If there's one subject that's had enough column inches spent on in the past few years, it's the supposed demise of London's underbelly: everything that made this sprawling metropolis exciting, enticing and, (let's face it) bearable.

Next month Somerset House Studios launches its Nocturnal City series, exploring the state of London's nightlife and its influence in pushing the boundaries of culture. This week Run Riot spoke to the series' curator and our Guest Editor, Estela Oliva, on what she hopes the Nocturnal City series will achieve, and what London can learn from Berlin's approach to preserving and encouraging its culture after dark. You can read her interview here, and pick up tickets to the first session on 11th March here.

Estela's other top selections include Kinetica's 10th Anniversary Exhibition: The Thin Veil, taking place at Ugly Duck. Then the Virtual Futures Salon: 'Near-Future Fiction Vol. 01' at Lights of Soho, for an evening of reading, performance and art exploring the consequences of scientific developments on our ontology. And finally- a mesmerising virtual reality experience from Nocturnal City's guests Laurel Halo and LaTurbo Avedon at the Barbican for Still Be Here, with Mari Matsutoya, Darren Johnston and Martin Sulzer.

Swing by our Magazine section for a brilliant guest writer piece from Paula Harrowing on the importance of barbershops in her life and London's Eastend ahead of CUT Festival later this month. It's a get-the-kettle-on kind of read.

In fact, sticking with that theme, if your podcast picks are in need of some love, BBC Radio 4's new podcast, Seriously, is a brighter, breezier take on In Our Time, covering the kind of array of topics that could make staying up all night a welcome prospect.

You'll also find a call out for Pride in London Festival 2017 submissions with full details on how to get involved in the third year of the festival.

Competitions? Be our guest! Tiff Stevenson's Seven goes on stage at the Bloomsbury Theatre at the end of the month, The Power Of One celebrates solo performances with John Langan, Nina Harries and Randolph Matthews, the British Library celebrates International Womens Day with its Rebels in the Archives panel discussion and Vault Festival brings "a contemporary dance version of The Thick Of It" to our attention.

Still up for more? Of course you are. Enjoy the week, dear players. RR xx