Here’s our weekly round-up of events from March 19 – 25 on Mercer Island:

Pop-up Vegetarian Vietnamese Dinner and Book Signing
Monday, March 19, 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 100

Join Chef Cameron, who’ll be flying in from Bangkok, Thailand, for a delightful vegetarian Vietnamese dinner party and book signing. Chef Cameron will prepare some of his favorite vegetarian dishes from his newly launched cook book Vegetarian Vietnam.  These recipes were devised over centuries by Buddhist Mahayana monks and home cooks. Your ticket price will include a personally signed copy of his cookbook, a five-course Vietnamese sit-down dinner, and unlimited chef interactions! Alcoholic beverages are charged separately. Free parking at Aviara garage behind Caruccio’s.
Learn more >>

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Spring 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 March 20
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Toddlers (2 – 3 years) – 11:30 am – Noon

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

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Middle School Book Club
Tuesday, March 20, 3 – 4 pm
Islander Middle School, 7447 84th Ave SE

This book club is for middle school students who want to read books together, share books, and talk about books. Bring your own books to share. There will be treats, too. Please note: This will be taking place at Islander Middle School Library!

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“The Gift of Failure” Presentation with Jessica Lahey
Tuesday, March 20, 7 – 9 pm
MIHS Performing Arts Center, 9100 SE 42nd St

Mercer Island Parent Edge and joint sponsors will be hosting New York Times bestselling author Jessica Lahey for a presentation on her book, The Gift of Failure. Jessica provides actionable recommendations to help parents during the critical school years. These recommendations help parents understand how the disappointment and frustration that occur from life’s inevitable problems should be seen as beneficial steps toward lasting, long-term success. This event is for adults and parents only; no students, please. Free for PTA members of MISD; $20 for non-MISD members.

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Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, March 21 & Friday, March 23, 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].

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Storybook Corner
Wednesday, March 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, March 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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Get Creative with 3D Pens!
Wednesday, March 21, 2:30 – 4:30 pm
PEAK – Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club, 4120 86th Ave SE

Come and learn how to bring your doodles to life with 3-D pens! This hands-on program will allow you to create your very own 3-D art piece, which you can then take home.

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Wine Wednesdays @ Caruccio’s
Wednesday, March 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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Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, March 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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YTN presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
March 9 – April 1
Fridays, 7 pm, Saturdays, 7pm, & Sundays, 2 pm
Parish Theatre, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave SE

Youth Theatre Northwest presents their latest production, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a soul crushing loss.
Learn more >>

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Classics on Film: Winter Series
Friday, March 23, 7:30 – 9:30 pm
Aljoya – Theater, 2430 76th Ave SE

This week’s film is The Sound of Music (1965). 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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Frankenstein: Anatomy of a Masterpiece with Literature and Film Scholar Lance Rhoades
Saturday, March 24, 1 – 2:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Author Mary Shelley was only 19 years old when she wrote this classic 200 years ago! Regarded as Gothic sensationalism when first published, Frankenstein has resonated widely in the popular imagination since. This multimedia presentation considers how Shelley addressed some of mankind’s greatest concerns with a creation that took on a life of its own. Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.

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Restoration Event
Saturday, March 24, 9 am – 3 pm
Gallagher Hill Open Space, Gallagher Hill Rd
Meet: City Hall parking lot, 9611 SE 36th St

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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28th Annual Ikebana Exhibition 
Saturday & Sunday, March 24 & 25, 11 am – 5 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Ave

The Sogetsu Mercer Island Branch invites you to the 28th Annual Ikebana (Japanese Flower Arranging) Exhibition. There will be an ikebana demonstration from 1:30 – 3:30 pm on Sunday. Free admission.

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Alon Shaya: Creole Cocktails & Cookbooks
Saturday, March 24, 7:30 pm cocktail hour, 8:30 pm chef talk
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way

Meet James Beard Award-winning chef and rising star Alon Shaya, whose New Orleans restaurants – combining Israeli traditions with creole ingredients – have been hailed as the country’s best and most innovative (Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, Esquire Magazines). He will talk about his debut cookbook, An Odyssey of Food: A Journey Back to Israel. All tickets include a drink ticket – choose from an Alon Shaya signature cocktail (21+ w/ID) or non-alcoholic option. Bundled tickets include talk and discounted book – individual books day of show are retail price ($35.)
Learn more >>

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Kitchen Survival 101
Sunday, March 25, 1:30 – 3 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Do you want to cook for yourself or others, but don’t know where to start? Join Chef Laurie Pfalzer for tips on essential cooking utensils, pantry items and spices, and purchasing fresh foods. She will discuss ingredients to have on hand for easy home cooking, as well as a variety of vegetables and other ingredients that are simple to work with. Laurie will demonstrate three flavor-filled meals you can easily make at home or on your own: a simple hot pasta dish, a hearty soup/chili, and a cool sweet and savory salad – each dish is a meal-in-one! All ingredients and equipment provided. Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.

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Family & Kids Yoga Event
Sunday, March 25, 2:30 – 3:30 pm
Yogabliss, 7803 SE 27th St, #174

A family yoga class intended for kids ages 5-12 and their adult. Spend time with your family exploring yoga together! We’ll get lots of movement, have fun learning about yoga poses, and find time to relax and find calmness.