Here’s our weekly round-up of events from November 5 – November 11 on Mercer Island:
Talk Time
Monday, November 5, 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.
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.
Pixie Hill Preschool – November 5
Patti’s Play Center – November 8
St. Monica School – November 13
Lakeridge Elementary School – November 15
Northwood Elementary School – November 16
Island Park Elementary School – November 28
West Mercer Elementary School – November 29
SJCC Early Childhood School – November 30
Island Middle School – December 4
Mercer Island High School – December 6
Swing Your Socks Off & Fabulous Foxtrot
Monday, November 5, 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!
General Election Day
Tuesday, November 6
Don’t forget to vote in the General Election! If you are a registered voter, you can vote by mail or online. If you received a ballot in the mail, you can return it through the U.S. Postal Service – no stamp is needed! Or you can drop it in the ballot box at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center before 8 pm.
Learn more >>
Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club Business Breakfast
Tuesday, November 6, 7 am – 8:30 am
Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club, 4120 86th Ave SE
Celebrate with the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County and the Mercer Island community and support the important work the Club does to provide a safe and enriching space for kids. This year, Tod Leiweke will be the keynote speaker. Tod will be speaking about the upcoming NHL team expansion to Seattle, his leadership in remodeling Seattle Center Arena into a world class sports venue, as well as his long history as an executive in sports franchises.
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 6
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Toddlers (2 – 3 years) – 11:30 am – Noon
Wednesday, November 7
Play & Learn (ages 5 and younger) – 10:30 am – Noon
Thursday, November 8
Infants (0 – 12 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Preschoolers (3 – 6 years) – 1 – 1:30 pm
Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, November 7, & Friday, November 9, 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].
Storybook Corner
Wednesday, November 7, 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.
Hand Building Ceramics Workshop
Wednesday, November 7, 10:30 am – noon
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way
Join SJCC Art Specialist Anna Koelle for a hands-on ceramic workshop. Release your creativity and make a piece of art for Thanksgiving in this two-part class.
Scam Jam for Seniors
Wednesday, November 7, 1 – 2:15 pm
Aljoya, 2430 76th Ave SE
Join AARP and Mercer Island Police Department to learn how con artists are using a variety of scams to defraud Internet users, how to safeguard against online fraud and cyber scams, and what to do if you or someone you know has been a victim.
Wine Wednesdays at Caruccio’s
Wednesday, November 7, 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.
Paint & Sip – Experience Sunrise
Wednesday, November 7, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Sunrise of Mercer Island, 2959 76th Ave SE
Create your own masterpiece with the help of artistically talented residents and team members. It will be a lively evening of creativity, drinks, and laughter!
Congressman Adam Smith – Constituent Services Community Outreach
Thursday, November 8, 10 am – 1 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Congressman Adam Smith’s office will be hosting mobile office hours to make their services more convenient and accessible to you. Congressman Smith’s staff members are able to assist constituents with Federal Agency issues (Social Security, Internal Revenue Service, State Department, etc), provide housing and financial support resources, and help with federal grants.
Annual Thanksgiving Senior Lunch
Thursday, November 8, Noon
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th St
Join old friends and new at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center for our Annual Thanksgiving Lunch! There will be the traditional favorites, including roast turkey with all the trimmings. Registration required and transportation available.
Osher at the J : Self – Driving Cars
Thursday, November 8, Lunch at noon, Speaker at 12:30 pm
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way
This lunch-and-learn series, part of the J’s new partnership with the UW Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, is geared toward adults age 50+. The speaker, Mark Hallenbeck, will discuss the latest innovations in car technology, and talk about what’s next.
Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, November 8, 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]
Thursday Food & Film Night at Caruccio’s
Thursday, November 8, 5 – 9 pm
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 100
This week’s film is Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Watch featured movies projected on Caruccio’s big screen with subtitles and soft audio. Enjoy your wine by the glass along with complimentary appetizers inspired by the classic or foreign film of the evening.
Family Sing Along & Stories
Thursday, November 8, 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!
Salty Seattle’s Official Cookbook Launch Party
Friday, November 9, 6 – 9 pm
Caruccio’s, 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 100
Join pasta ninja and Instagram star Linda Miller Nicholson from Salty Seattle at her official cookbook launch party at Caruccio’s. Let’s celebrate the much anticipated release of Pasta Pretty Please, a stunning cornucopia of pasta recipes in every color and shape, all created by hand using all-natural colors from vegetables, herbs, and superfoods. During this fun and exciting event you’ll have the opportunity to meet the author and partake in Linda’s attempt to create the world’s longest rainbow colored pasta sheet!
Youth Theatre Northwest presents: The Rules of Comedy
Friday, November 9 – Sunday, November 18
Parrish Hall Theatre at YTN, 4400 86th Ave SE
See what happens when slapstick meets Shakespeare! Join Youth Theatre Northwest for a side-splitting lesson in humor as they explore the Rules of Comedy, then put them into action as they find the funny in one of the most famous tragedies of all time – Hamlet. Following the rules has never been more fun.
Classics on Film : Brooklyn Castle
Friday, November 9, 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, Brooklyn Castle. Film historian Lance Rhoades will introduce and lead a Q&A following the film. All screenings are free and open to the public.
Move & Groove Family Dance Party
Saturday, November 10, 9:30 am – 11 am
Bright Horizons, 9555 SE 36th Street
Bright Horizons is hosting a family dance party. There will be 2 sessions in the morning. In each session, kids will be making instruments, dancing and singing to Jamtown Live! Enjoy healthy smoothies and learn about the Well Aware curriculum that fosters positive attitudes toward healthy living, physical activity, and nutrition.
Restoration Event
Saturday, November 10, 10 am – 2 pm
Pioneer Park, corner of 84th Ave SE & SE 68th
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.
Zentangle Meditative Art Class
Saturday, November 10, 10:15 – 11:15 am
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
What is Zentangle? It is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful drawings out of structured patterns. No drawing skill or experience is needed to enjoy this stress-free art form. This meditative art class will be guided by a Certified Zentangle Teacher.
IdeaX: Ukulele Start-Up Music Workshop
Saturday, November 10, 1 – 3 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Learn how to play the ukulele by starting with the basics: how to tune it, hold it and soon you will be playing easy chords. There will be limited ukuleles provided or bring your own.
52 Seattle Adventures with Kids with Alayne Sulkin & Elisa Murray from ParentMap
Saturday, November 10, 4 – 5:30 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
Every parent and grandparent in town will be excited to welcome Publisher & CEO of ParentMap, Alayne Sulkin and editor Elisa Murray, to discuss ParentMap’s new must-have guide to a year of living adventurously with kids in Seattle. Organized by season, 52 Seattle Adventures With Kids is a local’s guide to the most affordable and awesome family outings around the Puget Sound region and beyond, highlighting a new outdoor or indoor adventure for every week of the year.
Fall Chocolate Class
Saturday, November 10, 7 – 9 pm
Oh! Chocolate, 2703 76th Ave SE
Oh! Chocolate hosts “Chocolate” classes at the 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.
Mercer Island High School Fall Musical : Into the Woods
Saturday, November 8 – 17, 7 – 9:30 pm
MIHS, 8236 SE 24th Street
The MIHS Drama Department is proud to present the fall musical, Into the Woods, lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine. Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood, the Baker, the Baker’s Wife, Rapunzel, and a Witch set out on a journey into the woods. Their wishes are granted, but not without consequences. This enchanting, moving, and relevant modern fairy tale reminds us life doesn’t always end happily ever after. Even so, we hold onto what’s good, and keep wishing and hoping for the best.
Cookbook Book Club with Kate McDermott
Sunday, November 11, 4 – 6 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
In November, the host for Island Book’s Cookbook Book Club is James Beard nominee Kate McDermott, author of Home Cooking with Kate McDermott and Art of the Pie. She has been named “Food Rock Star” and “Pie Whisperer”, and has received high praise for her work from Dorie Greenspan, Ruth Reichl, Ken Haedrich, David Leite, and many others. Kate lives on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, where she writes, tends her gardens, cooks, and bakes.
