Here’s my weekly round-up of events for September 12 – 18 on Mercer Island:
Voter Registration
Monday, September 12 – All day
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Are you registered to vote? Paper applications are available at the Mercer Island Library. The deadline to mail-in register for the general election is October 10. You can also register online at kingcounty.gov/elections
Fall Publisher Preview with Katie Mehan and David Glenn from Penguin Random House
Tuesday, September 13, 2016, 7 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
Veteran Penguin Random House sales representatives David Glenn and Katie Mehan will be at Island Books to discuss their current favorite reading group picks. They’ll have some prizes to give away, and we’ll have some drinks to toast the winners. Whether you’re picking for your book club, pondering future gifts, or just looking for recommendations from the best in the biz, you won’t want to miss it. All the books on the agenda will be available all season long, of course, but they’ll be 25% off only during the event.
Learn more >>
Storybook Corner 
Wednesday, September 14, 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, September 14, 10:30 am – Noon
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Have fun singing songs, telling stories, reading books, creating art and playing. Play & Learn is in English. Sponsored by the Mercer Island Friends of the Library.
A Conversation with Leora Bloom, author of Washington Food Artisans
Wednesday, September 14, 7:30 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
$12 | $8 SJCC members, seniors, students, youth
Join Seattle Times food writer Leora Bloom for a special conversation about her new cookbook “Washington Food Artisans: Farm Stories and Chef Recipes,” moderated by culinary marketing strategist Jamie Peha of TableTalk Northwest. Trained at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, Bloom worked as a pastry chef in Washington, DC, and San Francisco, and ran her own bakery in Bellevue. She is also co-author of “Theo Chocolate: Recipes & Sweet Secrets.” Peha Promotions is a Seattle-based marketing, public relations, and event management company specializing in wine, culinary, and lifestyle brands. Cookbook sales and signing at the event.
Learn more >>
Cub Scout Joining Night
Thursday, September 15th, 6:30 pm
Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave SE
Calling all boys in Kindergarten through 5th grade! Do you like to hike, bike, camp, swim, shoot, build, race cars, or fly rockets? Then Cub Scouts could be perfect for you. Dads – Cub Scouts is a great way to start building adventures with your son. Join us to learn more about cub scouts at our annual joining night and find what it’s all about!
Learn more & join online >>
3rd Thursday SJCC Film: DOUGH
Thursday, September 15, 7:30 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
$12 | $8 SJCC members, seniors, students, youth
Jonathan Pryce stars as an old Jewish baker with a failing business who gets an unexpected boost when his young Muslim apprentice accidentally drops cannabis into the dough, and an unlikely friendship buds. SJFF 2016 encore. Rated PG.
Learn more >>
José Orantes’ “Birds in Flight” Gallery Opening Reception
Thursday, September 15, 6:30 – 8 pm
Mercer Gallery at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
The public is invited for an opening reception for Seattle artist José Orantes, who debuts his “Birds in Flight” exhibition, inspired by his work with Mercer Island artists and students creating a series of mosaic installations in the Luther Burbank Park playground.
Learn more >>
Restoration Event 
Saturday, September 17, 9 am – 3 pm
Luther Burbank north wetlands (Meet: Luther Burbank Park north parking lot)
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.
MIPC Concert featuring Suzanne Zahniser & Friends
Saturday, September 17, 7 – 9 pm
Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave SE
Come enjoy an entertaining variety of music, including classical jazz, Piazzolla tangos, show tunes, ragtime and spirituals. Featured composers include Bach, Rachmaninoff, Schumann, Gershwin, and more. Performances will include piano solos, piano and piano and organ duos, as well as a trio with two pianos and a violin. Admission is free; donations collected to support future concerts and assist Youth Theatre Northwest in continuing its arts and educational programs.
Learn more >>
Comedy Show featuring Judy Gold
Saturday, September 17, 8 pm; 7 pm happy hour (cash bar)
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
$35 | $30 SJCC members, seniors, students, youth
Judy Gold is an Emmy Award-winning actress, comedian, writer of two Off-Broadway hit shows (including “25 Questions for My Jewish Mother”), a lesbian, Jewish mother, and a recent guest on “Celebrity Wife Swap.” She was a writer/producer for the “Rosie O’Donnell Show” and is a frequent co-host on “The View.” In 2012 she received the Keshet Hachamat Lev Award for GLBT activism in the Jewish community.
Learn more >>
Mercer Island Farmers Market 
Sunday, September 18, 10 am – 3 pm
SE 32nd Street at Mercerdale Park (between 77th and 78th Ave SE)
Visit the Mercer Island Farmers Market for the widest array of top quality Washington foods fresh from the farm, the field or sea, artisan produced and/or ready to eat – plus music, children’s activities, artisan gifts, and more!
Here are the highlights this week:
- Featured Vendor: GF Sugar & Spice Bakery
- Sponsor of the week: MICA
- Music: Yaamba Marimba Band
- Kids: Amazing Spiders
MI Football Boosters Annual Mattress Sale
Sunday, September 18, 10 am – 5 pm
MI Boys & Girls Club, 4120 86th Ave SE
Come support the MI Football program by purchasing a name-brand mattress at up to 50% discount from retail. For one day only, the PEAK gym will be transformed into a mattress sales floor. Proceeds will go to the junior and high school programs.
Book Reading: Michael Tetteh, Author of Giftocracy
Sunday, September 18, 4 – 6 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
We’re excited to welcome author and former Seattle Sounders soccer player Michael Tetteh to Island Books. He’ll be at the store sharing his unique approach to leadership, a holistic approach to creating harmony in the workplace.
Nearly thirty years ago, in a tiny, impoverished Ghanaian village, a young boy dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player and competing against European powerhouse Manchester United. He ate soccer, slept soccer, and breathed soccer. Despite being told that he wasn’t good enough to become a professional, his dream was realized in 2011 after being drafted by Seattle Sounders FC and competing against Manchester United in front of 67,000 fans. At twenty-three years old, Michael Tetteh had realized his childhood dream.
Michael’s new book, Giftocracy, shares powerful lessons from real-life experiences, along with thoughts from trusted influential and transformational leaders (including Myles Munroe, John C. Maxwell and Zig Ziglar). His insight and encouragement inspires readers to live a purposeful and rewarding life.
Learn more >>
