Here’s our weekly round-up of events from August 27 – September 2 on Mercer Island:
Sephardic-Inspired Rosh Hashanah Menu
Tuesday, August 28, 6:30 – 9 pm
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 100
Learn to prepare a complete Sephardic-inspired menu for Rosh Hashanah! Jewish food expert and cookbook author Emily Paster will teach you how to put together festive Rosh Hashanah dishes inspired by Sephardic traditions and will incorporate many seasonal and symbolic Rosh Hashanah foods, including leeks, figs, carrots, pomegranate, and pumpkin. This mouth-watering and healthy menu will include Keftes de Prasa (Leek Patties), preserved Lemon Chicken with Figs and Almonds, Roasted Carrots with Pomegranate Jelly, and a stunning Golden Pumpkin Butter to spread on your holiday challah. Each student will receive a signed copy of Emily’s book “The Joys of Jewish Preserving” as part of the class.
Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, August 29 & Friday, August 31, 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].
Storybook Corner
Wednesday, August 29, 10:30 – 11 am
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
Bring your little ones in to enjoy popular picture books read by Island Books’ staff or special guests.
Kaleidoscope Play & Learn
Wednesday, August 29, 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.
Lunchtime Lessons: Meat-Filled Kreplach
Wednesday, August 29, 11:30 am – 1 pm
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 100
Kreplach is a pasta dumpling, usually filled with meat, and are a beloved traditional food from Eastern Europe and Russia. They are often served at the dinner prior to the Yom Kippur fast. Many people have fond memories of eating kreplach as children but are intimidated to make these dumplings themselves. In this class, Jewish food expert and cookbook author Emily Paster will demystify the process of making fresh pasta and get everyone making their own kreplach, just like their grandmothers did! Included with this demonstration is a Kreplach lunch at Caruccio’s counter and a a glass of wine, lively conversation with Emily, and a signed copy of Emily’s book The Joys of Jewish Preserving. Get your ticket online!
Wine Wednesdays @ Caruccio’s
Wednesday, August 29, 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.
Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, August 30, 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]
MIPA’s Annual Summer Concert
Thursday, August 30, 6 pm
Mercerdale Park, 77th Ave SE & SE 32nd St
The Mercer Island Preschool Association is hosting their annual summer concert, and Caspar Babypants is this year’s musical guest. MIPA’s Summer Concert is a highly anticipated, free family event, especially geared for preschool-aged kids. Bring your friends and extended family, a picnic, a blanket, and your dancing shoes!
Open Book Club: Us&Them by Bahiyyih Nakhjavani
Thursday, August 30, 7:30 – 9 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
In August, Island Books’ Open Book Club will read and discuss Us&Them by Bahiyyih Nakhjavani. A story mirrored in fragmented lives, Us&Them explores the ludicrous and the tragic, the venal and the generous-hearted aspects of Iranian life away from home. It is a story both familial and familiar in its generational tensions and misunderstandings, its push and pull of obligations and expectations. It also highlights how “we” can become “them” at any moment, for our true exile is alienation from others.
Island Book’s open book club meets the last Thursday of every month. Their staff facilitator chooses both fiction and nonfiction titles. All are welcome to attend, and if you purchase your book in the store you’ll always get a 10% discount.
Rosh Hashanah Meditation
Thursday, August 30, 7:30 pm
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way
As the Jewish new year approaches, recenter and renew through meditation. This meditation will be led by Rabbi Shmuel Brody, who runs a Jewish meditation group. Contact Dana Weiner with questions.
Restoration Event
Saturday, September 1, 10 am – 1 pm
Homestead Park, 8100 SE 40th St
Meet: Homestead Park playground.
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.
Mercer Island Farmers Market
Sunday, September 2, 10 am – 3 pm
Mercerdale Park, North End, 77th Ave SE & SE 32nd Street
The Mercer Island Farmers Market is open every Sunday from June – October. Say hello to your favorite vendors and kick the season off with us. Enjoy the sunshine and check out the freshest fruits and vegetables of the season, as well as locally made food and drinks, artisan crafts, and fun activities for the whole family. Visit the website for weekly updates and special events.
