Today's idea - Brighton Lions and Pavilion Gardens Cafe Charity Fun Day

A fun and slightly quaint fundraiser in the sun is taking place today in the Pavilion Gardens. With a giant mix of Face painting, a Tombola, pig racing, stalls and games, cartoon caricatures and silent auctions, there'll also be live jazz and the Hangleton Brass Band. We love this and are excited about feeling about ten years old again to the sound of nice jolly music whilst sitting in the gorgeous Pavilion Lawn surrounded by bright flowers with the sun beaming. Perfect summer things.

It's in aid of the Downs View School, and we recommend you get yourself there in between the midst of shopping or sunny frolicking. What else are you up to today?

Time: 12-5pm
Cost: Free
Location: Pavilion Lawn
Map: here

Images via Cassia and Captain Bonobo on Flickr. Gorgeous, aren't they?

Today's idea - Unite Brighton Exhibition

Today we recommend a fundraising exhibition from Brighton and Hove artists in aid of a better future for Haiti. Today and until June the 30th artists Mandeep Birdy, Angela Huang, Felix Kunza, Steve Yeats and others will exhibit work in support of a volunteer-supported orphanage called 'The Future of Haiti'.

Taking in as many of the 70,000 children with no home or parents as they can, they provide shelter, clothing, education and comprehensive medical care. The orphanage was built following the disaster to reshape and help young lives.

So, in the tradition of good old British support, 'Unite Brighton' brings together local schools, artists, businesses, and more. With the Umi Hotel opening its doors as a supporting exhibition space, work comes not only from fully fledged artists but also from the local community. A large 50-canvas mosaic painted by local school children will be on display during June from a mass of schools around Brighton and others, to raise money toward The Future of Haiti cause.

Pop down, add a couple of coins to the Giant 'Unite Brighton' piggy bank in reception, and have a good old mosey around the art.

Running until June 30th.
Location: Umi Hotel
Time: Daytime (10am-6pm at a guess - for clarification call: 07929 979 073)
Map: here