Wine and dine

If you’re in Carlton, we suggest a visit to Heartattack and Vine, a gorgeous new café and bar which is co-owned by Melbourne author Emily Bitto. This Italian-style café/bar serves coffee and simple on-the-go eats (like hot pork rolls) during the day, then snacks and drinks at night.

You can find Heartattack and Vine at 329 Lygon Street, Carlton, 3053.

Dance

Celebrate the roots and rhythm of jazz music and dance at the Sea of Rhythm festival. Taking place over three days (21-23 November), this is a brand new festival that brings together Tap dance, Lindy Hop, Jazz, Swing, Funk, Break Dance, and African music and dance, in celebration of their connection in rhythm, roots and spirit.

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Read

Looking to add to your collection of Popular Penguins? Well, now is your chance with our special 3 for 2 Popular Penguins offer throughout November. From Helen Garner’s Monkey Grip to John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, you can buy any two Popular Penguins (at $9.95 each) and you’ll get a third for free! Our 3-for-2 offer is available now in all of our shops (please note this deal is not available online).

Find out where our five shops are located

Film

Give yourself a scare with Monster Fest. This is not your normal film festival. It is “gorgeousness and gorgosity made flesh” – a genre love-in for drooling cinema fiends with a fetish for the fantastic.

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Music

Melbourne Music Week happens later this month (14-23 November) and once again features an amazingly diverse line-up of musicians over 10 days. This year, 75% of the performing artists are from Victoria.

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Read

If you ever wanted to read a celebrity biography, this is the month to do so. Recent releases in this category include Yes Please (Amy Poehler), Choose Your Own Autobiography (Neil Patrick Harris), More Fool Me (Stephen Fry), Not That Kind of Girl (Lena Dunham), So, Anyway (John Cleese) – to name a few!

Browse more biographies and memoirs

Film

Catch the latest literary adaptation at the cinema. There’s so many to choose from including The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet Gone Girl, Before I Go To Sleep and This is Where I Leave You. Not to mention our most anticipated release of them all, Mockingjay: Part 1!

Browse our collection of new and upcoming book-to-film adaptations

Food

If you love good food, come along to our Hawthorn shop at 6pm on Wednesday 19 November to hear Karen Martini in conversation about her new cookbook, Home.

Entry is $10 per person and includes a glass of wine. Please book

Music

You won’t want to miss this lively discussion between Jane Clifton and Bob Starkie of Skyhooks fame about (When the Sun Sets Over) Carlton – a deluxe 2CD release that documents the arts- and politics-infused rock scene that emerged in Melbourne in the 70s.

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Read

We’re announcing our best books of the year list very soon. While you’re waiting for our list, Melbourne publisher Black Inc’s annual Best of anthologies provide a perfect entrée, featuring the best short stories, essays and poems from across the nation. This year The Best Australian Poems 2014 was edited by Geoff Page, The Best Australian Stories 2014 was edited by Amanda Lohrey, and The Best Australian Stories 2014 was edited by Robert Manne.

Browse more great writing by Australians

Food

The Age Good Food Month has begun. This month-long celebration showcases the best Melbourne and regional restaurants, cafes, bars and producers with a series of venue-based events and offers. We’re particularly excited about the Night Noodle Markets.

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