Arts + Culture

Fall Arts Preview

Light up your season with a broad offering of arts Article by Sharon Perez | Photography by MICL & Others A Festive Fall Whether you’re an artist, audience member, patron or performer, Mercer Island has a broad and festive fall and holiday arts season planned for your enjoyment and inspiration. Fall has a way of drawing us together—to settle into a theater seat, linger over an exhibition, listen to live music or try our own hand at something creative. As the days grow shorter and the...

Home + Design

Gratefully Carrying Forward

How a decade of friendship and mentorship on Mercer Island Birthed Lapel Article and Photography by Danielle Damasius A few years ago, on a work trip to Japan, I started thinking about early retirement. My son had just entered his senior year of high school and my daughter was starting eighth grade. Traveling alone through Osaka and Naoshima gave me time to think about what might come next. My children would grow up. My career would end. I wondered who I would be when motherhood and work were...

Home + Design

A Taste for Paradise

Creating a home around food, drink, and gathering. Article by Diane Tien | Photography by Tien Group Real Estate Perhaps some of the finest meals are remembered not just for the food and wine, but for the place that inspired them—and the person we became while we were there. Maybe it was an outdoor table where conversation stretched well past sunset. A family kitchen where everyone instinctively gathered while dinner was being prepared. Or a lanai overlooking the Pacific, where a beautifully...

Food + Beverage

The South End's Best-Kept Secret

Fresh flavors and evolving tastes offer a new reason to discover—or rediscover—Mercer Island’s South End Article by Chris Ishii | Photography by Yuzen Photo Gallery Yuzen Japanese Restaurant offers a window into how Mercer Island's dining tastes are changing—and why one of the Island's most interesting pockets is still being discovered. Something is changing at Yuzen Japanese Restaurant. Owner David Chang is seeing new faces. More diners are ordering sushi and sashimi. Fresh oysters have...

Food + Beverage

Winning Flavor

Three major awards propel Crawlspace toward an exciting Woodinville expansion Article by Chris Ishii | Photography by The Crawlspace Gastropub Three Best in the PNW awards validate Crawlspace’s distinctive flavors as Jason Farrish prepares to bring them to Woodinville. Sometimes the biggest sign that a restaurant has found its identity isn’t what the chef says about the food. It’s what the customers say. For The Crawlspace Gastropub, they just said it loudly. The Mercer Island favorite...

Life + Culture

Morning to Night

From first pour to last call, creativity is always on the menu at ASA Article by Sharon Perez | Photography by Les Lee At ASA, fall flavors move effortlessly from coffee cup to cocktail glass. Behind the bar, Coffee Program Creative Director Hannah Hutchinson is experimenting with pears, cardamom, rosemary and unexpected savory notes. By evening, Lead Bartender Tyler Stansfield is reaching for bourbon, amaro, bitters and spice. Somewhere in between, their two worlds collide—with house-made...

Food + Beverage

Behind the Bar Recipes

Rosemary Cardamom Pear Shrub & Spiced Pear Sour Article by Hannah Hutchinson & Tyler Stansfield | Photography by Les Lee MAKE IT AT HOME Bring a little of ASA’s fall drink magic into your own kitchen. At ASA Gathering, the line between coffeehouse creativity and cocktail craft is intentionally blurred. Coffee Program Creative Director Hannah Hutchinson and Lead Bartender Tyler Stansfield share ingredients, inspiration and a willingness to experiment—creating house-made syrups, shrubs and...

Education

Ed Pepple Court Being Unveiled

Honoring the winningest high school basketball coach in Washington state. Article by Greg Asimakoupoulos | Photography by Gavin Cree A year of major sports celebrations in our area, including a Super Bowl Championship and hosting the World Cup, concludes with a community celebration recognizing a local legendary coach. The naming and unveiling of Ed Pepple Court at Mercer Island High School will take place on December 18th. This long-awaited celebration, that is open to the public, honors the...

Style + Beauty

Where Style Listens Back

Fashion inspired by the women who wear it every day. Article by Chris Ishii | Photography by Various On an island known for its quiet confidence and refined taste, Hip Zephyr has become something more than a boutique—it’s a living conversation about style. Step inside and you feel it immediately: the rhythm of racks curated with intention, the ease of pieces that move from morning to evening, and the quiet assurance that what you’re seeing has been chosen not just for trend, but for truth. At...

Education

Crest Champions Mercer Island Youth

Every student deserves a place where they can learn, grow, and feel that they belong. Article by Jennifer Crespi & Marna Abrams | Photography by Beverly vanHartesvelt For more than 50 years, some Mercer Island students have found their place at Crest Learning Center. Crest has long served students whose educational journeys may look different from the traditional high school experience. Some students come to Crest seeking a smaller learning environment. Others benefit from additional...