Here’s our weekly round-up of events from April 9 – 15 on Mercer Island:

Spring 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 10
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Toddlers (2 – 3 years) – 11:30 am – Noon

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

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Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, April 11 & Friday, April 13, 9 – 10 am
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.

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

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Storybook Corner
Wednesday, April 11, 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 >>

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Kaleidoscope Play & Learn
Wednesday, April 11, 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.
Learn more >>

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Wine Wednesdays @ Caruccio’s
Wednesday, April 11, 5 – 9 pm
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 100

Purchase your wine by the glass from a rotating selection of wines. Each glass includes delicious appetizers served buffet-style. No need to purchase tickets for Wine Wednesday.
Learn more >>

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Plant-based Walnut Tacos with Rose Rodda
Thursday, April 12, 11:30 am – 1 pm
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 100

Caruccio’s is excited to host a Lunchtime Lesson with Rose Rodda, a master of cooking with plant-based foods. Rose will share some of the many wonderful ways that nuts can be incorporated to create a plant-based meal that will leave you satisfied and asking for seconds. As a compliment to this delicious meal, attendees will enjoy a fabulous fresh fruit cashew cheesecake.
Learn more >>

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Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, April 12, 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. There’s 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].

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Paper Clips: A Documentary Film in Honor of Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
Thursday, April 12, 6:30 pm
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way

Six million paper clips… small things teaching a monumental lesson. Searching to grasp the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust, a middle school class collected 6 million paper clips. The lesson on hatred becomes an inspiration for kids to make a difference. This screening will be followed by discussion with a representative from the Holocaust Center for Humanity.
Learn more >>

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Kit Bakke, Author of Protest on Trial
Thursday, April 12, 6:30 – 8 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

Island Books is pleased to welcome author and activist Kit Bakke, whose latest book is Protest on Trial: The Seattle 7 Conspiracy, an exceptional history that’s more relevant than ever in the present day. Please join Island Books for a provocative and productive discussion that will include Kit Bakke as well as Roger Lippman, one of the defendants in the Seattle 7 trial.
Learn more >>

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Classics on Film: Winter/Spring Series
Friday, April 13, 7:30 – 9:30 pm
Aljoya – Theater, 2430 76th Ave SE

This week’s film is Chicago (2002). 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.
Learn more >>

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Leap for Green Sustainable Family Fair
Saturday, April 14, 10 am – 2 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th St

Mercer Island’s Leap for Green sustainability fair started back in 2008, to celebrate Earth Day (April 22) by promoting environmental practices and activities for kids and adults, and to raise general awareness of local sustainability resources. This year’s theme is On The Move – getting around the Island and the region more sustainably. There will be live entertainment and music from Yaamba Marimba and The Bus Boys, transit information and light rail updates, electric bike demos, alternative-fuel vehicles, arts and crafts, educational activities (gardening, planting and composting), various sustainability vendors and booths, giveaways, and of course, several food carts.
Learn more >>

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Restoration Event
Saturday, April 14, 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.
Learn more >>

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Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
Saturday, April 14, 1 – 2 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

The Pacific Crest Trail is a wilderness path in our own backyard. Stretching from Mexico to Canada, through California, Oregon and Washington, the PCT passes through 7 national parks and 25 national forests. At 2600 miles, it’s considered one of the more challenging thru-hikes in the U.S. Join Paul Barach as he discusses what it takes to plan and hike the PCT. Whether you’re interested in planning a journey yourself, or simply enjoy hearing adventure stories, join us for a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the PCT from someone who’s accomplished this incredible journey.

Presenter Paul Barach is author of Fighting Monks and Burning Mountains and posts photos on Instagram @BarachOutdoors.
Learn more >>

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SJCC Service Event: Dinner at Our House
Sunday, April 15, 5 – 7 pm
SJCC, 3801 E Mercer Way

Do you like to cook? How about helping those in need? SJCC is partnering with YouthCare, an organization working to fight homelessness among Seattle teens, to cook dinners in the SJCC kitchen. Dinner will then be delivered to YouthCare’s Jackson Street facility to be served that evening. Please join SJCC for a couple hours to help battle food insecurity among homeless teens!
Learn more >>