Best bookstore café in Jacksonville, FL | Happy Medium Books Café

ArtTalk with Don Carson & Susan Murphy
2026-02-01 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Meet the talented Don Carson and Susan Murphy at Happy Medium and learn about their collaborative project ‘Spirit Chasers,’ a must see for photography buffs and dancers, but something that everyone will find fascinating.
Don Carson is a photographer whose work bridges decades of commercial mastery and artistic experiment. After early studies in psychology and photography, he moved to New York in 1976, apprenticing with Robert Mapplethorpe, Lord Snowdon, Henry Groskinsky, Howard Sochurek, Sol Leiter, and other leading figures. During the 1980s he established an independent practice in architectural, industrial, and editorialphotography, with publications in Smithsonian, Time, Sunset, House Beautiful, and 50 Plus, and corporate clients including Carnegie Hall and Allied-Signal.
Carson’s artistic practice took new direction in the 1990s, when he and his wife, dancer and aerialist Susan Murphy, began photographing together in wilderness landscapes of the American West. Using a medium-format Kodak Graflex XL, he developed an in-camera masking technique that sequentially layered exposures, producing seamless images where body and landscapemerge across time. Every print was hand-crafted, from darkroom work to custom stone-like frames.

Lit Chat with Mona Awad
2026-01-31 12:00 - 14:00 | Jacksonville Public Library, 303 N Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL, 32202, United States
Hi Bunny!
Join us at the Jacksonville Public Library main Brance for a Lit Chat Interview with Mona Awad! This will be a 60-minute program. The initial 40 minutes author Mona Awad will be in conversation with Hurley Winkler, followed by 20 minutes of audience Q&A.
Program followed by book signing with books available for sale on site with Happy Medium.
Books are available for purchase prior to the event as well at Happy Medium Books Café.
This event is free, but please register in advance,
See you there Bunny!

Yarning
2026-01-29 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-01-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Whether you knit or crochet, come out and meet up with fellow ‘Yarners’ at Happy Medium.
All levels welcome!

Happy Little Melodies 10am class
2026-01-29 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-22 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-15 10:00 - 10:30 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Join us for music, movement, and memory-making with your little one in this cozy, welcoming space!
Reserve your spot before they’re gone: www.musictherapynow.net/happylittlemelodies

Happy Little Melodies
2026-01-29 09:00 - 09:30, 2026-01-22 09:00 - 09:30, 2026-01-15 09:00 - 09:30 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States

Mystery Puzzle Tournament
2026-01-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Put together a fun night at Happy Medium’s MYSTERY Puzzle tournament.
The first team to put together the puzzle AND solve the Mystery Wins.
Fun and prizes guarenteed!
$10 registration includes a cafe drink!
Max team size 4 people.

Learn to Play Mahjong Day 2
2026-01-28 10:30 - 12:30 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
You must attend Day 1 to participate in Day 2.

Not Your Mother's Book Club - Trees
2026-01-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Join us at the Café to discuss Trees by Percival Everett.
As always, book club books are 20% off at Happy Medium Books Café!

Mahjong Meet Ups
2026-01-26 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-19 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-12 15:00 - 17:00 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
If you KNOW how to play Mahjong and are wanting to meet up and play, this is for you!
Join our group and get our Group Me notifications about upcoming Meet Ups.
Contact the store to get on our list!
All skills welcome.
Game and 2025 cards are provided.

Learn to Play Mahjong
2026-01-26 10:30 - 12:30 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
This is a 2 day class for Mahjong Beginners.
$50 covers the 2 – 2 hour classes on Monday, January 26th and Wednesday, January 28th from 10:30-12:30
Includes the 2025 National Mahjong Card.

Make Your Own Mini Book Jar
2026-01-25 13:30 - 15:30 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Looking for a unique way to show off your favorite books, to display your e-book and audio reads, or to select the next book on your TBR? Join us to create a personalized mini-book jar to display your reads. You will decorate your choice of jar with stickers or by glass etching and then make the mini-books to fill your jar. No art skills required.
Each ticket includes the option of getting a personalized set of book covers. Your book request list must be submitted by January 16th to TheCraftyLibraryCo@gmail.com. If you do not submit a list, covers of the most popular books from all genres will be available for you to choose at the event.
Does your list have more than 50 books? Additional book blanks and book covers are available to add-on to your ticket. 🎟️ Tickets are $35 each or Buy 3, Get 1 Free. What’s Included: • 🫙 Glass jar with a lid (jar options hold 25, 50, 75 or 100 mini-books) • 📚 50 mini-book cover stickers • 💕 50 mini-book blanks (1″x1.5″) • 🔗 Link to our mini-book cover template (to make more books on your own) • 💚 Step-by-step guidance in a warm, welcoming creative community Perfect For: book clubs, hanging out with friends, solo creatives or anyone craving a cozy, low-pressure afternoon Why You’ll Love It: • Beginner-friendly — leave with a jar of your favorite reads • Relaxed, social atmosphere in a local bookstore • Limited spots — advance tickets recommended 🧑‍🎨 Ages 12+

Build Your Own Book Nook
2026-01-24 15:00 - 17:00 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Build your own Book Nook at Happy Medium Books Café!
$50 registration will reserve your table for one Book nook for you and up to 3 friends!

Happy Little Melodies Saturday Mornings
2026-01-24 10:00 - 10:30 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States

Women in Tech & Business
2026-01-22 17:30 - 19:30 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Join us at the cafe for this free networking event for Jacksonville women in tech and business.

Sci-fi Book Club The Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy
2026-01-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Join us at the cafe as we discuss The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
As always, Book Club Books are 20% off at Happy Medium Books Café

Wine Date with a Book - Eight Hundred Grapes
2026-01-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Cork Thyme @ All Spiced up Avondale, 3543 St Johns Ave, Jacksonville, FL, 32205
Join us at Cork Thyme at All Spiced Up in Avondale as we discuss Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave.
As always, Book Club Books are 20% off at Happy Medium Books Café

Happy Medium Book Club - Theo of Golden
2026-01-21 10:30 - 12:00 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Join us at the cafe as we discuss Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
As always, Book Club Books are 20% off at Happy Medium Books Café

First Coast Horror Book Club
2026-01-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Join us at the cafe as we discuss The Lesser Dead by Christopher Beulman.
As always, Book Club Books are 20% off at Happy Medium Books Café

Algorithm Proof Social Media
2026-01-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Learn to Create a Full Year of Social Media Posts in One Day
Join Elizabeth Pampalone, Author of Do This First, for a bold, practical talk on building an algorithm-proof social strategy that keeps your business visible no matter how the algorithms change.
Book Signing and Q&A with the author.

Sip & Swirl: Wine Infused Watercolor Workshop
2026-01-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
🍷 Sip & Swirl: Wine-Infused Watercolor Workshop 🍇
Join watercolor artist Teresa Cook for a unique and playful painting experience where wine becomes both the medium and the muse! In this creative workshop, we’ll paint using actual Cabernet, Sweet Red, and Merlot alongside traditional watercolors to explore rich stains, flowing textures, and warm, earthy hues that only wine can create.
Participants will enjoy:
🎨 Wine Painting Techniques – Learn how different wines react on paper, how to layer wine with watercolor, and how to create beautiful washes, textures, and expressive marks.
🍷 Sip While You Paint – Enjoy tasting the same wines you’re painting with as you loosen up, relax, and let creativity flow.
🖼️ A Finished Wine-Washed Artwork – Leave with your own expressive wine-infused painting, full of character and story.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced artist looking for a fresh twist, this workshop blends art, atmosphere, and a little bit of magic. Grab a friend, uncork your inspiration, and join us for an unforgettable creative night!

Park After Dark
2026-01-15 18:00 - 21:00 | FL

TBR Bingo
2026-01-14 19:00 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Looking to add to your TBR (To Be Read) Pile?

Join us at the café for 2025 TBR Bingo.
Have fun and find your next great read! Fun and Prizes!
$8 registration required.

Mystery Thrilling Book Club - The Frozen River
2026-01-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Happy Medium Books Cafe, 2724 Park St, Jacksonville, FL, 32205, United States
Join us at the cafe as we discuss The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon.
As always, Book Club Books are 20% off at Happy Medium Books Café
