Christmas trees can be purchased in the Farmers New World Life Insurance parking lot beginning Saturday, Nov. 26, at 10 a.m. The annual Mercer Island Lions Club tree sale hours, through mid-December, are 2-8 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. The lot is located at the corner of 77th Avenue S.E. and S.E. 29th Street, and is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Profits support the Boys & Girls Club, MI Youth & Family Services, senior citizens’ programs and community events.
Thursday | 1
Chamber of Commerce Luncheon: 12 p.m., Dec. 1, Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Speaker: Michael Veseth, author of “Wine Wars” and an authority on global wine markets. Concludes with wine tasting compliments of Albertsons, Cellar 46, QFC, The Olde Wine Store. Open to the public. Reservations are imperative. Contact the Chamber to make a reservation: info@mercerislandchamberofcommerce.org, (206) 232-3404. Cost (nonmembers): $18.
World AIDS Day Worship: 6:30 p.m., Dec. 1, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Speaker: Jay Bakker, son of Tammy Faye Bakker, from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where he is co-pastor of Revolution Church NYC. www.mipc.org/aids-day.
Friday | 2
“Free to Be… You and Me” Opening Night: 7 p.m., Dec. 2, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th Street. Performances run through Dec. 18. Thursdays and Fridays: 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees: 2 p.m. Based on the book by Marlo Thomas and Friends. Tickets: $10. Box office: (206) 232-4145, ext. 109. www.youththeatre.org.
Radio Disney Road Show: 6-7 p.m., Dec. 2, Mercerdale Park. Before the holiday tree lighting begins, special guests Disney Radio and their “Rockin’ Road Holiday Show” will entertain kids of all ages with games, prizes, music and dancing, sponsored by Allied Waste Services.
Holiday Tree Lighting & Firehouse Munch: 7-9 p.m., Dec. 2, Mercerdale Park and North Fire Station. Tree Lighting Ceremony with Christmas carols: 7-7:30 p.m. Firehouse Munch: 7:30-9 p.m. Firehouse Munch includes delicious goodies from local merchants and the popular firehouse chili, a free picture with Santa, holiday music and a craft project. Bring an unwrapped toy donation for Toys for Tots.
Revival Night: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 2, New Hope International Church, 9170 S.E. 64th Street. Spend the evening in prayer and worship. www.newhic.org.
Saturday | 3
Santa’s Workshop for Pasado’s Safe Haven: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Dec. 3, Studio 904, 3041 78th Ave. S.E. Annual Pasado’s Safe Haven fundraiser. Buy unique handmade gift items, ornament making, cookie decorating, raffle prizes. Proceeds will benefit Pasado’s Safe Have to help animals in need. Contact: (206) 232-3393. www.pasadosafehaven.org.
Breakfast with Santa: 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Dec. 3, Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Register your family. Brunch is provided, and Santa and his elves will be available for a visit and photos. Reservations are required. Fee: $7 plus tax ($5 per child). (206) 275-7609.
EarthCorps Volunteer Event: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Dec. 3, Island Crest Park, 5500 Island Crest Way. Join EarthCorps, Mercer Island Parks and Recreation, and community members working to preserve this park. Plant native trees and continue site stewardship of previously restored areas. For more information and to sign up in advance, go to: www.earthcorps.org/volunteer.php.
Saturday Matinee: “While the City Sleeps” (Fritz Lang, 1956), 1 p.m., Dec. 3, Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave. S.E. Part of the “Mercer Island Public Library Film Series on Newspapers and Other Media,” with Lance Rhoades, Mercer Island Movie Matinee Series program director. Part Two: “Stop the Presses!: New Media and the Changing Face of Journalism,” begins in winter 2012.
MICC 12th Annual Children’s Craft Workshop: 1-4 p.m., Dec. 3, Mercer Island Covenant Church, 3200 78th Ave. S.E. Workshop designed for children to make their own gifts for others. Advance registration recommended. Your order and payment will reserve your crafts on a first-come, first-serve basis. Materials provided. Parents please remain during the workshop. Contact: Julie Steel, (206) 232-1015, ext. 105.
Sunday | 4
“The Holocaust Through the Lens of Hollywood”: 2 p.m., Dec. 4, Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way. Professor Foster Hirsch of Brooklyn College will examine widely differing approaches, using excerpts from films spanning six decades. Limited seating; reservations recommended. General admission: $10. SJCC members: $5. www.sjcc.org.
Tuesday | 6
Mercer Island Women’s Club Annual Holiday Bazaar and General Meeting Luncheon: 10:30 a.m., Dec. 6, Glendale Country Club, 13440 Main St., Bellevue. The Bazaar opens at 10:30 a.m. Lunch served: 11:45 a.m. Cost: $29.50. RSVP required to ldefliese@comcast.net.
Wednesday | 7
Probus Club of Mercer Island Annual Holiday Luncheon: 12 p.m., Dec. 7, Covenant Shores, 9150 Fortuna Drive. Features a recorded concert of the Best of the Big Band Era. Buses will shuttle members and guests between 11:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. from the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. $25.
Thursday | 8
YFS Grief & Loss Support Group: 1-2:30 p.m., Dec. 8, Community and Event Center, 8236 S.E. 24th Street. Open to senior adult who has experienced the loss of a spouse, partner, friend or family member. Strictly confidential. Free; registration required. Mercer Island Youth & Family Services facilitator: Betsy Zuber, geriatric specialist, (206) 275-7752, betsy.zuber@mercergov.org.
Saturday | 10
Terrorist Response Training (CERT) for Emergency Volunteers: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Dec. 10, City Hall Council Chambers, 9611 S.E. 36th Street. Ninth emergency preparedness class in the series. www.mercergov.org.
Mountains To Sound Greenway Trail Maintenance: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Dec. 10, Upper Luther Burbank Park, 2900 84th Ave. S.E. Help build a new trail along S.E. 84th Street, paralleling the upper park. Activities: clearing brush, crafting a sustainable tread and installing a gravel surface. www.mtsgreenway.org.
EarthCorps Volunteer Event: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Dec. 10, Clarke Beach, 7700 East Mercer Way. Join EarthCorps, Mercer Island Parks and Recreation, and community members working to preserve this park. Remove invasive plants so that additional trees can planted as part of a bald eagle habitat mitigation project. For more information and to sign up in advance, go to: www.earthcorps.org/volunteer.php.
“Excerpts from the Nutcracker” Opening Show: 2 p.m., Dec. 10, Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th Street. Other shows: 2 p.m., Dec. 11, 17-18; 7 p.m., Dec. 16 and 18. Directed by Susan Valencia. Mercer Island Youth Ballet and Children’s Dance Conservatory will bring the classic holiday ballet to life, set to Tchaikovsky music. General admission: $22. VIP platinum tickets: $35. Purchase tickets in advance: www.IYBNutcracker.com.
Library
eReader and Digital Downloads Demonstration: 10 a.m., Dec. 10. Learn how to download KCLS eBooks to your eReader or computer during this Digital Downloads demo.
Introduction to Genealogy Workshop: 1 p.m., Dec. 10. This introductory workshop will cover how to get started in your genealogy research and some do’s and don’ts on collecting and organizing your data. Bring your questions. Presented by Eastside Genealogical Society.
Children & Families
Friends of the Library Winter Book Sale: Dec. 1-4. Book sale in the lobby during library open hours.
The Dickens Carolers: 3:30 p.m., Dec. 3. The carolers, adorned in elegant Victorian dress, sing traditional and contemporary holiday favorites in four-part harmony.
Lore, Legend & Lyrics of the Winter Holidays: 1:30 p.m., Dec. 4. Welcome the winter holiday season with Mercer Island resident and author Maggie Bennett. She will play Irish harp, autoharp and mountain dulcimer while singing holiday songs from around the world.
“Reindeer and the Dreidel” Puppet Show: 11 a.m., Dec. 15. Presented by Dragon Theatre Puppets. A tale about a little girl named Rachael who is on her way to celebrate Hanukkah and meets Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer.
Teens
Teen Zone: 1:45 p.m., Mondays, through Dec. 12. Hang out, do homework, play board games or read.
