Arts + Culture

Classical Music In the Wild

In A Landscape brings a one night live music experience to Mercer Island Article by Sharon Perez | Photography by In A Landscape Music Meets Landscape:  This summer, one of the most distinctive live music experiences in the West arrives on Mercer Island for the very first time. On Tuesday, July 21, acclaimed pianist and naturalist Hunter Noack brings his celebrated outdoor concert series, IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild™, to the shores of Luther Burbank Park. Forget velvet...

Life + Culture

MI on the Move

How the I-90 light rail is reshaping the way Mercer Island connects, explores, and experiences the region Article by Sharon Perez | Photography by Mercer Island City Lifestyle Mercer Island has always existed in an interesting tension between connection and separation. We are physically connected to the region through Interstate 90, yet emotionally and culturally we have long experienced ourselves as an island community — close to Seattle and Bellevue, but still distinctly our own. The...

Life + Culture

Rediscovering Mercer Island

The island changes depending on where you are in life Article by Chris Ishii | Photography by Hillary Ethe On Mercer Island, it’s surprisingly easy to miss the island itself. Between school drop-offs, meetings, practices, workouts, and errands, many residents pass trails, shoreline paths, forests, and quiet outdoor spaces without fully stepping into them. Familiarity has a way of softening awareness. The places we see every day can slowly become invisible. But spend even one afternoon...

Home + Design

Designed for Connection

Exploring how intentional spaces foster warmth, rhythm, and multigenerational living Article by Chris Ishii | Photography by Various In an era shaped by digital overload, fractured attention spans, and increasingly isolated daily routines, architect Mark Elster believes the home has become more important than ever — not simply as shelter, but as a place that helps families reconnect with one another in meaningful and lasting ways. “In a world grappling with the isolating effects of social...

Education

Exploring Connection Through Orchestra

The Pause After the Final Note Article by Chris Ishii | Photography by Various For Sarah Hart, music education has never been solely about performance. It is about cultivating attentiveness, empathy, discipline, vulnerability, and connection — qualities that shape students far beyond the orchestra room. In her essay The Arts: Safeguarding Our Humanity , Hart reflects on a quiet moment following a rehearsal of Scarborough Fair with her sixth-grade orchestra students. After the final note...

Education

Resonance in Harmony

Celebrating the leadership and community spirit behind MIHS orchestra’s remarkable culture of excellence Article by Chris Ishii | Photography by Jay Greer For many Mercer Island families, the orchestra program at Mercer Island High School is far more than music education. It is a culture of discipline, teamwork, mentorship, and artistic excellence that has become one of the quiet cornerstones of student life on the Island. This spring, that impact was recognized in a meaningful way as...

Travel

Places Stay With Us

How meaningful travel shapes perspective, connection, and the way we experience the world Article and Photography by Brenda El-Ghazzawy The more we travel, the more we realize how connected we really are. Even across different cultures, languages, and histories, there’s a shared humanity that reminds us we’re often more alike than different.   Travel expands our understanding of beauty, hospitality, community, and what truly matters. Some of the most meaningful moments are not found in luxury...

Travel

Two Islands

Two islands. Two cultures. One shared language of care Article by Chris Ishii | Photography by Mercer Island City Lifestyle Over the past two years, I have found myself deepening my relationship with two islands. Mercer Island. And the island of Honshu. At first glance, they seem so different. Yet over time, both islands began revealing a surprisingly similar spirit. One is quiet and residential, surrounded by freshwater and evergreens in the Pacific Northwest. The other contains Tokyo —...

Food + Beverage

The Spirit of the Moment

The meteoric rise of Japanese whisky—and the culture, craft, and community behind it Article by Chris Ishii | Photography by Takai by Kashiba and MICL There was a time when Japanese whisky lived quietly—tucked behind the bar, known mostly to insiders, collectors, and those who had spent time in Tokyo. That time has passed. Today, Japanese whisky isn’t just popular—it’s permanent. “It’s not a fad,” says Ed Kashiba of Takai by Kashiba in Bellevue. “It’s just… part of life now. Any place of...

Arts + Culture

Read Well. Gift Better.

Smart books and standout finds for dads and every kind of modern gentleman Article by Lori Robinson | Photography by Laurie Swift Raisys At Island Books, we always think a book is a good idea. And when it comes to picking out a book to give to the dads in your life, ask yourself, what do you think they are looking for? Do they always want to be doing something with you? Are they interested in learning new things? Do they love escaping into a book filled with action and adventure? Are they...