Here’s our weekly round-up of events from August 21 – 27 on Mercer Island:

Finn Murphy, Author of The Long Haul
Monday, August 21, 6:30 – 8 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

Island Books couldn’t be more excited about this late-breaking addition to their summer author appearance schedule. The Long Haul by Finn Murphy is a memoir that’s a great series of entertaining yarns, but it’s much more than that. Brimming with personality and filled with great characters, The Long Haul is a resonant portrait of the enduring appeal of manual labor in the dark underbelly of the American Dream. Join Island Books on the 21st to hear from the man himself, and keep your eye out for the giant truck with the book cover on the side. You can’t miss it.
Learn more >>

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Books, Brownies, and Beyond: IMS Book Club Meeting
Tuesday, August 22, 4 – 6 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Join Mrs. Behnke, Ms. Bowman, and other book club members for summer meetings at the Mercer Island Library! Come get some ideas for reading, and if you want, bring a book to share. Drop by the small meeting room any time from 4 – 6 pm. There will also be cookie bar treats, too. Teens, tweens, and incoming 6th graders welcome! This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.

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Mercer Island Preschool Association’s Annual Summer Concert
Tuesday, August 22nd, 6 pm
Mercerdale Park, 77th Ave SE & SE 32nd St

The Mercer Island Preschool Association is hosting their annual summer concert! Jen Ayers and the Sweet Pickles is this year’s musical guest. MIPA’s Summer Concert is a highly anticipated, free family event, especially geared for preschool-aged kids. Bring a picnic blanket and your dancing shoes! All are welcome.
Learn more >>

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Music Night at Island Books with Henry Mansfield
Tuesday, August 22, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

Island Books is pleased to welcome Henry Mansfield, the latest artist to appear as part of their continuing Music Night series. They’ve been fans of his eclectic piano-based rock songs for some time, and if you go to listen, it probably won’t be your only encounter with his music either. Drop on by to prick up your ears and maybe pick up a CD!
Learn more >>

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Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, August 23 & Friday, August 25, 9 – 10 am
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

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, August 23, 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, August 23, 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.

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Youth Theatre Northwest presents Go, Dog, Go! 
Wednesdays – Saturdays | 7:30 pm
Emmanuel Church Courtyard, 4400 86th Ave SE

P.D. Eastman’s classic children’s book comes to life on stage through physical comedy, silly dances, music, and great energy.  Just like the book, this play has the ability to generate fun, learning, adventure, and surprise with a minimum of text. Go, Dog, Go! honors the joyous simplicity of the world around us and never stops from the moment it starts.
Learn more >>

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Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, August 24, 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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Cooking Classes with Cindy Swain of Italicana Kitchen
Thursday – Sunday | August 24 – 27 | Times vary
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 100

Caruccio’s is a brand-new, state-of-the-art culinary event center opening on Mercer Island on Thursday, August 24th! Check out their first events happening between August 24 – 27, featuring Cindy Swain of Italicana Kitchen. There will be a variety of cooking classes, including one for kids! Visit the website for more details and to sign up for the classes.
Learn more >>

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Mercer Island Women’s Equality Day Celebration
Thursday, August 24, 7 pm
Mercerdale Park, 77th Avenue SE & SE 32nd Street

Join the Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Department in Mercerdale Park for the Mercer Island Women’s Equality Day celebration before the last Mostly Music in the Park performance of the summer. The concert is free.

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Mostly Music in the Park 
Thursday, August 24, 7 – 8:30 pm
Mercerdale Park, 77th Avenue SE & SE 32nd Street

It’s the last Mostly Music in the Park of the season! This event is Mercer Island Arts Council’s annual summer concert series in Mercerdale Park.  Concerts feature various bands and artists from around the region performing a wide variety of music. This week’s featured group is Lemolo, a dream-pop band!

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Restoration Event
Friday, August 25, 10 am – 2 pm
Wildwood Park, 7265 87th Ave SE
Meet: west entrance of park on 86th Ave SE

It’s a weekend of restoration events! 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.

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Restoration Event
Saturday, August 26, 9 am – 3 pm
Mercerdale Hillside Park, 77th Ave SE & SE 32nd Street
Meet: corner of 76th Ave SE & SE 37th Place

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.

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No Sugar Challenge: Balanced Blood Sugar with a NSM Nutritionist
Saturday, August 26, 10 – 11 am
New Seasons Market, 2755 77th Ave SE

Challenge yourself this month by eating no sugar! Join the NSM nutritionist for a series of classes focused on resetting your relationship with sugar, where they’ll give you the tools you’ll need to develop a naturally sweet relationship with food. This class is free, but registration is required.
Learn more >>

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Swing, Sip & Screen: Dirty Dancing 
Saturday, August 26, 6:30 pm
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way

Dirty Dancing is the movie that launched a million romantic dreams. For one night, put on your own dancing shoes so you can swirl like Baby and jump like Johnny. Starting at 6:30 pm, learn to swing with international dance instructor Ari Levitt, followed by drinks and dessert. Then, watch Dirty Dancing at 8 pm in high definition with Dolby Digital sound system.
Learn more >>

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Mercer Island Farmers Market
Sunday, August 27, 10 am – 3 pm
Mercerdale Park, North End, 77th Ave SE & SE 32nd Street

Celebrating their 10th season, the Mercer Island Farmers Market is open every Sunday from June – October! Enjoy the sunshine and check out the freshest fruits and vegetables of the season, as well as locally made food and drinks, local artisan crafts, and fun activities for the whole family. Visit the website for weekly updates and special events.
Learn more >>