Here’s our weekly round-up of events from February 27 – March 5 on Mercer Island:
Parent Edge presents John O’Sullivan, author of “Changing the Game”
Monday, February 27, 7 pm
Mercer Island High School Performing Arts Center, 9100 SE 42nd St
Join Mercer Island Parent Edge for an evening with John O’Sullivan, author of Changing the Game: The Parents’ Guide to Raising Happy, High-Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back to Our Kids. Conventional wisdom holds that youth sports are a positive experience for our children, yet 70% drop out of organized athletics by age 13. Youth sports have become an ultra-competitive, adult-centered enterprise that has taken the ‘play’ out of ‘play ball’ for far too many kids. Learn ways to help athletes perform to their potential, while at the same time giving children ownership of their sports experience: www.changingthegameproject.com Great for both parent and professional coaches of athletes of all ages. Free for PTA members in the Mercer Island School District. $10 at the door for non-Mercer Island PTA members.
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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, February 28
Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Toddlers (2 – 3 years) – 11:30 am – Noon
Thursday, March 2
Infants (0 – 12 months) – 10:30 – 11 am
Preschoolers (3 – 6 years) – 1 – 1:30 pm
Storybook Corner
Wednesday, March 1, 10:30 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 1, 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.
David Broza Unplugged
Wednesday, March 1, 8:30 pm | No-host happy hour, 7:30 pm with paid admission
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
Superstar Israeli folk-rock singer/songwriter returns to Seattle for one night only! David Broza is one of the most dynamic and vibrant performers in the world. His charismatic and energetic performances are a fusion flamenco-flavored guitar rhythms, percussive techniques, and whirlwind finger picking wrapped in his signature rock and roll sound. The troubadour unites the three worlds, featuring lyrics of the worlds’ greatest poets. More than a musician, Broza is well known for his commitment and dedication to humanitarian causes and peace, and has recorded with numerous Arab composers and musicians, as seen in the documentary East Jerusalem / West Jerusalem, which premiered at the 2015 Seattle Jewish Film Festival.
Learn more >>
Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon
Thursday, March 2, Noon – 1:15 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
The Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce is pleased to host Julie Underwood, Mercer Island’s new City Manager, as the speaker for the March Membership Luncheon. Mercer Island has been in the news quite a bit lately. It’s all about I-90: loss of mobility, pedestrian safety, how it will affect the business community and vitality of downtown, and the impending litigation to protect Mercer Island’s interests. Ms. Underwood has nearly 20 years of local government experience, most recently as assistant city manager for Daly City CA, a San Francisco suburb of over 100,000. Prior to Daly City, Ms. Underwood was the City Manager for Shoreline, Washington. Luncheon cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members and members without reservations. Call (425-232-3404) or email your reservation by February 28, 9 AM.
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First Thursday: Art + Wine Event
Thursday, March 2, 5 – 8 pm
Suzanne Zahr / SZ Gallery
2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 160
The SZ Gallery will feature a curated photographic journey presenting the work of Laurent Bourscheidt, Joe Iano, and Donatella Lombardini.
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Michael Medved, author of The American Miracle
Thursday, March 2, 6:30 – 8 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
Michael Medved is a nationally syndicated radio talk show host and bestselling author. His daily three hour show reaches 200 stations across the country and an audience of 4.7 million placing him, for nine years in a row, on the Talkers Magazine list of the top ten political talks shows in the United States. Join Island Books as he discusses his latest work The American Miracle: Divine Providence in the Rise of the Republic, a book about the uncanny pattern in our national history.
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Classics on Film Winter Series
Friday, March 3, 7:30 – 9:30 pm
Aljoya – Theatre, 2430 76th Ave SE
This week’s film is the Waterloo Bridge (1940). The Mercer Island Arts Council, with support from The Mercer Island Sister City Association, present the Classics on Film Series. Screenings begin with an introduction by film historian Lance Rhoades and end with a Q&A session. Free and open to the public, with refreshments provided courtesy of Aljoya. All films are presented with English subtitles unless otherwise indicated.
PJ Story Time with Katherine Gee Perrone and Nancy Stewart
Saturday, March 4, 6 – 6:30 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
This month’s storyteller is Katherine Gee Perrone. Geared especially for children three and up; refreshments will be served. And don’t miss our special guest opener, musician and singer Nancy Stewart.
Learn more >>
Writers Read Out
Sunday, March 5, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Writers read 5 minutes of their unpublished work. We welcome funny, feisty, fantastic, historic, erotic, mysterious, poetic, genre-bending, device wielding, shape-shifting, mind-blowing, but no drama over the time limit. 5 means 5. Want to read? Reserve a spot online: WritingPractice.com/events. Questions? Contact [email protected]. Ages 18+. Listeners welcome!
