Here’s our weekly round-up of events from January 15 – 21 on Mercer Island:

Science Fun for Little Ones
Tuesday, January 16, 10:30 – 11:30 am
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Presented by KidsQuest Children’s Museum, this event is for kids ages 1 – 3 with adult. Shapes are everywhere and make up different things in different ways. Explore the shapes that occur in our world. Registration is not required, but there are only 25 slots for children available, so first come, first served.

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Talmudic Women: Hearing and Listening to the Hidden Voices
Tuesday, January 16, 7 pm
SJCC, 3801 E Mercer Way

Talk will be in Hebrew. Former Knesset member and leading figure in Hebrew culture and a pluralistic Israeli-Jewish identity, Dr. Ruth Calderon will speak about women in traditional education. Calderon holds an MA and PhD in Talmud from Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1989, she established the first Israeli secular, pluralistic, and egalitarian beth midrash (house of study). She is also the founder of Alma, a Tel Aviv-based intellectual and cultural center that seeks to acquaint secular Israelis with Hebrew culture. She served in the Knesset from 2013 – 2015 as a member of the Yesh Atid Party, where she was Deputy Speaker and Chair of the Lobby for Jewish Renewal.
Learn more >>

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Happy New You: An Introduction to Kabbalah
Tuesday, January 16, 7:30 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE Street

This introductory lecture kicks off a foundational Kabbalah 1 course, which is designed to provide students with spiritual tools based on kabbalistic principles that students can then apply as they see fit to make better decisions that not only benefit themselves, but also help make the world better.

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Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, January 17 & Friday, January 19, 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, January 17, 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, January 17, 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 Fraud and Identity Theft
Wednesday, January 17, 1 – 2:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Con artists don’t care how hard you’ve worked; they steal billions from Americans like you every year. MI Library is fighting back with the AARP Fraud Watch Network to discuss fraud and identity theft. They will explore how scammers think, how to safeguard against identity theft and fraud, and what to do if you or someone you know has been a victim.

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#NewYear’sGoals with an NSM Nutritionist
New Seasons Market, 2755 77th Ave SE

New Seasons Market has come up with a simple plan to help you eat better and feel great. Join a New Seasons Market nutritionist for events to help you meet your New Year’s goals. These events are free, but registration is required.

Wednesday January 17
Protein Smoothies — 5 – 6 pm

Saturday January 20
Overnight Oats — 10 – 11 am
Learn more >>

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Wine Wednesdays @ Caruccio’s
Wednesday, January 17, 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, January 17, 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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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.

Thursday January 18
Infants (0 – 12 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Preschoolers (3 – 6 years) – 1 – 1:30 pm

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Beat the Winter Blues Senior Lunch
Thursday, January 18, Noon – 1 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

Soup’s on! Join us in beating the winter blues by celebrating National Soup month with a special “Blues” themed soup lunch. We will be ladling up goodness with a variety of amazing soups for you to choose from, paired with tasty salads and breads. Enjoy some Blues music, bingo games, and door prizes…we will have a SOUPER time! Registration is required and transportation will be available. Call (206) 275-7609 to reserve your spot and a ride on the bus. Course ID: 17362.

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Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, January 18, 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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Spanish Tapas and Wine – Hands-On Cooking Class
Thursday, January 18, 6 – 9 pm
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 100

Join Caruccio’s for a hands on cooking class with Shannon Smith, where you’ll be whisked away to Spain, learning to make delicious tapas (small plates) of meatballs in almond sauce, sizzling garlic shrimp, fierce potatoes, steak with cabrales cheese sauce, and churros with chocolate. We will also serve a sampling of Spanish cheeses with delicious Spanish wines. Purchase tickets online prior to the event.
Learn more >>

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Classics on Film: Winter Series
Friday, January 19, 7:30 – 9:30 pm
Aljoya – Theater, 2430 76th Ave SE

This week’s film is An American in Paris (1951). The Mercer Island Arts Council, with support from The Mercer Island Sister City Association, presents the Classics on Film Series. Screenings begin with an introduction by film historian Lance Rhoades and end with a Q&A session. Free and open to the public, with refreshments provided courtesy of Aljoya. All films are presented with English subtitles unless otherwise indicated.

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Getting Serious with Gooey Gak
Saturday, January 20, 1 – 2:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Presented by Witty Scientists, this event is for grades 5 – 8 (sibling teams are OK). The last time you played with gooey gak, slime, flubber or any other concoctions, you most likely had enormous fun. Join MI Library and Witty Scientists to study the physics of slime and the viscoelastic behavior of gooey gak! Get your hands dirty and work like a material scientist and engineer creating surprisingly useful materials. No reservations required, but seats are first come, first served.

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Burns Night
Saturday, January 20, 7 – 11 pm
Congregational Church on Mercer Island, 4545 Island Crest Way

Join the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society for a lively, family-friendly evening of piping, song and Scottish country dancing to live music, taught for beginners. Toast the Queen, the Lads and Lassies, and the Bard himself, and enjoy haggis, neeps and tatties, and other Scottish treats. Music will be by Guinevere Saenger and Brandon Vance. Tickets sold at the door ($15 for anyone over the age of 12).