Things to do in March

It's March, only the start of the hot season, and already sweltering. Here, then, a selection of goings-on to distract from the heat, most of them air-conditioned.

Theatre
BCT's upcoming production Pinocchio should be wonderful. Interactive fairytale storytelling theatre in the round? Yes please! I'm a BCT member so this is a bit of a plug, but I sincerely recommend this for anyone with kids or the young-at-heart. Show up early at the British Club (Silom soi 18), where there will be a food and drink for sale, plus a bouncy castle and pre-show craft activity.
Tickets are 200 baht and can be bought in the lobby of BNH Hospital on convent road. Show times are 1:30pm and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, March 13-14 and March 20-21.

Local History
The Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall opens to the public on March 9. This interactive museum will showcase the history of Rattanakosin Island, Bangkok's earliest incarnation. It sounds very high-tech and immersive, and the press pictures are gorgeous - it will be interesting to see how this sleek edutainment compares to the experience of exploring Rattanakosin independently. It will certainly be less sweaty.
The Exhibition Hall also promises monthly events and activities, and a library of rare books about Rattanakosin. There's a Bangkok Post article about it here, worth a read.
Tickets will be 100 baht for the 'promotion period' (though the press release doesn't say how long that lasts) and 200 baht thereafter, 50 baht for kids. It is located next to Mahajesadabodintr Pavilion Court on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue.

Books

The Bangkok International Book Fair runs from March 26 to April 6. There are hundreds of booksellers and books in several languages, publications you wouldn't normally find in Bangkok, and some good discounts. Good for hunting out special interest books, or just browsing. It's at the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre (which has its own metro stop), free to the public, open 10am-9pm.

Music

The Bangkok Jazz Festival, a 6-day event featuring artists from everywhere, starting at 6pm.

March 9-14 at Central World Square. Outdoors, but there should be fans and plenty of cold drinks available.

Film

I really wish I'd heard about the Japanese Film Festival earlier - it ends tomorrow. This year's theme is 'emerging Japanese female directors', which is intriguing and exciting. There are two films showing on each day of the festival, and as I'm writing this there are still three more showings - One Million Yen Girl today (at 4pm), and The Mourning Forest and Dear Doctor tomorrow. The screenings are at Siam Paragon and tickets are free, to be collected one hour before the showing.

Art

Most of the exhibitions mentioned in my last post are still going, and I've also spotted an exhibition of surrealist and fantasy art by HSH Princess Marsi Paribatra, in the Hall of Mirrors in Siam Paragon, open 10am-9pm until March 29.