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Welcoming in the autumn, October has a rich array of events guaranteed to keep you focused as the leaves start to fall from the trees. Limber up with the Yoga Show before getting fully active at the Metro Ski and Snowboard. Alternatively, shimmy your way through the month with some ballroom dancing. For children The Big Draw and Children's Book Week.
 The Big Draw Museum of Childhood at Bethnal Green & Various Venues, E2 9PA 1st October 2008 - 31st October 2008 *(dates to be confirmed) Now in its ninth year, this splendid month-long nationwide event has simply one objective - to get everyone scribbling. The Campaign for Drawing originates from John Ruskin, the great Victorian artist, writer and visionary. Ruskin's belief that drawing is the basis of visual thought means this doodling day is not so much about teaching people how to draw, but how to see. Big Draw Day takes place on Saturday 11th October, providing a focus for activity at many of the national cultural institutions. Further details for 2008's Big Draw have yet to be confirmed but you can expect a month-long event with activities at museums and galleries across the country, including London. It's a cause close to Quentin Blake's heart and he usually gets involved, whether it's releasing a flock of paper birds from the V & A Museum of Childhood or encouraging kids to get over their fear of putting pen to paper. Their website www.campaignfordrawing.org lists events by area from August 2008. *NB DETAILS AND VENUES TO BE CONFIRMED. Venue: Museum of Childhood at Bethnal Green & Various Venues Address: Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA Date: 1st October 2008 - 31st October 2008 *(dates to be confirmed) Time: Various Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Bethnal Green Tube The Big Draw - Information   Francis BaconTate Britain, SW1P 4RG 1st October 2008 - 4th January 2009 Francis Bacon's weirdly warped images are so well known they're instantly recognisable as his. His influence will undoubtedly continue to be felt for centuries to come. At this, the first major retrospective in London since 1985, important paintings from each period of his life are exhibited alongside one another. His paintings of the 1940s, in particular, are of a style that shot him to a worldwide fame, many of which were done in a hungover haze or after little or no sleep. Of his 'Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion' (1944) he said, "It was a thing that I did in about a fortnight, when I was in a bad mood of drinking, and I did it under tremendous hangovers and drink". This exhibition at Tate Britain marks the centenary of Bacon's birth in 2009 and will tour to the Prado in Madrid and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Venue: Tate Britain Address: Millbank, SW1P 4RG Phone: 020 7887 8888 Date: 1st October 2008 - 4th January 2009 Time: Daily 10:00 - 17:40 (last admission 17.00). Closed 24th - 26th December Pricing: £13 (Adults), £11 (Concs) Nearest Station: Pimlico Tube Francis Bacon - Information  Photomonth Photo-OpenArt Pavilion, E3 5BH 1st October 2008 - 30th November 2008 Over 80 exhibitions in 50 galleries come under the umbrella of Photomonth, a photography festival in the East End of London. There's everything from major exhibitions - like last year's Magnum exhibition celebrating 60 years of fashion (at the Magnum Print Room, EC1V 3RS, until 2nd November) - to photo tours by acclaimed photographers. While the details for 2008's event have yet to be confirmed, 2007 saw Stephen Gill conduct some insightful tours around the borders of the Olympic site. It'll be interesting to see how far the bulldozers have progressed in a year. We can expect a big fanfare to mark the opening of the two month-long festival which, as the name suggests, is open to all, giving young photographers and filmmakers a chance to show their work to the public. With additional events, talks, walks, seminars and exhibitions at galleries including the Whitechapel and Host galleries and the London Metropolitan University, there's participation on all levels. See www.photomonth.org for full details. Photo: Elina Jokipii Venue: Art Pavilion Address: Mile End Park, Clinton Road, off Grove Road, E3 5BH Phone: 020 7375 0441 Date: 1st October 2008 - 30th November 2008 Time: Various. Photo-Open: Dail 12:00 - 18:00 Pricing: Various. Photo-Open: Free Nearest Station: Mile End Tube Photomonth Photo-Open - Information  Children's Book WeekUnicorn Theatre, SE1 2HZ 6th October 2008 - 12th October 2008 National Children's Book Week takes place every year in October. Designed to highlight the fun of reading and to gently encourage children to get excited about literature, the event is now in its 77th year. Although 2008's theme has yet to be announced you can expect a full programme of book related events in London throughout the week. Last year, the focus was on the environment, raising awareness on landfills and wasted resources; accordingly, the book list featured titles like 'Dear Greenpeace' and poetry-and-picture book 'A Song for Planet Earth'. Recommended for children aged 4+. For all Children's Book Week events see www.booktrusted.co.uk. *NB: VENUE AND DETAILS TO BE CONFIRMED. Venue: Unicorn Theatre Address: 147 Tooley Street, More London, SE1 2HZ Phone: 020 7645 0560 Date: 6th October 2008 - 12th October 2008 Time: Various (check website ) Pricing: Various (some free) Nearest Station: London Bridge Tube / Rail Children's Book Week - Information  Ballroom Dancing ChampionshipsRoyal Albert Hall, SW7 2AP 7th October 2008 - 9th October 2008 The Royal Albert Hall welcomes a select group of 360 consummate dancefloor experts, both amateur and professional, for the 56th annual International Ballroom Dancing Championships. Spectators have the chance to see the pros compete in Latin class (Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive). The amateurs, as well as dancing Latin, will also go foot-to-foot in standard class, giving us a demonstration of the timeless classics (Slow Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot and Quickstep). 'Strictly Come Dancing' has raised interest in dancing to unprecedented levels, and the standard here will be exceptional. Venue: Royal Albert Hall Address: Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP Phone: 020 7589 8212 Date: 7th October 2008 - 9th October 2008 Time: 17:45 Pricing: £17-£34 Nearest Station: South Kensington Tube Ballroom Dancing Championships - Information  The Times BFI 52nd London Film FestivalBFI Southbank, SE1 8XT 15th October 2008 - 30th October 2008 *(dates to be confirmed) Every October the BFI Southbank and cinemas across London host the London Film Festival, now in its 52nd year and still attracting Hollywood players and Indie film-makers from around the globe. As well as a few blockbuster premieres, gala films and celebrity-studded ceremonies, there is a commendable amount of programme time given over to small independent films, foreign language cinema and documentary work. Any film fan is sure to find several films and events to entice them in this rich and varied programme. The city is positively abuzz with talk of the silver screen during these 16 days. Consecutive years of unprecedented success have made this a key event on the celluloid calendar. *NB: DATES TO BE CONFIRMED, FESTIVAL USUALLY STARTS THIRD WEDNESDAY OF OCTOBER. Venue: BFI Southbank Address: Belvedere Road, South Bank & venues across London, SE1 8XT Phone: 020 7928 3232 Date: 15th October 2008 - 30th October 2008 *(dates to be confirmed) Time: Various Pricing: TBC. 2007 prices: £7, £8.50, £11, £15 Nearest Station: Waterloo Tube / Rail The Times BFI 52nd London Film Festival - Information  The Frieze Art FairRegent's Park, NW1 0AB 16th October 2008 - 19th October 2008 As the country's leading contemporary art fair, The Frieze Art Fair is far from conventional. There's always the possibility of stumbling across something out of the ordinary - like the Austrian performance artist peeing into his own mouth (as seen at the 2003 fair). Among the paintings and installations there's an amazing jumble of the comical, the beautiful and, as we've seen, the shocking. You can expect short films, talks and site-specific projects all presented in a slightly chaotic atmosphere. With over 150 galleries from all over the world exhibiting work by around 1,000 contemporary artists there is an incredible wealth of art on display - and the incredibly wealthy come to buy it. All this is packed into a single temporary structure in Regent's Park. Almost as interesting as the art is the people watching - and with 63,000 visitors attending last year, there are plenty to look out for. All in all, a unique and mind-blowing thing to experience. Photo: Adrian Paci - Per Speculum, 2006 (detail) Courtesy Francesca Kaufmann, Milan Venue: Regent's Park Address: Park Office, Storeyard ( Inner Circle), NW1 0AB Phone: 0870 890 0514 Date: 16th October 2008 - 19th October 2008 Time: Daily 11:00 - 19:00 Pricing: TBC. 2007 Prices: One Day: £18.50 (Adults), £12.50 (Adults Before 4th Oct), £10.50 (Concs), £7.00 (Concs Before 4th Oct). Four Day: £50 (Adults), £30 (Adults Before 4th Oct) Nearest Station: Camden Town Tube The Frieze Art Fair - Information  Metro Ski and Snowboard ShowOlympia Exhibition Centre, W14 8UX 22nd October 2008 - 26th October 2008 Planning to hit the slopes next winter? Before you take off for snowier climes you'd be wise to put in some pre-ski prep work at this event which turns Olympia into a giant snow dome. Celebrating its 36th year at the cutting-edge of the snowsports world this snow show is almost as much fun as the real thing and makes for a great day out for friends and families. Taking over the Grand Hall and Balcony of Olympia it's a mammoth event. As well as the chance to buy all the latest gear and clothes, there are bargain ski-trips. There are rumours of an Ice Kingdom - complete with ice bar - as well as a hip jump - where skiers get some big air and perform jumps over a split in the ski slope. It's great spectator sport. There are plans to bring back real snow for the giant ski slope which dominates the exhibition space. Take the kids along - anyone under eleven goes free and there is also a creche to keep your mini winter sports enthusiasts occupied. They can also get their first taste of scooting on skis on the teaching slopes, glide around the ice rink, get their picture taken in the igloo photo booth and see the husky dogs (during the week). Whether it's skiing or boarding that takes your fancy the on-hand qualified pros are there to take you through the basics. There's even practical advice on how to juggle your passion for skiing without giving up the day job. With a show on this scale it's like having a ski resort in the capital. Venue: Olympia Exhibition Centre Address: Olympia, W14 8UX Phone: 0871 230 1100 Date: 22nd October 2008 - 26th October 2008 Time: Wed to Fri 11:00 - 21:30, Sat 10:00 - 20:00, Sun 10:00 - 18:00 Pricing: TBC. 2007 Prices: £10.50 (Adults), £8 (Students), £7 (Seniors 60+), £5 (11-16 yrs), Free (Under 11s). Plus £0.75 transaction fee per order. Nearest Station: Olympia Tube / Rail Metro Ski and Snowboard Show - Information  Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008Natural History Museum, SW7 5BD 31st October 2008 - 27th April 2009 (dates to be confirmed) The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is the most prestigious and successful event of its kind in the world. It is open to amateur and professional photographers and each year a panel of wildlife and photography experts scrutinise around 16,500 entries from a global pool for their composition and originality. Some photographers wait for weeks in order to catch that one great action shot, others have simply seen an opportunity, grabbed a camera and produced a unique picture of the natural world. New perspectives on familiar creatures mix with quirky corners of nature, and tragic shots of ruined landscapes provide a contrast with cute and cuddly close-ups. The photos are, by turns, touching, inspiring, educational and tragic, but all of them provide an insight into a magical world. This is a stunning exhibition. *NB: THESE PROVISIONAL DATES ARE TO BE CONFIRMED. Venue: Natural History Museum Address: Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD Phone: 020 7942 5011 Date: 31st October 2008 - 27th April 2009 (dates to be confirmed) Time: Mon to Sat 10:00 - 17:50 | Sun 11:00 - 17:50 Pricing: TBC. 2007 Prices: £7 (Adults), £3.50 (Concs), £18 (Families), Free (Under 4s) Nearest Station: South Kensington Tube Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008 - Information  The Yoga ShowOlympia, W14 8UX 31st October 2008 - 2nd November 2008 There is a bewildering variety of yoga disciplines, from gentle meditation techniques to tie-yourself-in-knots gymnastic contortions. This huge show covers dozens of the possibilities. As well as Pilates, Ayurvedic therapies and dietary advice there are also stalls selling everything from chemical-free yoga mats to three-week meditation holidays. The workshops really are worthwhile, some are free, for others you need to book and pay; there's something for all levels of ability. Remember to wear comfortable clothes, and stay clear of heavy foods for an hour or so before the show if you want to join in. From first-timers looking to find a discipline that will suit them, to experienced yoga professionals trying to achieve the next level of spiritual enlightenment, there is something here for everyone. A welcome break from the bustling city. Venue: Olympia Address: Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX Phone: 01787 224040 Date: 31st October 2008 - 2nd November 2008 Time: Fri 11:00 - 17:00 | Sat & Sun 10:00 - 18:00 Pricing: Fri: £7 (Adults), £5 (Concs) | Sat & Sun: £10 (Adults), £8 (Concs) | 2-day ticket: £16 (Adults), £12 (Concs) | Classes and Workshops £3 - £25 Nearest Station: Kensington Olympia Tube The Yoga Show - Information |
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