Here’s our weekly round-up of events from March 26 – April 1 on Mercer Island:

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 27
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Toddlers (2 – 3 years) – 11:30 am – Noon

Thursday March 29
Infants (0 – 12 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Preschoolers (3 – 6 years) – 1 – 1:30 pm
Learn more >>

---

Fine Arts Showcase
Tuesday & Wednesday, March 27 & 28, 5:30 – 9:30 pm
MIHS,  9100 SE 42nd St

This fundraiser event celebrates art education by showcasing student art from all across Mercer Island School District.

• Tuesday, March 27: Spotlight on Visual Arts – There will be art displays by students all across MISD, along with interactive art activities, a scavenger hunt, and music in the commons.
• Wednesday, March 28: Spotlight on Performing Arts – There will be two programs featuring live music from students in music and performing arts groups from all across MISD, including Band, Choir, Orchestra, and MIHS Drama.

Learn more >>

---

Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, March 28 & Friday, March 30, 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].

---

Storybook Corner
Wednesday, March 28, 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 >>

---

Kaleidoscope Play & Learn
Wednesday, March 28, 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.
Learn more >>

---

Wine Wednesdays @ Caruccio’s
Wednesday, March 28, 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 >>

---

Miriam’s Seder
Wednesday, March 28, 7 – 9 pm
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way

Everyone is welcome to celebrate Passover and women’s voices throughout the ages through experiential and immersive learning, music, and discussion facilitated by local leaders in the community. This event will explore the concepts of liberation and sharing the story with future generations. Event includes dairy dinner and wine. Cholov Yisrael meal available upon request.
Learn more >>

---

Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, March 29, 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].

---

Tournament of Roses Kick-Off Celebration 
Thursday, March 29, 5 – 8 pm
MIHS Commons & Amphitheater, 9100 SE 42nd St

The Mercer Island High School Marching Band will kick off its preparations for the 2019 Rose Parade presented by Honda with a celebration and fundraiser. 2019 Tournament of Roses President Gerald Freeny will present the Tournament of Roses banner to MIHS at the kickoff celebration, which will include plenty of Marching Band music, a silent auction, and a raffle. There will also be a Pagliacci Pizza Pig-Out in the Commons, with all proceeds going toward the MIHS Band.
Learn more >>

---

Open Book Club: Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast
Thursday, March 29, 7:30 – 9 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

In March, Island Books’ Open Book Club will read and discuss Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast. In her first memoir, New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast brings her signature wit to the topic of aging parents. Spanning the last several years of their lives and told through four-color cartoons, family photos, and documents, and a narrative as rife with laughs as it is with tears, Chast’s memoir is both comfort and comic relief for anyone experiencing the life-altering loss of elderly parents. 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 >>

---

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

*Closing Weekend!* 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 >>

---

Mercer Island MixxedFit Class
Saturday, March 31, 8:30 – 9:30 am

Mercer Island Community & Event Center Dance Room, 8236 SE 24th St
A new dance-fitness class now offered on Mercer Island. MixxedFit offers people-inspired dance fitness with explosive movements and bootcamp toning.
Learn more >>

---

Restoration Event
Saturday, March 31, 10 am – 2 pm
Pioneer Park, Island Crest Way & 68th Street
Meet: Kiosk at the corner of Island Crest Way & SE 68th 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.
Learn more >>

---

Planting Event
Saturday, March 31, 10 am – 2 pm
Secret Park, SE 27th Street and West Mercer Way

You’re invited to participate in this planting event to help restore Secret Park back to its native habitat.  Organized by Friends of Secret Park.
Learn more >>

---

Eggstravaganza Egg Hunts
Saturday, March 31, varying times
Mercerdale Park, 77th Avenue SE and SE 32nd Street

Hop on over to Mercerdale Park for the annual Eggstravaganza Egg Hunts! There will be three egg hunts at Mercerdale Park this year. The Lil’ Ones Egg Hunts will start at 4pm for 1 – 3 yr olds and 5pm for 4 – 6 yr olds. The Flashlight Egg Hunt will start at 8:30 pm sharp.
Learn more >>