Here’s our weekly round-up of upcoming events from May 28 – June 3 on Mercer Island:
Mercer Island Art Guide
Monday – Sunday, May 27 – June 2
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 Sensitivity” – 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
Steve Toutonghi, Author of Side Life
Tuesday, May 28, 6 – 8 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
Steve Toutonghi will talk to us about his book Side Life and how he was able to expand the city of Seattle into his own unique sci-fi landscape.
Kaleidoscope Play & Learn
Wednesday, May 29, 10:30 am – Noon
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Bring your kids ages 5 and younger to enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, art, and play!
Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, May 29 & Friday, May 31, 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]
Storybook Corner
Wednesday, May 29, 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.
Wine Wednesday
Wednesday, May 29, 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.
Artist’s Reception
Wednesday, May 28, 5:30 – 8 pm
Barrels, 7605 Southeast 27th Street, Suite 107
We will be hosting a reception for Bryan Friel, our current artist. Bryan’s art has attracted a great deal of attention. Get a chance to hang out with him and find out more about his abstract and whimsical art!
Cook the Book: Ottolenghi Simple: Desserts
Wednesday, May 29, 7 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
In this hands-on class, pastry chef Laurie Pfalzer teaches how to make delicious desserts from Yotam Ottolenghi’s new cookbook “Ottolenghi Simple” that are distinctly “Ottolenghi” but with minimum hassle and maximum joy. Known as the undisputed master of the multi-ingredient recipe, Ottolenghi’s new recipes are simple— most containing 10 ingredients or less, made in 30 minutes or less, and an easy joy to knock-out. Register early, last year’s class sold out.
Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, May 30, 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]
Poetry + Wine with Jed Myers and Savannah Slone
Thursday, May 30, 6 – 8 pm
Barrels, 7605 Southeast 27th Street, Suite 107
Local poets Savannah Slone and Jed Myers will read from their newest releases and perhaps some works in progress. The reading will begin at 6:00pm, but please feel free to arrive beforehand to grab a glass of wine and get a good seat! Savannah Slone’s poetry collection Hearing the Underwater explores reproductive rights, mental illness, motherhood, poverty, and sexuality through a feminist lens. Jed Myer’s newest collection The Marriage of Space and Time has been quoted to “find the strange and beautiful in everyday moments: visiting a deli, flying on a plane, sitting on the back steps, noticing a stray cottonwood tuft, recalling a walk with a child now grown.”
Open Book Club: Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
Thursday, May 30, 7:30 – 9 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
In May, our Open Book Club will read and discuss Bad Blood by John Carreyrou. A riveting story of the biggest corporate fraud since Enron, a tale of ambition and hubris set amid the bold promises of Silicon Valley. If you purchase your book in the store you’ll get a 10% discount.
Wine Tasting
Friday, May 31, 4 – 6 pm
Barrels, 7605 Southeast 27th Street, Suite 107
Stop by for a wine tasting with Asa Sarver from Ken Wright Cellars from 4 – 6 pm. This will be a fantastic tasting and a great way to end Oregon Wine Month with one of the pioneers of Pinot Noir at Barrels.
Multi-Family Garage Sale for Epilepsy
Saturday, May 25, 9 am – 1 pm
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 8501 SE 40th Street
Don’t miss the multi-family garage sale to support the Epilepsy Foundation Northwest! There will be furniture, clothes, shoes, toys, puzzles, games, books, glassware, home furnishings, bikes and so much more!
Please contact Julie Newcomer at [email protected] with questions or if you would like to donate items.
Restoration Event
Saturday, June 1, 10 am – 2 pm
Clarke Beach, 7700 East Mercer Way | Meet at: Parking Lot
Luther Burbank, 2040 84th Ave SE | Meet at: North Parking Lot
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! This weekend, you can volunteer at Clarke Beach with EarthCorps or at Luther Burbank Park with Mountains to Sound Greenway.
National Trails Day & Letterboxing Kick-Off
Saturday, June 1, 10 am – 12 pm
Pioneer Park, SE 68th Street & Island Crest Way
Celebrate the trails of Pioneer Park and start your letterboxing adventure! Pick up your letterbox clue book, make a stamp, and start hunting! Meet in the NW Quadrant of Pioneer Park along 68th (across from Starbucks).
Farmer’s Market
Sunday, June 2, 10 am – 3 pm
Mercerdale Park, North End, 77th Ave SE & SE 32nd Street
The Mercer Island Farmers Market is open every Sunday from June – October. Say hello to your favorite vendors and kick the season off with us. Enjoy the sunshine and check out the freshest fruits and vegetables of the season, as well as locally made food and drinks, artisan crafts, and fun activities for the whole family. Visit the website for weekly updates and special events.
Reading with Rover
Sunday, June 2, 1:30 – 2:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Elementary school-age children accompanied by an adult are invited to build reading skills and confidence by reading aloud to a certified therapy dog in a welcoming environment. Reading with Rover is a community-based literacy program working with schools and libraries throughout the greater Seattle area. Space is limited. Sign-up sheet at the door.
Soirée à Thonon
Sunday, June 2, 5 -8 pm
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 100
You’re invited to a Soirée à Thonon! Join us for great food, fun, music, and wine! A delicious buffet dinner featuring the cuisine of the Haute Savoie and celebrating our sister city “jumelage.” Tickets are $65. Proceeds will benefit the Mercer Island Sister City Association Scholarship Program.
Roy Dahan: Israeli Singer-Songwriter’s Seattle Debut
Sunday, June 2, Happy Hour at 6:30 pm | Show at 7:30 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
Seattle debut! Israeli-born Roy Dahan’s music is multi-layered, eclectic, and a moving musical montage that highlights his distinct voice and musical influences: from Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen to classic Israeli singer-songwriters. His critically acclaimed debut album, “Some of This Life,” was named Best Album by Time Out Tel Aviv in 2011. He recently relocated to Los Angeles and released his third album “Through the Woods.” He performs around the world, and stops at the J this year for his Seattle debut. CDs for sale.
Talk Time
Monday, June 3, 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.