Here’s our weekly round-up of upcoming events from May 14 – 20 on Mercer Island:
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, May 14
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Toddlers (ages 2 – 3) – 11:30 am – Noon
Wednesday, May 15
Play & Learn (ages 5 and younger) – 10:30 am – Noon
Thursday, May 16
Infants (0 – 12 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Preschoolers (3 – 6 years) – 1 – 1:30 pm
Mercer Island Art Guide
Monday – Sunday, May 13 – 19
Stop by and check out the art currently on display at the art galleries around Mercer Island!
Clarke & Clarke Art + Artifacts
7605 SE 27th St, Suite 105
“Spontaneous Expressions” – paintings by Barbara Bouman Jay & Scott Gibson
Suzanne Zahr / SZ Gallery
2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 160
“AfroFuturism” – photography
MIVAL Gallery
Avellino Building 2836 78th Ave SE
“Flora & Fauna” – a small format art show
Mercer Island Community & Event Center Gallery
8236 SE 24th Street
“Outside the Lines” – paintings by Seattle Co~Arts
Barrels
7605 SE 27th Street, Suite 107
Paintings by Bryan Friel
Empowering Caregivers Facing Difficult Choices
Tuesday, May 14, 6 – 7:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Whether you are caring for someone with a brain injury, dementia, mental illness, or other cognitive impairment, learn the framework and four tools to use when making the difficult life, health and end-of-life decisions. First 20 RSVPs will receive a copy of Viki Kind’s award-winning book, The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making: Making Choices for Those Who Can’t. Heavy appetizers provided.
RSVP to Ashley Reker at [email protected] or 425-882-1810
Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, May 15 & Friday, May 17, 9 – 10 am
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Community Coffee Hour is offered every Wednesday and Friday. Stop by for a hot cup of jo’ and socialize with fellow community members in a fun and engaging atmostphere.
For more information, call MICEC at 206-275-7909 or email at [email protected]
Wine Wednesday
Wednesday, May 15, 5 – 9 pm
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 100
Stop by for the community-inspired Wine Wednesday. When you purchase your wine by the glass or bottle from our rotating selection of wines, you may enjoy an aperitivo-style buffet on our 21 foot curved countertop.
Israeli Culinary Journalist Gil Hovav
Wednesday, May 15, 7 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
Gil Hovav, Israel’s leading culinary journalist and TV personality – and the grandson of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, the reviver of the Hebrew language – joins us live in conversation! The author of three best-selling novels will speak about his colorful and illustrious family and career as a food writer, publisher, and TV host.
Osher @ the J: Climate Change & Health
Thursday, May 16, Lunch at Noon | Speaker at 12:30 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
Heat waves, air pollution, mosquito-borne diseases – Claire Pendergrast, UW Masters of Public Health candidate, explores the global health threat of climate change.
Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, May 16, 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]
Family Sing Along
Thursday, May 16, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Bring your guitar or other instrument for a true community sing-along with Nancy Stewart. Lyrics & chords will be projected on a screen so you can read, sing and play along. If you attend all five sing-alongs, your guitar-playing skills will get a good workout! Linda Ernst, Children’s Librarian will share special stories. All ages welcome!
Lifeguard Training Course
Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19, various times
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
Become a Red Cross-certified lifeguard in a weekend! If you are 15 years old or older, sign up for one of the upcoming lifeguard training courses and you’ll be ready for summer lifeguard jobs. You’ll be certified in lifeguarding, CPR for the professional rescuer, first aid, and use of an AED. And if you pass the class and get hired at the J, they will reimburse your training fee!
Youth Theatre Northwest presents “Sideways Stories from Wayside School”
Friday, May 17 at 7 pm, Saturday, May 18 at 2 pm & 7 pm, Sunday, May 19 at 2 pm
Youth Theatre Northwest, 4400 86th Ave SE
Youth Theatre Northwest presents a play adapted from Louis Sachar “Wayside School” novels. Mrs. Jewls’ classroom on the 30th floor of the Wayside School is inhabited by 28 students, 2 teachers, 1 ghost, and a dead rat. The students are terrified of the kindly Mrs. Jewls. Mrs. Jewls is terrified of her adorable students. Through a series of amusing escapades they’ll learn that their problems may be ridiculous, but they’re not so terribly different after all. Best suited for ages 8+.
Restoration Event
Saturday, May 18, 10 am – 1 pm
Homestead Park, 8200 SE 40th Street
Treehuggers of all ages are welcome to participate in our restoration work parties. Mercer Island Parks & Recreation will supply the tools and supplies. Just bring a water bottle and get ready to have fun in the forest!
New Seasons Hunger Match Weekend
Saturday, May 18th & Sunday, May 19th
New Seasons Market, 2755 77th Ave SE
New Seasons Market is matching donations this weekend at its store on Mercer Island. The match will increase up to $1000 with donations benefiting the MIYFS Food Pantry. Here’s a great opportunity to make a donation with a meaningful difference to one of Mercer Island’s Youth & Family Service’s important programs helping families in need.
Windermere Free Recycle & Shred Event
Saturday, May 18th, 9 am – 2 pm
Windermere Mercer Island, 2737 77th Ave SE
Bring your recyclable items (working or not) to the event. All recycling services are free! We’re also sponsoring a Confidential Data Disposal truck for free, secure shredding of sensitive documents.
Natural Strategies for Strong Bones
Saturday, May 18, 11 am – Noon
Island House, 7810 SE 30th Street
May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month and we have a special event planned that goes beyond awareness and talks about positive strategies. In this 45 minute presentation you will learn the facts and the myths related to maintaining and strengthening bones without drugs. You will leave with answers to the questions – What are the best exercises? How much does walking help? How often should I exercise? What are the best ways to improve balance, posture, and strength? Refreshments will be provided. Registration is recommended as seating is limited.
For more information call 206-236-0502.
Back to the Greeks: The Enduring Fascination with Ancient Greek Culture
Saturday, May 11, 1 – 2:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Join local scholar Lance Rhoades as he looks at the legacy of the art and philosophy of the ancient Greeks. They developed a basis for interpreting the world as it was experienced and imagined, and in so doing, left a complex and varied picture of their culture.
Rain Pryor’s “Fried Chicken & Latkes”
Saturday, May 18, Happy Hour at 7 pm | Show at 8 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
The daughter of comedy legend Richard Pryor, Rain Pryor grew up feeling split between two cultures that had much in common but were worlds apart. Her hilarious and heart-wrenching one-woman show, directed by Eve Brandstein, reflects on her childhood growing up black and Jewish in a politically correct era.
Campership Scamper
Sunday, May 19, 10 am – 3 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
Our inaugural Campership Scamper is an inflatable obstacle course featuring 10 giant inflatables, activities, and games over a half-mile of fun (you’ll have time to run it twice — and trust us, you’ll want to!). And this isn’t just an awesome activity for all ages: it’s a course with a cause. All money raised at the event goes toward our J Camp Scholarship Fund to help kids attend camp this summer. While you’re here, check out our SJCC Camp Open House to take a tour of camp, see your favorite counselors, and catch a glimpse of all the fun in store for your kids this summer.
Family Yoga
Sunday, May 19, 2:30 – 3:30 pm
Yogabliss, 7803 SE 27th Street, #174
This is a fun family yoga class intended for kids ages 5-12 and their adult(s). We will have lots of movement, learn about yoga poses & even explore how quiet & stillness can be healthy. Tuition: $20 for 1 adult & 1 child, or $30 for 2 adults & 2 children. Registration highly recommended, as this class usually sells out. Please bring your own mats or beach towels for your children.
Dinner at Our House
Sunday, May 19, 5 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
Whisk, simmer, flip, bake, and blend as we 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.
Chocolate Class
Sunday, May 19, 7 – 9 pm
Oh! Chocolate, 2703 76th Ave SE
Oh! Chocolate hosts “Chocolate” classes at our Mercer Island chocolate shop for those who want to know more about their favorite indulgence and for those who just want to “play in the chocolate!” The classes usually last from 1.5 to 2 hours and includes the art of tempering chocolate and dipping special treats to take home. The class is $79 per person. Class sizes are limited and regularly sell out so please be sure to register in advance.
Talk Time
Monday, May 20, 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. Walk-ins welcome.
Mixed Media Art Studio with Genny Reese
Monday, May 20, 1 – 4 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Bring your own supplies, and join other artists in a bright, lakeview room to work on your art! MIVAL’s own Genny Rees facilitates this non-instructional, weekly studio at the Community Center. Meet other creators, and connect over your love for art. Please use non-toxic materials. $10 Drop in fee.
Register at www.MIRecConnect.com or 206.275.7609.
