Welcome the month of September with literature, design and classy music, not forgetting some fab cakes

Prolific Canadian author Margaret Atwood is the next guest in Passa Porta’s excellent series A Writers’ Europe. Currently on tour to promote her latest opus, the final book in the trilogy series MaddAddam, Atwood talks to Flemish journalist Annelies Beck at Flagey on September 5. In the final chapter of her post-Apocalypse series, she returns to the weird world she first created in Oryx and Crake and continued in The Year of the Flood. The writer, whose back catalogue includes The Handmaid’s Tale and The Blind Assassin, also reflects on literature and the state of society. In English.

The annual international music extravaganza Klara Festival kicks off on September 5 with a two-week programme themed melancholy, under the banner ‘Go Crystal Tears’. Fear not, the classical music feast is not all doom and gloom. In completing a three year cycle on the human condition, it views the subject as a positive source of inspiration for many composers. As part of the month-long Festival of Flanders, Klara is a high-quality and eclectic collection of classical music and multidisciplinary events. English Renaissance composer John Dowland is celebrated, along with Benjamin Britten, while Brussels Philharmonic and jazz collective Bl!ndman are among the artists performing. At Bozar, Flagey and La Monnaie.

Most of us quite rightly dread the passing of summer. Brussels’ design devotees, on the other hand, have been counting down the days to September, when the capital hosts Design September from September 5 to 30. Design September is a month-long celebration of the applied arts. There’s graphic, textile, industrial and furniture design as well as architecture. All told, over 100 cultural and commercial events are planned across the city. Highlights include the design market and the prestigious Commerce Design Award. Also, Belgian Designer of the Year Jean-François D’Or will be warming up here for his first solo exhibition at Grand-Hornu. GV

English bookstore Sterlingis suddenly becoming an even more appealing place to while away an afternoon with the opening on August 31 of Sterling Café. To celebrate the new venture on Saturday, if you spend €10 or more, enjoy a free tea or coffee and sample Joni’s baking. Expect lemon drizzle cake, raspberry muffins, chocolate marmalade cake and her already-legendary chocolate brownie cookies and more. Remaining on the food theme, the following Saturday,  September 7, there’s a chance to meet the authors of What’s Cooking in Belgium, Anna Jenkinson and Neil Evans. The recently-published tome is a beautiful book of recipes and stories on Belgium’s love affair with food. Free coffee and cake!

Outside Brussels

The first edition of the literary event L’Intime Festival, is the brainchild of actor and passionate reader Benoît Poelvoorde. Staged this weekend at Namur Théâtre Royal, it features Poelvoorde (C’est arrive près de chez vous, Les Randonneurs, Podium, Le Vélo de Ghislain Lambert), and other actors and writers in talks, readings (by authors) and screenings. The popular Namur figure is joined by Benoît Jacquot, Catherine Frot, Edouard Baer, Tom Lanoye, among others. Plus musical entertainment from DJ Rockin’ Cat, jazz band Pink Turtle and pianist Casimir Liberski.