Here’s our weekly round-up of events from February 12 – 18 on Mercer Island:

Winter 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 February 13
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Toddlers (2 – 3 years) – 11:30 am – Noon

Thursday February 15
Infants (0 – 12 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Preschoolers (3 – 6 years) – 1 – 1:30 pm

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Anxiety & Our Kids – Join the Discussion
Tuesday, February 13, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Mercer Island Youth & Family Services counselors will facilitate discussions about anxiety that began after the viewing of the film Angst. Find out more about preventing and addressing anxiety with parents and counselors grouped by elementary, middle, and high school age levels. Counselors will answer questions, offer resources, and we will discuss ways to address anxiety together as a community. This event is presented by Mercer Island Youth & Family Services and sponsored by MI Parent Edge. All parents welcome. No students, please.

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Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, February 14 & Friday, February 16, 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, February 14, 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, February 14, 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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Wine Wednesdays @ Caruccio’s
Wednesday, February 14, 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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Singing Circle with Panim Hadashot
Wednesday, February 14, 7 – 8:30 pm
SJCC, 3801 E Mercer Way

Find your voice and joy at our weekly song sessions. SJCC is partnering with Panim Hadashot:New Faces and Rabbi Dov Gartenberg to bring their singing circle to the J. Every week will feature singing, teaching, and storytelling, culminating in a Shabbat dinner and music session on Friday, February 23.
Learn more >>

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Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, February 15, 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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Opera Preview: Beatrice and Benedict by Hector Berlioz
Thursday, February 15, 7 – 8:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

France’s greatest composer of the 19th century, Hector Berlioz, adored Shakespeare and came to believe that at least one of his operas should be based upon one of the English master’s most popular plays, Much Ado About Nothing. Don’t miss this French operatic masterpiece, being performed by Seattle Opera for the first time. This free lecture, provided to increase enjoyment and appreciation of Seattle Opera productions, will feature speaker Norm Hollingshead, with recorded musical excerpts. Space is limited. First come, first seated.

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“Lunchtime Lessons” with Chef Sarah Boyd 
Friday, February 16, 11:30 am – 1 pm
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 100

Join Caruccio’s for another “Lunchtime Lesson” and delightful lunch with the ever popular personal chef, Sarah Boyd. Sarah will teach you how to whip up delicious and healthy Chicken & Veggie Quinoa Bowls topped with an avocado chimichurri. This dish can be easily adapted for vegetarians. You’ll learn how to create these dishes, eat a tasty lunch, and recreate the meal at home!
Learn more >>

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Restoration Event
Saturday, February 17, 10 am – 2 pm
Secret Park, SE 27th Street and West Mercer Way
Meet: playground at corner of SE 27th & 64th Ave SE.

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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10 Foods Your Heart Will Love Tour with a NSM Nutritionist
Saturday, February 17, 10 – 11 am
New Seasons Market, 2755 77th Avenue SE

Explore the store to celebrate Heart Month! We’ll identify nutrient-dense foods and simple habits that support a healthy cardiovascular system. You’ll leave with a meal plan, making it easy to take these concepts from tour to table. This event is free, but registration is required.
Learn more >>

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Youth Theatre Northwest presents The Kamishibai Project Workshop
Sunday, February 18, 1 – 5 pm
Parish Hall Theatre at Emmanuel Church, 4400 86th Ave SE

YTN has received a special grant to bring Tatsuo Kawakami and Takamitsu Terukina, two famous Kamishibai artists from the Marguerite Family Troupe in Japan to work with YTN’s Through The Looking Glass and What Alice Found There cast in a special residency during the month of February. Because of its unique opportunity, YTN is hosting workshops with the artists.

For anyone over 4th grade (adults too!), participate in this FREE Sunday Workshop with the Japanese artists to learn about how Kamishibai is done. These will be drop in workshops. To sign up contact Stephanie Bull at (206) 232-4145 ext.100 or [email protected].

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SJCC Service Event: Dinner at Our House
Sunday, February 18, 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 >>

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7 Course Japanese/Pacific NW Pop-up Dinner with Sake pairing
Sunday, February 18, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 100

Treat yourself to an exclusive Japanese dinner event with Chef Shinya Asami. He will take you on an unforgettable 7 course dinner experience with a Sake pairing option! A native of Tokyo, Japan, Chef Shinya Asami has over 18 years of professional cooking, teaching, and farming experience, and is also a pioneer of the “organic and local casual dining concept” that has become very popular format in places like Whole Foods Market and other “natural grocery stores” across the country.
Learn more >>