranging from The Barbican to Brick Lane, Whitechapel Gallery to Spitalfields Market.

Previous East festivals have seen innovative new collaborations, work from world-class artists and performers, and record audiences. This is one London festival you really don’t want to miss.

In fact, why wait for March? The Christmas break is an ideal time to get out and about in East London. For inspiration, check out the East London Walks page, our Only in London East Itinerary and the DIY East guide. That way, when the festival rolls around, you’ll be fully prepared to enjoy East!