This week's events – April 3 – 9

April 2, 2017 | by Julia Hess

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Here’s our weekly round-up of events from April 3 – 9 on Mercer Island:

Story Times at the Library
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Join the Mercer Island Children’s Librarian for stories, songs, rhymes, and fun in these 30-minute programs designed especially for you and your young child.

Tuesday, April 4
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Toddlers (2 – 3 years) – 11:30 am – Noon

Thursday, April 6
Infants (0 – 12 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Preschoolers (3 – 6 years) – 1 – 1:30 pm


MISD K – 12 Fine Arts Showcase 2017
Tuesday & Wednesday, April 4 & 5, 5:30 – 9:30 pm
Mercer Island High School, 9100 SE 42nd Street

Hosted by the Mercer Island Fine Arts Advisory Council (FAAC), this annual fundraising event is a celebratory two-night showcase that supports the MISD Arts Education department. FAAC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation dedicated to supporting K-12 fine arts education across the MISD.

Tuesday, April 4, 5:30 – 9:30 pm: Spotlight on Visual Arts
Art displays by students in art classes and elementary students, interactive activities, and an Art Scavenger Hunt with prizes, along with live music performed by MIHS Jazz Combo and Jazz Choir.

Wednesday, April 5, 5:30 – 9:30 pm: Spotlight on Performing Arts
Two performances by students in the performing arts and music departments across MISD, including MIHS drama students, orchestra, choir, and band students.

MISD Students & Staff receive free admission. Adult tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Tickets valid for both nights and are a donation to support arts education in our schools!
Learn more >>


Community Coffee Hour
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th St

Join Mercer Island Parks & Recreation for Community Coffee Hour every Wednesday and Friday! This is a free program for kids, teens, adults, seniors, and families. Enjoy a hot cup of coffee in a fun and engaging atmosphere with people from the community.

Wednesday, April 5 &  Friday, April 7
9 – 10 am
For more information, call MICEC at 206-275-7909 or email at [email protected].


Storybook Corner
Wednesday, April 5, 10:30 – 11 am
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

Bring your little ones in to enjoy popular picture books read by our staff or special guests.
Learn more >>


Kaleidoscope Play & Learn
Wednesday, April 5, 10:30 am – Noon
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Have fun singing songs, telling stories, reading books, creating art, and playing. Kaleidoscope Play & Learn is in English. Ages 5 years and younger with caregiver. Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.


Matzoh Factory & More: Family Event at SJCC
Wednesday, April 5, 5 – 6:30 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way

Get ready for Passover at this fun family event! Chabad of Mercer Island is setting up a Matzoh Factory at SJCC where you can learn to make your own matzoh. Plus, explore the story of Passover, create your own 10 plague bag for your Seder, and decorate a haggadah.


Planning Commission Public Hearing
Wednesday, April 5, 6 – 8:30 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center,  8236 SE 24th St

The City of Mercer Island is considering changes to the rules for building and remodeling homes throughout the island. The Planning Commission is proposing several changes and is hosting a Public Hearing to present draft recommendations and receive public input.

Staff will provide a presentation summarizing the Planning Commission’s draft recommendations. Following the presentation, the Commission will hear public comment and invites your input on the proposed changes. Each speaker will have up to 3 minutes to address the Commission.


Book Fair for MIPC’s The Pebble Preschool
Thursday, April 6, 10 am – 8 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

Support The Pebble Preschool at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church by shopping at Island Books! Stop by between 10:00am to 12:30pm or between 6:00 and 8:00pm to enjoy delicious bites and beverages. Mention “Pebble” at checkout and Island Books will donate 20% of your purchase to The Pebble Preschool.
Learn more >>


Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce Luncheon
Thursday, April 6, Noon
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th St

King County Prosector Dan Satterberg will be the speaker at this month’s Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. Satterberg was elected as the King County Prosecuting Attorney in November 2007, then re-elected in 2010 without opposition. While handling over 25,000 criminal cases per year and providing legal counsel to all parts of King County government, Satterberg’s office employs more than 225 attorneys, 240 staff members, and has a budget of nearly $68 million. Make your reservation by April 4th at 9 am, before it’s too late!
Learn more >>


Power On, Power Off: Parents & Preschoolers Event
Thursday, April 6, 1 – 1:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

KidsQuest Children’s Museum is hosting an activity for parents and preschoolers at MI Library. Explore electricity and create your own contraption that moves using simple circuits, motorized vibration, and recycled materials. We’ll have to think like engineers as we modify our designs to produce new forms of wiggly jiggly motorized movement. Registration is not required, but there are only 25 slots, so register today!


Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, April 6, 4 – 7 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

Drop by for an afternoon of board games, video games, playing pool or ping-pong, and hanging out. The Community & Events Center has a huge selection of games, and the staff is always up to taking on a new competitor. Games include: Codenames, Mission Red Planet, Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Connect 4, Monopoly, and more. Free for ages 7 – 14.

For more information, call MICEC at 206-275-7909 or email at [email protected].


First Thursday: Art + Wine Event 
Thursday, April 6

This month, Mercer Island’s First Thursday Art Walk will feature THREE galleries! The Art Walk hours for each gallery are listed below.

Clarke + Clarke Art + Artifacts
Hours: 11 am – 6 pm
7605 SE 27th St Suite 105
Learn more >>

Suzanne Zahr / SZ Gallery
Special One-Year Anniversary Celebration!
Hours: 5 – 8 pm
2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 160
Learn more >>

Mercer SOURCES
Hours: 5 – 9 pm
7605 SE 27th Street, Suite 107
Learn more >>


7th Annual Treasures in Miniature Show: Opening Reception
Thursday, April 6, 5 – 8 pm
MIVAL Gallery, 2836 78th Avenue SE

This small format art show features over thirty artists and 100+ art items. Cathy Gill will jury the show, and awards will be presented at 6 pm during the opening reception on Thursday April 6th. Join us at the opening reception for food, wine, and friends! The show runs from April 6th to April 28th.
Learn more >>


The Leah/Rachel Play: The inHEIRitance Project
Thursday, April 6, 7:30 pm
SJCC Theater, 3801 East Mercer Way

Acclaimed actor/playwright Jon Adam Ross brings his heralded national theater series, The inHEIRitance Project, to Seattle/Mercer Island, one of five cities selected for the creation of an original, local world premiere! With Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker Ilana Trachtman, Ross explores themes of sisterhood related to the biblical story of Rachel and Leah. The play features a combination of film and live performance.


Classics on Film Winter Series (Last film of the season!)
Friday, April 7, 7:30 – 9:30 pm
Aljoya – Theater, 2430 76th Ave SE

This week’s film is Les visiteurs (The Visitors) (Jean-Marie Poiré, 1993),  presented in French with English subtitles. The Mercer Island Arts Council, with support from The Mercer Island Sister City Association, presents the Classics on Film Series. Screenings begin with an introduction by film historian Lance Rhoades and end with a Q&A session. Free and open to the public, with refreshments provided courtesy of Aljoya. All films are presented with English subtitles unless otherwise indicated.


Restoration Event
Saturday, April 8, 10 am – 2 pm
Island Crest Park, 5800 Island Crest Way
Meet: Parking Lot

Each year, Mercer Island citizens donate hundreds of hours of their time to maintain the community’s parks and open spaces: picking up litter, planting trees, cutting down ivy, painting over graffiti, or repairing trails.


Writers Read Out
Sunday, April 9, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Writers read 5 minutes of their unpublished work. We welcome funny, feisty, fantastic, historic, erotic, mysterious, poetic, genre-bending, device wielding, shape-shifting, mind-blowing, but no drama over the time limit. 5 means 5. Want to read? Reserve a spot online at our website. Questions? Contact [email protected]. Ages 18+. Listeners welcome!