Here’s our weekly round-up of events from December 10 – 16 on Mercer Island:
Mercer Island Youth & Family Services Giving Tree
Monday, December 10 – Friday, December 16
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th St
The Mercer Island Youth & Family Services Giving Tree is up at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center! Help spread holiday cheer by selecting a gift tag asking for donations of grocery gift cards, health care products, and cleaning supplies for families in need. Youth & Family Services makes these products available at the food pantry during the holidays and throughout the year. Items can be dropped off at the MICEC or at the YFS office through Friday, December 16th . For more information, please contact Kim Richards at (206) 275-7754.
Talk Time
Monday, December 10, 1 – 2:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Improve your speaking and listening skills in this conversation group for English language learners. Learn more about American culture and meet people from around the world. Walk-ins welcome.
MIVAL Holiday Show
Monday, December 10 – Friday, December 14
Mercer Island Community & Event Center Gallery, 8236 SE 24th Street
Stop by the Mercer Island Visual Arts League’s annual holiday art show before it ends on Friday, December 14. Support local painters, fiber artists, ceramicists, photographers, and more!
Swing Your Socks Off & Fabulous Foxtrot
Monday, December 10, 7 – 8 pm | 8:15 – 9:15 pm
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way
Review basic swing steps and partnering, then learn fun and playful East Coast swing and “swing-blues” variations. Classes are beginning/intermediate levels. No partner needed. Take in conjunction with Foxtrot for a fabulous night of dance fundamentals!
Chamber of Commerce Members’ Coffee
Tuesday, December 11, 8 – 10 am
Convivial Café, 3020 78th Ave SE
Join Chamber members at the new Convivial Cafe and get to know Joel Wachs, the owner, and chat with fellow Chamber members.
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 programs designed especially for you and your young child.
Tuesday, December 11
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Toddlers (2 – 3 years) – 11:30 am – Noon
Wednesday, December 12
Play & Learn (ages 5 and younger) – 10:30 am – Noon
Thursday, December 13
Infants (0 – 12 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Preschoolers (3 – 6 years) – 1 – 1:30 pm
Teen Advisory Board
Tuesday, December 11, 7 – 8:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Join us to talk about books and topics of the day. Express your opinion! Plan events for the community and focus on issues that are important to you. Light snacks provided and you can also earn volunteer credit.
Mercer Island High School Winter Concert
Tuesday, December 11, 7 – 8:30 pm
Mercer Island High School, 9100 SE 42nd Street
The Mercer Island Orchestra Program, under Mrs. Vicki White Miltun, invites you to the Winter Concert. Admission is free and the entire community is welcome. See you there!
Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, December 12 & Friday, December 14, 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 or tea while catching up with old acquaintances or meeting new friends.
For more information, call MICEC at 206-275-7909 or email at [email protected].
Wine Wednesdays at Caruccio’s
Wednesday, December 12, 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.
Beading for a Cause
Wednesday, December 12, 6 – 8 pm
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way
Join the Jewish Family Services’ Project DVORA, which is dedicated to domestic violence outreach, response, and advocacy and make jewelry for women living in Seattle shelters; a genuine mitzvah project. Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres while you bead!
Osher at the J: Resolve to Evolve
Thursday, December 13, Lunch at noon | Speaker at 12:30 pm
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way
Paleontologist and astrobiologist Peter Ward, along with Emmy-nominated storyteller Warren Etheredge, explore the possibilities of epigenetics, the study of how genes are expressed. This lunch-and-learn series, part of the J’s new partnership with the UW Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, is geared toward adults age 50+. Bring your own lunch.
Mercer Island Christmas Tree Sale
Former Tully’s Coffee location, 7810 SE 27th St
Thursdays & Fridays 1 – 7 pm; Saturdays & Sundays 10 am – 5 pm
Buy a quality tree and give back to our local community! Choose from Noble, Nordmann, and Douglas Firs (available from 5 ft to 10 ft tall). Be sure to get your mixed green wreaths and cedar garlands as well. Products are sourced from Hunter Christmas Trees, a family farm dedicated to quality and service since 1948. All proceeds support Mercer Island Youth & Family Services and Mercer Island Lions Club charitable giving.
Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, December 13, 4 – 7 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th St
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].
Jay Gillotti, Author of Gulf 917
Friday, December 14, 6 – 8 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
We are happy to welcome local author Jay Gillotti to the store to discuss his book Gulf 917. Gulf 917 is the result of three decades and more spent researching and gathering information on the Porsche 917, the golden age of sports car racing, and the work of JW Automotive Engineering. Jay and his wife, Debbi, live near the shores of Lake Washington and enjoy looking after three adorable Siamese-Balinese cats.
Island Youth Ballet presents: “Excerpts from the Nutcracker”
Friday, December 14, 7 pm | Saturday, December 15, 1 pm & 5 pm | Sunday, December 16, 1 pm & 5 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
Island Youth’s Ballet “Excerpts from the Nutcracker” has become a cherished Mercer Island tradition and a must-see for all who wish to experience the holiday magic of one of ballet’s most cherished classics. Whether this is a family tradition or you are experiencing it for the first time, this holiday offering will delight your spirit and imagination. Beautiful costumes, theatrical lighting and sets, and spirited dancing transport you to magical places where mice and soldiers battle, snowflakes dance, and a beautiful sugar plum fairy reigns.
Classics on Film: Queen of Katwe
Friday, December 14, 7:30 pm
Aljoya, 2430 76th Ave SE
The Classics on Film series, sponsored by the Arts Council, celebrates the amazing variety of chess-themed cinema with the film, Queen of Katwe. Film historian Lance Rhoades will introduce and lead a Q&A following the film. All screenings are free and open to the public.
Handbell Christmas Concert – “Home for the Holidays”
Friday, December 14, 7:30 pm
Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave SE
Performing on one of the largest handbell sets in the United States, this ensemble of 15 handbell directors join to present old favorites as well as fresh takes on holiday classics.
Restoration Event
Saturday, December 15, 10 am – 2 pm
Gallagher Hill Open Space, 9611 SE 36th Street
Meet at City Hall 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. This is a planting event!
Dinner at Our House
Saturday, December 16, 5 pm
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way
Whisk, simmer, flip, bake, and blend as you cook a Sunday dinner in the SJCC kitchen for homeless teens. A great family activity to help make a difference for homeless teens. Dinners are delivered to YouthCare, a Seattle organization working to get homeless teens off the streets and prepared for life.
YTN presents: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Saturday, December 15 – December 16, various times
YTN Parish Hall Theatre, 4400 86th Ave SE
Mr. Fox will do anything for his family. That includes stealing from local farmers, Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. But now the three nasty humans have teamed up to stop Mr. Fox. They’ve destroyed his home and sent him on the run. Can he outwit his foes and lead his family to safety? Join us as our youngest actors present a rollicking adventure based on the legendary children’s book. Best for ages 5+.
