Here’s our weekly round-up of events from November 26 – December 2 on Mercer Island:
Talk Time
Monday, November 26, 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. Learn more about American culture and meet people from around the world. Walk-ins welcome.
Mercer Island Art Guide
Monday – Sunday, November 26 – December 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
Paintings by Valeree Cox
Paintings by Susanne Werner
Paper Vessels by Noble Golden
Learn more >>
Suzanne Zahr / SZ Gallery
2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 160
Paintings by Lucia Neagu
Learn more >>
MIVAL Gallery
Avellino Building, 2836 78th Ave SE
Ceramics, Photography & Paintings by local artists
Learn more >>
Mercer Island Community & Event Center Gallery
8236 SE 24th Street
MIVAL Holiday Show featuring Ceramics, Photography, Fiber Art, & Paintings by local artists
Swing Your Socks Off & Fabulous Foxtrot
Monday, November 26, 7 – 8 pm | 8:15 – 9:15 pm
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way
Review basic swing steps and partnering, then learn fun and playful East Coast swing and “swing-blues” variations. Classes are beginning/intermediate levels. No partner needed. Take in conjunction with Foxtrot for a fabulous night of dance fundamentals!
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, November 27
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Toddlers (2 – 3 years) – 11:30 am – Noon
Wednesday, November 28
Play & Learn (ages 5 and younger) – 10:30 am – Noon
Thursday November 29
Infants (0 – 12 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Preschoolers (3 – 6 years) – 1 – 1:30 pm
Storybook Corner
Wednesday, November 28, 10:30 – 11 am
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
Bring your little ones to enjoy popular picture books read by Island Books’ staff or special guests.
Book Fairs at Island Books
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
Island Books will be hosting Book Fairs for local schools on Mercer Island from November – December. If you mention the school’s name at checkout, Island Books will donate 20% of your purchase to that school! So start your holiday shopping and support your local school! There will be delicious bites and beverages while you shop and mingle with friends. The book fair schedule is listed below.
Island Park Elementary School – Wednesday, November 28
West Mercer Elementary School – Thursday, November 29
SJCC Early Childhood School – Friday, November 30
Island Middle School – Tuesday, December 4
Mercer Island High School – Thursday, December 6
Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, November 28 & Friday, November 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 or tea while catching up with old acquaintances or meeting new friends.
For more information, call MICEC at 206-275-7909 or email at [email protected].
“Tarot Diva” Enchanted Kitchen Cooking Class
Wednesday, November 28, 7 – 9 pm
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way
Do you know how to make magic in the kitchen? “Tarot Diva” Sasha Graham does, and she’ll teach you how! Tarot cards infuse and elevate this introductory cooking class with enchanted meaning and intention. This class is not only about wowing others with your cooking finesse—it will also help you be more centered, grounded, and connected with food and your sacred self in the kitchen. Tarot decks and cookbooks for sale.
Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, November 29, 4 – 7 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th St
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]
Winter Mini Book Sale
Thursday – Sunday | November 29 – December 2
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
While it’s a mini-sale, there are so many great books that you’ll have no trouble finding lovely gift selections for family and friends, or a special book for yourself. The book sale is open during regular library hours of operation.
Glassybaby Holiday Collection Happy Hour
Thursday, November 29, 4 – 7 pm
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE
Enjoy a delicious complimentary happy hour with beverage purchase and get your Christmas shopping done early. Glassbaby will be unveiling their new 2018 Holiday collection of unique hand-blown glass votives. 10% of all sales from this event will be donated to Boys and Girls Clubs of King County for the benefit of Mercer Island. No ticket needed, just come on in!
Classics on Film: The Chess Players
Friday, November 30, 7:30 pm
Aljoya, 2430 76th Ave SE
The Classics on Film series, sponsored by the Arts Council, celebrates the amazing variety of chess-themed cinema with the film, The Chess Players. Film historian Lance Rhoades will introduce and lead a Q&A following the film. All screenings are free and open to the public.
St. Monica’s Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration
Friday, November 30, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
St. Monica Catholic Church, 4301 88th Ave SE
Invite your family and friends for a festive evening of Christmas caroling, eating dinner ($5 per meal), competing in the Gingerbread House contest, taking pictures with Santa and more!
Restoration Event
Saturday, December 1, 10 am – 1 pm
Homestead Park, 8200 SE 40th Street
Meet at Homestead Park Playground
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.
Children’s Craft Workshop
Saturday, December 1, 9 am – 1 pm
Evergreen Covenant Church, 3200 78th Ave SE
This is a fun event for kids ages 3 to 13. Children can make handmade gifts for the special people in their lives. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Gingerbread Man Puppet Show
Saturday, December 1, 2 – 3 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
The gingerbread man longs for fun and escapes from Granny’s kitchen to have an adventure. Will he find a safe place for his heart? This is a family program, all ages welcome. Space is limited – first come, first seated.
Seattle Now & Then: Author Talk with Paul Dorpat and Jean Sherrard
Saturday, December 1, 2:30 – 3:30 pm
Aljoya Mercer Island, 2430 76th Ave SE
Join us for an afternoon with Paul Dorpat, Jean Sherrard, and Mercer Island native Clay Eals for a program about their latest book, a new and inspiring compilation of a lifetime of documenting the city’s heritage by Seattle public historian, Paul Dorpat. The book features the most compelling and essential images of Paul’s 1,800 photo-history columns for the Sunday magazine of The Seattle Times.
PJ Story Time with Meg Lippert & Nancy Stewart
Saturday, December 1, 6 – 6:30 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
This month’s storyteller is our very own superstar children’s performer Nancy Stewart! Come read some books, sing some songs, and do a little dancing.
Geared especially for children over three; refreshments will be served.
Island Choral Experience Annual Holiday Performances
Mercer Island High School, 9100 SE 42nd St
Island Girls & Prep Choir presents “Candy Cane Lane”
Saturday, December 1, 7 pm | Sunday, December 2, 2 pm and 7 pm
Mercer Island girls’ choirs, Prep (2nd through 4th graders) and Island Girls (4th through 6th graders), will delight audiences with these festive performances.
Emmanuel Festival
Sunday, December 2, after 9:30 am service
Emmanuel Church, 4400 86th Ave SE
Join us after the 9:30 service as we make advent wreaths, have treats and work together on a family friendly service project!
The Dickens Carolers
Sunday, December 2, 1:30 – 2:15 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
For almost 40 years, The Dickens Carolers has been a local holiday tradition. Your holiday favorites, both traditional and contemporary, are sung in beautiful four-part harmony. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.
Reading with Rover
Sunday, December 2, 1:30 – 2:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
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 and there will be a sign-up sheet at the door.
