Here’s our weekly round-up of events from February 19 – 25 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 20
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Toddlers (2 – 3 years) – 11:30 am – Noon

Thursday February 22
Infants (0 – 12 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Preschoolers (3 – 6 years) – 1 – 1:30 pm

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Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, February 21 & Friday, February 23, 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 21, 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 21, 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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Protect Yourself from Online Fraud and Cyber Scams
Wednesday, February 21, 1 – 2:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Identity theft and other forms of online fraud pose a serious and growing threat throughout the nation. The internet is a goldmine for scam artists. MI Library is helping you fight back with the AARP Fraud Watch Network to discuss how to stay safe online.

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Wine Wednesdays @ Caruccio’s
Wednesday, February 21, 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 21, 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 22, 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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Open Book Club: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Thursday, February 22, 7:30 – 9 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

In January, Island Books’ Open Book Club will read and discuss The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, the #1 New York Times bestseller is a magnificent tour de force chronicling a young slave’s adventures as she makes a desperate bid for freedom in the antebellum South. Island Books’ open book club meets the last Thursday of every month. The staff facilitator chooses both fiction and nonfiction titles. All are welcome to attend, and if you purchase your book at the store, you’ll always get a 10% discount.
Learn more >>

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The Kamishibai Project: Performances 
Friday, February 23, 11am (in Japanese) & 7 pm (English translation)
Saturday, February 24, 11 am (English translation)
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. See their performances in Japanese or with English translation!

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A Musical Shabbat Table: Communal Dinner & Singing
Friday, February 23, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
SJCC, 3801 E Mercer Way

SJCC is partnering with Panim Hadashot-New Faces to bring you a Musical Shabbat Table. This is an egalitarian experience for all ages and features live Jewish and Hebrew music, beautiful group singing, and wonderful storytelling. It’s the culmination of SJCC’s weekly Singing Circle, but everyone is welcome, whether you attended the sessions or not. The evening is led by the Heart of Shabbat Ensemble, featuring Rabbi Dov Gartenberg and jazz musician Ari Joshua. Free childcare is available during the singing part of the evening. They will provide a main course; please bring a dairy or parve side dish or a dessert to share.
Learn more >>

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Restoration Event
Saturday, February 24, 10 am – 2 pm
Clarke Beach Park, 7700 E Mercer 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.

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90th Academy Awards Preview Party
Saturday, February 24, 1 – 2:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

In anticipation of the Academy Awards Ceremony airing on March 4, film historian Lance Rhoades shares highlights from previous ceremonies, the current nominees, and even his own Oscar predictions! Event sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.

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Play Chess at the Library!
Sunday, February 25, 2 – 4 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Open to all ages and families, come to the library for a morning of chess! Challenge yourself and others. Chess boards and other games will be provided. You’ll be able to play 10 minutes per game on the Big Board. Play games and have fun! There will be upcoming chess events each month.

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Disney & Dessert: MISD Orchestra Fundraiser Event
Sunday, February 25, 2 pm (doors open at 1:30 pm)
MIHS Commons, 9100 SE 42nd Street

Disney & Dessert is a fun event for the entire family, and the only fundraiser for all 7 of MISD’s orchestras (grades 5th through 12th). Come for the desserts, a raffle for 6 amazing baskets, and of course, an hour of the high school orchestra playing Disney music. Kids, please come in your favorite Disney costumes!