Literary Calendar: Christine Goff, Nick Bantock and a BookBar Anniversary

Books are booming this week, with Governor John Hickenlooper signing copies of The Opposite of Woe: My Life in Beer and Politics at the Wynkoop Brewing Co. on May 26. But there are other noteworthy literary events at metro bookstores this week: You can go local with mystery author Christine Goff, travel to strange new places with Nick Bantock, or kick back at BookBar with a signature glass of wine and a good read.
Christine Goff, A Parliament of Owls
TatteredCover Colfax Avenue
7 p.m. Wednesday, May 25
Colorado mystery author Christine Goff is for the birds — but in the best way possible. An avid birder herself, she continues her birdwatcher’s mystery series with A Parliament of Owls, a local whodunit in which U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agent Angela Dimato searches for clues in the death of a soccer mom found in prairie-dog heaven on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Mayhem does happen in our own back yard; might as well have fun with it. Accordingly, the book launches right here in Denver on May 25.
Nick Bantock, The Pharos Gate: Griffin & Sabine's Lost Correspondence
Boulder Book Store
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 25
Tattered Cover Colfax Avenue
7 p.m. Thursday, May 26
Nick Bantock’s Griffin & Sabine series is one of the great literary love stories, especially for folks who love mail art and mystery. On the 25th anniversary of the first book, Griffin & Sabine, the artist/author has released the ongoing tale’s beautiful finale, The Pharos Gate, a gorgeous tome full of unfolding secrets, both mystical and — thanks to the book’s interactive features — literal. How does the story end? Get some clues from Bantock and have him sign your copy. There is a $5 voucher charge at the Boulder Book Store, which is good toward purchase of the book; the book signing at the Tattered is free.

BookBar’s Three-Year Anniversary Party
BookBar
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 28
After three years on Tennyson Street, BookBar is proving that a glass of wine and a good book are the perfect match, which is reason enough to throw a party. To celebrate its third anniversary, BookBar is releasing a new menu of book-and-wine pairings, offering tastes of its new BookBar wine and serving cake and champagne toasts all day long. Cheers!

What's on the next page in Denver's literary world? Visit Westword's Literary Event listings for this week.