Here’s our weekly round-up of events from May 29 – June 4 on Mercer Island:

An Evening with Authors Laurie Frankel and Ashley Ream
Tuesday, May 30, 6:30 – 8 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

Island Books will be hosting a stimulating conversation between two novelists who are the authors of two of our favorite books of the season. Laurie Frankel is the author of This Is How It Always Is, about the secrets a family keeps and how those secrets end up keeping them. Ashley Ream is the author of The 100 Year Miracle, the story of a scientist who has just days to unlock the mystery of the small glowing sea creatures who may hold the key to curing debilitating disease, altering lives forever.
Join us for one of the biggest literary events of 2017!
Learn more >>

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Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, May 31 & Friday, June 2, 9 – 10 am
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

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 in a fun and engaging atmosphere with people from the community.

For more information, call MICEC at 206-275-7909 or email at [email protected].

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Storybook Corner
Wednesday, May 31, 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.
Learn more >>

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Kaleidoscope Play & Learn
Wednesday, May 31, 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.

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Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce Luncheon
Thursday, June 1, Noon – 1 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

Senator Lisa Wellman, Representative Judy Clibborn, and Representative Tana Senn will be the speakers at this month’s Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. Make your reservation before it’s too late! $15 for members / $20 for non-members.
Learn more >>

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Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce Luncheon
Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, June 1, 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].

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Mercer Island Farmers Market Kickoff Party
Thursday, June 1, 5 – 8 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

It’s the start of the 2017 Mercer Island Farmers Market season! Come to Island Books to celebrate the 10th year of this fantastic community institution. Meet friends and neighbors, share food and drinks, enjoy some entertainment, and maybe win a raffle prize! It’ll be the happiest of happy hours, so don’t miss it.
Learn more >>

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First Thursday: Art + Wine Event 
Thursday, June 1
This month, Mercer Island’s First Thursday Art + Wine Event will feature the following galleries:

Clarke + Clarke Art + Artifacts
Hours: 11 am – 6 pm
7605 SE 27th St Suite 105
Learn more >>

Mercer SOURCES
Hours: 5 – 9 pm
7605 SE 27th Street, Suite 107
Learn more >>

MIVAL Gallery
Hours: 5 – 8 pm
2836 78th Ave SE
Learn more >>

Suzanne Zahr / SZ Gallery
Hours: 5 – 8 pm
2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 160
Learn more >>

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Opening Reception for Reflections: Group Art Show at MIVAL
Thursday, June 1, 5 – 8 pm
MIVAL Gallery, 2836 78th Ave SE

Join the Mercer Island Visual Arts League at the First Thursday Art + Wine event on Mercer Island for the opening reception of Reflections, a group show of members’ works. Refreshments will be served and artists will be present to answer questions about their work.
Learn more >>

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Youth Theatre Northwest’s Cabaret 2017
Thursday, June 1 – Sunday, June 4
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave SE

Cabaret is performed annually in the spring as a unique opportunity for Youth Theatre Northwest’s most mature talent to envision and create their own evening of musical theatre in a student-directed, student-performed musical experience. This year’s Cabaret features Connor (“Cabaret 2017: Broadway Here I Come!”) and Emma (“Less is More: A Cabaret”). Shows will be at various times from  June 1 – June 4. Visit the website for more details.
Learn more >>

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Crest Greenhouse Annual Plant Sale 
Saturday, June 3, 9 am – 3 pm
Crest Learning Center, 4150 86th Ave SE

Come support the Crest Urban Horticulture class at MIHS, a college and career readiness science course. This year’s theme is “Garden Gnomes Attack!” Located in the Crest Learning Center Greenhouse, MIHS students will be selling plants at their annual plant and horticulture sale, including heirloom tomatoes and flowers. All organic and at low prices!
Learn more >>

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National Trails Day & Letterboxing
Saturday, June 3, 10 am – 12 pm
Pioneer Park, SE 68th and Island Crest Way

Sponsored by Bark Avenue, celebrate the trails of Pioneer Park while hunting for hints and clues. You can pick up a free Clue Book starting June 3 from the Community & Event Center, Luther Burbank Park Admin Office, or the South End Starbucks. Pioneer Park has 6.6 miles of trails for hiking, running and walking. Come outside and play! On June 3, meet at NW quadrant along 68th (across from Starbucks) to explore together!

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Foods for Fitness with a NSM Nutritionist 
Saturday, June 3, 10 – 11 am
New Seasons Market, 2755 77th Ave SE

NSM can help you optimize your workouts. Whether you’re an experienced athlete or new to exercise, learn what to eat before, during, and after exercise to boost performance and recovery. This event is free and registration is required.
Learn more >>

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Summer Reading Kick Off: The GROW Show!
Saturday, June 3, 2 – 3 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

The Summer Reading Kick-off will have a family-friendly musical show presented by Eli Rosenblatt. All ages are welcome! Celebrate and enjoy music from all over the world, including salsa, swing, samba, and hip-hop songs, in this fun, interactive concert that will have you dancing along. Registration is not required, but space is limited.

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Parents’ Night Out!
Saturday, June 3, 5 – 10 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

Leave the kids with us – go get dinner, grab a movie, go shopping or enjoy some alone time … you deserve it! Your little minions will have a blast with our staff; eating pizza, watching a movie, doing arts and crafts, and of course, playing a TON of games. Must register seven days prior to course date. Registration is required, code #16970.

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PJ Story Time with Margaret Read MacDonald and Nancy Stewart
Saturday, June 3, 6 – 6:30 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

This month’s storyteller is Margaret Read MacDonald. Geared especially for children ages 3 and up; refreshments will be served. And don’t miss our special guest opener, musician and singer Nancy Stewart!
Learn more >>

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Mercer Island Farmers Market
Sunday, June 4, 10 am – 3 pm
Mercerdale Park, north end, 77th Ave SE & SE 32nd Street

Celebrating their 10th season, the Mercer Island Farmers Market is now open every Sunday from June – October! Enjoy the sunshine and check out the freshest fruits and vegetables of the season, as well as locally-made food and drinks, local artisan crafts, and fun activities for the whole family. Visit the website for weekly updates and special events.
Learn more >>

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Writers Read Out
Sunday, June 4, 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 at our website. Questions? Contact [email protected]. Ages 18+. Listeners welcome!
Learn more >>

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Ice Cream Making Class
Sunday, June 4, 2 pm
SJCC, 3801 East Mercer Way

Join us for an ice cream party with a purpose: learn how to make organic, artisan cheesecake ice cream from scratch from the owner of Parfait, a Jewish-owned, sustainable model small business in Ballard. And, celebrate the holiday of Shavuot with dairy desserts! Perfect for families and those who are just kids at heart. Let’s all scream for real ice cream!
Learn more >>