One More Story Before School // Author Giselle Onanian Brings Alfie & Oak to The Roast by Bubbalicious

Before the school bags come back out, there's one last long Sunday lunch worth booking. On 23rd August, Mina's Kitchen at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi is teaming up with The Ripe Market and UAE-based author Giselle Onanian for a back-to-school edition of The Roast by Bubbalicious, built around her much-loved Alfie & Oak book series.

If you haven't come across them yet, Alfie & Oak follows a boy and his dog through the everyday, tender stuff of expat childhood - moving countries, missing people, friendships shifting. Giselle wrote them drawing on her own 30+ years growing up in Dubai, and now on raising her kids here too. It's exactly the kind of story so many of our children (and honestly, us) need heading into a new term.

Expect a live reading, a meet-and-greet, and book signings, alongside a properly good roast - carved meats, Yorkshire puddings, the works - plus a kids' corner with slime-making, LEGO and face painting, and The Ripe Market's local stalls to browse while the little ones play.

1–4pm, from AED 175 for kids, complimentary under 6s. Book via Mina's Kitchen.