Mingle with the cool kids at the 2019 Open Book Christmas Party.

BBQ, readings by artists who have graced our stage this year, music, conversation, happiness, sunshine. Maybe Santa. Maybe not.

Saturday 7 December, 5pm to 7pm
Readings from 5:30pm

It’s Christmas Market Day on Ponsonby Road. Come take a wander around the shelves, snag a tome or three, and enjoy a seat in the backyard out of the bustle.

We will have delicious filter coffee and 13,000 reasonably-priced secondhand books to keep you happy.

More about Market Day here from the Ponsonby Business Association.

This month, five well-known writers talk for seven minutes about a book that makes a perfect Christmas gift. With free wrapping! 

* Witi Ihimaera, Native Son
* Peta Mathias, Eat Your Heart Out
* Courtney Sina Meredith, The Adventures of Tupaia
* Paula Morris, Hauturu
* Peter Simpson, Colin McCahon: There is Only One Direction

Plus a silent auction for a beautiful Working Glass pohutukawa plate, snacks and a glass of wine. Pretty great.

Saturday 30 November, 4pm

Michele Powles (writer) and Renee Liang (playwright, poet and paediatrician) talk about their book, When We Remember to Breathe: Mess, magic and mothering. 

Amy Mansfield (piano) and Kirsten Locke (violin) play a magic selection from baroque to tango.

Plus snacks and maybe a glass of wine. Hashtag winning.

Sunday November 17, 2pm.

~1,500 clearance books - all $5 each or five for $15

Plus about 14,000 other second-hand books on the shelves at their normal, very reasonable, prices

So many cheap books! Plus music, delicious coffee and sparkling counter repartee. What a blessed life.

Saturday October 26, 10am to 5pm
(that’s Labour weekend, folks)

This month, we go all Biketober, with Bike Auckland. A 5.8km loop ride with music to start, some readings along the way, and poetry back at the shop to end:

* Gather from 2:15pm. Bike parking around back.
* Auckland SHE choir: 2:30pm at the shop
* Ride starts: 2:45pm
* Readings by Maria Majsa and Tim Heath en route
* David Merritt’s poems: 4:30pm back at the shop

Sunday October 20th, 2:15pm

Come take a wander around the shelves, snag a tome or three, and enjoy a seat in the backyard out of the bustle.

We will have delicious filter coffee, music and 15,000 reasonably-priced secondhand books to keep you happy.

Saturday September 21, 10am to 5pm

This month, readings from soon-to-be-published Masters of Creative Writing graduates at Auckland University.

* Rosetta Allan
* Caroline Barron
* Rose Carlyle
* Amy McDaid
* Heidi North
* Ruby Porter

Free entry. Plus snacks and maybe even a glass of wine. Incredible.

Sunday 15 September, 3pm.

Celebrate National Poetry Day with Geometry and The Open Book.

Come along to hear the winner and the judges’ selection from submissions to our poetry competition. Plus snacks and maybe a glass of wine if you are lucky.

Sunday August 25, 3pm

A bonus event this extra cultural month. Readings from two newly published poets, plus pre-order yourself a copy of AUP New Poets Five:

* Carolyn DeCarlo, poet
* Sophie van Waardenberg, poet

with Anna Jackson, AUP series editor

Sunday, July 28 at the earlier than usual time of 2pm

Mon dieu! Our monthly cultural extravaganza is on Bastille Day. Let us hope some poems include French words.

Les readings by:
* Steven Toussaint, poet
* Anna Livesey, poet

With piano and singing by the amazing Alex Taylor.

Sunday July 14, 3pm

~1,500 clearance books - all $5 each or five for $10

Plus 13,000 other second-hand books on the shelves at their normal reasonable prices

So many cheap books! Plus music, delicious coffee and sitting around. What a joyful world it is.

Saturday July 13, 10am to 5pm

This month our cultural extravaganza coincides with Matariki. Readings by:

* Vana Manasiadis, poet and translator
* Simone Kaho, poet, writer and filmmaker
* Courtney Sina Meredith, author and performer
* Makyla Curtis, poet and letterpress printer

Plus snacks and a glass of wine. Good times.

Sunday June 23, 3pm.

Come discuss satire and the McGillicuddy Serious Party and buy the fabulous and newly published book of party manifestos with:

* Laird McGillicuddy Graeme Cairns (former Leader)
* Metiria Turei (former Auckland candidate)
* Mark Servian (former Party President)

Saturday May 4, 3pm.

Bring all your chocolate-detecting small people for fun times finding Easter eggs in the garden (or inside the store if the weather is less festive).

Saturday April 20, 10am to 11am

This month at our literary extravaganza, readings from:

* Vivienne Plumb, poet, fiction writer, dramatist
* Tim Heath of the Almost Dead Poets’ Society
* Eric Soakai, Performance Artist
* Leva Kusari, Young poet
* Daniel Goodwin, Writer/performer
* Beth Alexander, Actor/Gardener/ sometimes Poet

Sunday April 14, 3pm.

~1,500 clearance books - all $5 each or five for $10

Plus 13,000 other second-hand books on the shelves at their normal reasonable prices

So many cheap books! Plus music, delicious coffee and sitting around.

Saturday April 13, 10am to 5pm

Come take a wander around the shelves, snag a tome or three, and enjoy a seat in the backyard out of the bustle.

We will have delicious filter coffee, music and 15,000 reasonably-priced secondhand books to keep you happy.

Saturday April 6, 10am to 5pm

Come along to our monthly cultural extravaganza and find out some secrets.

With talks and performances by:
* Caren Wilton (oral historian, writer, editor and author of My Body, my business
* Deborah Shepard (biographer, latest book The Writing Life)
* Alex Taylor (musician)

Plus Q&A, snacks and even a glass of wine. IKR!

Saturday 9 March, 3pm

What does ambition mean to you?

This amazing new book looks at ambition and what it means to be a New Zealander. It examines the way we formulate and share our dreams and plans with each other, and looks at how ambition might be connected with business, our personal lives, and our national identity.

Pre-order your signed copy here and pick it up on the day or get it shipped to your door:
https://theopenbook.co.nz/products/ambition

Friday March 8, 6pm

Come join us for our first literary extravaganza of 2019!

This month, readings by creative writing students at the University of Auckland.

With readings by Karen Holdom, Anuja Mitra, Danny Lam, Hebe Kearney, Richard Pamatatau, Anna Woods, Tom Romeo, Sarah Ell, Carolyn Cossey, Joshua Hetherington.

Sunday February 24, 3pm.

Come visit this wonderful bookstore as part of the inaugural Ponsonby Road Festival.

We will have fabulous poet and handmade book creator David Merritt making and selling his fabulous creations. Plus secondhand books, coffee, music and good times. What more could a person desire?

Saturday 16 February, 10am to 5pm

~1,500 second-hand books - all $5 each or five for $10

So many cheap books! Plus music, delicious coffee and sitting around.

Saturday 19 January, 10am to 5pm
(rain or shine, but we prefer shine)

Mingle with the cool kids at the 2018 Open Book Christmas Party.

BBQ, readings (from 5:30pm), music, conversation, happiness. Maybe Santa. Maybe not.

Saturday, 8 December, 5pm to 7pm.

Come take a wander around the shelves, snag some Christmas gifts, and enjoy a seat in the backyard out of the bustle.

We will have poet David Merritt making his incredible chap books, candy floss, and the return of the fabulous book tree to keep you company.

Saturday December 8, 10am to 5pm

At our literary extravaganza this month, a visit from award-winning Austrian writer Linda Stift. Plus music and poetry. There is nothing not to love.

* Linda Stift (writer)
* Anna Livesey (poet)
* Gracie Francis (piano)
* Bernice Austin (soprano)
* Alexander James (baritone)

Sunday 25 November, 3pm.

~1,500 second-hand books - all $5 each or five for $10

So many cheap books! Plus music, delicious filter coffee and sitting around.

Saturday 27 October, 10am to 5pm
(rain or shine, but we prefer shine)

Sparkling literary times with recipients of the Sir James Wallace scholarships for Masters of Creative Writing at the University of Auckland.

With readings by Rosetta Allan, Cybonn Ang, Simon Comber, Meagan France, Angelique Kasmara, Rachel O'Connor, Tom Romeo, and Josie Shapiro.

Free entry, plus snacks, chit-chat, and even a glass of wine. Truly we are blessed.

Sunday October 7, 3pm.